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.

Enger Park Overlook

While the view of Lake Superior and the Duluth Harbor is enjoyable any time of the day, an early morning sunrise viewed from the new Enger Park gazebo really brings together God's created beauty into one scene.

Duluth Harbor Trivia for 6/19/2013

Harbor Trivia question of the day? (You will need a Flash enabled machine to play the game)
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Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Tuesday 6/18/2013

Arthur M. Anderson departed at 02:50
Indiana Harbor arrived at 10:35
Indiana Harbor departed at 21:30

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Monday 6/17/2013

Lee A. Tregurtha arrived at 02:17
American Century arrived at 02:34
Alpena arrived at 06:38
Arthur M. Anderson arrived at 07:37
Lakes Contender/Ken Boothe, Sr. departed at 08:30
James R. Barker arrived at 09:15
Lee A. Tregurtha departed at 12:42
American Century departed at 14:00
James R. Barker departed at 23:30

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for 6/16/2013

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

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Sunday 6/16/2013

Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed at 01:33
Paul R. Tregurtha arrived at 05:12
Algoma Navigator departed at 08:29
Lakes Contender/Ken Boothe, Sr. arrived at 10:20
Paul R. Tregurtha departed at 15:15

Canal Park Morning

As we approach the Summer Solstice, the sun is rising as far north on the Lake Superior horizon as it will get all year.

Inner Range Lighthouse - Duluth (HDR)

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for Sunday 6/16/2013

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

Duluth Harbor BOat Traffic for Saturday 6/15/2013

Algoma Navigator arrived at 14:00
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived at 15:00

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for 6/15/2013

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

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Friday 6/14/2013

Atlantic Huron departed at 07:42
Philip R. Clarke departed at 13:47

Morning Lights

Dawn on the shores of Lake Superior is a treat anytime, but, once in awhile, it is stunning.

North Pier Lighthouse (HDR photography)

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for 6/14/2013

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

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Thursday 6/13/2013

Philip R. Clarke arrived at 20:20
Atlantic Huron arrive at 21:15

Park Point Sunrise

The sun rises over Lake Superior at 5:15AM this time of year.  Although it's a bit early, there is just something special about this time of day when it's quiet and beautiful.

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for 6/13/2013

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

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Wednesday 6/12/2013

James R. Barker departed at 01:52
Cason J. Callaway arrived at 09:15
Indiana Harbor arrived at 12:55
Cason J. Callaway departed at  19:30
Indiana Harbor departed at 23:30

Minnesota Slip Morning

The Minnesota Slip is one of those quiet places that you tend to overlook as you stroll across the small foot bridge (Minnesota Slip Bridge) along the harbor side of the Lakewalk.

These photos were taken at 5:30AM this morning, using HDR photography.

T/S State of Michigan

The T/S State of Michigan visited the Twin Ports yesterday and departed today. This picture was taken this morning before it departed.

Originally launched in 1985 as the USNS Persistent the T/S State of Michigan was commissioned as a Stalwart class Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship She was built as an ocean submarine surveillance vessel to tow highly sensitive sonar arrays to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War.  In 1998, the USNS Persistent and her sister ship, the USNS Vindicator were transferred to the United States Coast Guard to be used in drug regulation. Even after overhauls to the USNS Persistent, she was determined to be too slow to keep up with the drug policing and became available to other government agencies.

In August 2002, the vessel, whose name was changed to the T/S State of Michigan by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, departed for the Great Lakes by way of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The training ship is now used as a daily laboratory environment and is also used underway allowing cadets to put into practice the theory and skills they have learned prior to their commercial sea projects
Ship specifications
Length: 224 ft.
Beam: 43 ft.
Draft: 15 ft.
Speed: 11 knots
( Info from Wikipedia)

Duluth Harbor Trivia Question for Wednesday 6/12/2013

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

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Tuesday 6/11/2013

State of Michigan arrived at 06:00
James R. Barker arrived at 11:10
American Integrity departed at 12:30
Eemsborg (Dutch) departed at 13:47
Yulia (Lib) departed at 18:10
Cedarglen departed at 22:30

Yulia (Liberia) departs

Under clear skies and 80 degree weather, warm breeze escorted the Liberian freighter Yulia out of the Duluth Harbor.