We left the cabin early, eager to be home now despite the opportunity to enjoy the place a little longer. A short but tense drive through the dangerous gloom of pre-dawn found us in Wawa, where we loaded up on gas and coffee. Along the way, a bear ran out in front of us, before thinking better of the idea and retreating to the treeline.
From there, it was a short and pleasant run to Sault Ste. Marie, where we stopped for breakfast and another coffee. Given where we live, it makes more sense to cut through Michigan rather than go around the Great Lakes through Ontario....though the original (pre-back-problem) plan had been to cross further along at Manitoulin Island, take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry across to Tobermory, and camp at Bruce Peninsula National Park. Plans had changed, and the most direct route was chosen.
The "Day of Three Bridges" unfolded accordingly. Crossing the International Bridge at The Soo, questions were few at U.S. Customs, and we were soon on our way again. Speeding south along Interstate 75, we soon crossed the long suspension bridge at Mackinaw City, stopping eventually for fuel and lunch in Gaylord, Michigan.
From there, we traversed a busy Flint - and for a guy in extreme back pain, the Michigan roads were frequently worse than the patchy permafrost humps of the Yukon! We caught Interstate 69 East towards Port Huron, before crossing the Bluewater Bridge over the St. Clair River and into Sarnia.
We were again welcomed into Canada with minimal delay, and after one last tank of fuel, the home stretch lay before us - a quiet drive a backroads, slowed only by the occasional tomato wagon. A heat wave was ravaging southwestern Ontario, and Humidex values in the low 40's Celsius felt even worse after several weeks in The North.
We arrived home around 530 pm, and all nine fur babies were soon accounted for. Unpacking could wait., but dinner could not......so after a short breather, Jane ordered takeout from the Lucky Wok!
Despite being cut short by a full week, the trip still met the proper definition of Epic - we covered 5 Provinces and 1 Territory, plus 5 States, over 5 Time Zones - travelling a total of 14,265 kilometers along the way in a dusty golden Juke.
We visited 12 National Parks and Historic Sites, and a number of great friends. We saw bountiful wildlife across this great land, including deer, elk, moose, caribou, bison, bear, wolf, coyote, foxes, mountain sheep, prairie dogs, swans, and an eagle.....and oh yeah, we witnessed the Aurora borealis dance across the northern skies.
On an unrelated note, a total of 28 new beer bottles, cans and growlers were found in the Juke after unpacking, from craft breweries across the western continent.
3 weeks - 2 crazies - 1 great trip!
The Big Goose at Wawa
More Lake Superior scenery
Batchewana Bay
Vibrant fall colours!
Nearing the border
Sault Ste. Marie and the St. Marys River
Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
A downbound vessel enters the Soo Locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron
Mackinac Bridge in northern Michigan
Bluewater Bridge to Sarnia
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