Ice Ice Baby...

Chicago, aka the Windy City, is off in the distance in this shot which was taken from Lake Michigan. I got a bit of a break from my normal duties and hopped on a small tug heading North for some ice breaking work. Where the Coast Guard Breakers wimp out, private enterprise steps in. The ice in this picture was 8" to 10" inches thick with some 2 foot ridges as we rammed through at 10 MPH.  And no, we don't need bubblers. 

In the last two days, out on the lake, I've seen a number of different wild life as well as, wild deceased. On two occasions some coyotes ran across my bow. Unfortunately I do not have pictures. I watched as a flying duck suddenly dropped to the ice. I told myself it fainted from seeing a 110 foot tugboat crashing up on its serene environment. I also saw another bird 'asleep' on the ice which either had to be a very big canadian goose or a bald eagle. It was hard to tell but I'm sticking with the eagle because it's more rad. And finally I watched as a large snowy owl flew across my bow pursuing one of the thousands of ducks. Its wingspan was at least four feet. Unusual to see them near a major city let alone in the broad daylight. 

I looked up omens for coyotes crossing your path and the spirit message was to not take life so seriously. When I read the totem of the white owl I got a whole array of things from I'm about to be shipwrecked to abducted by aliens. None of it was very good. So I took the middle ground and decided not to take alien abductions so seriously. 

Here we are steaming along in 40 to 50 knots of apparent wind. It was actually sustained at 38 knots true on the beam with gusts to 45. Perfect sailing conditions if you're crazy generous. The guys at NOAA who guess the weather forecasted 13 foot seas but that's not a concern when the water is a solid. 

Here's another exciting ice shot as we plow through it. If you can imagine trying to sleep in a 50 gallon drum while twenty lunatics swing on it with golf clubs then you will know what it's like to live aboard an ice breaker at work. Then imagine a giant kid picking up the drum and shaking vigorously. 

And here you can see the red assist tug clearing yet more ice for the ship as we approach our dock. One of many benefits of Great Lakes winter shipping is you no longer have to dye your hair grey. 

In a week or so the fun will be over.  We'll be back in a semi-warmer climate making a mad dash to Florida while sipping piña coladas on the poop deck. And with a new puppy, poop deck is literal.