That came to mind while we watched a 1000-foot ship slowly slide into the Poe lock(*). The giant machine needs only a crew of 25 or so, according to the boat watcher and former ship engineer beside me (and the captain's job isn't all that well paid these days). Hard work, and dully unromantic for those who have to do it; but amazing to the rest of us. Watching it is even rather peaceful to those of us who don't have to worry about 2 1/2 foot clearances.
(*)
I heard the obvious joke a half a dozen times
Ben and I watched the barges on the Mississippi for an evening when we were moving him to Houston. The attach them in giant fields of barge-ness. Huge.
ReplyDeleteNever saw the big barge fields, but watching them go through locks was fun. (Mississippi, not the Soo)
ReplyDeleteThe Soo is actually kind of fun for the deckhands. If nothing else, it's one of the places to get mail on the lakes. If you find yourself in the area again, head a bit down the river and watch an underway replenishment.
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