LL Escanaba to Chicago

Departing Escanaba, we cut through Little Bay de Noc and headed for the passage between Port des Morts/Northport and Washington followed by Plum Island.  The white cliffs at the north point of Washington Island intrigue.  Previously I had been similarly intrigued by Port des Morts;  if you understand the French you’ll know why.  Whether you do or not, check out this link and story.  Northport after all is at the tip of the Door Peninsula.

Taking our stern and departing Green Bay is the oldest freighter working on the Lakes . . .  Alpena of course, launched a mere 81 years ago.

Dilapidated buildings stand on Pilot Island Light, once referred to as 
Death’s Door Light, as lurid as that sounds.

Morning brought this view of Chicago, our next port, the place where I’d step onto land for a long week.

Chicago Harbor Light welcomed us in;  here we’ve passed in on the way to Navy Pier, and I looked back at sunrise, where distant Philip R. Clarke was northbound for more ore, no doubt, previously posted here on this blog.

James J. Versluis I’ve seen before.

Doing some breakwater work was David R. Shanock,  an unfamiliar name until 

I checked and realized she used to work in the sixth boro as Trevor!!  Check the history here.

All photos, any errors, WVD, who will now catch up on sixth boro images before heading back for the Lakes late next week for LL2 posts.

James J. Versluis

The sixth boro has no channels quite like Chicago, channels I’d like to see all.  And here I was pleased to

meet an ice breaker and more that.  If crew on Versluis ask if you want to see their crib, take advantage of that opportunity.

The Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable Bridge illustrates the logic of the design.

And the namesake?  Here’s the story, as well as links to some ice breaking video clips.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.