Other People’s Fotos 8

In my personal life, the beginning of a calendar year seems the best time for maintenance, new starts, re-evaluations.  Today I cleared out and organized a tool closet, tossing out with gusto and energy what I hadn’t been able to . . . in “cleaning” attempts for the past few years.

As I looked through fotos some of you have sent, I “read” maintenance in them, too.  Like this foto of Ambrose from John Watson.  I’m wondering how many years it’s been since LV-87 had her previous

haircut and a shave.

Lou Rosenberg sent this foto;  even QM2 needs touch-ups.  Here are some fotos I took of QM2 arriving in the sixth boro for the first time in April 2004.

Finally, Captain Thalassic sent some fotos from up on the Erie Canal, Lock 28A, where Erie Canal boats Emita II (1953) and Colonial Belle dry out their hulls over the winter, as does

 . . . is that Seneca, and blindfolded and trussed in back of the dry dock?  Does Seneca need help? Here’s another shot of Seneca by Jason LaDue.

Two more shots by John Watson, although these have no connection with maintenance . . . except my own.  Catherine Turecamo here escorts bulk carrier being escorted  Steel Anna.

Now there’s a name!!  I imagine introducing myself . . .   “Hi, I’m ‘steel will.’    If I needed some life maintenance , that would be an energetic start.

Thanks all for sending these fotos along.

Pushing Through

Just north of Union Street in Newark, NY, the Canal narrows.  And given the foliage on either side, the engine approaching echoed as in a tunnel.

Tender #1 headed east toward Lock 28B right past the still-waiting Grouper and

into the gate, which closed

once the tow was inside

guided by a steady hand on wheel, not joystick.

Once the westside lock door shut, water spilled out

lowering 12′ in less than 5 minutes.

The Lyons-side door opened and

the tow pushed through

towards Lyons.

So here’s my agenda.  Click here and you’ll see that voting has already started for the favorite tug at the 2010 Tug Roundup in Waterford.  What if I’d like to vote for Tender #1?  There’s no place for “write-in” candidates.  I’d like to vote for this Canal Corporation tug as my favorite because it just appeared when I needed to hear and see something like Tender #1.

And what a great name!

If you enjoy research, here’s one that stumped me:  Tender #1 is reportedly listed as built in 1928.  Where?

On my way to searching for this info, I located this image site and this timeline site with lots of follow-through links.  Of course, Fred Tug44 has fotos of other tenders, but not Tender #1.

All fotos taken this week by Will Van Dorp.

Oh, and be sure to vote ASAP. And tell your friends and friends’ friends to vote.  Use Facebook and the telephone book, but within your network, you really can make ANY boat win if you try.