Day 92: All done with my second semester at sea with 92 more days in the books and on solid ground in Seattle for a little time off before school starts!
In my time on the Sam Laud this summer, we transported 343,000 tons of iron ore; 220,000 tons of stone; and 45,000 tons of coal while traveling more than 25,000 miles all over 4 of the 5 Great Lakes.
Day 91: As the sun sets on this day, so it does on my second and final sea project on the Great Lakes as I'm off the boat tomorrow!
Day 90: In the last two summers, I have made the transit through the Soo Locks more than 50 times. Today, the gate opens on my final trip through the locks as a cadet!
I've been on the boat for three months today and only a couple more days to go!
Just finished loading my last load of iron ore for the summer! This photo is from the end of the unloading boom which is swung out over the ship's side during the load. It's hard to believe I only have three days left on the boat this summer.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Minnesota's "Iron Range" produces over 40 million tons of high grade iron ore annually which is shipped from ports on Lake Superior to steel mills in Ohio and Indiana.
Quick stop by the fuel station to top off the tanks this afternoon. We just 40,000 gallons to get us through the next few days.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Singapore, Michigan is a ghost town on the shores of Lake Michigan that was buried under sand in 1871. Because of severe weather conditions and a lack of resources due to the need to rebuild after the great Chicago fire, the town was lost completely.
The lunch menu for the day. And yes, you are reading that correctly: "cut hotdog w/beans, pork chop, and bacon"
Today's #greatlakesfact: In size, Lake Michigan ranks third among the Great Lakes, and sixth among all freshwater lakes in the world.
This week's sunrise Sunday actually happens to be a sunset sailing upbound on Lake Huron.
Today's #greatlakesfact: In 1804, a Canadian warship, His Majesty's Ship Speedy, sank in Lake Ontario. In 1990, wreck hunter Ed Burtt managed to find it. However, he isn't allowed to recover any artifacts until a government approved site to exhibit them is found. He is still waiting.
One of the engineers is cleaning a filter on one of two main propulsion engines. Each of the engines are 20 cylinder diesels generating about 3,500 horsepower.
One week remaining on board and then I'll be back on dry land!
Today's #greatlakesfact: Within Lake Michigan there is a "triangle" with a similar reputation to the Bermuda Triangle, where a large amount of "strange disappearances" have occurred.
Just out for a walk on the beach after loading some stone.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Jim Dryer swam across Lake Michigan in 1998 (65 miles), and then in 2003, he swam the length of Lake Michigan (422 miles).
The last time I was here, my little sister and I were making the drive as I moved from Denver to Michigan to start school almost exactly two years ago. Now I'm back here on a boat and almost done with classes!
Today's #greatlakesfact: Lake Michigan was the location of the first recorded "Big Great Lakes disaster," in which a steamer carrying 600 prop collided with a schooner delivering timber to Chicago. Four hundred and fifty people died.
You know something is wrong when these guys are at the dock upon arrival. This time they were here to repair the starboard anchor.
Only 10 days left on the boat as of today!
Today's #greatlakesfact: Because water enters and exits Lake Michigan through the same path, it takes 77 years longer for water to replace itself than in Huron, despite their similarity in size and depth. (Lake Michigan: 99 years, Lake Huron: 22 years)
Our new EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) just arrived. The beacon operates on the 406 MHz frequency band and this model comes with the added benefit of the "406 Survivor Club" and in the event your vessel sinks, you survive, and they locate you via EPIRB, you get a brand new one for free! What a deal!
Today's #greatlakesfact: The province Ontario was named after the lake, not vice versa.
Even if it was less than 4 hours, it was worth the quick visit to Cedar Point to get a few rides in with a visiting cadet.
Today's #greatlakesfact: There are massive sinkholes in Lake Huron that have high amounts of silver and low amounts of oxygen, almost replicating the conditions of Earth's ancient oceans. Unique ecosystems are contained within them.
Today, the #sunrisesunday happened over my favorite Ohio destination. Yep, headed to Cedar Point while the rest of the boat loads coal. #feellikeakidgoingtodisney
Today's #greatlakesfact: Water in Lake Erie replaces itself in only 2.6 years, which is notable considering the water in Lake Superior takes two centuries.
After months of work, I finally have all of my school work complete for my summer at sea. At least if sailing falls through, I should have a back-up career as a cartographer / marine charting specialist.
Today's #greatlakesfact: There are small outlets through which water leaves Lake Superior. It takes two centuries for all the water in the lake to replace itself.
Day 77: Thanks to my friend and fellow cadet, Ellora for taking this photo and sending it! This is the boat I'm on sailing down the St. Clair river. If you look really close, you can see me standing outside the pilothouse.
Today's #greatlakesfact: During the war of 1812, the US beat the British in a naval battle called the Battle of Lake Erie, forcing them to abandon Detroit.
Day 76: A beautiful day in Sault Ste. Marie and the first morning where it was warm enough to leave the jacket inside! Here's a view from inside the locks looking downriver.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Built in 1837, the Soo Locks make it possible for 86 million tons of cargo to transit over 5,000 voyages per year on vessels from Lake Superior to the lower lakes Huron and Michigan.
Day 75: First time to Duluth for the summer and it always seems to be a beautiful sky when we come through the lift bridge.
Today's #greatlakesfact: The "Keystone State" was one of the largest and most luxurious wooden steamships running during the Civil War. In 1861, it disappeared. In 2013, it was found 30 miles northeast of Harrisville under 175 feet of water in Lake Huron.
Day 74: Temps in the 40s and the wind was gusting over 50 miles an hour - welcome to summer on Lake Superior! It would have been a wet walk on deck with all that spray over the bow.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Contained within Lake Superior is a whopping 10% of the world's fresh surface water.
Crossing under the Blue Water Bridge at the upper end of the St. Clair river tonight marks the completion of my required river trips. I am now eligible to sit for my Great Lakes pilots exam!
Today's #greatlakesfact: Lake Huron is the second largest among the Great Lakes, and the fifth largest in the world.
This week's Sunrise Sunday is from earlier this week headed across Lake Superior.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Lake Superior contains 3 quadrillion gallons of water (3,000,000,000,000,000). All 5 of the Great Lakes combined contain 6 quadrillion gallons.
This is how you load sand in Fairport, OH - one bucket at a time. And this is super premium "Tour Grade Signature Blend" sand headed for a golf course in Minnesota.
Today's #greatlakesfact: The largest freshwater sand dunes in the world line the shores of Lake Michigan.
Day 70: One of the best parts of getting to a cell signal is the chance to FaceTime with this guy. #unclewes
Today's #greatlakesfact: There is alleged to be a 30 to 40 foot-long "monster" in Lake Erie named Bessie. The earliest recorded sighting goes back to 1793.
Day 69: One more from the lighthouse earlier this week.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Isle Royale is a massive island (and also national park) surrounded by Lake Superior. Within this island are several smaller lakes. Yes, that's a lake on a lake.
Day 68: Before and after at the Soo Locks from the "upper pool" water level, we enter the lock chamber and are lowered 21 feet before continuing down the river.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Not only is Lake Erie the smallest Great Lake when it comes to volume, but it's surrounded by the most industry. Seventeen metropolitan areas, each with populations of more than 50,000, border the Lake Erie basin.
Happy 60th birthday, mom! I so wish I could be there to celebrate with you and love you so much!
Today's #greatlakesfact: The shoreline of all of the Great Lakes combined equals nearly 44% of the circumference of the planet.
What do you do when you find an old rusted bike in the engine room? Take a 20 mile bike ride to visit a famous Great Lakes lighthouse.
Today's #greatlakesfact: All four other Great Lakes, plus there more the size of Lake Erie, would fit inside Lake Superior.
Day 65: Early morning river navigating with the earliest light of the day just starting to appear. #sunrisesunday
Today's #greatlakesfact: Lake Superior is not a lake at all, but an inland sea.
The Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race started yesterday and our course went right through a cluster of 168 sailboats shown on this screen. And sailboats have the right of way. And it was the middle of the night.
Today's #greatlakesfact: Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within the borders of the United States.
Day 63: We met the M/V Edgar B. Speer, my home for 70 days last summer, for the first time today. She was my first commercial ship and I learned a lot over there.
Today's #greatlakesfact: If not for the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron might be considered one lake. Hydrologically speaking, they have the same mean water level and are considered one lake.
Day 62: Just out for my evening walk doing laps on deck and enjoying some beautiful blue skies.
Today's #greatlakesfact: The original publication of Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" contained the line "I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie." Fourteen years later, the Ohio Sea Grant Program wrote to Seuss to make the case that conditions had improved. He removed the line.
Day 60: This is what it looks like when we are rinsing the cargo tunnel after a dusty load of iron ore. Just a little extra iron for the lake, that's all. And this is completely legal.
Today's #greatlakesfact: It's estimated there are about 100 million lake trout in Lake Superior. That's nearly one-fifth of the human population of North America.
Day 59: It doesn't get much better than a visit to the world's largest limestone quarry. And to think they pay me for this. Or they will someday when I have a license. #dontbejealous
Today's #greatlakesfact: A lake on Saturn's moon Titan is named after Lake Ontario. It's called "Ontario Lacus."
Day 58: This weeks #sunrisesunday comes from the Detroit River with the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit skyline in the background.
Today's #greatlakesfact: There is enough water in Lake Superior to submerge all of North and South America in 1 foot of water.
Day 57: If you are going to be loading limestone on a holiday weekend, at least we can enjoy some fireworks over the loading dock.
And for today's #greatlakesfact: Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run at Hanlan's Point Stadium in Toronto. It landed in Lake Ontario and is believed to still be there.
Day 56: Happy 4th of July!! We were a little too far from the fireworks to get many good photos, but had quite the show sailing through the Detroit River.
Today's Great Lakes Fact: Goderich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world. Part of it runs underneath Lake Huron, more than 500 meters underground.
It is hard to see, but if you look close in the top photo, there is a water spout - like a tornado over the lake. It was a stormy day coming across Lake St. Clair.
Recently, BuzzFeed ran an article with 37 facts about the Great Lakes that will "blow your mind." So, for my final 37 days on the boat I thought I might share those. Today's fact: Lake Erie is the fourth-largest Great Lake in surface area, and the smallest in depth. It's the 11th largest lake on the planet.
I don't think I've shared a photo of us headed through the Soo Locks yet this season, so here we are entering the lock down bound.
With lake levels on the rise, we are able to load deeper and hold more cargo. Today we loaded to our deepest draft yet of 27' 8" which is almost to our max with 22,500 long tons of iron ore.
Today's load of iron ore was especially dusty. There were red clouds of ore dust all over the place.
This week's sunrise Sunday come from sailing across Lake Erie with the sun setting over the stern.
Rumor has that this was formerly Al Capone's house on Grosse Isle in the Detroit River and was used for rum running during prohibition.
There is a little too much current to make the dock all by ourselves today, so we had a little help from a couple tugs.
How many guys does it take to get the lifeboat secured? It's a good thing we have drills, because it was time for some practice.
I know, it's just another boat photo. Here we are overtaking our sister ship, the M/V Buffalo, in the narrow waterway of the Cuyahoga river. She lost her stern thruster and couldn't make it all the way up the river. Oh yeah, and today is day 46, which means I'm halfway done with my time for the summer!!
This is what happens when the boat's A/C dies and you leave your port hole open so you can sleep at night.
Meeting the M/V Indiana Harbor as we exit the Soo Locks. Not much room for error here.
