As evening falls we plan to stop in the ice for the night. This will give the Risley's crew a chance to rest. A normal watch is maintained on both the bridge and in the engine room but those off watch can rest in quite. As the Risley breaks ice the interior of the vessel is like living inside a 55 gallon drum being beaten by baseball bats. We stop in Western Lake Erie for the night backing into a heavy ice field, the ice holds the Risley in place and we do not need to drop anchors. Our nights rest ends as we receive a request for assistance from the Canadian Olympic. The Risley's crew springs into action and we are underway in less than 15 minutes.

• Time exposure taken from the stern of the Risley with her powerful spot lights illuminating the Olympic.
• At sunrise we are working the Olympic through the lower Livingstone Channel. Traveling empty the Olympic's rounded bow pushes the ice until it can no longer move forward.
• We back down the side of the vessel clearing a track next to the vessel. Ice built up around the hull will fall off into the open track.
• The Risley's two rudders can be moved independently and the wash is used to flush ice away from the hull.
• Paul moves the Risley forward, preparing for another pass.
• We pass down the side of the 730-foot freighter.
• A small amount of ice is kept between the icebreaker and the ship it is assisting.
• Another view.
• We move forward clearing the side.

• The sun rises on the ship's bell. In the back ground the Mackinaw is slowly backing down the channel. The Risley and Mackinaw are the most powerful icebreakers on the lakes. They can usually be found working as a team in the area with the most difficult conditions.
• With temperatures near zero degrees sea smoke is formed as our propellers churn up water warmer than the out side air.
• View from across the rear deck.
• Mackinaw draws closer.
• Working with the Mackinaw.
• The Mackinaw backs to the bow of the Canadian Olympic.
• Paul takes a picture from the Risley's bow.
• Moving along side of the Canadian Olympic.
• Backing, the ice packed against the Olympic's hull falls into our track.
• The nimble Risley slides past her stern.
• Canadian Olympic reaches the top of the Livingstone Channel.
• I take a break in the action and upload the Boatnerd News Page.
• 3rd Mate Steve Pauley and Deckhand Paul Read take the Risley downbound for track maintenance.

Our next assist is the downbound Canadian Transport.

• Transport heading downbound in the Livingstone Channel.
• Wide view.
• 2nd Mate John Hansen moves the Risley ahead.
• Close up of the Transport's bow as we pass through the heaviest ice below the Dikes.
• The Transport heads onto Lake Erie.
• Looking over the bow of the Risley as we head onto the lake.
• Building speed through heavy plate ice. The Risley's wake breaks a track in the ice much wider than the width of the hull.

As the sun sets we meet the cement carrier Alpena at the upper entrance to the Livingston Channel

• Alpena passes the upper Livingstone Channel Light sailing downbound.
• Paul asks the Alpena to come full ahead, she billows smoke as if still burning coal.
• Close up in the channel.

• The James R. Barker's bow in the night.
• Night shot (infrared) taken in the pilothouse. Bright light to right of picture is the Barker's spot light.

The escort of the Barker will take us to the end of the heavy ice off Detroit and Windsor. Our plan was to stop for the night once reaching Windsor. As we prepared to stop the Saginaw requested assistance to dock in Windsor. Backing down the river with commercial tug assistance, the ice field was too heavy for the Saginaw to make it. After cutting a track for the vessel we backed into the ice at the Ojibway Anchorage for the night.