Isa Arrival

After several days of waiting the 655ft Cyprus flagged Isa headed into port this evening for a load of grain.
With a little help from the local tugs, the Isa made for a splendid view.

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Monday 6/24/2013

American Mariner arrived at 00:05
H. Lee White arrived at 05:23
St. Clair departed at 07:21
Arthur M. Anderson arrived at 18:40
Great Lakes Trader/Joyce L. Van Enkevort arrived at 22:45
Indiana Harbor arrived at 23:50

LaFarge Camera Update

12:00 - 06/24/2013 -- Update.  The Lafarge cam is now up and running with a new solar power system.
No guarantees, since I built this out of stuff I had laying around my shop. One thing for sure, I will continue to tinker and keep these cameras going.

06:00 6/24/2013--It has been two weeks since the Lafarge camera has been offline due to a power failure at the vacant plant.  During that time I have constructed a solar power supply that hopefully provide enough power for the camera system.

I will be moving the system to the top of the building today and with any luck have the camera up and running this afternoon.

Fog Finally Breaks

The heavy fog that has been laying over the Head of the Lakes finally blew out as the winds shift out if the east. Just in time to catch to CSL Laurentien departing into the retreating fog bank.

Perigee/Supermoon

The 2013 supermoon was a remarkable sight last evening as it came floating out of the Lake Superior horizon. It was the largest supermoon this year.

The moonrise got plenty of attention from Lakewalk spectators as it broke into the clear shortly after topping the North Pier lighthouse.

Also known as a perigee moon, the event occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific point in its orbit, called the lunar perigee. That's the point at which the moon is nearest to Earth as it traces its elliptical path around our planet.

Since it's closer to us, the moon appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual. Coined by astrologer Richard Nolle, the term "supermoon" essentially means a bigger and brighter full moon.

Fog!

Thick heavy fog has delayed shipping and blinded the harbor cameras over the past few day.  It's all a wonderful part of Duluth.

Hang on, after one more day of rain, the winds will shift and you will see another side of Duluth in full summer beauty. Monday will be partly cloudy and 80 degrees.

Duluth Harbor Trivia for 6/21/2013

Harbor Trivia question of the day? (You will need a Flash enabled machine to play the game)

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Thursday 6/20/2013

Cason J. Callaway departed at 08:45
James R. Barker arrived at 11:05

Duluth Harbor Boat Races for Wednesday 6/19/2013

Hon James L Oberstar departure

Cason J. Callaway arrived at 02:00
Hon. James L. Oberstar departed at 04:38
Victoriaborg arrived at 06:43
Joseph L. Block arrived at 16:45
Sailboat Races 17:30

Superior Sailing!

Wednesday night draws sailboats out to Lake Superior and even though the winds were light, the boats cruised through the placid waters of the big lake like a school of fish.

Made me think of this poem by John Masefield:
A Wanderer’s Song

A winds in the heart of me, a fires in my heels,
I am tired of brick and stone and rumbling wagon-wheels;
I hunger for the sea’s edge, the limits of the land,
Where the wild winds old Atlantic is shouting on the sand.

Oh I’ll be going, leaving the noise of the street,
To where a lifting foresail-foot is yanking at the sheet;
To a windy, tossing anchorage where yawls and ketches ride,
Oh I’ll be going, going, until I meet the tide.

And first I’ll hear the sea-wind, the mewing of the gulls,
The clucking sucking of the sea about the rusty hulls,
The songs at the capstan at the hooker warping out,
And then the heart of me’ll know I’m there or thereabout.

Oh I am sick of brick and stone, the heart of me is sick,
For windy green unquiet sea, the realm of Moby Dick;
And I’ll be going going, form the roaring of the wheels,
For a wind’s in the heart of me, a fire’s in my heel’s.