The ship sailed through the night across Lake Superior towards the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. There was a little movement on the ship, nothing like it must have been for the Edmond Fitzgerald!

When we woke up this morning and it was light enough to open the shades (we must keep them closed until sunrise due to migrating birds), we could see land. We are on the starboard side of the ship so we are looking at the Upper Pennisula of Michigan.

Last evening there were a couple of short lectures we attended about clouds and poison ivy.

There are two Chief Scientists permanently on this ship and several research projects under way so there are more in depth lectures every day.

The ship is scheduled for transit to begin at 9:00 AM. We will be at the bow to watch the ship go through the locks. The pilot ship pulled up next to the ship at 7:20 AM to board the pilot who will guide us through the locks.

The bridges come into view, car bridge and rail bridge across the St. Mary’s River. The locks were created because of the river rapids creating a difference of 24 feet between Lake Superior/St. Mary’s River connection with Lake Huron. On the left side, the rail bridge goes up like a toll bridge while on the other side, it raises up with a pulley system.

The ship is transiting the Poe Lock. The other lock is currently allowing a couple of boats from Lake Huron to enter to allow them to get over to Lake Superior. There is viewing stand on the USA side.

Our ship barely fits in the Poe Lock so it inches in slowly. Finally we are in and they can start releasing the water. A video of this would be sooooo long. It took about an hour for us to enter, tie down, and release the water so we could sail out into Lake Huron.

We will now be in St. Mary’s River passing by the city of Sault Ste. Marie. A tall tower called the Tower of History is the main structure we can see besides homes. The tower was built by the Catholic Church as a tribute to all the missionaries that helped settle this area.

The ship continues on the journey into Lake Huron with many homes along the shore. The weather has improved as well.

Our ship stops and hovers for 2 hours as the custom personnel board for a mandatory US immigration inspection on ship as we are now entering USA waters. After we show them our passports and they take a picture, we have a little time until a 3D Movie. Of course we have to go and see this movie; it is about the National Parks!

Dinner and then off to bed as the ship sails to Mackinac Island. It is a small island that is between the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan located right at the point where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet.