I’m still unpacking my head and camera from the gallivant to Algonquin Provincial Park, where these “water taxis” work the tourist trade, hauling canoes on racks to remote reaches of Lake Opeongo. Because Canada is a bilingual country, next to “water taxi” on the sign were the words “bateaux taxis,” which Elizabeth-in spite of the fact that she knows French–decided said “battle taxis,” an exciting
permutation. And they raced around the lake as if they were doing battles, lances up top at the ready, jousting against phantoms.
At rest, the Giesler boats–built in Powassan between Algonquin and Lake Nipissing–are cedar–stunning-strip! I want one!
Less beautiful, this aluminum “battle taxi” jousts with three weapons. The sound of these vessels racing up or down the lake was not unlike that of a floatplane, and it was easy to imagine this a floatplane traveling upside down, floats up. We paddled our own ways around the south end of the lake, but given that the park is 10 times the area of the six boros of New York, a little assistance helps. If we’d taken a not-cheap lift on a “battle taxi,” we could have camped nearer to moose and bear. Lake Opeongo is 1/3 the size of Seneca Lake and 1/6 the size of Moosehead Lake, this latter a probable future gallivant destination.
At the logging museum there I learned of “pointeaux,” very sturdy and shallow draft variation on the dory, designed by the Cockburns to
break up logjams, almost like a waterborne “log fid” that
resists crushing in log-choked rivers as its crews “unjam.”
Thanks to Jed . . . identification of the freight vessel next to Maple Grove is a 1646 LCU, one type of vessel that HaRVeST should look into for transporting the Hudson Valley’s bounty to the five boros of consumption aka “foodway corridor.” I wonder who came up with that garble, and further … how the francophone Canadians would transmogrify that. Buy an LCU here.
Yes, I was transporting dry firewood from the lakeshore here, and it’s only coincidental that it appears that my canoe has a bowsprit, and I’m sticking by that story. To digress, H. D. Thoreau said, “A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” I’m sticking with that, too.
Less far up north–yes, this is Grouper, often written about here and still stuck just west of the Erie Canal locks in Newark, New York. Anyone know what happened with the plans to get her to Detroit this summer? This foto was taken in late July 2010.
Mystery boat #1 . . . seen at a marina in Cape Vincent, NY.
Mystery boat #2 . . . seen at a marina in Clayton. This vessel has a metal hull.
The lines would say 40’s. I don’t have any info about either of these boats.
All fotos taken by Will Van Dorp.
15 comments
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August 3, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Dennis @ Marine Electronics
Tugster, great pictures and as always a bit of history to go with them. Sounds like you and Elizabeth had a great time. I don’t know about standing on a pointer in rough water near a log jam. The pay would have to be very good.
August 3, 2010 at 10:27 pm
bowsprite
Laissez les bons temps rouler!!! oops. too north. well, laissez they rouler anyway!
August 3, 2010 at 10:37 pm
bowsprite
foodway corridor:
le couloir de façon de nourriture (freetranslation)
de nourriture voie corridor (webtranslation)
corridor manière dont les aliments (google translate)
couloir de manière de nourriture (yahoo babel)
hard to stomach even if you aren’t french.
August 4, 2010 at 5:56 am
tugster
as to a simpler “foodway corridor” alternative/translation, hows about “market” in english and “marche” in french? as to what gets “laissez” in the north country, in the wilds the “temps” are quite “bon.”
August 4, 2010 at 8:42 am
bowsprite
these bootes sont fait for marche
August 6, 2010 at 7:15 am
susan gateley
The alligator with the self leveling engine was amazing! Such ingenuity!
July 16, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Anonymous
I wish to correct your friend Jed on the fact that the LCU 1646 is The Thors Hammer and that is the vessel on the right, the Maple Grove is the LCM 8 boat on the left. both of these boats can be seen in Clayton NY on the St. Lawurance. There are to more interesting vessels also tied up at R.J.Marine. The tug boat Bowditch, and the retired US Army cargo tranport Corina.
December 7, 2013 at 10:34 am
Scott Andrews
Hey Will,
Do you know off hand when and in what marina the photos of the boat where taken. i am interested in the hull.
December 7, 2013 at 11:24 am
tugster
hi scott– foto was taken 7/27/2010 at the marina on the st lawrence side of the antique boat museum . i have another pic of it if you’re interested.
December 30, 2013 at 9:35 am
Scott Andrews
More pics would be great. maybe I will see something to help me locate it.
December 7, 2013 at 10:41 am
Scott Andrews
also the LCU “Thors Hammer” is no longer in Clayton, it is en route to Alaska. At this time it is in Panama on the west end of the canal. The Maple Grove (the mike 8 boat ) is right now in dry dock, right there at R.J. Marine. the dock was built by the owners of the Bowditch, Dewit Wittington and the owner of the MG, Jr Rusho. it was quite a feat. i have photos on my phone should i be able to down load them i will send them to you to post.
December 7, 2013 at 11:28 am
tugster
has THORS HAMMER already traversed the canal and headed NW in the pacific? i haven’t found it on AIS.
December 30, 2013 at 9:34 am
Scott Andrews
The ” Hammer” is on the Pacific side waiting for the crew to return soon, to continue on to Alaska.
December 30, 2013 at 10:54 am
tugster
scott- thanks for the update. bon voyage. i’d love to post any pics you might want to share. will via parrotlect@gmail.com
December 31, 2013 at 1:37 am
David Hindin
THORS HAMMER – Cargo: current position and details | MMSI 367444060, Callsign WDF3793 | Registered in USA – AIS Marine Traffic
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/367444060
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