by Denny » October 30, 2020, 6:56 pm
Ok everyone don't get overly excited seeing and reading this post but I have a long story to share with all of you. For it was on this day back in 1999 that I got the thrill and experience of a lifetime. While I was watching the Seaway Queen at Lock 1 I noticed them tying up. So, I went over to ask them what they were doing? They said there's another ship in Lock 1 we have to wait for which was the Algowood. Not long afterward, one of the Seaway Queen's crewman asked "Would you like to come aboard the ship?" I was in shock and frozen after hearing those words! The man repeated the question and I said "Let me go over and check with my Dad first." So, after checking and telling my Dad that they would let me go aboard ship his response was "What are you waiting for then and to get going already!" Before I knew it, I was climbing up the ladder and soon aboard the handsome and proud Seaway Queen. They had tied up just below Lock 1 waiting for the upbound Algowood to clear and get out of Lock 1 at the time. Once on board the Seaway Queen, I was taken up to the pilothouse to meet the captain himself. His first name was Jake and he mentioned at the time, that he was the youngest or one of the youngest captains in the Great Lakes then. So, Captain Jake told me that the plan was they would let me stay aboard and then we'd sail her into Lock 1 and then let me off once we got tied-up and secured. So, that's exactly what we did. Before I knew it, my adventure was quickly over with and soon I was getting off the Seaway Queen. As they departed Lock 1 they also gave me a thundering salute to which I greatly thanked them for and the opportunity of a lifetime to get aboard a classic working Great Lakes freighter. It is something I'll always remember and cherish and the best part was having my Dad there in person to see and also to witness it! He was so happy and proud for me and I'm so blessed and glad and happy he was there with me to see it. Fitting my last ship for the 1999 shipping season on the St. Clair River was Seaway Queen!
Ok everyone don't get overly excited seeing and reading this post but I have a long story to share with all of you. For it was on this day back in 1999 that I got the thrill and experience of a lifetime. While I was watching the Seaway Queen at Lock 1 I noticed them tying up. So, I went over to ask them what they were doing? They said there's another ship in Lock 1 we have to wait for which was the Algowood. Not long afterward, one of the Seaway Queen's crewman asked "Would you like to come aboard the ship?" I was in shock and frozen after hearing those words! The man repeated the question and I said "Let me go over and check with my Dad first." So, after checking and telling my Dad that they would let me go aboard ship his response was "What are you waiting for then and to get going already!" Before I knew it, I was climbing up the ladder and soon aboard the handsome and proud Seaway Queen. They had tied up just below Lock 1 waiting for the upbound Algowood to clear and get out of Lock 1 at the time. Once on board the Seaway Queen, I was taken up to the pilothouse to meet the captain himself. His first name was Jake and he mentioned at the time, that he was the youngest or one of the youngest captains in the Great Lakes then. So, Captain Jake told me that the plan was they would let me stay aboard and then we'd sail her into Lock 1 and then let me off once we got tied-up and secured. So, that's exactly what we did. Before I knew it, my adventure was quickly over with and soon I was getting off the Seaway Queen. As they departed Lock 1 they also gave me a thundering salute to which I greatly thanked them for and the opportunity of a lifetime to get aboard a classic working Great Lakes freighter. It is something I'll always remember and cherish and the best part was having my Dad there in person to see and also to witness it! He was so happy and proud for me and I'm so blessed and glad and happy he was there with me to see it. Fitting my last ship for the 1999 shipping season on the St. Clair River was Seaway Queen!