A Fire Truck and an Ambulance

As we were heading back to the car from the Manistee, I heard the sound of a fire engine.

 Of course, I looked up and had my camera ready.  I couldn't pass up a picture of fire engine in action.

Nor could I pass up a picture of the ambulance following it.

The Manistee at Rest

Part of our reason to head down to Toledo was to get some pictures of the Manistee.

 The Manistee is currently laid up in Toledo and from what I hear, her situation is not good.

 Apparently, she needs alot of work and she may end up getting replaced by another boat.

 That would be a shame because she's a lovely boat.

 But she is also over 75 years old and despite maintenance, it's tough to keep something that old in shape.

I hope she sails again, but if she doesn't, I'm glad I've got these pictures and few others of her.

Stopping at the Schoonmaker

On Sunday I decided to go down to Toledo with a friend.  As we were crossing the I-280 bridge, I saw that the Craig Bridge was open.  I figured that it was open for a ship and as I looked I saw the USS Niagara making her way down the Maumee River.  I was hoping we could catch her.  We stopped at the park near the Col. James Schoonmaker but we missed the Niagara.

 I figured that since I was there, I might as well get some pictures of the Schoonmaker.  She's a pretty nice looking boat.

 As I was wandering by her, I noticed a plaque and I started to read the plaque.  It said that it took a 25 year effort to save her from the scrapyard.  After she was retired, the city of Toledo owned her but they couldn't afford to keep her.  In order to save her, funds were raised.

 Funds were also raised to paint her and I'll have to admit that she looks pretty good.

And the sun was just about perfect for her.

Catching the Mississagi

This is the other ship that I wanted to catch.

 I love to catch the classic lake freighters.  I think it's getting more important as there are fewer of them around.

 At least the Mississagi soldiers on.

 I'm not sure how much longer she is going to though.

I'll enjoy it while I can though.

A Couple Shots of Livingstone Lighthouse

Another thing  I take pictures of while waiting.

 The Livingstone Lighthouse is at the end of the island.  If I remember correctly, it is the only marble lighthouse.  I think it is also the only memorial lighthouse.

I think it was also designed by Albert Kahn.

Some Birds on Belle Isle

I usually have a little time in between ships and occasionally, I like to take pictures of some of the birds I see.

 I call the cormorant my happy place bird.  I normally see them while ship watching.  I never see them too far inland and they are cool birds to watch.

 I think these are redheads.

 I looked up in the sky and saw this eagle soaring around.

 I think he is a young eagle because his head isn't quite white yet.

 But he's pretty close to fully developed.

 Just another angle.

and one more shot.

Catching the Saginaw at Belle Isle

After the planes and wildflowers, I headed down to Belle Isle to catch a couple of ships.  Belle Isle was a zoo because half of the island was shut down due to the race next weekend.  I wonder how much of the race money spills into the coffers of the DNR?  I wonder if it is really worth it to shut down half the island?  I mean, I think it's kind of cool for them to do the race on Belle Isle but I wish they could come up with a less disruptive way of doing it.  I heard that this may be the last year they do it on Belle Isle but somehow I doubt it.  It's better to disrupt Belle Isle than the rest of the city, I guess.

 Anyway, enough of my ranting.  The first ship that I saw was the Saginaw.  I managed to catch her at the fishing pier.  Fortunately, that wasn't shut down.

 It was a little on the hot side but not as hot at Sunday.

 The clouds look pretty cool.

One more shot before moving on.