On the Road! (Lake Superior Circle tour,part II)

 

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” *

On the first day of our long awaited “Lake Superior Circle Tour,” Al and I drove from our home in the suburbs of Detroit through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Sault Ste. Marie would be the starting point of a drive counter-clockwise around most of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes.

We were excited to see this dream become a reality, after thinking about it for several years. Even though we had already explored much of the Michigan side of Lake Superior, its northern shore would be new to us.

Our plans almost got changed at the last minute because I was still experiencing some leg and hip pain from a fall in June. Would it be too difficult to sit in the car for hours at a time? The only thing that kept us from cancelling the trip was that the cancellation date for several of the hotel reservations had expired by the time we checked!

As we were driving north that first day, we passed a large billboard with an attention- getting question: “Are you on the right road?” With maps and the GPS app on the cell phone to guide us, Al and I didn’t have to worry too much about getting lost, although it could still happen! Well, the enlarged picture of Jesus beneath the question made its spiritual implication clear!

Al, a train enthusiast, planned for a special excursion on the second day of the trip that took us over one hundred miles north to Agawa Canyon in the interior of Ontario. Instead of driving, we traveled by rail on the Agawa Canyon tourist train through rugged wilderness and over many high trestles, stopping for lunch when we reached the canyon. The only signs of civilization seen all day were around the city of Sault Ste. Marie  and at our lunch stop.

Early the next morning, we drove along Lake Superior on the way to Thunder Bay. This also was a scenic stretch—over four hundred miles through pristine forests and past numerous lakes—with few towns in between.

Just before reaching our destination, there was a turnout with a beautiful view of the bay and Lake Superior beyond. A monument and statue had been placed there in memory of Terry Fox, a young man who attempted to run across Canada to raise awareness for cancer research.

Terry, who had lost his right leg to cancer, ran from Newfoundland over 3,000 miles to that place near Thunder Bay. He was forced to stop when the cancer returned, and died in 1981, just twenty-three years old. That sparked a great outpouring of generosity from the Canadian people to a non-profit cancer research organization that was formed in his name.

According to Terry, “I believe in miracles. I have to… because somewhere the hurting must stop.” If only he could see the fulfillment of his dream today!

As we weary travelers neared Thunder Bay, we were transported back into the hustle and bustle of the large city that is a shipping port, center of medical research and education for Northwestern Ontario.

 Al and I traveled from there the next day, crossing the border into the US, going through Duluth, Minnesota and a bit of Wisconsin on the way to Marquette, Michigan. The Apostle Islands, accessible from Wisconsin by ferry, beckoned to us; however, that would have to be saved for another trip!

 On day six, we left Lake Superior, going through the Upper Peninsula and down to Tawas, on the western shore of Lake Huron where we spent our last night before reaching home.

How did I do sitting for so many miles? Much better than expected! Comfortable riding, fairly good weather, safe travels, great performance by the car, Al’s stamina in driving…all wonderful answers to prayer.

 Another inspiring highway billboard sign in Michigan’s UP had this encouraging prayer that reminded me of the Terry Fox Memorial we had seen a few days earlier: “Jesus help me, Jesus heal me, Jesus forgive me. Miracles start now!”  The greatest miracle of all is that He loves us and gave His life for our salvation. Thank you, Jesus!

 

“Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, My God, that is who you are…” ( from Leeland’s song, “Way Maker”)

*Psalm 105:4-5 NIV