by captrmetz » December 19, 2016, 11:26 am
I received reports from our office that Georgian Bay was completely covered over with ice. The only vessel moving there was the John E. F. Misener, who was a few hours ahead of us, also heading for Midland, Ontario. If we could find and follow her track, we would have a better chance of not getting stuck in the ice.
We did pick up her track and played follow the leader. I knew if we got stuck out there, the ship would stay right where she was until the spring. But the day was bright with blue sky from horizon to horizon. The track was visible, and we plowed through the broken up ice.
Off in the distance, I saw four deer running across the ice. I didn't want them to plunge through the broken ice of the track and not be able to climb back out, so I blew a long blast from our ship’s whistle. The deer were within about 20 feet of falling in, when they spread their front feet and put on the brakes. Their long ears came out in front of their faces as they slid to a complete stop. They heard that old steam whistle blowing. They sniffed the air, turned around, and headed back to shore. It was a good day.
We arrived at Midland, and the John Misener was unloading at the same elevator where we were to unload. There was no room at the dock for us to tie up to wait, we stopped the ship just out from the elevator and let her freeze in the ice. After the Misener discharged her cargo, then we would move under the unloading leg. Until then, we were frozen in.
On December 25, 1980, frozen solid in the ice 100 feet out from shore, the crew of the H. C. Heimbecker celebrated Christmas. The galley staff prepared a wonderful feast. We had prime rib, roast duck, and all the delicious trimmings that went along, plus an assortment of cakes and candies. Of course, most of the crew would rather have been celebrating Christmas with their loved ones at home, but such was not the case.
After dinner, the crew left the galley and when to their cabins to read or watch TV. The men on watch went back to the pilot house or engine room to finish standing their watch. The Chief and I sat for a while talking about the years that went by where we never it home for Christmas and we just went along with it, this was our job, a way of life but a few of the younger crew members were very home sick. I do believe that if the ship would of been tied up to the dock a few of the deck hands would of quit and gone home. I said good night to the Chief, thank the galley crew for an excellent dinner, and started up the deck to my cabin. The snow had stopped falling and I could hear the fresh snow crackling under my feet as I walked up the steel deck. I could smell the pure cold air and I could small the smoke from the wood burning fireplaces from the houses on shore, the smoke slowly rising into the quite air from the chimneys. It was a beautiful night so I walked up to the bow and looked at all the pretty twinkling Christmas lights that most of the home were displaying. I good feeling came over me how lucky I was To be out hear this Christmas night, a silent night on a ship that was iced in a half mile from shore and so far from home and family. I would saver this night and the feeling and smells I had about being there knowing it will come to an end some day and I will always think back on this Silent Night Christmas 1980. And when Christmas rolls around each year, yes I was right, I do think of this night.
The Misener finished unloading the next day. The crew moved their ship to the end of the wall and secured it for the winter. The crew was paid off, and they all went home. On the 28th of December, we were unloaded, and tied up alongside of the Misener. After laying up the ship for the winter, I paid the crew off, except for the engineers, who still had some work to finish to quiet the steam plant for the winter. Everybody happily went home for a well-deserved rest and to spend what was left of the winter with their families.
- Attachments
-
- Tied up in Midland Ont.
-
- Frozen in where we spent Christmas 1980
-
- Following the ice trail into Midland Ont.
I received reports from our office that Georgian Bay was completely covered over with ice. The only vessel moving there was the John E. F. Misener, who was a few hours ahead of us, also heading for Midland, Ontario. If we could find and follow her track, we would have a better chance of not getting stuck in the ice.
We did pick up her track and played follow the leader. I knew if we got stuck out there, the ship would stay right where she was until the spring. But the day was bright with blue sky from horizon to horizon. The track was visible, and we plowed through the broken up ice.
Off in the distance, I saw four deer running across the ice. I didn't want them to plunge through the broken ice of the track and not be able to climb back out, so I blew a long blast from our ship’s whistle. The deer were within about 20 feet of falling in, when they spread their front feet and put on the brakes. Their long ears came out in front of their faces as they slid to a complete stop. They heard that old steam whistle blowing. They sniffed the air, turned around, and headed back to shore. It was a good day.
We arrived at Midland, and the John Misener was unloading at the same elevator where we were to unload. There was no room at the dock for us to tie up to wait, we stopped the ship just out from the elevator and let her freeze in the ice. After the Misener discharged her cargo, then we would move under the unloading leg. Until then, we were frozen in.
On December 25, 1980, frozen solid in the ice 100 feet out from shore, the crew of the H. C. Heimbecker celebrated Christmas. The galley staff prepared a wonderful feast. We had prime rib, roast duck, and all the delicious trimmings that went along, plus an assortment of cakes and candies. Of course, most of the crew would rather have been celebrating Christmas with their loved ones at home, but such was not the case.
After dinner, the crew left the galley and when to their cabins to read or watch TV. The men on watch went back to the pilot house or engine room to finish standing their watch. The Chief and I sat for a while talking about the years that went by where we never it home for Christmas and we just went along with it, this was our job, a way of life but a few of the younger crew members were very home sick. I do believe that if the ship would of been tied up to the dock a few of the deck hands would of quit and gone home. I said good night to the Chief, thank the galley crew for an excellent dinner, and started up the deck to my cabin. The snow had stopped falling and I could hear the fresh snow crackling under my feet as I walked up the steel deck. I could smell the pure cold air and I could small the smoke from the wood burning fireplaces from the houses on shore, the smoke slowly rising into the quite air from the chimneys. It was a beautiful night so I walked up to the bow and looked at all the pretty twinkling Christmas lights that most of the home were displaying. I good feeling came over me how lucky I was To be out hear this Christmas night, a silent night on a ship that was iced in a half mile from shore and so far from home and family. I would saver this night and the feeling and smells I had about being there knowing it will come to an end some day and I will always think back on this Silent Night Christmas 1980. And when Christmas rolls around each year, yes I was right, I do think of this night.
The Misener finished unloading the next day. The crew moved their ship to the end of the wall and secured it for the winter. The crew was paid off, and they all went home. On the 28th of December, we were unloaded, and tied up alongside of the Misener. After laying up the ship for the winter, I paid the crew off, except for the engineers, who still had some work to finish to quiet the steam plant for the winter. Everybody happily went home for a well-deserved rest and to spend what was left of the winter with their families.