Favorite Spots for Boat Watching

Sault Ste. Marie has to be the best spot in Michigan for boat watching because it offers such a variety of places to watch from and most of them are never crowded or busy. Here is a list of my top 5 favorites (actually there seven because I couldn't narrow it down to 5).








1. My cabin-we're located between Six and Seven Mile Road. Although the St. Marys River is wide at this spot, we still get a good view. If we want a picture of a boat, we must take our wave runners out to get close. This is a little dicey because you are doing two things at once-hanging on the wave runner and also operating the camera. My worst experience at this was when one of the tall ships passed by. Tom drove me out there for pictures and I took many. Even got close enough for the crew to wave. Once we got back to shore, I found I had the lens cap on for the whole time. Not fun. I never told Tom what I had done!



2. Sugar Island Ferry Dock-The ships slow down for the turn in the river plus the river is narrow at this point. There are great parking spots plus Clyde's Drive-in which is located here has the best hamburgers in town.


3. 4 Mile Park-at the end of 4 Mile, there is a small public park where the ships come very close. In fact, if you are swimming there, you must get out of the water when the ships pass because of the current and wave created that will pull you out to deep water.




4. West Pier-the west end of the Locks used to offer a great boat watching spot before the condos were built there. It is still a good spot plus there is West Pier Drive-In with great burgers. Some people think the best in town but I have another favorite. See #2 above.



5. Soo Locks Boat Tour-I took the above picture while on the Soo Locks Boat Tour. You get up close and personal on the tour. I like to take the tour once a summer. We usually wait for friends to come visit from out of town.





6. The Locks-This is where you will get the closest to the boats and you can even chat with the crew while they lock through. We always take guests there plus we often go just to walk through the park. The Visitor's Center is a must see for guests too.





7. The Rock Cut/Neebish Island area-This location just south of the Soo has a good eating spot as well as a close up look at boats.

Now I want to hear from you. What do you think is the best boat watching spot in the Sault? I'd like to learn a few new ones for this summer.

Recent Ship Pictures

I found these photos of the Roger Blough on VisittheSault's Facebook page. She took them from Freighter's Restaurant at the Ojibway on November 29th at 3:30. It makes me lonesome for my little cabin on the river watching the Blough slide by.

If you have any photos to share, please send them to me at saultboatwatcher@gmail.com

Thanks,
Brenda

Dunbar Park for Boat Watching

We stopped by Dunbar Park today while taking my parents for a picnic. Not only is it a nice picnic site, it is a good boat watching park.

Ships headed down bound pass close enough for pictures just before they head through the Rock Cut.

We observed the Canadian Leader while eating our lunch.
Also passing our place today has been the Kaye E. Barker, Saginaw, and the Robert S. Pierson.

It has been a quiet cool day here.

A Boat & A Train

Last night we were in the Soo driving our
grandchildren down Portage Street to see the fountain, the Locks and to drive to West Pier looking for boats. We had a double-treat.

The Arthur M. Anderson was coming into the Locks but there was also a train waiting to cross from Canada. The train bridge lowered into place across the water after the Anderson had moved into the Locks. So the kids saw both a boat and a train.

During the afternoon we saw the Edward L. Ryerson go up bound. We followed her into the Soo where she was met by several formal salutes. We are always happy to see the Ryerson.

Also observed on the river Sunday was the Buffalo and the Saginaw.