Day 113, 2018 , Land of Gitchee Gumee, Presque isle, NMU, and Ore Carriers.

The title says it all, as we saw them all today including the "YOOPER DOME". It stands high above most every other building in Marquette and even from our beach 10 miles to the east it stands out on the horizon in its bright cream paint covering the sphere.

Today gave us a chance to drive a bit around Marquette and see the university Campus, the City buildings, some churches and as stated an ore carrier coming in to pick up a load of taconite  before heading out to who knows where in the world. The loading docks had been busy today bringing the trainloads of ore down from the mines of Mesabi and other places and today they were able to dump their loads into the chutes and the hulk of the ship.

First, the engines must push the loaded cars onto the top of the ore docks

There were three trainloads of ore cars that were waiting to load. More in the yards.

A "self loader". All the equipment that is needed is on the ore carrier

The typical construction of an ore dock is a long high structure, with a railway track or tracks along the top with a number of "pockets" into which ore is unloaded from cars, typically by gravity. Each pocket has a chute that can be lowered to discharge the ore into the hold of a ship berthed alongside. The use of pockets and chutes allows loading the dock asynchronously of its discharge into the freighter.
The docks storage bins or pockets typically are wider at the top than the bottom, and lead to movable steel chutes. These chutes project out over the water at a slight angle from the sides of the docks. The hinged chutes, which when lowered allow ore to drop into ships from the pockets, are located at twelve-foot intervals over the length of the dock.
This spacing is not coincidental, as the docks and the "lakers"  load evolved together, and laker hatch spacing is typically 12, or 24-foot (7.3 m) on center.
Only three ore docks remain. One each in Marquette, MI,  Ashland WI and Duluth MN.

 "The Lee A. Tregurtha has had a long life, in many trades and under many names.  She was originally laid down in the early stages of World War II at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Sparrows Point, MD yard as the commercial ocean tanker Mobiloil (builder's hull # 4378).  Shortly after, construction of the new tanker was taken over under contract by the U.S. Maritime Commission who renamed the vessel Samoset at her launch June 25, 1942, sponsored by Mrs. H.O. Smith.  The tanker was designated as a type "T3-S-A1" oiler to be operated by Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., New York, NY.  On December 24, 1942, the Samoset was acquired by the U.S. Navy and commissioned the same day joining the Atlantic Fleet as the USS Chiwawa (Navy designation AO.68) under the command of Cdr. H.F. Fultz.  The USS Chiwawa was the first of 5 "T3-S-A1's" acquired by the U.S. Navy, the 5 making up the Chiwawa class of auxiliary oiler.  These  tankers were initially to be built for private companies and were named by them but when the U.S. Navy took possession of them, they were named by the U.S. Navy after Native American names of rivers and lakes."

She sailed both Oceans serving the navy in the Atlantic and Pacific  until the end of WW 2 . In a convoy that was chased by U boats 4 ships were sunk and one U boat. She earned battle stars during that ordeal.

 The drive around Presque isle is short at less than two miles and the one way road is only open intermittently  so walkers and bikers can have a time to themselves. We waited until one o'clock for a chance to drive the road. Stopping on the way, we did see on some rocks off the shore.  The HERRING GULLS , that were all by themselves, separated form the RING BILLED GULLS that are so common. There were also two families of COMMON MERGANSERS with five young in each family, We watched them on the rock and then the glided into the water learning' to catch their own food. These were about 2 weeks old. By the pier there were two very young "Butter Butts" or (YELLOW RUMP WARBLERS) chasing each other.

There were many CEDAR WAXWINGS getting fruit.

Many Ring Billed gulls as well. This one is a 4th year or more.

We were amazed that these children were in the 60+ F water of Lake Superior.

The Lighthouse at Marquette Harbor

The tower of the light is all that remains as it was once the tower ON TOP OF the lighthouse keepers home. It now is part of the breakwater at the end of the ship canal.
We took a short drive to see some of the homes nearby, and did see some fine gardens there.

This sign is indicative of the fierce storms that Lake Superior can produce.

A memorial to two who died from the waves on the pier.

One of the many gardens near the Presque Isle Park (note grapes)

Tomorrow we head for Whitefish Point by way of Germfask, MI (campsite). We will visit Seney NWR , Michigan's finest and get the news from home when friends will camp with us  for two days.