Labor Days Past

Yesterday, Labor Day, I took no photos, except one of a wood sign carving project in progress.

It turns out . . .  Labor Day 2020 I took no photos either;  these were sent to me though by Josh Watts, and embarrassingly, I’ve not posted them until now.  Sometimes I get into a groove and lose track of things. These are two new generation NYS Canals tugs and a floating gradall, maintaining canal depth.  It’s a great shot.

Here’s anorther from that date and that area of the west-of-Rochester portion of the canal, Adams Basin. The vantage point is a house barge from Erie Canal Adventures.

Labor Day 2019 I had the good fortune to be laboring, and taking photos, and doing that in Cleveland.  Self-unloading freighter Algoma Buffalo was winding its way down the Cuyahoga

with assistance from  two tugs, Cleveland and Iowa, launched 2017 and 1915 respectively!! You caught that 102-year difference in age, right!  Also, that waterway used simultaneously for commerce and recreation . . . that’s the Cuyahoga, you know, the one that caught fire a number of times a half century ago.  That is a story of concerted problem-solving, concerted means people with different ideas solving problems together.

Labor Day 2018 I was exploring Chicago and saw this massive Muddy Waters mural.

Just beyond this navigation aid, you turn to port and enter the federal lock that leads to the Chicago River.

Labor Day 2017 I was in Manitowoc.  Then and many other times I’ve seen and wondered about Halten, a 1966 Swedish Coast Guard vessel (maybe not since painted-over raised letters on the stern say Oslo)  that appears to be a yacht that might not move much.  Maybe it just moves when I’ve not been paying attention.

Avenger IV passed us on Lake Michigan, where lots of fishing was happening from small boats.

Labor Day 2016 I had just left Ogdensburg downbound, and was passing the Canadian port of Johnstown, where the 1943 freighter Mississagi

was discharging cargo,

and a half hour later, we were still looking back at Johnstown in the beauty of the morning colors.

I could go farther back but won’t now.  I’ve no idea why I’ve not taken any photos the past two Labor Days.  September 5, 2022,  I need to get back to work. Thanks to Josh for the first two photos;  all others, WVD.

Looking ahead, just a reminder that after the TugBoat RoundUp, I’ll be road foto tripping a lot, and that might be no posts some days.

Labor Day Weekend 2012

Labor Day, my father used to say, was a time to labor.  We did, and lots of people do.  When I was out this morning from before moonset until 9 a.m., ample evidence of ongoing work presented itself, work that had started hours before I was able to get fotos.  I love the light at daybreak.  Here’s Freddie K Miller north of me and

northeast of me a few seconds later.

Here’s Margaret Moran before sunrise east of me as she returned  from assisting Saudi Hofuf into port, and

here’s Catherine Turecamo about a half hour later (exactly 07:33 . . . remember that) exiting the KVK west of me.

Here’s Atlantic Salvor towing dredge spoils out as Mary Alice returns with a scow, and here’s

the bigger picture as Salvor moves east of me.  Vessel in the distance is Titan.

Here’s looking north at Weddell Sea at moonset, and

looking southward at Rosemary Miller parading a pair of pickups around the same time.

Here are Gramma Lee T Moran, Siva Sincerity, and  . ..  again .  . . Catherine Turecamo arriving from the east.  Time is 08:51, almost an hour and a half later than the previous shot of Catherine.

And two more of the trio, mere

minutes later.

Here’s a mystery . . . I’d swear that was Taurus, but AIS says Taurus is in Louisiana.  Can anyone identify the Kirby tug here?

Happy Labor Day, and if you have to work, I hope you at least enjoy it, as I did as a kid.

Labor Day 2011

Labor Day weekend is upon us again, but I can’t remember when it seemed quite this polarized, although if you read the first two sentences in the section here called “history,” maybe the celebration of the day was born in conflict, polarization, and then reaching out for solidarity.  Check out the Post editorials from the  Washington  and the Huffington.  I liked this foto essay in the New York Times Magazine here.

For many of the first 20 years of my life, living on a farm where Labor Day was a holiday in name only since harvest had to be taken then, I heard that on “labor day” one labored.  End of story.   And that was not such a bad way to spend the day.  Work challenges,

ennobles,

unites,

bonds,

accomplishes,

fulfills,

satisfies,

and ultimately feeds us, and others.

Happy Labor Day, whatever you do or don’t do.

Al fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Tug Race Countdown 2

So if you’re not tied up with your labor on Labor Day Sunday, see you at the tug race.  It’s a festive waterfront event, where vessels that come to compete are the ones not engaged at that hour.  It’s part Labor Day picnic.  Here are the details.

Will Sarah Ann be there?

Or Laura K.

Meagan Ann?

Maurania III,

Greenland Sea,

or Craig Eric?

Here’s some of my posts from the event in 2009, 2008, 2007,  and 2006.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.  See you Sunday.

Tug Race 2010 Countdown

To see last year’s post from August 30, click here.   For info on the race next Sunday, click here.  If you scroll through that previous link, way down in the fine print you’ll read that this year’s race is dedicated to the memory of Don Sutherland.  Below is a short video I made at a memorial to Don held in June 2010 aboard PortSide NewYork’s Mary Whalen.

This post is dedicated to those folks who . . . on Labor Day . . . can’t make the tug race or even the family BBQ because they will labor in the house,

on the bridge,

on deck,

following the border,

in the service,

pushing oil around, or

trying to clean it up.

Happy Labor Day.