• Monday-What'sUP July 1 - 04:07 pm

Sue Uren recently took the Keweenaw Excursions cruise aboard the Keweenaw Star, from Charlevoix in lower Michigan, to the Soo, here in the U.P. She said it was a two hour trip into Lake Superior and back again to Charlevoix, where she had a great time seeing many lighthouses and at least a dozen freighters.

Sue shares some of her photos from the adventure, with us here today, starting with the churned up water as the Star completes her passage underneath the Mackinac Bridge. You can see one of the freighters she spotted in the background, on the opposite side of the Big Mac.

The three freighters in Sue's photos are the Indiana Harbor, the Cason J. Callaway and the Herbert C. Jackson. Must have been neat to see them close up like this, while passing by them on the water.

That's the Keweenaw Star tied up in the Locks, in the last photo, before heading back to Charlevoix on the return trip. Some of you may remember the Star and her beginnings right here in the Keweenaw, back in 2000. She operated out of Houghton for cruises of all kinds and in 2009, moved the boat and cruise business to lower Michigan and have been there ever since. Nice that she keeps a bit of Lake Superior around her hull, with the excursions to Sault Ste. Marie and back.

Great pictures! I had a great time on the Star in 2009. We brought my mom for a boat ride and she had so much fun that day. Sure wish that boat was still UP there!!

Thanks for sharing these great photos!

My wife and my daughter and I took the Keweenaw Star on a lighthouse tour a few years back and really enjoyed our trip, plus a few trips on Portage Lake for good measure.

Sue picked the best day to board the Star! Freighter chasing was one of the best! I have been on the Isle Royale, the Star is a must someday!

We are so fortunate to be surrounded by the Great Lakes! Awesome photos. I do miss the Keweenaw Star being in the Portage Canal area.

Really nice pictures, Sue!
The Keweenaw Star looks familiar. Wonder if it ever was called "The Voyager"? Mary, I looked at the site you have posted but there's nothing on there about it having a previous name.
BTW, the photo on that homepage shows the Star passing through the Pine River Channel in Charlevoix with my favorite restaurant/hotel in the background. The "Weathervane Terrace Inn & Restaurant. Have wonderful memories of that place.:)

Cruising, UP style.

I wished I could do some boat watching.

Great bridge, great ships, and Happy 146th birthday to our great neighbour Canada.

Great pictures! Love those lakers.

Yes, Thomas, Happy birthday to Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Day

Very nice photos. I have always enjoyed watching ships. Several of my relatives were sea captains, sailing on the North Atlantic from Norway. I also used to go on picnics and watch the ships on the River Rhine when I was a kid. Sea-going vessels, lakers, the river boats... all very different ships, but all very interesting.

Keith Baker aboard the Cason J. Calloway probably waved to Sue aboard the Keweenaw Star.