Side by each

Space at the dock in Sarnia is at a premium in the winter months when the lakers lay up for their maintenance and to await the re-opening of the Welland in late March.

The lower Great Lakes can be unpredictable for weather, alternating between cold snaps when six inches of ice can form in a few days to warm, spring-like weather. Port Huron is just across the St. Clair River where a USCG vessel is stationed just visible above the low lying fog.

Four weeks has passed and there are two crews anxiously waiting for their reliefs so they can go home and enjoy some rest in this ping-pong style of life.

Take the lead

Another day, another escort bringing a ship from Pelee up to the Detroit River.

Better late than never

It took almost until the end of January for some ice to finally form on Lake Erie. Enough, at least, for one of the remaining vessels still running to request an icebreaker.

The Algocanada sits comfortably behind us a mile distant. A calm day keeps the track wide open, and makes for a speedy transit from the 'Shoal' up to the Detroit River.

Not very amusing

There is something forlorn about an amusement park in the off-season; especially one on the shores of Lake Erie in the winter.

Cedar Point is on the eastern shore of the entrance to Sandusky Harbour. 

A trip here in mid-January is usually a call to break ice, but the warm weather this past week has melted the ice and it is a buoy off position that has brought us here. 

Work Barge heading to buoy off station

There is only enough water in the shipping channel for large vessels to move through the harbour so each course has range lights to mark the centre of the channel.

Range lights for next course still open

St. Clair River buoys

Buoy pickup on the St. Clair River starting at the Blue Water bridge.

As the border runs down the centre of the river, the Canadian buoys are all on the red side of the channel; which makes for a uniform display by the end of the day.