We started out after breakfast and decided to visit the Soo Locks before we left Sault Ste. Marie. These were a real game changer back when they were built in the 1800’s – they connect the 4 lower Great Lakes to Lake Superior, and from there all of western Canada. For their time, they really were a marvel of engineering:
It’s hard to tell from the pictures but there’s about a 20 foot height difference in the water between sections. The locks are still in use today, although mostly for pleasure boats – commercial ships use the Saint Lawrence Seaway now. We were a little disappointed not to see a boat going through.
After leaving Sault Ste. Marie we continued along the Trans Canada Highway. We drove along most of the north shore of Lake Huron, which was pretty as well. We’ve now seen all 5 Great Lakes.
The best part of the day was lunch – we ate sitting inside a meteor crater! Granted, the meteor hit about 1,849 million years ago, and we were actually at a pretty decent restaurant in the town of Sudbury, but it’s still a meteor crater. They estimate the meteor was between 6-9 miles in diameter, which is both awesome and completely scary at the same time. The meteor left behind one of the most geologically rich soil around, and there are enormous mines all around town along what must have been the rim of the crater.
It was a long drive to Ottawa, lots of small towns and farming communities along the way. But much prettier scenery than we had the last three days. We did pass one very strange thing – two people sitting on a sled/sleigh, being pulled across a field by a pair of Clydesdales. I have no actual idea what was happening there.