WMHS member Richard Gebhart recently sent author Jim Heinz some of his photos after the story of the Odyssey was posted.   Richard is an author who was awarded this year the Richard J. Wright award for his Frank E. Kirby book.  Enjoy the photos and an excerpt from his story.

“I didn’t see the movie… I had no idea the ship was used in the film.  It was serendipity when I caught it (DRAKEN HARALD HARFAGRE) and the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE entering Lock 7 of the Welland Canal in their leg up the lakes.  I know that the crew had to don survival suits in one rough blow coming across the Atlantic.  What was most memorable to me as it passed by was the scent of freshly hewn wood. It smelled like a sawmill or lumberyard, it was still so fresh.  It may have been the same day I chatted with some people from Iowa City. They said they came to the region for Niagara Falls but after seeing the wonders of the Welland Canal (and this incident certainly was persuasive) they said they were more impressed with the canal.  I get that too.”