A Couple of the Eagles on Belle Isle

 As I said, I went on a quest for eagles.  That ended up being circling the island until I saw one.

I saw this one sitting up in a tree and he took off shortly after I got there.

This is an immature eagle.

I went back around the island and I saw this guy in his normal spot.

I decided to wait around to get a few pictures.

He was moving his head quite a bit, so I was able to get some decent looks.

These are cool looking birds.

He looked back towards the group of people that were assembled on my side of the river.

He might have also been looking for food.

Anyway.

Another frontal shot.

And a nice majestic pose.

As the sun came out, the wind started to pick up.

Ruffled his feathers a little bit.

Made for a squatter pose.

I kind of like it when the feathers kick up like this.

So he was just looking around.

I decided to get a few more pictures because I figured it would be a matter of time before he flew off.

And sure enough, he did.

The Steamer Ste. Claire

 I went around Belle Isle looking for eagles.  I saw one in a different spot, so I stopped there.  While I was stopped there, I decided to take a picture of this.

The steamer Ste. Claire was used to take people from Detroit down to Boblo Island which was an amusement park.  When the park was closed, the Boblo steamers were out of a job.  The Ste Claire's sister was sold to a group in New York a couple years ago.  They either have restored her or are in the process of restoring her.  There was a group interested in restoring this one was well.  They were making some progress and then she caught fire in 2018.  The fire took out all of her wooden structure and this is what we are left with.  I'm not sure what the plan is but I hope they can restore her.  I would love to see her used for river excursions or something.

And the Algosea

 It wasn't too long before the next ship made her appearance.

The Algosea was one of the ships I caught last weekend.

She has been fairly busy this winter.  I think she has been doing the Nanticoke trip at least once a week.

She is pushing up a bit of ice in this shot.  It was kind of neat because it made a different sound.

For the most part the channel was clear though.

As a result it seemed like she was booking.

Still had a nice reflection though.

She almost passes by.

I think she might have been loading, so she might have been bringing something back from Nanticoke.

I kind of like this shot.

For the most part the ice is broken up.

The beam shot.

She passes by.

She is heading up to Sarnia.

One more shot.

Some Ice Passes By

I kind of liked the pattern of this ice.

It kind of reminded me of the Fortress of Solitude from Superman.
 

Some Canada Geese Pass By

 Sometimes I have a little time between ships.

These guys passed as I was waiting for the next ship.

They are plentiful but they are cool looking birds.

One more shot.

The Algonova Makes Life Just a Fantasy

 So the next ship is one of the ships I was waiting for.

The Algonova was hanging out just north of Marine City last night.  I think she was looking to come down but I think the cutter was waiting until she could catch an upbound ship for the way back.

The Algonova was coming down from Sarnia and I believe that she was carrying fuel oil.

Like the other ships, she was heading to Nanticoke.

The Risley coming a little ahead of her.  I think she was getting over so that the Algonova could pass.

Unfortunately, her angle put her in the way of the Algonova through most of my pictures.

But the reflections were cool, so that's okay.

The Algonova starts to pass her.

She got in front of the Risley, so I was able to get some clean pictures.

She was pushing up some water.

The reflections were still cool.

And an explanation of the title.

Back in the 80's there used to be a band called Aldo Nova.  That sounds close to Algonova, so I like to equate the tool.  Aldo Nova had a hit called "Life is Just Fantasy".

She continues on her way to Nanticoke.