Deb Simons and her hubby Ron, were headed on a Spring Break a week ago and ended up spending some unexpected time in St. Ignace, waiting for the Mackinac Bridge to open back up. The Bridge Authority closed down the bridge for a good portion of the day, due to falling ice from the bridge cables and structure, making it unsafe for traffic. Deb captured the first shot of the John G. Munson from St. Ignace while they were waiting. She said it looked like it was stuck in the ice there.

Deb’s remaining photos were snapped once the Bridge was opened again for traffic, as they were crossing the 5 mile span. She took a couple of the line-up of traffic crossing, as there were many folks that had to wait hours to get across to the other side. Along with the Bridge photos, Deb was also able to snap a couple shots of the Munson from the bridge, with the USCGC Biscayne Bay ice breaker coming to the rescue to break up the ice so the Munson could get moving again.

This video was actually taken the same day as Deb’s photos, by Captain Scott Hein, aboard the John G. Munson, which was west of the Mackinac Bridge, surrounded by ice and in need of some assistance... the USCGC Biscayne Bay came to help them out and eventually got them going. You can hear the comment on the video that the ice is about a foot thick. If you listen closely toward the end of the video, you can hear the Biscayne radio the Munson to let them know they were going to “cut ahead” of them and try to get a “track laid down” and try to get it open for them. This video was shared via DRE Designs – Great Lakes Marine Products, so a big thank you for their help in sharing it.

Hi
Where is the icebreaker Mackinac? Not to take away
from Biscayne Bay, it looked like it was doing the
job.

Oh wow, Mary! That's awesome that you
found that video. I'm a little sad because
I've since figured how to zoom in better
with my camera. I came upon it purely by
accident because that's how I figure most
stuff out, lol. But I don't know if I'd
have been able to do it while moving anyway.
And the bridge made it a little difficult
anyway. But it was very fun seeing all of
that going on. And it's always an adventure
crossing the bridge anyway.

Great pictures, Deb!! I don't think i would be in a rush to get in line when it finally opened! Wouldn't want to be trapped on the Bridge with those people full of road rage at being kept waiting!!

Hey folks, for all you Finnish experts, i have question. Is this a person's name, or the name of a town or something: Jlma Joella

Thanks!!

"She's breaking up! She's breaking up!" Here it
comes again.

Gotta love seeing pics of the Mighty Mac, gateway to
heaven!! In all the years crossing the bridge as a
kid, school at NMU and for my job calling on the
Healthcare Systems... I don't ever recall having to
wait because of weather or falling ice. There were a
few times when I was in the last group before they
made closures tho!!

Really neat video from a perspective very few get to
see, two thumbs U.P.!! Nice!!

Jbuck, I'm a Finn however, I only know a few words
and sayings and your two words ain't them. :-)
Kippis!!! Cheers!!

Thanks UC!

It's actually from a headstone! I'm trying to help figure out what the inscription says. The online translators aren't helping!

And i agree, i don't remember the Bridge being closed back in our day! In the last 24 hours it has been closed for fog, wind and falling ice. Sounds like a new rock group!

Kathyn,

The 240 foot USCGC Mackinaw I'm sure was laying in wait to see if her little sister, the 140 foot USCGC Biscayne Bay from St. Ignace ever needed some assistance.

jbuck,
There's a chicken restaurant chain:

joella's hot chicken

Well, that's interesting D. A. (Midwested)! The locations aren't exactly a hot bed of Finnish tradition, are they? So maybe it is a person's name anyway! Appreciate you help!

Jbuck,

I also found this as a female Hebrew name:
joella

jbuck,
Seems Joella can be the French female version of Joel.

jbuck,

For "Jlma" there are many sources indicating it's the initials for several different companies and organizations but maybe the best one I found as beneficial on a tombstone is it's slang for "Just Leave Me Alone". LOL

D. A. (Midwested),
This just gets more amusing! I did find the info about the companies but missed the "Just Leave Me Alone" angle. That IS perfect for a tombstone!

This person (if that's the correct assumption) is buried in Rudyard and died in the early 1900's. And seems to be related to the Savunen family.

Thanks again!