Cleveland activity 2011-2

[beecher]

We experienced more storms pass through yesterday afternoon. The storms over Lake Erie are always a treat to watch. So I went up on my roof to watch:

This picture shows the leading edge of a t-storm over the Lake. You can see the top of Browns Stadium as well. In the foreground is a smorgasboard of restaurants in the Warehouse District. You can see the buildings that house the Chop House, XO, Blue Point, Johnny's, Nauti Mermaid and so on.

This picture is a little west of the previous one and shows more of the District. The 1848 Hilliard Building is in the foreground. West 9th running North-South and it's intersection of St Clair Ave. More restaurants such as Mallorcas, Brasa, Water Street, Map Room, etc... follow W 9th to the lake and you can make out the cranes and Salty unloading. (sorry bad camera phone pics). Beyond that you can see the Lake and the River's brown flood water entering the Lake.

This pic is further west. You can see both the Cuyahoga River and the Lake. The Nautica Queen is shown moored in the river. The Main Avenue Bridge, the Whiskey Island piles of Ore, and the Gold Coast of Lakewood can also be seen. I believe it is called the gold coast because the sunrise reflects gold off the high rise buildings there, I think.

Yes the roof is a great place to sit back and watch. The late night summertime party crowds number into 5 digits in this district and there is never a dull mooment. Always something happenin'
Cheers
b

[Guest]

Indiana Harbor now unloading at CBT.

[pcolachap]

Hello Beecher, According to the Port Huron passages, this should be the Indiana Harbor. Mike

[beecher]

We have a footer backing into the Harbor now. I took the picture and was going to check exactly who she is on vessel passage and nothing is in Lake Erie according to that site. Must be a ghost footer. (American Spirit?)

We also have the American Maritime Academy in Port.

[Guest]

Beecher, thanks for the up-dates on everything!

[beecher]

Hi Mike,
He has not moved because TV 8 just showed him live so he must be Oscar ;-).

Hi Guests,
Yes, the fog was unusual. I've been working near the lakefront since 1982 and must say it was a very exceptional fog. It was just like smoke as you say. The 1,500 law enforcement folks & memorial ceremony downtown suddenly became covered in it.
This is how our Lake got her name.

It has not rained here like this since the early 70's IMHO.

Yes there were bubblers operating in the water. The fake owls are deployed too. They do whatever they can to keep the flyin' rats away. The adjacent airport is always shooting off ordinance to shoo the gulls away. I wondered why the bubblers were running too. It may be a gull teaser thingy. Who knows. Those guys do a great job. They seem so young. (Or I'm getting old...er).

The Sam Laud has been sailing up and down the River.

Lots of debris from all the flooding entering the Harbor.

My son will be residing and tending bar at the Beer Barrel in Put-in-Bay this summer. Stop by and say hi! Oh, to be young again. I talked my 19 year old daughter out of being a bar back at the same bar. She will be a life guard at a condo facility here instead. (sigh of relief).

Cheers,
b

[pcolachap]

Hello. When I mentioned "Oscar", he is the dummy that is thrown overboard for a man overboard and then recovered for a drill on Navy & USCG vessels. Notice the line attached to him. He is named Oscar because that is the letter used to designate "O" as in overboard. Regards, Mike

[Guest]

What looks like a wake coming off the ends of both docks? Is there a tide running there, or do they have ice bubblers in the water?

[Guest]

Yes, the guy does look a bit stiff and impersonal. lol
Very strange fog today, it was only close to the lake, where it was very dense, and it was like smoke more than fog. Reminded me of London.

BTW, beecher, Thanks for the info on the ships whistles re: bridges. I learned my new thing for the day. You're right, too, I hear the 5 blasts more often than the salutes.

[pcolachap]

Hello Beecher: Is this a "real guy" or is it 'Oscar" Regards, Mike

[beecher]

I visited the Coast Guard Station today. Nice visit. One guy was relaxing at the moorings (Picture below). The Neah Bay was there too.

Pathfinder D/A has been runnin' stone.

The rain has been visiting too much. Fog has been very abundant this month.

[beecher]

They blast the 5 shorts every time they lower a lift bridge. Once before they raise it. Sounds like we have had activity.

Sometimes I never hear the opening blast or a Long & Short from the boat. Just the five shorts after they sail under the bridge. They must be twittering or somethin'. lol

[Son of a 1st mate]

Heard the 5-short-blast "Danger" whistle 3 times today. Once around 12 noon, and two times in succession around 1915. What news?

I'm used to the bridge salutes, but I have never heard the "Danger" whistle. I'm up on W. 65th and Detroit.

[Les Weston]

Thanks, Beecher.

We will probably be seeing you in a couple of weeks. Say hi to Bob V.

[beecher]

Hi Les!
Aft just before the shore side utility hook up.

We also had a Coast Guard visit today from a vessel that looked to be Canadian. I did not have much time other than to say that it did not look like the USCG.

The skies have cleared and hope to play golf tomorrow. On Saturday we are headed inland to where my son is graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Say Hi to the better half for me.

Cheers,
b

[Les Weston]

Hi, Beecher. Great shot! Where on the boat is the picture of the ducklings taken? Fore or aft?

[Guest]

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with the owner of the tug Ashtabula that is tied up in Cleveland?

Thanks

[Guest]

That doesn't look like a very warm, cozy nest does it? The first step for the little ones is going to be a long one!

[beecher]

We have seen the Mississisagi, Sam Laud, St Mary's II, D/A Pathfinder, and another Saltie in Cleveland.

UFO sightings are starting up again over Lake Erie. A video clip of one is here.
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-news-ufo-o ... 8612.story

Below is a picture from the WG Mather folks. A duck has laid its eggs in an old portal on the Mather.

Cheers,
b

[beecher]

The Sam Laud sailed up river this morning.

A saltie arrived at Port docks 28/30. See it in the fog below. Believe it or not the CFD boat is in the picture but there is too much fog and my phone does not take very good landscape pictures. I will work on that.

Thanks to MN boater and Paul A.
Cheers,
b

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