• Friday-What'sUP January 11 - 05:59 pm

Henry Sakari was out last Saturday, hiking the trail across from Great Sand Bay and afterwards went down to check out the beach, where he spotted three freighters passing by, all in a row. He said they were pretty far out on Lake Superior, but even without a tripod, he managed to get two decent shots of them to share with us.

If you had tuned in on Sunday, you might recall that Charlie snapped a shot of the same three freighters from his Eagle River living room window, so it's pretty neat to see that someone else was watching them sailing on their way to another port. The shipping season is quickly drawing to a close (January 15th), so we won't be seeing them too much longer, making this triple spotting more special.

Henry also took the time to get some photos of the ice built up in the bay, forming what many of us call "ice volcanoes". Please don't try this at home, as Henry pointed out to me that the ice really isn't safe, so he stayed on the safe side and just took his photos from behind the mounds built UP there. Sure is some chunky water out beyond. Makes me wonder what it's like out where the freighters are passing by.

Not only did Henry take shots of the same scene I was watching, but Sunday afternoon I received this note from Darlene Vuorinen, a neighbor in nearby Eagle River East:

I took the same photo of those ships last night, though I did them one at a time, I couldn't see them otherwise. Anyway, in order of appearance they were the John G. Munson going to Duluth, the CLS Tadoussac going to Superior and the American Mariner heading to Two Harbors, and I am pretty sure you knew this. Just had a little to chuckle to see "my" pictures up this morning! Thanks for the good and interesting work you do.

Darlene Vuorinen

Good morning. So much ice. Got the chills.....

Those freighter pictures are hard to beat. The ice pictures makes me think of the surface of the moon?

Nice picts Henry! My dad managed to get a photo of the second one here down in Portage Entry anchored by the lighthouse, I'll have to share when I get home. :)

Love the pictures this morning. Anybody who loves those lakes, loves to see those freighters. And I don't think any of us would want to be walking on those icy chunks. Scary indeed!!

Thanks for sharing!

Great shots. Love those freighters!

Love all the photos! I thought that was the Munson....could tell (by markings) that it was one of the USS Great Lakes Fleet. My favorites. However, I don't think that's their fleet name anymore.

Great pictures of the few remaning freighters that are still sailing this late in the season. I was part of this scene some 55 years ago. It is a cold and lonely trip this time of the year. Lots of freighter info can be gathered at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_freighter

Thanks for posting that, Eddyfitz, very informative. Love those freighters!

Beautiful.

Wow great photos. I love the ships passing by.
Only four more days!

I can only imagine how lonely it would be to sail in the dead of winter. While hiking the shoreline now, at this time of the year, it feels so desolate.

I'll be checking for freighters as we cross the Blue Water Bridge
tomorrow on our way to visit my father in the LP. I always think of
eddy fitz and our other "boat nerds" who used to write in as I do so.

This is who should win the contest. The sweetest picture I have ever seen.

https://www.pasty.com/discus/messages/7471/8286.html?FridayDecember1420120559pm

Yep, little 'Minnie' is hard to beat!:>

Wish I were there. Thanks for the daily pictorial.

No doubt that Judy's dog is adorable!!!

My apologies for not getting back in time Friday night to keep our promise about naming a winner of the "Toast to 2012". Please check Saturday's Pasty Cam for the announcement.

Looking forward to that, Charlie.:)