Lake Superior Circle Tour And Beyond Poem by Deanna Samuels

A trip around Lake Superior recently achieved
Largest freshwater lake in the world
A surface area of 82,100 square kms, a maximum depth of 389 metres
Having a volume of 11.4 quadrillion litres; certainly no small indent!
It takes a journey of 2,092 kms to encircle this biggest of The Great Lakes
Remember HOMES, my JK teacher told us, the names will never leave you
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior
A lesson never forgotten to this day
Starting our journey at Courtice, Durham Region
Picked up friend Tim and his two docile poochies from Bowmanville
Headed for the 400 North
Dropped off the poochies to a minder in Cookstown for safe keeping
Rejoined the 400 and headed further north to join up with Route 11
Route 11 is the second longest road in Canada
Albeit, its name changes in different localities many times
In Toronto, famously known as Yonge Street
Runs for 56 kms from there then merges into its official road title of Route 11
Route 11 commences from Lake Ontario, Toronto and ends at Rainy River
Snuggling the borders of Ontario and Minnesota
Is 1,896 kms in length (1178 miles) and is south of Winnipeg, road distance 265 kms away
For those curious to know, the longest National highway in the world, that too, is in Canada
It is the TransCanada Highway, running 7,821 kms, stretching from Victoria BC to St John's NF
The route Terry Fox was taking on his attempted awesome run across Canada, more of this later
Continuing on Route 11, drove to North Bay, made a left turn to Route 17 alongside Lake Nipissing
Stopped for a break and partook of an enjoyable meal nearby
An overnight stay at the lakeside cottage of Tim's son, right beside the lake
Morning broke; enjoyed the early autumn scene, giving a peaceful, pleasant ride to Sault Ste. Marie
Passed many quaint and diverse towns in between
Lunched in The Soo, the nickname for Sault Ste. Marie, with a stop too, at a store for Tim
The journey now officially starts the circle tour around Lake Superior
Headed north on Route 17, east side of Lake Superior, towards Wawa, passing by the Goulais River
This once important thriving tributary transporting logs to local sawmills, sadly, now long gone
The Algome Central Railway travels up the river valley to Agawa Canyon
Noted for its glorious autumn colors, conveying thousands of tourists to enjoy those sights
Curved around outskirts of Wawa, quick glimpse of its famous landmark, a huge Canada goose
Stopped by to explore Katherine Cove, a place of memories for driver Gary
A beautiful cove, shaded by trees, calm Lake Superior water, soft sand underfoot
But beware!Do not let those gentle caressing wavelets fool the passer by
Lake Superior, without warning, can change its mood, turn into a tempestuous angry sea
Many a ship has foundered into its depths, hundreds of lives lost without trace
Onwards to Rossport for an overnight B & B stay; an interesting Dutch shaped building
Dinner at lakeside Serendipity Restaurant, good food and service
Displayed many unusual artifacts, ornaments and art, mostly all for sale
Next day, Gary first gave us a tour around Nichol Island nearby, a place of quietude and serenity
Onwards and a few more hours ride, passed Nipigon and shortly after, Thunder Bay loomed
Thunder Bay, an amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William on 1st January 1970
An early fur trading area, logging, going through many transitions as the years went by
Now a thriving commercial city with colleges, a university and hospital of note
A tour of course, around the town by driver Gary, his birth place and many years a resident
The Sleeping Giant Provincial Park on Sibley Peninsula
The outline appearing to be a giant at rest, which dominates the view from all areas of Thunder Bay
The Terry Fox Monument, The Terry Fox Visitor Information Centre and surrounding park
Overlooks the road area where Terry took his last steps before having to finally give up
Gary told us he and his family saw those last steps of Terry's as they waited for him by the roadside
They waved to him as he passed by, he managed a wave back, but he was already faltering
Just a few further yards along the road, he stopped and got into his attending trailer
The rest is history; but what a legacy Terry left, so far, some $750 million raised for cancer research
Our tour continued, a well laid out waterfront, marina and splash pool/skating rink children's area
The Community Concert Hall, a legacy of Gary's far sighted inspiration to build for the people
Acoustics second to none, renowned the world over
Early evening, we met Gary's Thunder Bay long-time friends for dinner
Chose Bight Restaurant and Bar, a classy waterfront eatery
A good meal and a great few hours to catch up with Gary's friends
Enabling them to bring us up to date with their joys and woes over the past number of years
The evening came to a close, said our goodbyes; our day was done
Day break, began more touring of the area and beyond
Started with breakfast at the Hoito Restaurant situated in basement of the 100 year old Finnish Hall
Feasted on their famous crepe-like pancakes and maple syrup, second to none
From there, a pub of old, the Royalton and for old times sake, Gary bought drinks for the house
With nostalgia abounding for Gary, the Royalton is situated next door to his boyhood abode
The Lenwood Apartments, a small two-story block, now renamed Parkwood
A trip to Kakabeka Falls some 15 kms away, the water in full flow cascading over the rocky precipices
Took great care on the wooden sight-seeing walkway and staircases as very wet and slippery
Following visiting Kakabeka, drove a number of miles back towards Thunder Bay
Stopped by to see Old Fort William, where fur traders and First Nations traded their wares
Noticed en-route the landscape was remarkably arable, orchards and horse stables too.
Stopped by the Tbaytel HQ for Gary to see his recently added portrait in the Board Room
This, in recognition as a past long serving member of the Tbaytel Board
For dinner, a great eat out at La Casa Nostra restaurant, formally Vi's of Gary's memories
Serenaded by piano and guitar, a very pleasant and memorable evening
Another day done, those past 24 hours had flown away
Dawn broke once more, packed and continued our journey around Lake Superior
Before long, arrived at the US/Canadian border, no fanfare, a quiet border crossing
Showing passports, a few questions asked and answered, we were on our way
Now we were in the U S of A; stopped at the Grand Portage Park Welcome Centre
Stopped too, at the Susie Islands Overlook, a beautiful unhindered spot to view Lake Superior
On towards Duluth, passing lakeside townships, some sleepy, some busy holiday places
Grand Marais, Lutsen, Tofte, Silver and Beaver Bay, Two Harbors, even had a few lakeside views
Arriving at Duluth, did not stop, passed through the town without fuss or fanfare
Drove over the long Blatnik Bridge spanning above St Louis Bay and the industrial harbor area
Sweeping by the town of Superior on Route 53, southwest side of Lake Superior
Shortly joined Route 2 through countryside and small towns of region
Occasional sightings of Lake Superior, the foliage tending to hide much of any scenic view
Stayed over at Ironwood, just over the border in Michigan from Wisconsin
Just took a chance on hotels.com for accommodation, came up with Rodeway Inn
Turned out to be really fine, with a very friendly and helpful receptionist
Onwards next day towards Sault Ste Marie continuing now on Route 28
Original thoughts of taking trip along Lake Michigan to Straits of Mackinac
Then continuing the drive down in Michigan along Lake Huron
Realized would take too long for our original six days of tour
Already getting short of time, continued steadily on Route 28
Many little towns and delightful villages having to pass through without a stop, even for a look
Beautiful forestry scenery and rich meadowland along the way
However - a treat - while passing through Munising, saw the sign "Hot Cornish Pasties"
How could one resist! Especially as so near to lunch time; others also had the same idea!
Lined up at Lehto's, a grocery diner that had been in business there for years
Enjoyed our vegetable Cornish Pastie relaxing on bench outside, within sight of Lake Superior
Again, back on the road, Route 28 connected us to Route 75, turned north towards The Soo
Over International Bridge, sweeping over countryside and St. Mary's River
Passed from the US border and into Canada without any hassle, arrived at Sault Ste Marie
It was now getting dark and into the evening, booked in at The Marriott on Route 17
Gary, also, in the meantime, had organized an alternative route of journey back home
Booked the 11.30am ferry from South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island
Had to be there by 11.10am otherwise, no guarantee of getting on ferry!
That meant a very early start as still over a four hour drive to get to the port
A 6am rise, off by 7am, kept a fairly steady speed on Route 17, one or two very short stops
Reached McKerrow, south on Route 6 through Espanola; by now, time was of the essence
Already it had gone 10.30am, our latest time for arrival was 11.10am as already declared
Gary kept his cool, the clock was ticking, it was already 11.10am and still a few miles to go!
Oh dear! Our late arrival at 11.20am caused a problem, now no guarantee to get aboard!
Next sailing was four hours away; would not get home till very late that night
Waited patiently in line with bated breath, other late comers did the same
Cars, vans, trucks, RV's, busses were gradually loaded - then - Hallelujah- it became our turn
On board we drove, tucked in almost at the very end with three car spaces to spare - phew!
Within a very few minutes, the ferry started to pull away from port
The four-hour sailing to Tobermory turned out to be most pleasant
Gave us all time to unwind and relax from the hair-raising journey to the dock
A beautiful, warm sunny day, most passengers sat on the upper open deck, as we did, too
Looked at the passing islands and even glimpsed a gull or two, Lake Huron waters calm
Docked at Tobermory; united once again with our car, engine turned on, ready to go
Vehicles were gradually unloaded; Carefully drove off ferry and located continuation of Route 6
Down the long peninsula to Owen Sound, found Route 10 and then Route 89 to Cookstown
Collected the pooches, who, we were told, had been as good as gold
Away down the nearby always busy Route 400 to King Road E
Turned south onto Bathurst Street and cut through to my place
Luggage around my feet, gave a long wave to Gary and Tim in a fond goodbye
What an amazing journey of 3,512 kms undertaken
Saw and experienced so many interesting and out of the way places on this extraordinary trip
Huge thanks to Gary for a wonderful five-star Greatest of the Lakes tour of Lake Superior

A poem travelogue written in Richmond Hill, Ontario, during November and December 2019 reflecting journey taken around Lake Superior in mid-September 2019 - Deanna Samuels