Boatnerd Discussion Forum

To the delight of camera-toting fans along the St. Clair River, Wilfred Sykes (Indiana Harbor) made the trip from Detroit, across Lake St. Clair, and up the St. Clair River in daylight. Those at the Marysville Boat Launch (and I would think other places along the way) were treated to a throaty master salute!

BW, Will a Sykes passing be captured, or it could possibly after dark, too? Pretty rare for that boat to be down in that area, even moreso this time of year. TIA

After spending hours in the Port Huron Anchorage, as daylight returned, M/V Herbert C. Jackson began what would become a challenging trip down the St. Clair River. Here's what my camera captured along the way. 12:50 p.m. update: with help from Risley and Griffon, Algosea and Jackson are making good speed across Lake St. Clair.

Some quick shots -- because both hands have experienced frostbite in the past -- along the St. Clair River. Temperature was on the rise from a low of -2 (F) to 6 (F) and the prediction is for lower teens this afternoon.

The day started shortly after daybreak with a flurry of activity but now there is nothing in sight before darkness returns. At the moment, PRT (lay-up at Sturgeon Bay) who repeatedly slips past in the dark, has stopped for a b-i-g drink at the fuel dock in Detroit. Herbert C. Jackson (Indiana Harbor) is just entering the Detroit River system from Lake Erie, and may also need a fuel stop, while Indiana Harbor (Toledo) is only slightly south of Alpena. But these were the vessels spotted on the St. Clair River earlier today.

Both water and ships were flowing along the St. Clair River today and it appears there are still a few to come from Lake Erie to Sturgeon Bay, so stay tuned...

If there's one thing I know about Bookworm, it's that before lay-up is half over, she goes into major "withdrawal," but when she started scheming ways to go to the Soo -- which Dawn initially had no interest in doing because of the distance and craziness on the highways -- and the weather looked favorable for making the trip...

Guest wrote:Hey Bookworm, Thanks for the post! I have a ISC flag as well. Always look forward to your postings.

That's my outdoor flag. I also have one big enough to cover the mate's bed in my guest room!

Thanks for the salute Hon.J.L. Oberstar. Really loved hearing it!

Hey Bookworm, Thanks for the post! I have a ISC flag as well. Always look forward to your postings.

OK, even Bookworm has limits when it comes to going out to photograph passing vessels in frigid weather with blustery winds! But her heart is with ALL mariners, wherever they are out on the lakes, trying to finish the season before the Soo Locks close. Yep, my prejudice is obvious!

Despite intermittent rain and drizzle, today was a good time to check out action in the Port Huron/Sarnia area.

Didn't get to the river much this weekend but managed to catch two end-of-day passages yesterday and today.

Imagine (I kid you not!) a January tug w/barge race on the St. Clair River -- especially when this time last year both US & Canadian Coast Guard ice breakers seemed to be fighting a losing battle to keep the shipping channel open!

Busy day on the St. Clair River today. Judging from AIS, there was a constant flow of vessel traffic between sunset and sunrise when Lee A. Tregurtha (Two Harbors); Anglian Lady (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada); Hon. James L. Oberstar (Marquette); Calumet (Brevort); Cuyahoga (Sault Ste. Marie); tug Ecosse (Hamilton; Dorothy Ann & Pathfinder (Marblehead); and Tadoussac (Nanticoke) were on the river.

Very busy 24 hours on the St. Clair River. Although most traffic passed in the dark hours, I was able to photograph these vessels.

Mean to include this in my original post: JVE & GLT was the first ATB my son Michael and I saw. She was at Huron, OH, after dark, and our first impression was that she looked like something from ET!

A dreary day to begin with brought freezing drizzle as it came to a close. But...I photographed two of the vessels on my list!

HAPPY 2019 to you!
Here are the first sightings of the New Year -- and according to AIS, the last of the day in daylight hours.

My last St. Clair River sightings of 2018.