A salmon-fishing dog in a kayak being paddled by a human and tailed by a Coast Guard RIB . . . that’s intriguing, but the 50 or so folks with me at the end of the jetty were not there to greet the pooch. We were there to see the badger,
this Badger.
Badger entered service about the same year I did and
now she’s threatened, at least in her current state of being a coal-fired steam-powered ferry. For part of the year she shuttles between Ludington, MI and Manitowoc, WI . . . as she has for 60 years, but
like I said, this might be it. That’s reason enough to
take a ride, which I’m about to do. More soon from the 60-miles one-way trip between the two Lake Michigan ports.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
4 comments
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August 23, 2012 at 7:18 am
tugboathunter
I took the ride back in 2007. It’s wonderful. Have fun!
August 23, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Brian
I had the privilege a few years back to tour the Badger in Ludington just before winter layup. The Chief Engineer took me through the whole boat including the coal bins, and engine room. The crew could not have been nicer. It’s hard to believe they still use a telegraph for engine commands and able to land her in that small harbor.
August 23, 2012 at 3:22 pm
PaulB.
Got me thinking, Will, that it’s time to post more photos from a steamship’s engine room. I’m going to get on that.
August 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Ken
I’m hoping to take a ride on her this year.