The colors are beautiful driving across Ontario. We see lake after lake, and networks of rivers that run along small towns. Lake Huron is enormous with two large arms, the end of which is the shipping port and Soo locks at Sault Sainte Marie.
Today’s adventure is taking the trailer over the bridge and into the US. through customs at Sault Sainte Marie.
We aren‘t really sure what to expect and are directed to back up to the dock. I manage to talk them out of the backing up part and they settle for us parking along the edge. We are told to get out of the car and up to the customs office while they search the trailer- not sure what they are looking for (drugs, weapons, people?) but they declare it clear after about 20 min. While we are waiting, we hear them talking about a huge truck carrying spaghetti sauce and making sure there is no meat in the sauce! We breathe a sigh of relief and scramble to get out of there as quickly as possible. For whatever reason, it is an intimidating place and the customs officers are a stern bunch.
The beautiful Manastique Lakeside Campground is on the northern coast of Lake Michigan and the sites are surrounded by pines and maples. in fall foliage. We arrive right as the rain starts. It is windy and the white caps on the lake are pretty big-wouldn’t want to be in a boat out there!
We run into a couple from Michigan who tell us the lake was calm as glass yesterday. They also say getting through customs with a trailer can be dicey depending on the mood of the customs officers. They have friends whose trailers were searched and left a mess; they avoid going to Canada.
Now comes the job of figuring out the rest of our return route to avoid some night time freezing temperatures in Montana and Idaho – in September, really?? That and rain/snow showers may prevent us from fishing…and it is so hot back home!
So far we have not unhitched,; the plan is to do so in the Badlands in a few days.