So, on opening day of the Great Lakes Shipping season, where do you think Danielle Adams was? If you guessed Marquette Harbor, you’re wrong, but if you were thinking the Soo Locks, you hit the nail on the head. She made the drive there, mostly because it was Captain Ray Sheldon’s last time locking through the Soo Locks as a fleet captain with the Joseph L. Block (that’s him waving in the second photo). Danielle said he gave master salutes, along with many waves and thank you’s as he passed through the locks for the last time. He is officially retired now, after 44.5 years working on the boats. I hear he will be still captaining, but on his own boat now for pleasure and fun. You can tell from the photos, that it was a dreary, rainy day, but Danielle said it was still fun to be there.

Boat Watching in the Soo shares a video of the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader upbound out of the Soo Locks, heading for Marquette, on opening day of the 2021 shipping season. Note that the tug is quite similar to the one that’s powering the Joseph H. Thompson in the photo above, only that one is the Laura L. and the one in the video is the Joyce L., both with the last name, VanEnkevort.

Didn't even have to read the comments to know these pics were from Danielle..... ;-)