Tuesday August 27 ... Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. to Ironwood, Michigan

Took off around 9 a.m. from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario...heading for Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.  Drove across the International Bridge between the two Sault Ste Maries. Took us about an hour to get across the US border at the other end.   Think we were in the slowest line EVER and the gal at the gate asked us tons of questions...guess two "mature" people on a motorcycle look like they need a good grilling! :)

Decided to detour a bit to St. Ignace to see the 5 mile long suspension bridge there.  When it was built in 1954 it was the longest of its kind in the world.  Today it is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. It was beautiful to behold.  We had planned to drive back and forth across it, but there was such a lovely park and viewing area before the actual crossing point that we decided to just stop there and look at it and take some pics.  There was construction on the bridge as well and traffic was moving at a snail's pace so we decided our view was plenty good enough from terra firma.

On then to Highway 28....the Lake Superior Scenic Tour.  Was surprised for some reason to see so much sandy beach here...

We were so pleased with how pretty the drive was and how MANY towns there were along the way. On the map we had consulted, it didn't look like there were many towns at all and we had rather expected lots of miles of just trees, but it seemed that every half hour (sometimes less) or so we'd pass through another settlement.  Some were small towns and villages, some looked quite properous and others not so much and there was even a city with a university (Marquette)!  And here we were concerned there might not be places to gas up!  Turns out we could have stopped and topped up the tank at will. :).  

There was a lot of variety in the drive...and that makes the time go faster.  Again we were mainly focused on making some time on the highway and didn't have too many stops planned, but I did manage to shoot a bunch more photos from the back of the bike. 

We stopped at this cute cafe for a delicious bowl of homemade turkey soup...

And at this picnic spot at Agate Falls for a light picnic supper...one of those totally unexpected places we have been blessed to come upon and thoroughly enjoy!

We saw much the same type of scenery we have seen thus far....small farms and rolling hills and lots of trees and lakes.  A very pretty route we thought...here are some of the sights we saw...

We have ended up tonight in Ironwood...had hoped to make it to Duluth but when we rolled in here just decided it was time to stop.  We were very hot and sticky as today's temps were hovering around 30' with very high humidity so we were ready for a shower and clean clothes.  We decided a laundromat would be a good way to spend a date evening, so off we walked with our dirty clothes to one located about 30 minutes away.  Once there we figured we'd earned the right to chips and a chocolate bar for a late supper/snack.  We walked back to the hotel too as we figured the chips and chocolate bar needed a walk :) and now I'm just writing this blog.  Will edit the pictures from today and include them and call it a night.

Westward ho!!!

Monday August 26 ... Pembroke to Sault Ste Marie

Not a lot to report (so I say as I start to write the, but if past posts are anything to go by I will likely find lots to say :)) ...

On Monday morning we left Pembroke headed for Sault Ste Marie.  It was along haul...left at 9 a.m. and got there about 7 p.m.  The weather was warm, temps in low 20's, with periods of light rain and high humidity.  The skies we're alternately cloudy and clear blue sky or blue sky with fluffy white marshmallow clouds. We needed to wear our rubberized rain gear for most of the day in order to keep dry but the result was the creation of our own personal saunas!:). We had one torrential downpour which came out of nowhere and lasted for a few miles and just as we were searching for some place to pull off to wait it out - it stopped.  Mother nature seemed unable to make up her mind!

I did get some pretty scenery photos that I thought I would share...

We passed through areas settled by the Amish people.  Try as I might I could not get a photo of a highway sign that warned drivers to watch for horses and buggies.  I did get a photo of an Amish farm and stooks of what Harry though looked like oats.

We did find one lovely picnic spot a couple of hours outside Sault Ste Marie so enjoyed a picnic supper and were happy for sunshine.

After a reenergizing shower went for a walk along the water (the channel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron) as the boardwalk was right outside our hotel.  Very pretty and lots to see...including some interesting art installations...will let our photos tell the tale...

Sunday August 25 ... Rivière du Loup to Pembroke

Big day on the bike today so short blog post tonight, both because we are tired but also because there isn't much to report :).  

Rain is forecast for tomorrow so we wanted to put as many miles on the bike today as possible...made 768 km so that's a pretty big day. Our stops were mainly for food, biffy and gas breaks.  We had debated about going to Ile D'Orleans but the traffic was horrendous on highway 20, bumper to bumper, so we decided to skip the side trip.  Realized as we approached Quebec City that it was a good decision as the traffic got even heavier.  Going through Montreal was a white knuckle event for both of us...lots of road construction too everywhere in Quebec.  These shots don't really paint an accurate picture of the bumper to bumper traffic but they give you a bit of an idea...

Saw my birth surname, Pelletier, on a couple of signs so thought that was kind of fun...

Lots of dairy farms, with multiple silage silos and lots of hog farms, discernible by their distinct odour...:) Did get some pretty countryside pictures from the back of the bike so thought I'd share with all of you.

How far we get tomorrow will depend on the weather.  Tomorrow will mark four weeks on the road for us...homeward bound feels good.

Saturday August 24 ... Moncton to Rivière du Loup

On the road by 9 a.m. this morning, taking some different roads than on our way out here so saw some different sights.  We were focused mainly on putting some miles west on the bike so didn't make a ton of stops, but managed to have some fun breaks along the way.

The countryside in New Brunswick continues to impress us ... rolling hills and farmland, in addition to trees and lakes and rock...quite the variety of landscapes.  

We noticed that the leaves are beginning to change colour...imagine we will see more of that in the coming days as we are already feeling the nip of fall in the air in the morning.

We did stop just outside Heartland at the Covered Bridge Potato Chip Factory...what a neat experience.  Lots of fun photos to share with you from our self-guided factory tour...which included a bag of potato chips literally warm off the conveyor belt!  Greasy, yummy goodness! :). I am including some facts about agriculture and potatoes that we found interesting...hope you do too!

Next we stopped at the world's longest covered bridge in Heartland, N.B., a tiny community beautifully situated on the St. John River.  

We walked across the bridge and back and even left our "mark" like so many others before us.  This is the first bit of graffiti I have ever been guilty of leaving...though my partner in crime, Harry, apparently did a bit of artistic name writing in university on a bridge, but we will chalk that up to youthful exuberance. :)

The day was an absolutely gorgeous one with no wind and temps in the low 20's...perfect driving and sightseeing weather.

We stopped to check hotel info at a MacDonalds in Edmunston (free wifi) and Harry tried a McLobster sandwich...and deemed it very tasty!

Arrived in Rivière du Loup and visited the waterfall located right in the middle of town.  We walked around there for some time and climbed lots of steps!  It was a peaceful spot and not many people were around so it felt a bit like we were all alone in the middle of nowhere, not in the middle of a town.  

Two views from the catwalk on top of the falls...yes we climbed up there!

We parked a ways from the falls and were pleased to discover these fun art installations nearby where we parked.

A great day with a few unexpected and delightful surprises...what more could one ask for? :)

Continuing westward tomorrow...homeward bound!