Tour of a Lifetime

Our appointment was for 4pm.  Thankfully this day was turning out to be a beautiful day, but it really didn't matter what the weather was, we were set to have a tour of a lifetime.

Several months before this appointment, I had a random conversation with a client I clean for.  I was telling him how much we love camping in the UP and one of our favorite things is to go to the Soo Locks to watch the freighters go through.  He told me to let him know the next time we were up there and he would arrange for us to have a tour of the Locks.  He works for the government and part of his jurisdiction was the Locks.

Fast Forward to the morning we left for the UP... We were finally cleared to be able to have the tour (it took a few weeks to be cleared), my client emailed me the name of the person who would be giving us the tour, the time and place we were to meet him.  Nothing like coming down to the wire!

It was 3:15pm, we were waiting to leave the campground and head up to the Locks.

Tyler and PopPop

3:30pm, Look what comes around the corner.  Perfect timing for our tour.  My client had said he hoped that a freighter would be pulling in when we were on our tour because when you are in the tunnel that goes directly under the lock you can hear the sound of the propeller.

Paul getting better view

3:40pm, everyone piles into vehicles to head on down to the Locks.  The rest of our group was going to watch from the observation deck as we went on our tour.

It was just after 4pm that we were cleared at the guard station and our tour guide rode up on one of those carts that they drive around on.

We are buzzed through a gate and started walking up to the MacArthur Lock.  When the doors of the lock are closed it makes the bridge to cross over.  The Algolake was in the MacArthur lock heading Upbound.

Mesabi Miner just entering the Poe Lock

We enter the Stone Administration building and was shocked at the beauty within.

We went out the other side of the Administration building to get a peek at the Mesabi Miner that was making her way into the Poe Lock.  Had I reached over the railing I could have touched the side of her as she moved through.  It was an amazing sight.

Look how close the Mesabi is the the rail.

We went back into the Administration building for a quick lesson on the Locks.  Mike (our tour guide) told us all about the Locks, the rapids and the Canadian Locks.  Here he is pointing to the remaining rapids.

Then we start making our way down lots and lots of stairs.  Through water tight doors.

Then into the long tunnel that took us right under the Poe Lock where the Mesabi Miner was slowly moving into.  This is the tunnel that we heard the sound of the propeller.  Whoow... Whoow... Whoow...

Well, I am going to sign off here, otherwise this is going to be a really long post.  There is so much more from this tour that I want to show you.  Until next time...

Blessings!!