Sam Laud inbound on the Saginaw River, passing by Uptown at River's Edge. She had dropped a partial load at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City overnight, then waited for Herbert C. Jackson to clear outbound, before heading to the upper river to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw.
Robert S. Pierson on the Saginaw River, delivering a multiple dock split cargo, starting with the Burroughs North Essexville Dock, continuing upriver to the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw, then finishing her unload at the Burroughs North 1st Street Dock in Saginaw.
There wasn't much traffic moving in the river, but I was able to catch Calumet and CSL St-Laurent. Flying the drone along the Saginaw River for the past three plus years is now a very comfortable thing for me. Going somewhere that I do not fly often, like the St. Clair River is a little stressful. This was only my second time flying along the St. Clair. There is much more to think about here. Canadian Airspace, more controlled airspace for airports, and just being somewhere different than you are used to. I like the challenge however. On the Saginaw River, he vessels I am taking photos of are traveling 4 knots or less. On the St. Clair River, they moving at least twice that speed, so it changes the time you have to set up and make decisions or react.
After spending the day in Port Huron/Marysville/St. Clair/Marine City/Algonac, I made it home just in time to catch North Dakota assisting Samuel de Champlain/Innovation in the Essexville Turning Basin. Champlain/Innovation had anchored out in Saginaw Bay during the recent high winds while Alpena stayed tied up at the Holcim Cement Dock, where she had been since Wednesday. Alpena departed Saturday morning, clearing the dock for the pair. Samuel de Champlain/Innovation finished unloading and left the dock around 6:30pm, assisted by North Dakota for her turn, along with an escort out of the river.
Algoma Intrepid on the Saginaw River, headed for the Wirt Sand & Stone Fertilizer Dock in Essexville, passing Alpena, who was unloading at the Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville.
