E. Neil Harri has been busy in the air lately and today we’re featuring his aerial shots of the Great Lakes Frieghter, Mesabi Miner, as she sails around the Keweenaw Point on what looks like a perfect day to be on Lake Superior. There are so many things I love about these photos...just seeing the big boats on the water again, the calmness of the Big Lake, the ripples the passage of the Mesabi creates and even the smoke from the stacks. Neil captured it all perfectly and all while piloting his plane at the same time. Nicely done!

Sam Hankinson takes us in for a closer look at the Mesabi Miner as she sails downbound at Mission Point in the Soo. You get a good idea of just how big this 1004 foot freighter really is and how loud her salute sounds.

Very cool pictures and I loved the video
also.

Great shots Neil! Have a friend who sailed on the MM last season. But now she's assigned to the new Mark W. Barker and they are awaiting her radar before opening the season.

Fantastic pics & video today, maybe Summer is just
around the corner finally!! MM looks likes she was
under full power on those pic's!! Great pic's Neil
as always!!
Sam, Cool video as well, enjoyed listening to the
horn too!! One question, Did you have a Clyde's Big
C while you were there? lol

Great shots by Neil.

Those "ripples" as seen from the air can create a fairly good sized wake. I was traveling on a friend's 24 foot boat in June 2000, returning from an Isle Royale trip, when we hit a Laker wake. The Lake was glass smooth so we became complacent while speeding at over 45 MPH. We didn't have a proper "watch" or "lookout" and hit the wave. It actually launched the boat slightly into the air and the 3 of us onboard also flew upwards even higher with one almost going overboard. There was no Laker in sight so their wake can travel quite far.

I, like so many others, love watching and keeping track of the Lakers. Almost every day I check the Marine Traffic website. If only it had been accessible back then.

Very nice pix!
A ship's horn is one of the loneliest sounds.
And this video is worthy; FULL-SCREEN it...least I
smite thee.

Alex,
This horn scores pretty "low" on the loneliness scale (and the "fog horn keeper" too).

Fog Horn