• Thursday-What'sUP April 8 - 02:39 pm

When the Soo Locks open up for the shipping to resume on Lake Superior, don't think that it means that all the ice on the Big Lake is melted away. No sir, it just means that there isn't enough ice to slow things down and that the freighters can push through whatever is left out there floating. Lynn Virtanen snapped some shots last week so you can see what I'm talking about.

In her first photo, the Saginaw and the Canadian Progress pass by each other as one is heading into the locks and the other is on the way out. I really like Lynn's second shot, because it seems like whenever you see the International Bridge in a photo, it's usually off in the background as a ship is heading into one of the locks, but Lynn captured the Canadian Progress as she passed under the bridge upbound on her run. The last photo is a good one to show the ice still in existence in the chilly Superior waters. That's the John G. Munson making it's way downbound, for her turn to travel through the locks and then on to another Great Lakes port. Here's wishing all the sailors, smooth sailing!

I was out there one time to check it out...WOW...it's definitely something to see!!

Closing in on the end of the contest, let's get that voting in!! Thank you!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_shelterchallengeconfirmation_sidetabs

This area was one of our best vacation destinations. A lot of great attractions to see and do.

Thank you, Lynn, I never get tired of seeing the lake boats. I not only love the sight of them, but also the sound. Haven't had that 'up close and personal' pleasure since 2000, sigh.....

Nice pictures today of the freighters starting to move on the great lakes. Last year many of them were tied up because of the poor economy so lets hope they all sail again this year.
Became facinated with the "coal boats" down at the C & H dock in Hubbell and we would watch them weave their way thru the "Cuts" from Portage Lake. I along with many others from the area were fortunate to sail aboard the great lakes fleet.

IT WAS AMAZING FOR US IN HUBBELL, TO HAVE A SEA PORT
& GO VISIT, ABOARD THE SHIPS AS TEENAGERS. IT ENCOURAGED MANY TO GO SAILING. I CAN THINK OF ABOUT 20 PEOPLE
FROM HUBBELL THAT SAILED AROUND 1950.THE MAIN ITEM IMPORTED WAS COAL FOR THE MINING COMPANY.

As an aside, before the Lake Linden sandbank blocked the entry to the Torch Lake section behind the school, ships from Scandinavia would come in with loads of round pebbles which you could use to strike sparks. We used to pick up the pebbles when we were real young. I was told by the C&H people that they were used in the ball mills.

Jim that brings to mind our finding and keeping little round pieces of copper when we visited Hubbell. They looked almost like pennies. Anyone else remember them?

I enjoy those Great Lakes freighters.

I wonder how many of us from Hubbell sailed the lakes? I sailed in '59 and '60 and a short time in '62. I've sailed through the locks and under the Big Mac bridge more times than I've been on those observation platforms. Lots of memories!

Isn't the Munson a sharp looking boat? Holy Wah!
Just pretty!