One thing we didn’t mention yesterday is the ferry terminal adjacent to Aune Osborn campground. Sounding a horn at every crossing, the ferry provides the only connection between Sault Ste Marie and Sugar Island. I had to look on a map to see if the ferry was going to the US or Canada. Thankfully, the ferry doesn’t run overnight.

Sugar Island, MI, USA is on the right while the campground, park, and ferry landing are on the left. The ferry crosses where the bow of the freighter is on the river.

(satellite photo from Apple Maps)

One last view of the Saint Marys River looking at Canada on the far side before we leave the campground.

Always on the lookout for intersting architecture, we drove through downtown Sault Ste Marie and stopped at the Chippewa County Courthouse. Designed by John Scott, the courthouse was built in 1877. The cupola features a clock on each side along with a wooden sculpture of lady justice on the front.

Walking around the building we came upon two large statues, which turned out to be connected by legends. Quotes from a plaque show both statues depict similar stories about the founding of cities. 

The Wolf of Rome “depicts the Roman legend of twin sons of a vestal virgin, Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned by their mother to die. They were found by a she-wolf who suckled and saved them. Later in life, after killing his brother, Romulus went on to found the city of Rome.”

The Crane of the Sault “depicts the Chippewa legend of two young brothers who flee their wicked mother who is pursuing them with the intent to kill them. When they reach the north shore of the St. Mary’s rapids they are met by a crane, who after hearing their story, carries them to the south shore of the rapids. The crane then meets the mother on the north shore and agrees to transport her to the other side. Instead, the crane drops the mother in the rapids. As she hits the stones below, the mother’s skull is cracked open and her brains become the whitefish that inhabit the rapids to this day. The crane adopts the boys and one of them remains in the area, marries the daughter of the crane and founds Bawatng.” Bawatng is now called Sault Ste. Marie. 

Learning the founding stories of cities we visit is now on our list of things to investigate! 

Lunchtime found us in Mackinaw City at the lovely Mackinaw Bridge Park. We’ve reviewed it before, but it is a great, free, place to stop with a beautiful view and a building depicting the history of this five mile long engineering marvel.

An hour and a half after the bridge deposited us onto Michigan’s lower peninsula we were relaxing at Beth’s sister and brother-in-law’s summer cottage near Gaylord. We plan to driveway camp here through Labor Day and catch-up with family.

Today’s map: 131 miles, due south, passing through the land where Lakes Superior and Michigan feed into Lake Huron.