Photos and notes from on the road. A biologist at heart. A 'retired' network administrator and lifelong photographer. Living in Ashland Wisconsin on Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.
Panoramic photo of Chequamegon Bay taken 05/01/13 from the overlook just west of Chequamegon Hotel on the north side of US Highway 2. The far left of the photo is looking toward the west-southwest (the head of the bay). The far right of the photo is looking east-southeast toward Ashland Ore Dock undergoing demolition. The center of the photo is looking west-northwest toward Washburn WI.
This photo was taken today from the same spot as the panoramic view above was taken. This is the current state of demolition of the ore dock. Note the distance from shore and the backhoes near the southern (shore) end.
Here is where the work day starts for the crew members who are working up on the top. The day begins with a nice long high climb up the open scaffolding stairs. I'm guessing the wooden build at the top is a break/lunch/management building.
A view of the east side outer end of the dock. Those who are familiar with the oredock's appearance will notice the difference.
They have started demolition by lowering each individual chute one at a time. It appears that they are not detaching them completely at this time.
If my information is correct the overall height of the oredock is 90 feet. If that is the case then follow down the set of stairs from the top (seen at just below the 2nd tower from the end).
At the bottom of the steps is a gangway with a guard rail. Below the gangway (I'm guessing now) is the opening from the hoppers up above.
Below that area are the chutes that have been lowered down. The chutes are probably about 40-45 feet long.
From this view you can see, on the lower half, 2 or 3 brown support columns. To the right and left of them are the lowered chutes.
You can see the backhoe operator it this shot. Seventy five feet up on a structure "that's not safe and need to be torn down" ..... nice job. There is not enough money to get me in that backhoe.
If you look closely at the end of the backhoe arm you can see what I believe is an hydraulic winch. My guess is that they attach the winch to the upper end of a chute then "cut it loose" and winch it down allowing it to pivot down to a hanging position. In the picture below you can see six lowered chutes (right) and one raised chute on the left.
This shot gives you the whole picture. From top to bottom.. backhoe and operator, stairway down to gangway, the opening from the hoppers above, the hanging chutes, the dock base and finally 4 men working on the ice cleaning up debris from the lowering of the chutes.
This is a view from the west side of the oredock. I am parked on the ice road we use to get off and on the bay.
Here is the ice road looking toward shore at Kreher Park landing.
This is the view from the parking lot at the boat landing. Notice the light pole in the picture. It is in fact not a light but rather it is a video surveillance camera. See photo below for a closer view.
This staging area is on the east side of the oredock. What is left of the railroad approach trestle that crossed over US 2 will be the first to go this fall.
Rumor has it, that for now, they are only going to finish removing the wooden trestle stopping at the concrete structure seen here just after the wooden trestle.
Colder weather and light winds help make ice on the bay.
Colder weather and no winds will help keep the ice on the bay.
Now we need some extended cold weather to make more ice.
This research vessel is settled in it's winter berth on the west side of the oredock.
The campground is also in winter mode.
The boats are up on land and on their cradles.
These two visitors to the bay I think have seen enough ice for the day. Maybe if I were from West Palm Beach Florida I would feel the same way. I invited them to stay and try ice fishing. No takers.
We are standing just NW of the lighthouse over the shipping channel. The water depth below us is ~ 30 feet.
This winter will probably be the last opportunity we will have to have this picture taken. If things go according to the current plan the Oredock will be torn down starting this spring.
We are standing NW of the Oredock. The water depth below our feet is probably 30 feet.
Ok, here is the explanation of the title "double digits". We have lived here since 1978... 31 years and I had to prove there was 24 + inches of ice below our feet...... before my wife finally drove on Chequamegon Bay. 31 and 24 double digits.
Here she comes off the bay after her first solo spin out on the ice.
Driving up onto the "landing". Finally ashore.
P.S. for those keeping count I did fish yesterday. Slow but caught smelt and perch. Had fresh fish with K & S for supper.
The ice is starting to cover the shoreline. It is always great to see this because it means ice fishing is not to far off. But the older I get the less I seem to enjoy the cold weather that brings the ice to the bay. Curious!
