Twin Arrivals to the Sound of Thunder (Munson & White)

Ominous skies and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings over Duluth! Doesn’t stop us ship watchers! After super heavy fog halted all ship traffic for much of the day, the storms moved in, pushing the fog out and replacing it with thunder and wind. Taking advantage of the temporary clearing and trying to make it in before the worst of the storm hit, the classic 1952 laker John G Munson and the more modern 1974 laker H Lee White arrived together ahead of the main front. A small pop-up shower leading the main storm hit as they approached the canal, hiding both vessels for a few minutes as they lined up with the canal. Fortunately it only lasted a couple minutes and everyone was able to enjoy the ships while staying mostly dry! Both vessels were loaded with limestone. John G Munson sailed to Superior’s Greymont dock, while H Lee White sailed to Duluth’s Hallet 5 dock. Fortunately the storm ended up not being so bad for us, splitting around the end of Lake Superior with minimal impact. Certainly a bunch of grumbling from the storms however!
In the background is the Saltie Thea G, which waited out the weather at anchorage before arriving the next morning to load wheat. Behind her, looking like she arrived in the wrong century is the vintage 1942 cement steamship Alpena, making a very rare appearance in the Twin Ports. She also waited at anchor and to everyone’s disappointment waited until Munson was done unloading to arrive through the canal (at 5am the next morning). Hoping I can catch her leaving! 🤞🏻

[@gregmctevia5087]

This is another smash hit. You know where those go. Just an all around beautiful piece. Loved every minute.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Thank you!!

[@deecawford]

Your content found me today and you just made my plans for our 30th yr wedding anniversary m. See I’ve been wanting to see these ships in action but didn’t think we could. Now I know we can. We can drive the Alcan down and visit different ports. I’m in Alaska so we get big ships but these on these lakes have always had my attention.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

You guys would definitely be welcome down here! I’ve been to Alaska as a kid, you live in an amazing place! Glad you enjoyed the videos!

[@carolsmith5151]

Love your videos -- thank you so very much!!!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Thanks!

[@planetearthadvocate1569]

She is a hard working ship. I like her old paint and the brown rust.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Yes she’s no pleasure boat and doesn’t pretend to be one!

[@charlesc.parker1164]

Outstanding editing and camera work.

[@dianebeier8379]

Weather up here is all over the place, but these good ole ships remain steady!😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@noelkelly3223]

Serious weather there johnathan god bless those lads on the ships god bless from limerick Ireland 🇮🇪

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Yeah that was a good storm! Safe sailing to all the ships. Glad to have you here from so far from the Lakes!

[@bevpearson8268]

Speaking for just myself, I love the dark and gloomy weather!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Same! Blue skies are nice but I love a good storm!

[@FelineStorm]

Great work on the video! I didn’t realize until I saw the two designs back to back, but I really prefer the look of the pilot house up front. I’m sure there is a perfectly good reason for having everything at the back, I just prefer the old design, I can’t help it.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Thank you! And you’re far from alone that opinion lol, a lot of people prefer the classic designs. Personally I love all of them 😃

[@FelineStorm]

@@jonathanellsworth21 Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for any ship who brings her crew back, but the artist in me prefers the balance of the classic 50s design.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@FelineStorm oh no worries at all! I know a lot of people agree

[@FelineStorm]

@@jonathanellsworth21 I saw a video of a recently built Dutch ship the other day and it looked like the front pilot house is coming back. I wonder if the design and engineering thoughts have changed again….and now I’m down a google rabbit hole again. Thank you for the inspiration. :)

[@bettygilmore611]

Love the contrast of sunny days and rainy ones you capture the harbor in all her "moods". Always God to see a ship arrive safely. I also like this ship design best. Pilot house in front makes sense.

[@carolewoolley7017]

Grand old gal, grand old horn. Quality is visually appealing. A well spent half century❤

[@Matt-mo8sl]

Totally dig that from over here in Maine. One day, I'd love to visit that very place.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

We’d live to have you over here! Lots of things to do and see 😃

[@Matt-mo8sl]

@@jonathanellsworth21 I bet that's right and I'd really enjoy myself there. One day if I have the extra cash to get a flight out, a weekend room and flight back, I'll make it happen. In my airline days when I traveled for free, this would be an easy trip.

[@planetearthadvocate1569]

She just turned 50 this year.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

H Lee White was a trend setting ship for sure! They’re still building variations of that design, the new Laker Algoma Bear, which is very similar, comes to Two Harbors on her very first iron ore run this evening. Although I think the CSL Niagara might have been the first modern laker as we know them today, H Lee White wasn’t that far behind. Munson’s over 70 years old now

[@Elcicikos]

They dont have paint?