Cleveland Activity 2

[beecher1]

The boats activity has been steady.

Get this; a develpoer wants to make "Collision Bend" on the Cuyahoga River narrower! Go figure...

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/11 ... ny_pr.html

beecher

[beecher]

The piles are growing fast along the river. Snow is due soon...
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The USCG was just now searchin' & spottin' the river banks up and down with a swift boat (maurader?). The have nice toys. They just got a bigger version here. Forget what it is called, but it seems to cut through the cut just fine.

[beecher]

Great picture of the Buffalo in the Cuyahoga River by Kate White. We were both watchin' at the same time.

You can see the windows of my loft in the downtown buildings. I can see a lot up the river to the South, huh? I go up on the roof deck and see the 'Port and the Lake to the North. I watch the Lake from my office window across town as well. b

[beecher]

Spotted Algosar, Pathfinder - D/A, Calumet, Buffalo, & some tugs today. Saltie in port as well.

[beecher]

The Buffalo has been runnin' up & down the River. The Carter Rd bridge slowed her down at 11 last night. It took about 20 minutes to get the bridge opened. She sailed back down at 8 this am.

The Algorail, Iowa, and Rhode Island, are on the way down past the Bridge right this minute. The forward port side of the Algorail has what seems to be white paint spilled all over it. About 55 gallons worth. They are sounding the danger whistle calls over and over right now.

also: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/10 ... l#comments

[DC]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

I am home, doing well, and just as ornery as ever.

Glad to hear it, Wes.

[Les Weston]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

I am home, doing well, and just as ornery as ever.

[beecher]

I see the Maumee. She looks very tired. Anybody know of the long range plans for her? A couple of salties lately. St Marys activity too.
I hear Les Weston is in Southwest General Hospital ICU with heart trouble. Prayers for Les & Cathy.

[beecher]

News channel should be getting the new Maritime Director announcement here soon! New stuff!

[beecher]

Algorail and two tugs came up the river at 5am today. I can tell by the deafening silence that there is not much good reason to have a ferry from here to Port Stanley. Right?

[beecher]

The idea has come back out for a ferry service from Cleveland to Port Stanley. The Feds will help, other seed money...blah ba blah. Please help me understand the need for a ferry service for people and trucks to Port Stanley. The reasoning does not sit well with me.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index. ... ostComment

Can someone help shed some good reason on this idea for me please?

beecher

[Guest]

The Buffalo has been sailin' up & down the river lately. I notice the spar deck and hatches have been painted recently. We have seen a few other boats like the Sam Laud, McKee Sons, a lower lakes boat or two, an Algoma freighter & some salties. I think I saw a cement barge approaching from the east a few hours back.

Ingenuity Fest partied all weekend long inside the abandonded trolley car part of the lower level of the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Cuyahoga River. [aka Detroit-Superior Bridge]. They made a waterfall off of the street level of the bridge to the river. The high winds of a few days ago pushed the heavy mist of the water fall into the pedestrian traffic inside the festival. It was like walking behind the American side of the Niagara Falls.

[beecher]

The American Republic is sailing up river now. After a while you start to get to know their different whistles.

[beecher]

We went for a walk to the Carter Rd lift bridge last night. The Pathfinder/DA and the Buffalo met us there at the same time. It was a treat watching them pass by at Collision Bend.
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We then went down river to the Nautica Pavillion on the west bank of the river next to the Powerhouse. The Fallen Heroes Fund of Northeast Ohio was holding their 2nd Annual Clam Jam. Good clams, lots of bands, tremendous bagpipers, rain at times, lots of beer, and lots of good people. The Buffalo passed us by again and there were lots of waves back and forth. Some of the guys on the buffalo were dancing along the decks to the loud live music. The Captain saluted us well with the whistle and the whole crowed roared back like a Browns game crowd would. It kinda set a nice tone for the rest of the night. Some mass dancing took over after that. Thanks Captain!

[Les Weston]

Thanks for the info, Beecher. I'd like to get up there.

Tell Bob V. about the post above this one on James Johnson passing. Bob sailed for Kinsman and may have known him.

[beecher]

Good to see you and Cathy as well. She really charmed the FAA official.

The boats have been scarce lately. We have seen nothing. We even went up to the Terminal Tower's observation deck yesterday. We could see just about everything on the navigable waters. Some barges and concrete action. No bulk carriers. Sounds like the weather grounded a lot of them.

BTW - They did a great job renovationg the 42nd story observation deck on the Tower. You can see a long way. Great Lakes Towing had all the tugs on the wall. You can see all the piles of material all along the river. It was well worth the $5.

[Les Weston]

Hi, Beecher.

Great seeing you Saturday. Glad to see you are recovered.

As you stated the wind and rain were really ugly in the morning, but cleared up by Noon and in time for the Blue Angles. I could not believe the Wing Walker event went on as schedules, in spite of the high winds. I saw the pilot house wind meter top 40 a couple of times

This is the first air show I have been able to volunteer for on deck, as I am usually in the engine room, which the FAA put off limits. I really enjoyed interacting with the guests watching the show on the Mather.

See you soon.

[beecher]

The Port of Cleveland weather was about as unpredictable as it ever gets this morning. Lake effect rain was blowing on Burke Airport over the WG Mather today prior and during the National Air Show today. The rain was drenching on a 1/2 mile wide swath directly over the center line of the show. The national radar was clear for hundreds of miles otherwise. Welcome to Cleveland!

The FAA was busy.

The day ended with the clouds parting and the Blue Angels showing off as usual. Good stuff. They still give me goose bumps when they pass me within a few hundred feet... Just sayin'...