The Herbert C. Jackson pulled into the Shiras Dock in Marquette’s Lower Harbor to unload and Danielle Putnam was on hand to snap and record her arrival. She said she was just walking down the beach taking pictures, then jumped the river and went up on the rocks by the fence and sat there for a while taking photos. From the looks of the pics, it was a perfect spot to get all the action. I especially like the way you can see that the water was churning as the big boat was backing up. That maneuver never ceases to amaze me, that someone can pilot something that big and pull up to a dock like they do.

Danielle had a good spot to record the backing in action of the Jackson, also. The video shows the process and how it’s not like driving a car where you just back up, park and you’re done.

Love going to Marquette and Duluth to watch
the ships come and go. Could stay all day
watching.

Good video...backup and lane change assist fur
sure..."Then I watch 'em roll away again."
(Redding)

Nice pics and video, I didn't think they used the
lower harbor any longer?? Interesting video and
backin her in!! Kinda like backin up my 5th
wheel RV maybe!! lol Wouldn't you agree D.A.?!!
:=)) Kidding of course....

We're camping in Mackinaw City right now and it's
just beautiful. On Friday we head to Cedarville
which is east on 134 towards Drummond Island.
Then down to Gaylord for a family wedding. Hoping
to get back to the Keweenaw in October but will
have to wait on a couple of upcoming Dr appts. at
the U. Feeling good and enjoying retirement!! I
highly recommend it!! lol

The Jackson has both a bow and stern side thruster
so she can literally walk sideways as long as the
wind isn't to strong. She is one of my favorite
vessels on the great lakes. Beautiful lines on
the old style lakers! Wonder what they were
dropping off at the lower dock, isn't the power
plant shutdown now?

Good mornin, Deb. Loved going to Canal Park in
Duluth as a kid. My mom or dad would take us on
our trips to Duluth, we would sometimes stay for 3
to 4 hours. Favorite thing to do growing up. In
the early 70's there were a lot more ships plying
the lakes and you might see 6 or 7 in that
timeframe coming or going. Now you have to plan
your day a bit as you might be lucky to see that
many in a week.

They unload limestone for the making of the iron
ore pellets at the mine

Thanks Gordon Schmitt (Gordy)! I was like UC - didn't know they used the lower harbor anymore.

They use the lower harbor for the Shiras Dock. Even though
the power plant is being torn down, the boats still use and will
use it in the future. They unload stone and coal there and it’s
hauled by truck to the Tilden Mine.

Btw if y'all are wondering who Danielle Putnam is, that'd be me. I got
married back on June 26th.

I still share pics :)

Oh my Danielle, I was going to ask but didn't
wanna be too forward. Congrats to you and
your new hubby! I hope he loves ships as much
as you do. Anxious to see pictures!

Deb, yes he loves the boats as much as I do! He’s mad
because he isn’t here and the American Spirit was here. He
had to go back to work in Alaska, so I sent him pics and he’s
so envious lol He worked on the Philip R. Clarke for 12 days
and hated it…he didn’t give another boat or company a try.
We both try to catch as many boats as we can, sometimes we
miss them as we end up on adventures out in the middle of
nowhere with the Jeep and have fun driving around and
getting muddy lol

Seriously he’s the best, I wouldn’t trade a minute spent with
him for anything in the world. We have so much fun together
just doing what we do best, driving around like we’re lost or
chasing boats lol

Sounds great, Danielle. Maybe one day he can
work over here or you can move there. I hope
you have a wonderful life

Deb, there isn’t anything local here that he can do without
basically killing himself day in day out. He used to live up
there, moved back in 2018. He doesn’t want to live there ever
again. He is gone for 15-16 days sometimes it’s 1-2 days for
him to get home and he’s home for 12 days. The time joke is
worth it. There’s no stress of being called into work, no worry
about giving up days off to work. He works a rerouting
schedule and knows his schedule for a year at a time, they
have to know their schedules so they can make flight
arrangements to and from work.
When he’s home, he’s home. We can go do whatever we
want and come home as late as we want with no worries. It’s
worth it for sure.

I should say he moved back to Michigan in 2018….he’s from
downstate in the thumb area but in 2018 he moved to the U.P.,
he’s been coming here his whole life and he’s always said he
wanted to live up here. So now he does and we have no plans
on moving away from the U.P. As long as he’s not too far from
an airport, he can get to and from work.

Sounds like a plan. And Alaska is beautiful
too.

Alaska is beautiful and one day he wants to take me there and
we also want to see the Alaska Railroad!!