We ended last week, with a tug and barge in Marquette Harbor and we start this week, with a different tug and barge that went through the Portage Canal and under the Lift Bridge last Thursday. Debbie Jarve from Debbie Jarve Photography, snapped the first three photos of The Erie Trader Barge and the Clyde S. VanEnkevort Tug as it sailed down the Portage on its way to Duluth and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock, which was making its way on the Canal, while out removing buoys for the winter months. I think the Hollyhock followed after right after the tug/barge, so there was a bit of a delay for vehicle traffic while the bridge was up for both boats to pass under. An interesting bit of Portage Lift Bridge trivia, this tug/barge is the largest vessel to pass under the Portage Lift Bridge at 875’. The previous record was the Lee A. Tregurtha at 826’. Talk about excitement on the Canal.

The bottom two photos come to us through Joel Mack, who is a buddy of, Mark Mather, the Captain of the Tug. Captain Mather snapped the last two shots as the Erie Trader/Clyde S. VanEnkevort was approaching the Lift Bridge. Now that’s a view you won’t see every day from a large vessel on the Canal. The Captain also took photos of his nephews waving to him from the parking deck and his sister-in-law on the waterfront, who was taking photos of his boat as he passed by. Fun local connections.

Courtney Holzberger shares a video she made of the two boats and said this is her favorite part of working so close to the water. Wait for the end, when they both salute!

Great pictures and video.

Who's all enjoying the blizzard??

How sweet was that?

Very cool... no room for mistakes!!