I Finally Ditched Them!

Saturday night, I had my first overnight without Daddy and Mommy around. It was so much fun! They dropped me off with Boppa and Grandma on Saturday morning, and headed off to celebrate their 14th anniversary with a trip to Duluth. While I was here having a blast, learning how to do So Big, and tugging at my socks every time Boppa said sock, they were busy being boatnerds.

They stayed at the Inn on Lake Superior, which they highly recommend. The room had a nice hot tub which was very useful after standing out in frigid temps watching the ships come in and out of the harbor. Two of the 1000-footers (of 13 on the lakes) made an appearance, one going and one coming. Both ships had lots of ice down the sides, and the crew worked hard to clean off some of it.

First, they saw the Indiana Harbor departing with a load of coal headed for St. Clair, Michigan. In the evening, the Oglebay Norton or American Integrity (it's new name) came in light (empty) to load coal. There was a photographer on the deck taking pictures of the crowd on the pier. He stopped to wave for the Boatnerds that were taking pictures and filming. The saltie Kwintebank also left, and the Frontenac came in, but Mommy & Daddy missed those because they went to dinner. They may be boatnerdy enough to stand in the rain at to watch a ship come in at 23:00, but not enough to stand in sub-zero temps!

They had a happy, relaxing trip, and I really didn't even miss them. It was like being here for an extra long workday, so I guess it worked out well for everybody. Not that they need to do it again too soon!