Canada by train!

On a whim we decided to see Canada, by train!  On one side of the International Bridge is Sault Ste. Marie Michigan and on the other side is Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, Canada.

I found a brochure that was about an all day scenic train ride that went from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada along the coast line up to Agawa Canyon and back again.  It sounded like a great way to see a part of Canada without having to drive it ourselves and... we love to take train trips, so, a win-win, we thought!

The only down-side, for us, anyway, was that it left at 8:00 a.m. which meant that we had to get up at 5:30 a.m.!  That's early for us! But...we made it!  Major yawn.  That just meant we ate breakfast on the train...which was quite good actually!

The trip was quite nice.  Smooth, since it wasn't a narrow gauge, thank goodness.  They gave us a booklet that showed us our route with the mile markers and notes on each one as well as videos popped on during the trip with little stories about the area, it's history & geography which made it even more interesting.  The seats were very comfortable and the windows were quite large and very clean so taking pictures for the most part was pretty easy.

 I was surprised at how many small lakes there were, as we seemed to go from one to another and then another as we chugged along.

Mongoose Lake

Trout Lake

Mekatina Lake

The nice surprise was the beautiful waterfalls at the stop at Agawa Canyon.  We had a much needed hour and a half stop there to take hikes, have lunch etc.  The weather was perfect as we took our time walking through the beautiful canyon floor heading up to Black Beaver Falls.  We really didn't expect much, so when we rounded the bend and saw these spectacular falls our mouth just dropped open in awe!  Most of the passengers had gone off to a much longer hike up to a high lookout and only a very few of us took this hike, I think we made the much better choice!  It was so lovely just to follow the small river for awhile afterward, enjoying the wildflowers, watching the butterflies and listening to the birds and feeling the warmth the sunshine.

Black Beaver Trail at Agawa Canyon Park

Black Beaver Falls at Agawa Canyon Park

Jack along side Agawa River at Agawa Canyon Park

Soon we were on the train heading back.  Interesting, even though it was the same route, things do look different going the opposite direction!

Back in Ontario we had to make one last stop to get Jack his peanuts (you see, Canada still packages and sells Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts in glass jars, where, in the US, they only package and sell them in plastic jars=less fresh.  Thus, every time we are in, or our friends from Canada are visiting us, we stock up on glass jars of peanuts!)

...on the road in the U P,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/

The Upper Peninsula!

Once you "cross over the Mackinaw Bridge" you have entered the Upper Peninsula, or the "U P" as everyone refers to it here.  They even have names for people who live on one side or the other!  If you live below the bridge, you are called a "Troll", and if you live in the U P, you are called a "Yooper" (pronounced You-per), and they are both proud of it, and declare where they are from!  Oh, and don't forget the (few) from Mackinac Island (still pronounced Mackinaw, don't ask me...) they are called "Fudgies" - that one is because there are 17 different fudge stores on one (tiny) island!  There are a whole list of names and sayings here, "for sure", but, I'll spare you that for now...

Anyway, as I was saying, we finally made it to the U P, the area I've most looked forward to - the home of Mackinac Island, Sault Ste Marie & Lake Superior!

Once settled, our first mission was to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island.  We caught a clear, sunny day out of a week of cold on & off rainy ones and took an early ferry over.  If you don't know, they have an interesting history there, in that back in 1948 the carriagemen continued the ban of autos (since 1869) on the note that they "startled the horses and caused harm to the people".  Thus, the only way around the 3.8 sq mile island is by carriage, foot, horse or bicycle!  They do allow snowmobiles in the winter tho (of course nothing public is open then, but hey, if your local, go for it!).  We opted for the carriage tour!  A great way to see the island, hear about the various spots and get on and off to visit at length at the Fort.

They give you a brief stop at Arch Rock where you can get out and take a couple of pictures, then hop back in to tour the State Park.  The State Park actually encompasses 80% of the island, and is lush and feels so far away from the little town.  It also houses the three cemeteries on the island, Protestant, Catholic and one for the Fort (they don't believe in co-mingling there).  

Fort Mackinac is a restored 18th & 19th century British & American military outpost preserved as a museum.  All the buildings are original; their history is interpreted through period settings and you are greeted with period costumed folks and throughout the day, reenactments of cannon firings, musket firings, music & dance are done. It was quite nice.

From there we took a nice walk back into town and visited the Biddle House that was connected to the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop.  A young woman was at the forge (and doing quite well!).  Jack enjoyed conversing with her and seeing their set up, which was very impressive.  It was a large shop using original 19th & 20th century equipment, giving people nice demonstrations.

Time for lunch!  We decided to really treat ourselves and have "high tea" at the Grand Hotel.  This is the hotel where the 1980 film Somewhere in Time was filmed with Christopher Reeve.  Such a beautiful place, we couldn't resist!  You actually have to pay to even go into the hotel, but who cares, right?  They do it in style, a lovely lady playing the harp, butlers in tails, champagne, sherry, fancy canapes with a orchid on the plate, deserts to die for, ah, heaven!

Oh, and of course, the endless view of Lake Superior and the two lighthouses, what could be better?

All in all, a lovely day...well worth the wait!  We never did try any of the 17 different fudges...oh well, guess we will just have to come back again another year! 'Eh?

...on the road in the U P,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/