Day 38: Victoriaborg

Most ships on the Great Lakes are involved in trade and shipping on the lakes. However, we frequently see "salty's" or oceangoing ships that visit the lakes for cargo headed outside somewhere. Here is the M/V Victoriaborg, a ship flagged in the Netherlands, that is headed from Duluth to Spain with beet pulp. I'm not sure what the Spanish do with beet pulp...

Day 37: Diesel Power

It takes a lot of power to move this boat through the water. Here is one of the two 5,000 hp V-18 Diesel engines that pushes this vessel along. 

Day 36: Departing Duluth

Here is one more from Duluth as we head back out to Lake Superior bound for Two Harbors to start back to work. 

Day 35: Repair Time

We are taking a couple of days to stop by the shipyard and have a couple of repairs done. For this one, we tipped the boat forward to raise the aft end out of the water to fix the drive shaft. 

Day 34: Sunrise Week 5

Another great sunrise with the Steamer Arthur M. Anderson headed through Duluth Harbor. 

Day 33: Duluth Harbor

Here's another night shot as we are entering Duluth Harbor around 0230 this morning. We're headed to the shipyard for a few repairs for the next couple of days. 

Day 32: Super Moon

This was the day after the "super" moon, but it still looks rather full over the ship. 

Day 31: Fog Whistle

We've been listening to a lot the fog horn (one prolonged blast of 4-6 seconds every 2 minutes) for the past day. Radar is very useful when visibility is like what we have today:

Day 30: Flaming Gary

When arriving in Gary at night, it looks like a scene from a Lord of the Rings movie with flaming towers and the banging of steel. The iPhone camera has a hard time at night, but here is a glimpse of Gary as we made the dock at 0315 this morning. 

Day 29: Spectator Sport

Look at all of the people in the stands lined up to see us go through the Soo Locks. I feel like a tourist taking a picture of the tourists. 

Day 28: Sunrise Week 4

Day 27: Land!

After nearly a month of living in the ship, we arrived in port early enough in the day to actually have a little time on land. It's amazing how refreshing a nice run, some grass and trees can be after a few weeks without. 

Day 26: Leaving the Locks

Here we are departing the Soo Locks headed upbound for Two Harbors, MN. 

Day 24: There's a Mailbox on here?

It's always a favorite moment of the day when we receive mail on the boat (yep - the post office delivers here too via the Soo locks) and I have something waiting for me. It's even more special when it's a photo card with my precious niece and nephew!

Day 25: Happy Father's Day!

It's been a number of years since I have been home to celebrate this holiday in person, but wishing my dad a Happy Father's Day and thankful for a lifetime of love and support!

Day 23: Happy Flag Day!

We put up a brand new flag on the ship today to celebrate. 

Day 22: A Quick Trip to the Gas Station

When we load it Two Harbors, it is also time to top off the fuel tanks at the dock. After just 62,000 gallons, we are all set for the next 6 days!

Day 21: A New Sunrise

Here is this week's sunrise over Lake Superior about 30 minutes before the sun hit the horizon. For a time lapse of the whole thing, visit june12sunrise.wesclanton.com

Day 20: Navigation Aids

There are a number of shallow shoals and reefs in upper Lake Michigan on the way from Gary to the St. Mary's river. Here are a few of the fixed aids to navigation that help mark a safe route of travel along the way. 

Day 19: The Bridge

Here's on of the Mackinac bridge during the day just after we crossed under. 

Day 18: Another fine day in Gary

Every six days we land in Gary to discharge cargo at the US Steel plant. No one gets off here. It's not a very nice place. 

Day 17: Meeting the Block

Here we are meeting the ship - Joseph L. Block - in the St. Mary's river. 

Day 16: Sniffing the tanks

Before anyone can enter a "closed" space (tanks, holds, voids, etc), the air must first be tested "sniffed" to make sure there is enough oxygen and no toxic air. Here I am testing ballast tank 5 so an inspector can check out the tank. 

Day 15: Sunrise on Superior

One nice part about being on the 4-8 watch is I have a chance to see the sunrise every morning. Here is one over the stern on Lake Superior. 

Day 9: We have homework on this trip?

Over the course of the 3 months on this boat, I have a total of 4 assignments that must be turned in as part of the course for the summer. This first project included drawing diagrams of the ship's safety and life saving equipment, fire plans, and other general information about the boat. For example, one of the anchors weighs 22,500 pounds and I had to figure that out for this first project. 

Due to be postmarked on the 31st of May and made it to the mail with minutes to spare!

Day 14: Inspection time

To keep everyone as safe as possible in an emergency situation, life saving equipment is tested on a regular basis. Today's inspection was to make sure the lifeboat has all of the required gear on board. 

Day 13: A little car ferry

Day 12: The Landing Chair

Who needs a harness or a ladder when you have a landing chair? When it is time to tie up, two crew members must get down to the dock to grab lines and this is how it is done with a pulley, a bosun's chair, and some rope.

Day 11: Time with some line (rope)

It was a beautiful Sunday as we crossed Lake Michigan and a perfect day to stand out on deck and learn some splicing techniques from a few of the crew. 

Day 10: Supply time

The weekly grocery and supply run takes place under way just after we leave the locks headed downbound on the St. Mary's. Here is the supply boat Ojibway delivering supplies via crane.