Noonan News in Motion

Day 27

We awoke to a mild, sunny, with some clouds in the sky. It warmed up as the day progressed, later being hot in the city

Jan and Michael boarding the train in Sault Ste. Marie

We got up early and went straight to the train station. We wanted to arrive as close to 7:00 as possible because that’s when the man at the train station, yesterday, said the train starts loading. We managed to get there before 7:30. There were quite a few people there already. Nevertheless, we got on our train car - Number 1, and got a seat. We choose a foursome at the end of the car - this was actually the start of the train - right behind the engine. We sat on the left, as one faces the engine.

Larry and Michael relaxing in our seats

We left our sweaters on the seats and went to the dining car. They were able to take us right away. So, while the train sat in the station, waiting for departure time, we ate a nice breakfast. After breakfast, we went back to our seats. Shortly after that, the train started. It was a 114 mile journey to Agawa Canyon. The trip would take about 3 ½ hours.

A view from our window

As we moved along the tracks it seemed that sitting on the right side of the train would have been better. That was the side where you got a better view of the dam and the trestle on the dam. Otherwise, there were about equal views on both sides. The left side was the only side where you got a view of Lake Superior. We enjoyed our time on the train. We explored the other cars, going all the way to the end. The last car had a gate, closing people from going outside to stand on the small platform. This did not stop people, though. Whenever the people working on the train noticed this, they called them out of there.

Michael and Jan after detraining at the Agawa Canyon

When we arrived at Agawa Canyon, we detrained and walked along the river for a bit and then went up to see the Black Beaver Falls. We would have gone to see the Bridal Veil Falls, which are bigger, but one of the women on the train said they were presently dry.

Michael and Jan at the Black Beaver Falls

The Black Beaver Falls and the North Black Beaver Falls were both flowing. While we were walking, the engines detached from the train, and moved along the track, then moved to the side track and past the train, then came back on the right track and attached to the other end. For the return trip, this would put us at the very end of the train.

After seeing the falls, we walked back down the tracks toward the train station. Everyone was told to be back on the train by 1:35.

Larry and Jan before boarding at the Agawa Canyon

We boarded about 10 minutes before that. When the engineer blew the whistle to make sure everyone came, we went to the dining car to see if we could get lunch. We wanted to sit on the right side so we could see the dam. Luckily, in the dining car, we got a seat on the right.

Jan, Michael and Larry waiting for our lunch

We mulled over the menu for a bit and then ordered our lunches. We ate leisurely, waiting for the time when we would pass the dam. Michael ordered pecan pie for desert. He got the last piece. He ate slowly and, eventually, we passed the dam and got some pictures.

A view of the trestle - unfortunately, there is glare on the window

When we finished eating and paid for our lunch, we returned to our seats. We took some pictures out the back from the window. Again, no one was supposed to go out the back door. However, we saw people constantly out there. Some were out there for a long time. In the whole time we were returning to Sault Ste. Marie, I think one of the conductors came back there only 3 or 4 times. Every time, she had to tell the people to come back into the train.

A view out the back - from inside the gate!

We returned to Sault Ste. Marie about 5:30. The train went past the Algoma Steel Mill and the paper mill. When we got off the train, we went to the train station and the gift shop. We bought some souvenirs. Then we headed back to the Great Northern Road. We stopped at Canadian Tire and bought gas.

I loved this statue in front of the Totem Pole Gift Shop

We stopped at the Totem Pole gift shop after this. It was right next to the Trading Post. The house across the road was the place where my great Uncle Ted used to live. There was an ice cream store there, so we had some ice cream - before dinner.

Michael and Larry enjoying their ice cream

We returned to the RV and had Michael’s left over pizza for dinner. We watched Dr. Who on TV.