On Ice

A few days ago, I posted a picture of a Chicago Fire Boat breaking the ice on the Chicago River. Yesterday, I got to see another ice breaking boat from a different perspective.

Taken from the lower level of the bridge at Lake Shore Drive, this is the James J. Versluis, an 80 foot tug built in 1957 in Sturgeon Bay.

I just happened to be walking on the bridge/bike path when I saw it leaving the Coast Guard Station. I hung around to take a few more pictures that I'll post.

Winter Reflection

Sometimes you catch the sun at just the right angle
when it creates an interesting shadow.

Urban Snow Seals

I found this mural painted on a wall near the Hubbard Street Mural Project. I'm not sure if it is part of the project or not.

With the snow piled up against the wall, the artwork takes on a three-dimensional appearance.

Ice Breaker

It's time for a little burst of color after several days of gray.
This is one of the Chicago Fire Boats
(from Engine Company #58).
It's doing a little ice breaking on the Chicago River.

Winter Vines

No, these aren't cracks in the wall.

Nor is it the work of a super-sized, industrious spider.
They are vines in their winter, leafless, form.

Snow Clues

Evidence that there were some hardy souls
out braving the bitter temperatures

Snow Sketch

I see a face in the tire tracks left on this parking lot.
To me, it looks like a folk art caricature
perhaps of a mountain man.
It's cold out
(-2 F NOT including wind chill)
so his breath forms smoke rings

Since everyone may not be suffering from a bit of
cabin-fever enhanced imagination, I annotated the picture
with the features I see that make up the face.