Friday the 13th: A Recollection

Just reminiscing today, as yesterday was Friday the 13th.  Whether you have superstitions about the day, or have a motorcycle and go to Port Dover, I recall day in the distant past.
Back in April 1984, there was an historic ice jam on the St. Clair River.  Ice built up right to the bottom and virtually stopped the current at times.  The worst area was around Port Lambton and down through the St. Clair Flats.

Friday, April 13th 1984 was the worst day.  Ships were stuck in the ice off Baby Point (Brander Park, Port Lambton).  In fact, there were well over a dozen ships between Marine City, Michigan and Harsen's Island.

Note low water level

Some ships had engines full ahead and were not moving at all.  There was even a case when a ship had engines full ahead, both bow anchors down, and was still moving backwards due to the force of the ice.
Other incidents involved ships bumping into each other as the ice pushed them around.

The CSL ship Murray Bay was forced aground off Algonac State Park.

I took these photos at the south end of Port Lambton. With the black sky in the background, I called it "Black Friday".