Before going to the vintage vehicle event, my early Saturday morning was spent strolling along the water’s edge. Surprisingly, there was not much action at Bishop Park, likely because it was so hazy when I first arrived.
The walkers and runners might have been missing, but the fisherman were already up and at ‘em, some out on their boats, …
… and others with poles gently resting against the fence that frames the boardwalk where fishing is permitted. They silently sipped coffee, and, deep in thought, gazed out at the water. Usually, early on weekend mornings, the fishermen line up along the pier that juts out into the Detroit River, as it is a primo point to fish from, but there was only one lone fisherman casting out while a young girl stood by his side.
I took their photo when they glanced toward me and shouted that I was waiting for their next big fish so I could take another photo. The man said he was leaving soon because the fish just weren’t biting and other fisherman had already given up for the day.
Fishing is not allowed on some parts of the boardwalk as you see on this sign.
I was hoping to get a few good seagull shots since the sometimes pesky gulls are always quick to show up if you try to feed the ducks. This gull chose to rest on the railing and not go airborne, and originally had both feet planted on the top board.
As I approached him, he decided to assume a stork-like pose for some reason. I took a picture lest he decide to bolt for parts unknown.
But, he stayed in that pose, motionless, for the longest time, never moving as much as a muscle, even though I kept getting closer and closer to him.
Soon, I stopped in my tracks when the first shell passed the pier and came into my view.
The Ecorse Rowing Club was practicing, so I decided to watch them. The first shell went by and soon another hurried up and joined them.
I discovered that the motor boat traveling alongside the pair of shells was not just another boater, but the coach, as he was loudly calling out instructions to each crew. The shell’s large oars swept the water, carrying them forward rather quickly.
Soon a third shell of rowers passed the fishing pier and another motorboat accompanied them. I watched all three shells and their coaches as they faded into the distance. I knew I had to make tracks as well to make it on time to the Model A Rendezvous, and I hoped the train was not passing through on the tracks as I drove home.
Just as I was ready to leave, the sky finally brightened, with just a hint of blue. A whole mess of ducks suddenly streamed from under the boardwalk’s wooden railing, so out came the camera again. The ducks looked peaceful as they paddled in the water and one duck looked a little raggedy after diving deep for his breakfast.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Miss Linda………………..about those shells from the rowing club……………………………were there women in them?………………..my cousin does that with her friends and they’re in their 60’s!…………………I would have liked to do that………………..sounds like fun to me
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They sure were Anne Marie – that was the first thing I noticed and for some reason I thought the Ecorse Rowing Team was all young kids from the high schools around the area. Marge’s granddaughter went to school in Melvindale and was on the rowing team years ago and Marge often went to the practices, and maybe even the meets, and I guess that is what made me think that.
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You had lots to report today! Lovely post.
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Thanks Anne – it really is pretty down on the riverfront at Bishop Park. Always very peaceful as well … the only noise is the gulls screeching their heads off. No gulls in the sky at all on Saturday which was odd.
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I used to walk with lots of gulls. We see a few now near Lake Junaluska.
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Walking with the gulls around gives you the illusion you are at the seashore. They do get kind of raucous sometimes but I think they help create the ambiance down at the waterfront. This seagull did not budge … if I’d not seen him standing on both legs, I would have thought he was hurt. There was an injured seagull last year with a fish hook in its foot, also standing on one foot, but the line was hanging from the hook that was embedded in his other foot. I contacted the DNR as he never moved from the place he was standing and they said he would be fine and it would fall out eventually.
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That’s good to know, that the gull would eventually be OK. I saw a goose at the millpond that had been shot with an arrow. The arrow was still embedded. A friend called someone who came and got the goose. We presume the arrow was removed and the goose returned to its habitat.
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I sent the DNR the seagull’s picture so they could see the line hanging out – I figured they had local veterinarians that might come capture it and fix it. That’s terrible about the goose and we had a similar incident a few years ago, with a goose and an arrow was shot into its side. It was captured and the arrow removed but it was in rehab for a while.
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Ya can’t keep a good duck down! Look’s like a lovely day.
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Ha ha … it was a lovely day Fred. It was a little hazy when I first got there but brightened up a bit just as I was ready to take off.
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That’s interesting you call them shells as here they are called skulls.
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Hi AJ – I know them as skulls too … I used to watch them at the Ecorse Marina about three miles away. I’d walk there on a Saturday morning and watch the rowers climbing into the boats from the dock and then from there they would leave the marina and go to the Detroit River where I was. But I was talking to someone on the boardwalk on Saturday morning and he referred to them as shells … I thought I misheard him so looked it up – the term is interchangeable is what I’m thinking. My neighbor’s granddaughter used to be on the Ecorse Rowing Team and so she watched her at practice and meets. Here is a closeup of the skulls … I imagine you see them at the marina where your parents boat is? http://www.ecorserowingclub.com/
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My parent’s house when I was a kid had a view of the inlet so we used to watch the skulls all the time. Now I see them on my runs. Thanks for clarifying:)
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They are interesting to watch – the skulls are extremely narrow. I think I’ll stay on the shoreline and watch from there. I do think “skulls” is the proper term. 🙂
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It is neat to watch but I have no interest in doing it.
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Nope, me neither. I’m not that adventurous.
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Seems to be an fantastic place to just relax and feel good. I like the pictures on the rowboats, do not think we have such in Sweden, but think it’s common where you live?
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It is quite peaceful there John … usually the most noise comes from the seagulls when they see food and they go crazy. In the park portion of Bishop Park, the gulls have been known to steal food off people’s grill and take off with it. The rowboats are the Ecorse Rowing Club and I just looked for a link to show you and will include it at the end. There is a very small marina in the City of Ecorse, about three miles away and the rowers get into the boats there and I used to walk to that marina and watch them getting into the boats (they call them “shells” or “skulls”) on Saturday mornings. I have not been to that marina this year as I used to walk from home and have to cross the railroad tracks and there have been coyote sightings at the tracks, so I have stayed clear. They are fun to watch down at the River though because the boats move swiftly and there are 9 people in each boat. Their coach rides alongside and gives them directions, suggestions … I could hear him back at the shoreline where I was standing. I know people come from around here to go to that rowing club but they may have other clubs at other big lakes, but not near here. It is good exercise doing all that rowing. Here is a link to see the boats up close or if the link doesn’t work, use “Ecorse Rowing Club”: http://www.ecorserowingclub.com/
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This place looks so relaxing 😌 Peaceful🙏🤝Thanks as always 🙏
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Glad you liked it Sharon – it is very peaceful down there … my neighbor and friend Marge used to drive down there and watch the sun rise every morning. I am going to write about her tomorrow … she loved the peace of being by the water.
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That will be interesting! I love being by the water
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You are so blessed to live in an area that there is always so much happening. I love it. ❤
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I do try to make the most of the Summer and Fall months Zena as I’m not a fan of Winter. I worked in downtown Detroit for decades and took the bus and so the car stayed in the garage as I just walked to the bus stop. My Winter driving skills are not the best and since I work from home I try not to go out much in the Winter time, except when it is clear to give the car a run. I have a few more parks to try before Fall gets here – I hope we stay in a clear and dry weekend pattern for a while – we had rain eight weekends in a row from mid-April to mid-June.
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What a peaceful, lovely morning! So much to see but seemingly in slow motion.
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I like going there Janis – everything is so still and the haze made it seem even more peaceful. Not even a foghorn!
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That last photo of the duck is my favorite! 🙂 It just looks like it has such a personality… like it has seen things and learned from what it has seen!
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I know! The other ducks look so sleek and then this guy came along – I didn’t really think it looked like it was wet from diving, but maybe needed a little dab of Brylcreme. 🙂
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You get an A+ for this post, Linda. 🙂 Nice work.
Great shots and swell descriptions! Kudos, UT
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Glad you enjoyed it Uncle Tree.
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What a great place!
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Your photos here are especially stunning! I’ll single out the stork/gull (!)… and the fishing photo – I’m a sucker for silhouettes!
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I like silhouettes too Ellie. It was still early and a little hazy so the fisherman and the boats appeared in silhouette. One of the photographers I follow is fond of sunsets and moon shots where he often has images of an eagle in front of a full moon, or a heron in front of the sunset. No Photoshop used – just amazing photography.
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Next he’ll be catching Batman in a flyby! 😜
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Very lovely post! I‘ve got also a weak spot for animals and their natural surroundings! Just met a cute stray cat at the beach that has been getting really attached to me ☺️. Maybe you wanna check out my blog too!
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Thank you – I will look forward to checking out your blog about animals and there are several people I follow who have had stray cats get attached to them and ended up as family pets and they have written about them.:)
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Oh, this sounds great: Then I‘m curious about the ending of this acquaintance of mine 😊🐈❤️ – cats are wonderful and intelligent creatures. On one walk I have also seen a squirrel running up the trees as I was approaching. But it was too quick to take a snapshot 📸 (I was too slow – difficulty of 📸 lies in the speed of these ones 😑)
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Hi – I know, most of the times I get the squirrels (probably since I bribe them with peanuts) but occasionally they will slip past me, especially the younger ones. There are a lot of younger squirrels – you can tell they are young as their tails are still skinny, and they are skittish. They hesitate, even when they see peanuts, and then they run back into the bushes. No amount of coaxing them works sometimes, so I leave their peanuts and leave. I wrote you a separate note as I could not access your site so I will try again unless you have another site here? I would love to follow you back.
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Many thanks again for your message! I replied to your first message as I saw it!
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I would love you to follow my blog 🙂
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