Soo Locks - Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

On Tuesday we moved from our campsite in Charlotte, Mi to a County RV Park in Kinross, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.  

Our Campsite

Entrance to Soo Locks which allow ships to navigate between Lake Superior and Lake Huron (Huron is about 18 ft lower than Superior)

Photo of a photo of the locks taken in the visitor center

A tug boat and a 1000+ foot freighter going through the locks

The Edgar B. Speer - a 1002 foot freighter going through the locks from Lake Superior to Lake Huron

The Army Corps Of Engineers Lock Control Building - opposite shore is Canada

The Mesabi Miner - Another 1002 Foot Freighter Waiting Its Turn To Pass Through The Locks From Lake Huron to Lake Superior

The Edgar G. Speer

Another Picture Of The Edgar B. Speer With the Bridge To Canada In The Background

E. G. Speer and the Canada Bridge

Bridge To Canada

Monument commemorating the opening of the St. Mary's Canal

The grounds of the Soo Locks were once home to forts owned by the French, British and Americans

Approximate site of the forts

Store In Downtown Sault Ste. Marie - The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost about 20 to 30 miles from here

Interesting sidewalk art

A fountain near the locks

View of downtown Sault Ste. Marie (Darby lower right)

Eaton County Mi Fairgrounds RV Park/More Maumee Bay State Park Photos

We left Maumee Bay State Park on Friday and traveled to Charlotte, MI where we are staying at the Eaton County Fairgrounds RV Park.  It is a very nice campground with a city park with hiking trails next door.   The campground is nearly empty  only about 4 campers here - about 200 spots available.    We chose this place to hunker down for the Labor Day weekend as most of the campgrounds near the lakes were booked up for the weekend.  We are here for 4 days and then will be traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a couple weeks.  

Our track from Maumee State Park in Ohio to the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Michigan

Our Campsite

A Fawn In The Park Next Door

The following pictures are of some of the other areas of Maumee Bay State Park (our last stop) - this was probably the nicest place we have stayed - could have stayed here a few more weeks.

The State Park Nature Center (from here you could walk a 2.5 mile nature trail.

An interesting sculpture at the nature center

The lodge - a State Park run hotel/motel 

The fountain in one of the many lakes and ponds on the property (Donna & Darby In The Distance)

The state park marina - the park also has an 18 hole golf course (no photos of it)

Another view of the beach on Lake Erie

A couple of the many kiosks and buildings at the park at an inland lake beach

A ring-billed gull about to catch lunch

Maumee Bay State Park - Oregon, Ohio

Saturday we traveled from Tionesta, PA to Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, OH.  We normally only travel about 3 hours when we change locations so this was a little longer trip for us. It was mostly Interstates so  it was pretty easy traveling.  

I will say we have been totally impressed with this campground and State Park - it is one of the nicest we have stayed in since we started traveling.  It has very spacious campsites, each surrounded with trees for privacy and all with easy access.  The park has miles of biking and hiking trails, both paved and unpaved, 2 beaches, one on Lake Erie and one on a manmade pond,  several fishing ponds, a golf course, and much more.  

Our Campsite

A privately owned lighthouse on Lake Erie a short walk from our campsite.

Toledo Harbor Lighthouse (a couple miles away)

Close-up (from a boat - not my photo)

Shore Of Lake Erie In The State Park

Shore Of Lake Erie - Notice Green Water - they are having a serious algae bloom problem right now

The State Park Beach On Lake Erie

We will post more pictures from the park and surrounding areas as we get out more.

Tionesta Recreation Area - Tionesta, PA

Just a quick catch-up on our stay at Tionesta Recreation Area in Tionesta, PA (we are actually in Ohio now - will update on Ohio in a couple days).  This is an Army Corps Of Engineers campground located on Lake Tionesta which was formed when the COE built a flood control dam here back in the 1930's. .  It is located just outside the Allegheney National Forest in Western PA about 2 hours North of Pittsburgh and about 1-1/2 hours SE of Erie, PA.

Our Campsite

View Of The Campground

The Marina Area

Donna and Darby on the Boat Launch

View OF a Little Piece of Lake Tionesta From The Dam

View Of Part Of The Campground From The Dam

The Outflow Of The Dam

A Small Log Cabin In The Woods Near The Dam

Memorial lighthouse in Tionesta, PA - a 75 foot functioning lighthouse (not near any navigable waters) built by the Sherman family as a memorial to their family.