Spring has arrived in the eastern yooperland in the form of the Soo Locks opening up for the season. The locks close January 15 (I think) and open at mignight on March 25th. In between that time, the locks workers make repairs. Some of the locks have to be de-watered for that to happen. This bote was the first bote through the locks some years ago. I can’t remember what it was. The Speer was the first one through today. Upbound.

Years ago when The Commander was still around, we were staying at her house, as we always did. I got up early and walked down to the locks on the first day it was open. It was after 911 but the locks park seemed to be open at 7:30 or whenever. So I walked up to the entrance and when I was met by a security person, I said, “Hello, I am your first tourist!” He looked at me like I was nuts but since I didn’t have anything in my mini-purse besides my iPhone and some credit cards, he had how choice but to let me in.

Of course I was not a tourist. I was born in Sault Ste. Siberia. In War Memorial Hospital where (according to The Commander) they apparently packaged me in a “dirty” paper bag… … ??? I was a robustly healthy baby and I know more about my little brother’s quite traumatic birth than mine but we’ll do that another time. So although I was not a tourist, I knew the folks who worked at the locks would not know that nor would they have a clue who cute little newborn meeeee once was. Or care.

Congratulations to the Edgar Speer for being the first great lake freighter through the Soo Locks for the season. Looking forward to seeing it from the moominbeach this summer.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 25th, 2022 at 8:31 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.