• Tuesday-What'sUP March 20 - 09:45 pm

The shipping season looks to be underway again and Aladino Mandoli was on hand to snap a shot of the Mesabi Miner arriving at the Marquette Ore Dock, getting ready to unload coal. Those are some chunky seas to be maneuvering around in, but then again, these freighters are big enough to handle a few ice chunks I'd say.
The other two photos today come from Rod Burdick. They were taken in Escanaba where the Joseph Thompson spent the winter hiatus from shipping on the Great Lakes and the Wilfred Sykes pulled in to do a bit of unloading/loading of its own.

I don't care how big those boats are, you wouldn't catch me on one of them. Scary!!

Great shots! Dese boats should have sweaters on eh! Looks down right frigid but spring is officially here today so "Frosty" the snow man and ice in the lake will soon be nothing but chilly memories --- at least for a few months!

Wonderul pictures of Lakers! Seen them many, many times between the ports of Duluth, Mn. and at The Soo Locks! Always enjoy watching them.

I don't think Spring actually starts until after 8:00 p.m. tonight. At least that's what the local radio station said this morning. We can start now though.

The link between The Big Lake and the lower lakes is still closed.
The locks at The Soo don't open until Sunday. I'm already hungry
for whitefish.

Hi
Somebody yesterday was asking to see photos showing signs of spring--well, here you are. ;>)

A couple of weeks ago Detroit public TV had an hour-long special about the old & new icebreakers Mackinaw. It was very interesting; they said one reason they had to decommission the old Mackinaw was that they couldn't get replacement engine parts anymore. The crew named two of the diesel engines "Jake" & "Elwood" because, like the Blues Brothers, they behaved erratically.

Kathy, I saw the same series it was fascinating. Can't wait to see the boats again.

Happy First Official Day of Spring. It is a bright, sunny day here in mid-Michigan, but it is really chilly. (I've been cold today, though, since I went out this morning for a few hours. I'm still trying to warm up.)

Those pictures look downright frigid, almost like they are in a glass full of ice with a bit of little water. :-)

I really like watching the lakers, whether when they are going through Portage (when MTU puts a web cam back on Portage for the season), or in the big lakes or rivers, or through the Sioux Locks, just as long as it is sans ice! We've had to wait for the bridges to close many times in Bay City, but we did not mind at all, as we got to watch various lakers passing through. They are awesome vessels.

Great shots of the boats; surely spring can hardly be behind.

I received an email today from Rod Burdick, with an additional picture of the Mesabi Miner as she backed through the heavy ice, toward the Marquette Harbor Ore Dock. He said that she was stopped a few times and finally made it after going forward and backing. Thanks for the additional shot Rod!

holy smokes!!! i sooo love these boats, and here my sister lives in esky and did not take me no pictures lol

Great pictures of the ships (boats) on your site. My wife and I have been wondering where they hibernate around the Lakes. We keep a daily eye on Duluth, but had not thought about looking around Milwaukee, Escanaba, etc. for the others. Let the shipping begin!!!

Ron in Cedar Falls, IA

To Cool.....Great Photos! I cannot wait to get back home to the U.P. I have had enough of the Southwest, give me some U.P. PineTrees..and lake Michigan i will even take the snow over the dust. I am trying to figure out where all the water is going to come from for all these people out here. I was in the town of Florence Az. for a few weeks, they say the population will grow from 6,000 to 100,000 in the next seven years on their web site..and thats just one town. Great Pictures..

Here's one idea that was publicized, Whitewaves: from the Great Lakes ...

Paul A Rose (Whitewaves):
"Florence, AZ ... population will grow from 6,000 to 100,000 in the next seven years ..."

Hmmm, Arizona State Prison Complex, Florence?