Sault Ste Marie and the road around Lake Superior
Trip Start
May 05, 2007
1
16
58
Trip End
Sep 02, 2007
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
So I continued on and ran into more construction at this point I had seen plenty of bad sections of the TCH and plenty more of it under repair, and expected to run into more of it (it has just made me more aware and thorough in making sure everything is well secured too!!)
After hearing about the amethyst mine production in the area I decided to take some time out and go mining, thinking it could be fun and bring back a souvenir. So after traveling around 12kms down a really bad, bumpy dirt road (reminding me of the construction zones again and thinking that they could do some work here...) I was all hopeful that this was worth it. The drive was scenic enough, when I was able to look away from the road (traveling in a fully loaded RV was not particularly made for this). When I arrived I looked around and there were a group of school children there on a day excursion, apart from that there wasn't much else there. There was the actual mining operation (off limits to unauthorized personnel) and the tourists "mining" area. This area was not my idea of mining as it was more like scavenging with plenty just lying on the surface and a strict rule of no hammering or chiseling, I suppose it keeps the kids entertained though.
FYI.....
The amethyst mine at Panorama is supposedly the largest amethyst deposit in Canada. It was discovered in 1950 as a result of a road being built to the forest fire lookout tower visible from the mine sight. Amethyst production started in 1960 and the mine has produced continuously since then. The mine produces 40% useable amethyst by volume. The north shore of Lake Superior is among the largest deposits of Ontario's official gemstone. Amethyst is a coloured crystalline variety of the silica mineral quartz ( Si02) and can often be found in a purple or red colour.
All through the drive along the shore of Lake Superior was really awesome, with rocky slopes, numerous lakes and lush tree growth. The road climbed and dropped throughout the route giving way to some really awesome views.
I stopped off in Marathon, giving myself some more time for driving and viewing on the next day (also hoping the weather would improve a little, a few showers and a little overcast although not too bad).
I stopped off in Penn Lake Park, a nice quiet area on the lake and awoke the next morning to complete fog and haze, not exactly what I was hoping for.
Although I didn't see a whole lot more from the road than I might have done on clearer skies, it was still quite pleasant scenery. I stopped off in White River, which had a life-sized portrait of Winnie-The-Pooh. White River along with Winnipeg share the honors of being attributed to the birth place of A.A Milne's popular children's character, Winnie-The-Pooh.
I continued on and entered the Lake Superior provincial park, where the breathtaking scenery continued as well as the haze. I stopped off in Old Women Bay and looked around the beach area. The whole setting reminded me of being back in Australia up north, the humidity was thick in the air and there was lush growth (although not the same as back home) as well as white beach area. While in the area I saw two moose by the roadside which was kind of neat as well.
While I was in the provincial park my fuel was running low (gas prices were above $1.20.9 prior to this), thinking " she'll be right, mate" and that there would be an area for gas either inside the area or just outside and hoping that I would have enough to get me through the region to Sault Ste Marie. I soon came to realize that there was no refueling place inside the area, the last place I filled up at was Thunder Bay, (note to other travelers fill up in Wawa, if you don't have a large fuel tank).
I eventually made it through the area and gas prices were much cheaper (saving 6 cents per litre), I stayed in a KOA campground, which was very nice and one of the better campgrounds that I have stayed at. There were good facilities and plenty of wooded areas, there were also really brilliant wood peckers too (they moved much too fast to be photographed using my camera). Looking it up on the web I believe they are the Pileated woodpeckers and resemble "Woody the woodpecker"
That's about all, tomorrow I head into the USA!
