Tuesday we took the day off. We ran a few loads of much needed laundry and linens. While we washed the clothing we played outside and ran around. We loved playing this game where you toss balls attached to a rope around different levels. We made up our own rules and point system and had a great time.
The rest of the day was downtime before our long drive towards Ontario.
Yesterday we spent a little over 12 hours driving from Montreal, Quebec to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The drive was uneventful other than the fact that we saw a black bear run across the road about 1/4 mile in front of the motorhome. The sunset was beautiful. We arrived at the KOA Sault Ste. Marie after 9pm and found our site in the dark.
In the morning we headed out to Ft. Saint Joseph. The place was deserted except for one employee who spent a lot of time with us chatting and educating. We learned how to play a First Nations game of tossing a hoop with sticks. It was so much fun we asked Mom to make us our own!
We dressed as soldiers and learned more about the fur trade in the area.
Then we took a long walk down to the fort and explored around. We learned that the blockhouse also housed the soldiers and was a lot longer than most of the time period.
The giant chimney behind us is a mystery. It wasn’t in any plans they have discovered, it wasn’t a kitchen, bread oven or a house. Archeologists are baffled!
We cleaned up in the giftshop because everything with a Parks Canada logo was 50% off. We each got a hat and a few small trinkets.
Next, we headed to the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and the locks on the Canadian side. We worked on our explorer program. We saw a tour boat come through he locks. The water drops 21 feet between the lakes.
We walked down along the canal and saw the Emergency Swing Dam. It was used in 1909 when a ship accidentally hit the gates when in the lock and caused a massive rush of water. The swing dam was used to bring the flow to a trickle. There were only 9 ever made like this and this was the only ever used. It worked PERFECT.
We watched a flock of Canadian Geese swim along and into the locks. I think it would have been easier to fly! Silly geese.
