Voyageur II opening trips delayed

[Midwest Ed]

I think the Ranger III is presently not in Houghton.

Normally, when it is at dock in Houghton, it is barely visible on both the "View Cam" and the "Michigan Tech Fund Cam" at this Michigan Tech web cam site.

It does look like the ice is breaking up a bit there, at least at the Houghton location for the moment.

http://www.mtu.edu/webcams/

[fonixmunkee]

I just passed through Houghton on Saturday (19 Apr 14). I saw the Queen lodged in the ice by the bridge, but didn't see the Ranger any where.

And as of Saturday afternoon, there's no way anyone is getting out of Portage Lake. It was still frozen solid around the bridge. The only place there was open water was right next to the pilings for the bridge supports.

[Midwest Ed]

I just passed through Houghton on Saturday (19 Apr 14).

Did you get to at least stop for an Ambassador sub sandwich?

[drobarge]

The Ranger III is still in Sturgeon Bay. They take her there every 5? years to drydock for inspections, maintenance ect...

[Capt Don]

Still at the shipyard, at least a week away from leaving there. Won't get to Houghton without an ice breaker in there first and the river and Soo locks are plugged with ice and freighters.

[tree rattt]

How about your boats, Capt Don. All spring maintenance done and in the water yet?I bet it will be nice to get underway again, and to finally say good bye to winter!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[Capt Don]

Have done all I can given the weather. Ready to go in, we tried today, but the yard is too full of boats that normally would be in now, (Coast Guard bay bouy tender and pilot boat) and the travel-lift doesn't have enough room to manuever to get me to the water. Still lots of ice on the lake, 5 freighters came into Duluth this morning escorted by the Alder. The harbor is full of ice as well, forecasted 20-25 knot east winds tomorrow will blow all the ice into the harbor entrance, 7-8" of snow predicted for Grand Portage Friday. Even if I could get the VII in, there is no point, it's safer on the hard for another week. I'm going to go to the Canadian waters of the lake ice fishing for a few days, the herring supply is getting low and I will try to make the best of what nature has dished out.

[Lucky Chicken]

Good luck with the fishing! Wish I was going too!!