Waterfall and Electricity

Location: Bay Mills Casino Campground; Brimley, Michigan
Click pictures to enlarge

Thru stop #9

Today is number seven at this campground. It has been a really good campground and would stay here again if I'm in the area. I've stayed longer at the last couple of campgrounds than I normally stay. Sometimes it feels as if it is too long and I should be moving or doing something. To take a lazy day and do nothing seems like I'm wasting time. Oh well, I'll either get used to it or start moving more often. Today was supposed to be moving day but when the weather forecast showed a low front with storms passing through this area, I extended my stay until tomorrow. It was important to not be traveling in stormy weather today since crossing the Mackinaw Bridge is on my route. The bridge crosses the connection of Lakes Michigan and Huron and is subject to strong crosswinds. Freedom and Liberty has handled strong crosswinds before and I have confidence in them to do it again, but why risk it when I can just stay another day.

Some of the road to the falls has trees on all sides.

Other parts run along the shore of Lake Superior.

I drove up to Tahquamenon Falls the other day. I had considered taking a railroad/riverboat to the falls but decided against it. Too many of the reviews said the trip was boring with the exception of the falls and an occasional wildlife sighting. So, not wanting to be trapped on a 6 hour tour, I decided to just make the 100 mile round trip drive to the falls. The falls are in a Michigan State Park so I had to either pay a $9.00 day use fee or buy a $32.00 annual permit. The term "annual", related to this pass, is really incorrect and deceitful. The state should change it to "calendar year" pass since it is only good for the calendar year in which you buy it. If you buy it on January 1st, it's good for 365 days. If you buy it on December 30th, it's good for only 1 day. Obviously, no one would buy one on the last day of the year and I'm just mentioning it to make a point. I bought one in late July of 2017 so I thought it would be good until the end of this month. Nope, it expired December 31, 2017. This is completely opposite of the way Texas does their permit. Theirs is good for one year from the date of purchase. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. Looking ahead on my travels, I don't think I'll be staying at or visiting any Michigan state parks, so I just went with the "day use" fee. 

To get to the falls, you have to walk about 1/2 mile from the parking lot then go down a staircase of 94 steps to a observation platform near the falls. It is worth the hike and cost. The falls are pretty good. Not the best I've seen in my travels, but the best I've seen lately. 

A sneak peak at the fall from the trail

A look at the falls from the viewing platform

The falls and the river downstream

My other reason for coming to this area was to see a hydroelectric plant in Sault St Marie. I saw it the last time I visited this area but at that time it was on a boat tour of the Soo Locks. I won't make a link to those posts, but if you use the archives on the right hand side, look for the date range of 8/15/14 to 8/18/14 or thereabouts. 

The power plant as been operating for 116 years. It provides 1/5 of the power needs of the eastern Upper Peninsula. This is truly renewable energy. It is the largest low head hydro plant in the U.S. Low head means the water doesn't fall very far (think of the height of Hoover Dam). The water height for this plant is only around 22 feet which is the height difference between Lake Superior and its outfall. With a few upgrades over the years, the power plant is expected to continue producing power for decades to come.

One of the freighters on the St. Mary's River as it approaches the Soo Locks from the south

That is the powerhouse on the left. It houses 74 turbines used to produce electricity.

A lot of the stone blocks came from the canal that was excavated to channel the water to the power plant. Those are fishing boats in front of the water outlets. Apparently it is a good fishing location.

Tomorrow is moving day and I think I'll be going about 150 miles south to a county campground at Alpena, Michigan. The town is on the shores of Lake Huron. I'm curious to see if the lake is as blue in color as I remember. I haven't made reservations yet and I don't even know if they take reservations so my plans may change. I'm sort of anxious to head on south, but really don't want to get into the real hot weather yet.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.