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Some other links of recent interest to Pasty Cam watchers:
• Ancestors 2006  • New Arrivals 2006
• The Hut Inn Re-opens
Eight years ago on the Pasty Cam: 11/09/98^{Printed on Recycled Internet}

Yesterday we saw the buoy tender off of Eagle Harbor. Eight years ago today, the Pasty Cam visited another part of the lake -- Marquette harbor and a docked freighter.

I love to hear the deep bellow of a frieghter demanding the Portage Lake Lift Bridge yawn to its full open position. Living close enough to the lake to hop in the car and go, the kids got used to hearing the freighter's call and heading to the Hancock canal road.

We were once treated to a ship making a 180-degree turn in one of the widest portions of the canal between Hancock and McLain. It looked like it was on a pivot -- a thing of beauty and a tribute to the skills of the captain.

Good morning!

Mornin'

Found a cure for the common cold! Got my pasties yesterday, the aroma was unbelievable as was the taste. I actually did feel a change in me, woke up this morning and my cold was gone. No more chicken soup for me, I'm in pasty heaven!!
Wonder what kind of schooling you have to go through to become a captain of a freighter? I bet the "Captain" knows!

Photos photos;

http://picasaweb.google.com/salminenjuho/Islanti2006

In regards of the conversation yesterday about they buoys, there is an interesting article about the Mackinaw doing it's first buoy work this season. It can be found on www.boatnerd.com look under the news channel.

Cotton, We are with you today on the tenth anniversay of the sinking of the Fitzgerald, and the passing of a hero, Ransom Cundy, your father. From your cousins in Berkley.

Cotton, God bless your father.

OOps made a mistake today is the Tenth of November and the sinking of the Fitz was thirty one years ago. Went to change the clothes around from the washer to the dryer, and it dawned on me what I had done.

Thoughts to Cotton and Mikie (Cotton's dad was Mikie's uncle.)

Mikie, God bless your uncle.

Michael Du Long (Mikie) - isn't today the 9th? Wish I could be at Whitefish Point tomorrow for the Memorial Service - my thoughts will definitely be there.

I guess I let the fact that I won the early bird go to my head and have been confused ever since. I am a late riser and got up early today so will be messed up all day long. Sorry for the mistake.

Mikie
I've been a day ahead of myself all week - I thought it was Friday when I got up today. No need for an apology.

To be a deck officer on a Lake Freighter, you must be licenced (I think through the Coast Guard). Part of the licensing requirements are deck officers schooling and experience. There are several academies (such as the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, SUNY Maritime Academy) that offer a deck officers degree. The degree is a 4-year program, like any college degree, just focused on the issues that deck officers face. I would imagine to become a captain, you just have to work hard and rise through the ranks.

P.S.
I wish it was Friday!

Hey Mikie,
Thanks for the reminder of tomorrow's significance. We had tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot earlier this fall but the concert was cancelled due to high winds. I really wanted to hear "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" live. Guess I will have to track Gordie down some other time :(

Thanks Dr. Nat. I knew it wasn't easy becoming a Captain, what a responsibility!

Well, I am back from two days' work picking up political signs.
Our side did pretty well in the election; that helped give me the
energy to drive around and pick up all those signs. Now it looks
as tho I have a day to rest up before the U.P.'s "Sunny Shores"
from Menominee thru Esky to Manistique get hit by some kind of
winter storm. I have been wondering when snow would come.
Down in southeast Michigan I remember so well the miserable
snow-and-ice storm that hit the night before Thanksgiving last
year. We shall see if this is worse.

Charles In Esky, we have a retired pipefitter friend in Esky named Ray Duffin, (not sure of spelling for last name), he loves it up there! One of our first trips to the UP was taking the "Bridge" across and circling around. We stayed overnight in Esky and never saw soooo many fishing huts in all our lives. Bet that cold water fish is the best!

Wow Mikie,In 1975 late summer I was laid off from Burroughs Corp.in Plymouth MI.So I said what the hay may as well go back home to Dollar Bay.Me the wife,son and daughter found a place to rent in Point Mills.Wife was pg, due in late Nov. that yr.I remember the day the Big Ship and 29 men were lost.It was a nasty heck of a storm.I thought,oh please wife do not go into labor now!She had a history of delivering early,1st.daughter came in 6 months.Now 34 and gave me 6 Grandaughter's.2nd.daughter was born on Thanksgiving that yr.and is soon to be 31.She also gave me a grandaughter.For 17 yrs. now,I been a step daddy (hate that word step) so my son since he was 4 gave me two more Grandaughter's.That makes 9.My daughter since she was 5 is due anyday now,and guess what? Altra-sound showed a Boy some time ago.Could it be wrong? So Mikie,you realy made me think,and then today the 9th.I just got home from two apointments I made for the 9th.weeks ago,I didn't think I stayed out all night!
Cotton; I'am glad I met you thru Kathy,and always think of you this time of yr.
Fran; hello to you and all other friends on here. Good to be back, been off since June.Hard to go without a Pasty Cam fix that long!

Coast Guard issued licenses are in steps. The lowest level is the "charter or six-pack license", next would be 15-ton, 100-ton, 200-ton, 1600-ton, then unlimited. Each step of the licensing process requires specified amounts of sailing time on the license. A graduate of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy usually starts on a freighter as a 3rd-mate.

Welcome back Dave, Know what you mean about grandkids, I have eight, three girls and five boys. Spend a lot of time with them and love every minute of it. Cheryl and I have become close since we remet on Pasty Cam a while ago. Our family lost a wonderful person in Ransom Cundy, he was a prankster and once he and my mother got together and mailed me a valentine and several love notes mailed from distant ports and signed from a secret admirer. Mom would write them and he would mail them when he got into port. Had me guessing for about a year. Miss both of them.

Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City has the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. See:
www.nmc.edu/maritime.
One of my Alma Maters