The locks of the St. Lawrence / actual date 9-27-14

While still in Ontario, driving north, I saw a sign pointing to one of the Locks along the St. Lawrence.  Well I figured that I should check-it-out, after all I had never seen that kind of a Lock (a little joke for my former co-workers at the City).  It was just about 7 km. off the highway and there was a great viewing area to see the whole operation.

Above you can see the north lock (top) & the south lock (bottom).  Below I will include two of the signs that describe the operation.

As I was taking a picture of the flags in the park next to the lock, I noticed more cars starting to arrive.

 I was asking a guy with a big camera about the flags.  He said that they are (L-R) the seaway flag, the Canadian flag & the British flag.  The British flag was there due to several battles that were fought in the area years ago.  I was thanking him & said I was going to leave when he said a big ship was coming through the lock soon.  Of course I decided to stay......
The next series is of this ship moving through.

As you can see in the picture above, there is only about a one foot margin on each side of the ship.  It is not pulled through like at the Panama Canal but "guided through" by thrusters on the ship, quite a feat.

I noticed this "escape pod" on the stern, that reminded me of the movie Captain Philips.  My friend told me that all ocean going ships had them.

One last sign telling about the lock system.  You will notice that the sign is in English & French.  A lot of the road signs from here to Nova Scotia were just in French - that was a bit of a stretch for me!

As you can see this is the Iroquois Lock.  Very interesting.
That enough for now.

Canada, day two! / actual date 9-26-14

This is my blog for Sept. 26 th.    I decided to drive northeast going through Toronto & my planned stop for the night was Charleston Lake provincial park which is south of Ottawa, Ontario.  The drive along the north side of Lake Ontario to where the St. Lawrence Seaway begins was through rolling country. 
Enjoying seeing the country, I drove on through to Charleston Lake which turned out to be a beautiful park.  But I will let you judge for yourself.

The park is on just part of a large lake system & has swimming, canoes & hiking.  This next view shows part of the lake and some of the fall colors.

Next is a look at the swimming area and some canoes (to the right) by one of the many islands on the lake.

It has nice camp sites complete with electrical hookups & nice tree shade cover.  Home sweet home.

Nice hiking trails.

And for those of us who do not have much of a fall (lots of leaves on the ground) a look at the side of one the roadways in the park.

As I was getting ready to leave (no pun intended), I noticed this view of my truck with some fall colors reflected in the window.

Time to hit the road with a new collection of bugs (not really visible) on the front of truck & camper.
That`s all

More travels & pictures / actual date 9-25-14

After a little "tech support" I am again able to post pictures & descriptions of my travels again.  Even though I am now in Virginia visiting with family, I am going to pick up where I left off on Sept. 25.

I visited Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan which was created by Henry Ford.  It is an re-created village from the turn of the century complete with all sorts of actual craft buildings from the period.  I know that you are expecting all sorts of pictures but sorry to let you down.  I was having such a good time looking around the 80 acres that I did not take any pictures.  All I can say is you have to see it for yourself if you are ever in the Detroit area.

After leaving Detroit my route took me into Canada at Windsor, Ontario.  My goal was to follow the St. Lawrence Seaway up to New Brunswick.  Following Hwy. 401, my first stop was at Ingersoll, about halfway to Toronto.  I found a provincial park that offered places to park / camp with electrical hookups.  It was right out on a lawn area and very quiet.

I know what your are thinking, not enough pictures but I will do better.

So much for my first day in Canada. 

Michigan`s U P fall colors

 As advertised same of the fall colors (for those of you in southern Calif.).  It is still a little early but I am hoping for more in Canada & New England in a couple of weeks.  These were taken in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I has been very warm (70`s day & 40`s at night) which is not helping the colors to change.

 Above more colors & below you can se that I have to hunt around for the best color.  This is on Michigan`s Hwy. 2 at the top of  Lake Michigan.  Good roads and some of the nicest people.

 I have been using my camper about half of the time, when I can find a spot to tuck into.  Below is one of those spots which was down a dirt road & then I found a "old" path that use to be a road off to the side.  After checking it out on foot, I backed down about 200` & set up camp.  I had to do a little branch pruning (I brought my hand / flip saw), so as to not scrape up the "rig".  Very quite and peaceful.

 Below is a closer look at my spot & my folage screen.  It was so far back that I could not be seen from the dirt road.  It was so quiet that I did not wake up until sun finally hit my camper, about 8:30.  No schedule so no problem.....

 To leave the Upper Peninsula I had to go south across the Mackinac Bridge (only $4.00). 

 An action shot while driving across the bridge.  I am going to guess that it about 3/4 -1 mile long.  It kind of looks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco but it is not same color.

 

Today (Wenesday 9/24) I drove from the U P down to just north of Detroit.  I got a room for the night and a HOT shower.  The plan is to see a bunch of things that my good neighbors (thanks Jim)recomended in Dearborn.  More on that soon.

Central Wisconsin to Michigan`s U. P.

 I decided that since my route to Michigan`s upper peninsula was passing through Green Bay, Wisconsin, that a stop at the Nalional Railroad Museum was in order (saw it on the map).  After spending 2 hours there I realized that trains are really "Big Things". 

 Could not resist getting into the picture with one of the biggest locomotives ever built.  The model is called the "Big Boy" and has two sets of driving wheels with ten wheels in each set.  That makes it (in locomotive terms) a 2-10-10-2.  It is only one of five of it`s size that still exsist.

 This is a concept engine from the 1950`s that never really cought  on but it is very aerodynomic (?).

 This is a British locomotive that got traded to the US after it was decomissioned.  It was re-named the Dwight D. Eisenhower but never saw service on this "side of the pond".  You know they drive on the other side of the tracks!  HA, HA.

 Standing on the "foot plate" (engine control area) of an old steam engine.  Note the doors are open where the coal is shoveled into the boiler.  Below is the inside of the boiler, closeup.  It is so big you could park several pickup trucks inside.

 The amazing "hardware" on the otside of this engine.

 I am now by the shore of Lake Michigan, in a great campground (with power) & it only cost $24.00.  It about 100 miles north of Green Bay but into Michigan.  I can see the northern tip of what is called the "Door Penninsula" which is part of Wisconsin across the lake.  Very nice and I found it just about the time I had decided to stop for the night.  Life is good!

On to explore Michigan`s upper peninsula tomorrow & maybe down across the Mackinaw Bridge, time allowing.  No set schedule as usual.
It might be a two blanket night but so far no rain.....

Driving Day across three states

 Lots of clouds in southwestern Minnesota but no rain.  I (of course) was driving while taking this picture but I was only going 70!

 Stopped for the night in Coloma, Wisconsin (between La Crosse & Oshkosh).  Small town with a classic old church.

 This is the "old" hotel where I got a room.  Note the sign that this place was established in 1876.

 A front view of the hotel, which is decorated for fall.  My room is the center one that sticks out in the middle.

Great front porch.  The hotel and town both remind me of the movie - Groundhog Day.  The only difference is I would not want to live there.
So far I have driven 2,700+ miles & passed through 8 states.  And I am still having fun.  It is cooling off but that is a relief from the 100 degree temps when I started.
Today was the last day of Fall..........

The pictures from the last post

 The actual mountain is in the background but only the face is completed - the white is the model.