The Huffman's Maritime adventure: May 12 (day 9) to May 17 (day 14): Duluth, MN to Sturgeon Falls, Ontario

We spent an unexpected few days in Duluth while our truck was being repaired, so we made the most of them in a very interesting city. We were camped in a boat yard and had a great view of ships as they entered the bay through Duluth’s iconic lift bridge – way big ships with “lakers” coming in at over 1000 feet. We learned how to tell the lakers apart from the salty’s that go on to salt water. The harbor cruise was fun, and a tour of an ore hauling ship (the William A Irvin) was a treat.

Duluth sites

Michele and the girls at Gooseberry Falls

Heading north to Thunder Bay from Duluth, we visited Gooseberry Falls State Park and Grand Portage National Monument. Grand Portage was the major transportation corridor and trading site for fur traders moving products from Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest to Montreal and beyond to Europe.

Denny at Gooseberry Falls

Grand Portage National Monument

After spending a night near Thunder Bay, Ontario, we drove the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) around the north shore of Lake Superior to Sault Ste. Marie where we toured the original canal and locks that enabled ships to move past rapids where Lake Superior joins Lake Huron. The drive along Lake Superior is beautiful, with many smaller lakes along the road. We were surprised to see ice floating on the lake along the northeastern shore – spring is late in this part of the world this year and the locals aren’t smiling! The weather has been mostly cloudy with some rain, but now with more sunshine and warmer temps as we move east. Not easy to find good RV camps along this stretch since tomorrow is Queen Victoria’s birthday and a cause for celebration as well as the first 3-day weekend camp out of the year for Ontarians.