• Saturday-What'sUP June 7 - 10:53 pm

According to Mona Griggs, this is the "Salty" Federal Mattawa as she waits for her pilot in DeTour Channel. Mona was herself crossing the channel aboard the ferry to Drummond Island when she captured these photos. That's the Island in the background on the second photo. If you enjoy watching the boats pass by within fairly close range, this is a good spot to do so. I don't mean you'd have to get on board the ferry, you could just take in the activity from the shoreline too. Maybe pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

Good Morning, I sure enjoy watching the big boats on our Great Lakes.Down by the St. Claire river is also a good spot.

My experiences with freighters goes back to playing at the dock in Hubbell and being a guest aboard at the Quincy Reclimation dock in Mason. I will be part of the ceremonies today at the Lake Erie Metropark commerating the launching 50 years ago of the EDMUND FITZGERALD. Ironic that this is the park that I take my daily walk and I was a member of her initial crew in 1958. There will be live webcasts today from..My experiences with freighters goes back to playing at the dock in Hubbell and being a guest aboard at the Quincy Reclimation dock in Mason. I will be part of the ceremonies today at the Lake Erie Metropark commerating the launching 50 years ago of the EDMUND FITZGERALD. Ironic that this is the park that I take my daily walk and I was a member of her initial crew in 1958. There will be live webcasts today from.. http://w0351231.temp.w1.com/index.html

I like the idea. The front picture is really awsome. Good gosh, how does it sit that high in the water.

When the ship is that high in the water it is empty.

These are very great pictures. I sure love these, just wish there were some good viewing places around here to watch them pass.
The only time I get this close to these boats are when they are in the canal or docked at Yalmer Mattilas Dock there in Hancock by the Hancock beach.

That's one of the few lakers we haven't seen here in Muskegon.Salt is brought in, but by different carriers.The big boats draw a crowd and their arrivals and departures are posted in the Chronicle.Watching them certainly stirs the imagination and having lived in "Fishgut Alley" along the channel for over 30 years,it is still a very compelling site when they motor by less than a hundred yards away...Love your site and all the pix your members share.Was a Yooper for a few months back in '55 when my dad worked at the hospital in White Pine.Stayed in Ontonagan from May to October.

i have an old national geographic of the fitzgerald loading grain in the river by winsor might good mag. for a museum. i remain walter p.

Mary
May this message serve as expression of deep and sincere sympathy to you and your family..
Ed And Dee Fulcher

Mary,

Please accept our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Loss is always difficult, but try to reflect on the good times you enjoyed with Kevin. Marylyn & Marcus Hoffman, Mohawk and Newport, MI.

Percheye: The Federal Mattawa is not a laker; she's a sea-going or as commonly referred to a "salty".

...And muskegon Lake is definitely fresh water.Thanks for the tip.

Hi all, yes, a "salty" is an ocean-going vessel, as opposed to a "laker". Also, they're called "boats" in the Great Lakes, not "ships" as they are everywhere else.
I don't dare show these pictures to our oldest daughter. She would faint dead away! She swears that every time she gets on the Drummond Island ferry to come over to see us, one of these big things is right there, just to menace her. She's been known to spend the entire 10-minute trip with her head down on the seat. Big baby!

Mona
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