What to my wondering eyes...

[Denny]

Great photos as always Bookworm thanks for sharing them here with all of us. Hope you’re doing well and staying safe. I’m staying home and indoors and trying to keep safe with this virus thing. I sure do envy you and your photos as I wish I lived closer and could be there! Better to be safe though than sorry. No complaints here though as I had a great year in 2019 thank goodness. Like all of us, this will pass in time and we are all in this together and YES we will be strong and we will get through this so stay safe my friend. Calm seas and calm winds to you my friend and you take care and I’ll see you someday on the river. The season has now begun and my catch phrase and saying “Let the good times roll!”

[Bookworm]

Clear skies before a predicted snow arrives overnight and...boats!

[garbear]

Hi Bookworm and I can help answer your questions here regarding just where the ore loads go as far as from Duluth/Superior, Two Harbors and Silver Bay. First, let’s begin with the Duluth/Superior ore loads as you are correct as most of the Duluth loads go to Lake Michigan Ports such as Indiana Harbor mostly and sometimes Gary. Sometimes Duluth loads will go to Zug Island and Toledo or Ashtabula but it’s mostly down to the Lake Michigan Ports. The Superior loads vary as they could go just about anywhere as I’ve seen them go to Gary, Conneaut and Zug Island as well with a few to Indiana Harbor. The Two Harbors loads are indeed mostly to Lake Michigan Ports although, they have gone to Zug Island along with Conneaut as well. The Silver Bay loads go to Cleveland and Ashtabula with a few to Toledo and the new HBI Plant. I’ve seen a few not many from Silver Bay going to Indiana Harbor. Hope that all of this helps you out. Sorry for the long post. So you’ve never been to Duluth before? Very interesting as I’ve been there twice but those were both in the 1990s and nothing since then. Maybe someday as I’d like to go back there again. Glad to see you’re getting out and about at the river with your photos. I don’t plan on going until this crazy virus thing passes as I would rather stay at home and be safe then to take my chances on it! Take care and stay well and safe and thanks for sharing your photos.

Here's what is shipped from the ports. Duluth ships UTAC and MINNTAC pellets. Superior HIBTAC and KEETAC pellets. Two Harbors ships MINNTAC and MINORCA pellets. And Silver Bay there own, owned by Cleveland Cliffs.

My spelling isn't what it used to be. Should have been "their".

[garbear]

Hi Bookworm and I can help answer your questions here regarding just where the ore loads go as far as from Duluth/Superior, Two Harbors and Silver Bay. First, let’s begin with the Duluth/Superior ore loads as you are correct as most of the Duluth loads go to Lake Michigan Ports such as Indiana Harbor mostly and sometimes Gary. Sometimes Duluth loads will go to Zug Island and Toledo or Ashtabula but it’s mostly down to the Lake Michigan Ports. The Superior loads vary as they could go just about anywhere as I’ve seen them go to Gary, Conneaut and Zug Island as well with a few to Indiana Harbor. The Two Harbors loads are indeed mostly to Lake Michigan Ports although, they have gone to Zug Island along with Conneaut as well. The Silver Bay loads go to Cleveland and Ashtabula with a few to Toledo and the new HBI Plant. I’ve seen a few not many from Silver Bay going to Indiana Harbor. Hope that all of this helps you out. Sorry for the long post. So you’ve never been to Duluth before? Very interesting as I’ve been there twice but those were both in the 1990s and nothing since then. Maybe someday as I’d like to go back there again. Glad to see you’re getting out and about at the river with your photos. I don’t plan on going until this crazy virus thing passes as I would rather stay at home and be safe then to take my chances on it! Take care and stay well and safe and thanks for sharing your photos.

Here's what is shipped from the ports. Duluth ships UTAC and MINNTAC pellets. Superior HIBTAC and KEETAC pellets. Two Harbors ships MINNTAC and MINORCA pellets. And Silver Bay there own, owned by Cleveland Cliffs.

[Denny]

Hi Bookworm and I can help answer your questions here regarding just where the ore loads go as far as from Duluth/Superior, Two Harbors and Silver Bay. First, let’s begin with the Duluth/Superior ore loads as you are correct as most of the Duluth loads go to Lake Michigan Ports such as Indiana Harbor mostly and sometimes Gary. Sometimes Duluth loads will go to Zug Island and Toledo or Ashtabula but it’s mostly down to the Lake Michigan Ports. The Superior loads vary as they could go just about anywhere as I’ve seen them go to Gary, Conneaut and Zug Island as well with a few to Indiana Harbor. The Two Harbors loads are indeed mostly to Lake Michigan Ports although, they have gone to Zug Island along with Conneaut as well. The Silver Bay loads go to Cleveland and Ashtabula with a few to Toledo and the new HBI Plant. I’ve seen a few not many from Silver Bay going to Indiana Harbor. Hope that all of this helps you out. Sorry for the long post. So you’ve never been to Duluth before? Very interesting as I’ve been there twice but those were both in the 1990s and nothing since then. Maybe someday as I’d like to go back there again. Glad to see you’re getting out and about at the river with your photos. I don’t plan on going until this crazy virus thing passes as I would rather stay at home and be safe then to take my chances on it! Take care and stay well and safe and thanks for sharing your photos.

[garbear]

Dawn,
Don't know if you checked Harbor Lookout, but it shows the Burns Harbor shifting to BNSF tonight and the American Spirit departing in the morning for Silver Bay. Just tentative, but there's hope.

Thanks Gary. Since I've never been to Duluth, I was actually thinking about making the trip, with possible Spring storms and heavy traffic my main concerns. That's no longer a possibility, but I do have a question.
Having followed Great Lakes ships for 15 years, am I correct that ore ships loading in Duluth/Superior and Two Harbors make deliveries at southern Lake Michigan ports while Silver Bay loads come down Lake Huron to Lake Erie ports? I may not like your answer.

A lot of the ore loaded in Duluth is UTAC(United Taconite) and most of that goes to Indiana Harbor and a fair amount to Toledo. Two Harbors goes to Lake Michigan and Conneaut, plus a lot of ore goes to Quebec City for transshipment. Most Silver Bay ore goes to Cleveland, Ashtabula, and Toledo. Some also goes to Indiana Harbor. Most ore from Superior goes to Lake Michigan. All the ports ship to Quebec City. I know someone else would have more info. I forgot. A lot of ore from all the ports, except Silver Bay, goes to Nanticoke and Hamilton.

[Bookworm]

Dawn,
Don't know if you checked Harbor Lookout, but it shows the Burns Harbor shifting to BNSF tonight and the American Spirit departing in the morning for Silver Bay. Just tentative, but there's hope.

Thanks Gary. Since I've never been to Duluth, I was actually thinking about making the trip, with possible Spring storms and heavy traffic my main concerns. That's no longer a possibility, but I do have a question.
Having followed Great Lakes ships for 15 years, am I correct that ore ships loading in Duluth/Superior and Two Harbors make deliveries at southern Lake Michigan ports while Silver Bay loads come down Lake Huron to Lake Erie ports? I may not like your answer.

[garbear]

Dawn,
Don't know if you checked Harbor Lookout, but it shows the Burns Harbor shifting to BNSF tonight and the American Spirit departing in the morning for Silver Bay. Just tentative, but there's hope.

[Bookworm]

Guess who's eager for ship traffic to get back to "normal" (whatever that may be) in the next week?

[Bookworm]

Can't believe the traffic on the St. Clair River the past two days, but who's complaining? Not me!!

[Bookworm]

But wait! There's more! Here's the afternoon river traffic...

[Bookworm]

Yesterday's recorded (area) high was 52°! Clouds moved in overnight but skies were clearing by 07:30. I'd missed tug/barge Karen Andrie on her trip down to Monroe, and was determined to catch her on her way back.

[Bookworm]

I could get used to the string of sunny days we've been enjoying -- with a bit of a warm-up and less wind. Couldn't stay inside all day, so followed my nose and came up with these shots.

[Bookworm]

The early morning overcast began thinning and with it came an incessant urge to make a pilgrimage to photograph ships in layup at Sarnia. By the time I drove across the Bluewater Bridges, skies were a stunning blue. Everything was as perfect as I could have planned for -- except I left my passport in Marysville. Only a few minutes of checking me out in Canadian customs quickly cleared me to enter and there were no major problem re-entering the US. Whew!

[Bookworm]

Thanks for the posts during even the layup period!

You're so welcome. Getting to be really learn pickings, but I know how essential it is for lovers of ships/boats and Great Lakes to stay connected -- especially through lay up. Photos posted from Duluth/Superior are my personal "lifeline"!

[Guest]

Thanks for the posts during even the layup period!

[Bookworm]

Nothing moving on Lake or River, but here's a better view of tanker Algocanada and CCG Samuel Risley.

[Bookworm]

So thankful for a 2-hour window of sunshine this afternoon!

[Bookworm]

Another Lakeshore Flood Advisory is in effect. Needing something to lift my mood, I drove along the Edison Parkway, stopped at Lakeside Park and on to the Ft. Gratiot County Park. Severe beach erosion was evident all along the lake shoreline.

[Bookworm]

Sounds like you could use a little layup yourself lol.

Ah, but that's the problem, Tim! Cold, dreary weather, ships in lay-up, and dealing with age-related health issues keeps me inside. Although I do a lot of reading, the lack of physical activity diminishes blood flow to the brain. The past few months, I've spent less time enjoying the outdoors than any time in my life!