Ships! and more

Well, we were at the Soo, (celebrating our 43rd anniversary a month early) enjoying a lot of ships in spite of sometime rainy weather....and I forgot my password so couldn't log in to share the pics.  I think I'll have to just share a few at a time here.  Waves were crashing against the breakwall in Marquette harbor yesterday, too, and made a movie clip which I'll post later.  

Fall Color, Robert S Pierson, Herbert C Jackson, Lee A Tregurtha

Had an absolutely beautiful day yesterday.  After church we headed to Marquette and then L'Anse.  Caught the Robert S Pierson leaving Marquette, then headed to L'Anse and enjoyed beautiful fall colors.  Returning through Marquette saw the Herbert C Jackson and Lee A Tregurtha both at the dock, the Lee A taking on ore, the Jackson dropping coal.  A couple deer were also enjoying time at the dock.  

Lee A Tregurtha

The Lee A Tregurtha arrived on a beautiful Wednesday.  It was a great day for standing out on the beach taking pictures.  One of my favorite ships, and perfect weather, too.  Both Barkers (Kaye and James) were arriving later, but I didn't stay around to get their pics.  Hoping the Big Barker will still be in when we go in tomorrow.

Charles M Beeghly

The Charles M Beeghly was in Marquette yesterday.  She first brought coal, then took on ore.  It was a really windy day, with the wind out of the south, so it was warm, too.  Caught a deer eating apples from a tree near the dock.  

Saginaw, Canadian Lader, H C Jackson

Had another great day in Marquette yesterday.  Although bright sunlight made it difficult to get good pictures, it was still fun!  Both the Canadian Leader and Saginaw were at the dock loading, and the Herbert C Jackson brought coal to the Shiras dock in the lower harbor before going to the ore dock later in the day.  How good is that!  The James Barker is in today at the upper harbor coal hopper, but too busy to go in for a pic.  

J Kuber, Pathfinder, Michipicoten, storm

Saturday we had the opportunity to work communication with other amateur radio people for Munising's "Tour da Woods" bicycle race (pouring rain!) and enjoyed that.  Had a great time in Marquette yesterday after church.  Got to see the James L Kuber/ Victory for the first time since her "barging", also saw the Pathfinder/ Dorothy Ann (another tug-barge) and the Michipicoten with a storm and rainbow to boot.  

Catherine Desgagnes, Donner, Viking

On our way back from the DeYoung  Family Zoo (a really great place to visit!) in Wallace, we stopped in Marinette/ Menominee so I could take  few pictures.  A ship fix!  The Catherine Desgagnes was still tied to the Wm. Donner, although no unloading was taking place.  The Viking is still at her spot in Menominee at K & K.  Wonder if they'll ever decide to do something with her.  

The DeYoung Zoo has lots of big cats and other animals, and many babies, too.  

Antique Tractors

Okay, not ships, but we went to the antique steam engine and tractor show today in Escanaba.  Weather was beautiful, a bit warm, but.....  and it would have been perfect if a ship had been at the Esky ore dock.  Heading to Menominee tomorrow (with a stop at the DeYoung Zoo in Wallace), so hope to see at least one ship.  Don't know if anything is in there, though.  Really, really need a Soo fix.  Watching the Ryerson on the Soo webcam just wasn't enough!  

Algocape

The Algocape loaded ore in Marquette (a very slow load!) on a beautiful Tuesday.  They didn't begin loading her until afternoon (although she arrived in the morning.... I'm assuming they had to re-charge the dock), and she was still pumping ballast at almost 9 tonight.   Still, nice to see another straight-decker this week!

Ships and boats galore

Wow, finally seeing a few ships.  The Mesabi Miner was in last night.  The tugs Billmaier and Hammond Bay are working with the F. Schwartz crane to add rocks to the lower harbor breakwall.  The Keweenaw Star is doing cruises (took the Blues Cruise last night, beautiful night!) as part of Maritime Month.  Today the Canadian Leader and Michipicoten arrived at the ore dock and the Joyce VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader brought stone to the lower harbor Shiras Dock.  Finally getting a ship fix!!  Will see how many pics this blog will post....

Hope the comments section is working.  It had a filter on it which I removed.  Now, just stay nice and I won't have to put it back on.  :o)

Sorry...

Sorry about not posting for so long.  Hope you haven't been checking.....but then, maybe you should have and should have sent me a notice asking where I was!  :o)  We were at Bay Cliff Health  Camp for 9 days typing their end-of-year reports, a volunteer thing we do for this special place, and have also been in and out of town or had company.  It's been busy!  Haven't taken many ship pictures, either.  Did get a sunset, though.

Michipicoten

The Michipicoten arrived at Marquette today about 4, quickly loaded and was on her way out by 7.  Three hours is a quick load, especially now that the lake is higher and she can take on more ore.  The new doors on the ore pockets has to aid in the faster loads.

Commenting

I'm still new at this blogging stuff, and wondered why no one posted a comment.  Learned that they get sent to my e-mail, but today is the first I received that.  Keep on trying and I'll try to get the kinks out.  :o)    I have learned that if you click on the title first, it will allow you to go to a comment section.  It does still filter, though, and won't post until I log on and look at it, it seems.  Anyway, keep trying, and thanks.

Man Over Video, Indiana Harbor

Here is a video I took while on the Chief Shingwauk of the Indiana Harbor dropping a man overboard to "walk" the lines and tie the ship up while it's in the locks.   The ship is moving.

Finally!

Okay, I must apologize for those of you who read this (but no one posts.....is there a problem?...do I have to add something to this blog to get responses?  just wondering) for being so lax in blogging.  This past month has been filled with Gwinn Centennial events, and I was just, frankly, too tired to do more than briefly check e-mail.   Those of you who know me can e-mail me directly, and I'll try to see how to allow postings.

Did get to see the John J Munson and Michipicoten today.  It was a beautiful day after the fog in Marquette lifted.

Soo and all

It's been a busy time, so haven't done any posting.  Actually have a few hundred pictures that I need to organize and post on boatnerd or pasty.com or somewhere.  :o)  Will try to add a Speer salute here.  

Manitowoc

The Manitowoc made one of what may be repeat trips between Marquette and Algoma Steel at the Soo.  Fortunately the sun came out for some of the pictures.  Part of the day was cold and drizzly.  No global warming here!

Adding a pic of the loading chutes.  With the automatic doors the chutes are constantly moving up and down.  Makes for a fast load.

Charles M Beeghly

Spent the morning watching the race (5, 10 and 25K) for Youth For Christ (our daughter raced in that), then went to catch the Charles M Beeghly unloading coal in Marquette's upper harbor.  The Beeghly was going to take on ore after she unloaded coal.  The Saginaw was also expected this evening, but we didn't stay around to wait for her.  Seeing fewer ships because of gas prices, just don't want to make that drive too often.   Attaching a pic of the Beeghly taken today, and a pic of the first "man over" from the Kaye E Barker taken in 2006.  

BBC Elbe and windmill sections

We went to Appleton, Wisconsin for a weekend of minor league baseball and ended up getting about three innings of baseball followed by the most spectacular light show put on by God!  Better than the fireworks they had planned for after the game, I'm sure.  We were safe under the roof, and saw lightning cross the sky from cloud to cloud.    Wow!

On the way home Sunday we caught the BBC Elbe unloading windmill sections at Menominee, Michigan.  You can see part of the old ferry Viking there.  The William Donner is still rusting away on the Marinette, Wisconsin, side being used as a crane barge.  Sad sight, indeed.

Dorothy Anne/ Pathfinder

Okay, back to what I look for in pics.... :o)

Managed to catch the tug Dorothy Anne and her barge Pathfinder at both the Shiras dock and the upper harbor ore dock yesterday.  We used to be able to drive right in and under the boom to take pictures from the other side.  Now the fence is closed with a guard on duty when a ship is in.  

Still need to organize pics from Port Huron and post on the Boatnerd Public Gallery (too many to post here).  Life will slow down, one of these days!  Still, beautiful weather, birds, ships.....

Have been too busy to post lately, but will try to get to it and share some ship pics soon.

Myakka State Park

Well, enjoyed a cooler day visiting Myakka State Park not far from Sarasota.  The airboat tour is worth the money.  Walked around (carefully) and enjoyed the view, including the canopy trail, truly amazing.  Now we're on our way north, should be in Port Huron tonight and enjoying ship traffic.  Had a great time with family in Florida, but glad for cooler weather now.  Yooper blood coagulates in the heat, I think.  

Pics are of the top of the palm canopy, the tower to climb to get there, and one of the many gators you see on the airboat tour.

Tampa

Well, a tug and barge is the closest thing to a ship I've seen....and lots and lots of palm trees.  Went to a neat Zoo in Tampa and to the Spaghetti Warehouse.  HOT, oh, so hot.  :o)

Florida!

It was 93 degrees when we arrived in  Florida yesterday, in the 80's today.  Yikes!  Still beautiful, though, lots of flowers.  Area is a little dry, and many flowering plants are looking parched.  Took a walk this morning, and decided we have to walk earlier in the day.  It gets hot and humid in a hurry.  Still, spending time with family is good.  Haven't decided what places we'll go, but plan to just relax and enjoy this time.  We may be retired, but we feel young down here!  :o)  Having trouble sending mail, though.  Can receive, but not send very well.

Georgia

Farther south.  Will be in Florida tomorrow.  Great traveling weather, although getting a little warm now (in the 80's here).  Kentucky was horse country, although Georgia has their share.  They're also into peaches and pecans, but this isn't the season for them.  (Poo!)  Miss seeing the boats.  Good thing boatnerd has lots of pictures.  Lovely, lovely accents.  Also interesting food choices, too.  Hope to find grits tomorrow.  :o)

Lots and lots of beautiful hills.  Glad it isn't winter!  Wish Kentucky had some scenic turn-offs on the interstate.  Saw many police cars in  Georgia, very few any other state so far.  None after us, and the traffic was going at a good clip!

Travelling

Two days of hard driving with a visit to a friend last night has us north of Lexington, KY tonight.  Temp is 68, and sunny...  Will see how far we get tomorrow.  Would like to try to find a high school friend living in Florida on Tuesday before picking Kris up.  Rolling hills, beautiful country (but too many cars/people), and people are beginning to talk funny.  :o)  Y'all....   Hope we get through Atlanta without any traffic tie-ups.

Lee A Tregurtha

The Lee A Tregurtha arrived in Marquette today.  It was bright and sunny out, but very chilly at the waterfront because of the wind.  Still, nice to see LaLa at the dock.

We'll be doing some traveling for a while, and don't know if I'll be able to get my password to work on the laptop, so if you don't see any postings for a while, you'll know why.    Thanks for checking in.