If you’ve followed my blog for a while you know the state of Michigan has a few monikers, among them “The Mitten State” for its unique mitten shape, but primarily Michigan is known as “The Great Lakes State” because we are the only U.S. state that borders four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan’s state motto is: “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice” and, if your Latin is rusty, the translation is “if you seek a pleasant peninsula look around you.”
Simply put, there is water everywhere, plus plenty of ways to enjoy it.
Michigan got a respite from a snowy, cold Winter in 2023-2024.
By early Fall, climatologists were predicting a warmer-than-average Winter season once this super El Niño descended upon us. But, like the adage “be careful what you wish for” initially I was ecstatic about a mild Winter, but as Winter wore on, I would rue my enthusiasm for the snow-free season when freezing rain and solid ice not only kept me from walks for weeks, but made it treacherous to venture along the sidewalk to run the car in the garage, even after a liberal sprinkling of ice melt product. The news of a wetter-than-average Spring and an abundance of ticks which didn’t get zapped by frigid temps and were still alive and kickin’ didn’t float my boat either.
I knew there would be a lot of shoreline strolls, a safer option rather than risking encounters with ticks and also because our rainy Spring would guarantee soggy, muddy trails galore. Shoreline boardwalks on solid ground, sans ticks, sounded good to me, so I have strolled along the Detroit River at various venues multiple times this Summer.
But shoreline strolls also meant adding protection from the sun’s harsh rays. I’ve had a few burns from the sun off the water when I was on shore. So, because I didn’t want to be handling the camera with greasy sunscreen slathered on my skin, I opted for sun protection clothing instead. I perused articles which informed me dark clothing attracted less harmful sun rays which surprised me because didn’t you always learn to dress in light colors in Summer? So I bought some hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants, all 50 SPF, guaranteed to repel the sun’s rays. Quite honestly, before I donned these duds, I got two minor sunburns in April, but since faithfully wearing these sun protection items, I don’t even come home with a tinge of pink.
On the other hand, encased in dark clothing from the top of my head to my ankles makes it difficult to check for ticks. On the tick avoidance websites, I kept reading “opt for light-colored clothing so you can easily spot ticks.” So there you have it – conflicting reports, guaranteed to make you crazy, the war of sun damage versus Lyme Disease.
Today’s post will be a collection of photos gathered on a recent shoreline stroll with plenty of vessels afloat on the Detroit River. At times the pleasure boats were plentiful, the Great Lakes freighters were seemingly lined up one after the other and there was even a flotilla … of geese.
There are only two parks I will focus on today: Dingell Park and Bishop Park. It was a gorgeous day, not too hot or humid, so I did something different and parked at Dingell Park and walked to Bishop Park, a five-mile round-trip journey – usually I drive from one park to the other.
I started my stroll at Dingell Park.
If you hang out at this venue long enough you’re sure to see a Great Lakes freighter or two, or three and a few pleasure boats rocking gently in the wake of those massive freighters. The pavilion is a great spot to take your camera and binoculars.
On this morning, I saw multiple freighters and pleasure boats from my vantage point at the pavilion. This freighter was going, going, gone as it disappeared from sight.
Fishing from a boat, or from the boardwalk, is popular at Dingell Park. I didn’t stay long at the pavilion area, so next I headed along the boardwalk …
… past the memorial for fallen war heroes …
… and toward the Ecorse Boat Ramp.
I was disappointed to learn that the Detroit Institute of Arts Inside/Out gallery of famous artwork displayed in parks or public spaces would not be at our local riverfront this year.
Because I have been doing this shoreline stroll multiple times each Summer, I knew I would find a gathering of Canada Geese on their annual Summer holiday. Indeed the Canada Geese were gathered on the American side of the River, safe from land predators, waiting out the annual molt and their new flight feathers. The geese and their goslings left Council Point Park about six weeks ago to embark on their annual float down the Ecorse Creek to Dingell Park (about a mile or so away). They will return by mid-to-late August, flying and feisty as ever.
There is safety in numbers at the shoreline as you see below.
When they paddle, afloat and clustered together, to me they resemble a flotilla, a flotilla being defined as anywhere from three to twenty ships clustered together.
This was just a smaller, waterfowl version of a flotilla. (I know they look like dots – they were not near the shore at this time.)
Bopping along the boardwalk at Bishop Park.
I had hoped to run into Joanne, whom you may remember is the nonagenarian who enjoys her daily walk from her senior citizen high-rise apartment building to Bishop Park and back. She is spry and full of endless energy, remarkable for someone who will turn 94 in November. But Joanne was MIA on this morning – I assumed I had simply missed her as I had arrived later since I had chosen not to drive. I’ll make another visit here to try and catch up with her before her birthday and/or Winter sets in.
I stayed about 30 minutes, hoping for a few seagull shots, as they have been scarce in my shoreline strolls of late, but there were none, just a few anglers on the pier and a pleasure boat and just one freighter which you see below. I zoomed in to get the name of the vessel but was unsuccessful.
In my last job, we represented several Great Lakes freighter companies. My boss used to take an annual “cruise” on one of the steamships. Once, when a freighter was loading cement and “in port” for most of the day, my boss and I went over to visit, had a tasty lunch in the dining room with the crew and I got a tour of the freighter, which often took on paying customers who wanted a view of the Great Lakes from a domestic cargo vessel, also referred to as a “laker” around these parts.
Whatever floats your boat, eh?
I am joining Terri Webster Schrandt’s July 28th Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Afloat.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
I happened to look at Google maps a couple of weeks ago of Michigan…wow 4 of 5 great lakes. Water everywhere indeed, Linda!
What a great waterfront to see flotillas of birds and ships. The last pic of the geese afloat made me smile. Great shot, catching them and the boats on the harbor. Wish me luck this coming Friday as I stay afloat with my family members (praying for patience).
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Yes, we are surrounded by water and lots of recreational activities to enjoy it. People head up to northern Michigan every weekend in Summer … Friday nights after work the expressways are jammed and Sunday afternoons/evenings returning downstate too as people have cottages or go camping.
So many geese down at the River – they paddle far from shore for protection as you saw there – they looked like dots there were so many. The ducks and seagulls (sitting like ducks on the water) do this as well. Yesterday I saw a slew of Cormorants way across a marsh, the first time I’ve seen that, so perhaps it is their molting time too.
Safe travels Terri and my wishes for lots of patience as well.
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Sun or Lyme? What a choice! I enjoyed your long hike.
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How do you make that choice Anne? The only way you’re safe is in a bubble. Ticks are tiny … I long for days years ago when I ran and played in the meadow at the end of our street. We didn’t worry about ticks back then and I never remember getting a sunburn until I was a teenager and it was my own fault as I stupidly laid out in the sun.
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I heard that ticks were bad this year, but I haven’t had one. I don’t walk through grass very often and always shower after working in the garden.
I did that, too — sunbathed on a school trip in high school. Never did that again!!
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I had the one in my ear but it didn’t attach – but it was scary finding it. I am steering clear of anywhere I could get ticks but yesterday I found myself in a new place, weeds and tall grass, but I walked down the middle of the road the whole time, but still was leery.
Yes, I got burned and my mother said “you’ll look like old shoe leather if you keep it up.” Never again for me either Anne.
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Never be short of water views Linda
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I agree with you Brian. It is soothing to the soul to walk along the shoreline – when the seagulls screech, it seems like a beach anywhere, anytime, even in Winter.
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All that blue floats my boat, Linda. I always enjoy seeing the water. I enjoyed walking along with you and learning more about your state.
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Glad all the blue floats your boat TD. It is soothing by the water isn’t it? Waves lapping up against the seawall and gulls screeching seems like a day at the beach to me if I shut my eyes. Michigan does have its beauty – most people just think of our state in conjunction with automobiles.
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A nice river walk, Linda. I was listening to a radio program yesterday and they said that the majority of Michiganders have not even visited the shorelines. Having lived and worked so close to Lake Huron and the St Clair River my whole life I can’t even imagine. I think the first boat in your pictures is and ocean vessel while the second, I’m sure, is a laker.
Like you I have toured a couple of the boats and had lunch on one when my husband was sailing. I never did get to go on a trip though. The ships officers can have their spouses or children along for trips but after we were married my husband mostly sailed on tug/barge combinations that did not have guest accommodations. I would have been happy to go along for a trip if the opportunity presented itself.
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Ruth, that is a shocking statistic especially for Michigan being the Great Lakes State. I was tempted to use the following statistic for this post and I think I have used it before: “In Michigan you’re never more than 6 miles from a body of water or 85 miles from a Great Lake.” That is pretty impressive isn’t it?
I should have known that about that vessel – it is top heavy, almost like a container ship. In fact is is rather a strange shape and not the usually, more streamlined shape like a long freighter is.
I was fascinated that day I went on the tour of the freighter. I remember the boat had vibrations and was moving in the water, but maybe it was because it was busy at the cement silo – this is a long time ago because the cement silos were still down at the Riverfront and that area is all built up and part of the Riverwalk now.
I think it would have been a fun trip. Our client also had tub/barge combinations. My boss always went on the steamship trip for years, then stopped after COVID, then the client sold the fleet and so the opportunity was gone.
Now they have cruise ships coming in Detroit at the Riverfront. I have never seen one down in Wyandotte, Ecorse or Trenton riverfronts. Maybe one day I will if they can dock that close to those venues?
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Ticks, sunburn, icy paths, snow, broiling sun, sleet…Mother Nature makes it so difficult sometimes to get out and enjoy. glad you were able to get these pics. Loved seeing the different parks you were able to visit.
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Yes, this year has been one for the books Laurie, although I feel we are lucky here to have no wildfire worries, hurricane issues … but our increasingly volatile storms, or threats of them, does worry me. Torrential rains for hours on end … weather on steroids. But we march (or in your case run) on. It is very pretty down at the River – I am lucky to live so close to these venues.
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That water looks so blue Linda! I’m curious, houses on the water are so expensive, with all the water there are they still expensive? I think I told you my hubby’s dad was co captain on one of those freighters and Terry worked on one in the summer with his dad. His dad was gone about 6 months out of the year and they drove to different ports to visit him. I would love walking that boardwalk.
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Diane, I have photos of the shoreline of the Detroit River where you can see the rocks through the water because it is so clear. That surprised me when I first started going down to the River for shoreline walks. You would think that was not the case.
You did mention about Terry’s dad to me, perhaps when I wrote the post about my boss being on a steamship and showing a picture of his view. That would be rough on the family, just having him home every six months, but I like that they drove to visit him in different ports. They work hard – long hours “on call” to ensure the freighter is running without issues or danger to the crew. I really don’t know how expensive the homes would be to be honest. In Grosse Ile, their homes are very large and close to the water – you just walk across the street and it is an expensive place to live, but very pretty. When I went on the Grosse Ile lighthouse tour a few years ago, we had to take a bus from the historical museum to the lighthouse which sits on private property – the owner allows tours one day a year, so he allows people to walk on his lawn/private property. There was information about all the big houses on the island as we passed them. I recognized some of them as businesses in the area and they were the owners.
I like this boardwalk which is paved … some of them like at Elizabeth Park is actual boards and you have to watch as some come loose.
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That was nice of the man to allow people on his property once a year. That had to be a fun tour Linda!
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Yes, it was a fun tour Diane. I just looked and we must not have been following one another at that time, so I’ll put the link in a separate comment if you’d like to read it when you get a chance. I did not know that there are lighthouse groups that go from state to state and they were on the first day of a lighthouse tour going from Michigan through Ontario and to New York. There were several busloads of people and I was the only person who was not a member of this tour group. They were all very friendly and the pre-tour and tour was great!
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Here is the link to that post Diane. The lighthouse was built the same year my grandmother was born and it was Grandparents Day, so I tied that into the post:
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An excellent representation of “Afloat.” I love those big bodies of water. And the lovely geese as well. Watching the big ships from the boardwalk in NOLA gave me sea sickness. Are you affected?
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Thank you Zazzy.! Yes, the Detroit River is not only big but amazingly clean. At Dingell Park and other shoreline parks, you can see the rocks at the bottom as the water is so clear. I like how the geese gather there every Summer awaiting their flight feathers. They stay near the seawall but also will paddle out like these away from the shoreline.
No, I have not gotten sea sick from seeing the big ships at the boardwalk – maybe the waves sloshed up over the boardwalk in NOLA? That would make me nervous to begin with.
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The boardwalk was a nice, solid concrete walk that didn’t move. I was told that the movement of the large ships gave an illusion of the ground beneath me moving. Did weird things to my inner ear, I guess.
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That’s interesting Zazzy. You can see how powerful they are as they are plowing through the water with the wake they leave. They are far enough away from the boardwalks where I walk that water from waves doesn’t even slosh up onto the boardwalk. I have known two people who had Meniere’s disease. Both from being in the wind. One was playing Frisbee with her dog in a park and she was off work quite a while from vertigo as she couldn’t drive and was dizzy when she got up from a chair. The other was a coworker from France who had the car window down and she was heartbroken she could no longer visit her family in France after that due to her dizziness as she was advised not to travel by air. (I’m sorry for the late response. My internet was out about 20 hours, but now thankfully it is back.)
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In the day,I bet the Edmund Fitzgerald sailed past this spot Linda.
I swear that feather almost looks like an eagle feather?
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I’ll bet you are right Wayne! Next year will bee the 50th anniversary – hard to believe that.
You think it’s an eagle feather? It just could be as it is dark brown and short … I assumed a goose feather as there were so many around, but you have seen and were lucky to find an eagle feather.
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Gorgeous gorgeous photos. All that blue. How lovely. Stay in the shade. Happy summer, Linda.
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Thank you Selma – lots of blue and pretty at the Riverfront. Yes, seeking shade is better. Same back at you!
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Gorgeous photos., Linda! I did that, too — sunbathed on a school trip in high school. Never did that again!!
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Thank you Raj!
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Welcome, Linda!
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I do love seeing the ships as well. There is always a variety of things to see on your excursions. 🙂
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Sandra, yes. I remember you like them from your posts about the cargo ships, tugs/barges … just like your spot for watching ships, there are a lot of them on the Detroit River . Many people go down to the River in the Summer months and watch them. If my mom and I were out on errands and near there, we’d grab an ice cream cone and sit and watch them too. (My apologies for the late response. My internet was out and now thankfully is back.)
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It is truly difficult to figure out what to wear when we’re out and about. So many variables to take into consideration. Especially for you, taking such long walks you spend a lot of time under the sun. I envy you all the water surrounding you! It’s been a long time since I’ve set my eyes on any sort of boat. Or a flotilla of Canada geese. 😉
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You are right Barbara, because often I leave the car and go clear across one of the larger parks and won’t return for a couple of hours, sometimes longer in Spring or Fall when it’s not blazing hot. I’m grateful when I get into a woodsy area for some shade, but then there are lots of areas that are marsh and no trees. And now a new worry, West Nile Virus. We had our first case, which the Health Department clarified that the patient was bitten out of state and it is not contagious human to human, but to watch yourself as we’ve had and will have a lot of rain and hot weather this week. They recommended applying insect spray which I try to avoid if using the camera. I was at Council Point Park one morning last week and had a half-dozen bites in my first mile around the loop, so I left and walked in the neighborhood. We are lucky to have so many parks near water – I do enjoy that, even if I don’t partake in any water activities since I don’t swim. We have a lot of freighters on the Detroit River in the shipping season. I like seeing the geese gathered like that … you usually see them more on land or hugging the shoreline. Sandra, yes. I remember you like them from your posts about the cargo ships, tugs/barges … just like your spot for watching ships, there are a lot of them on the Detroit River . Many people go down to the River in the Summer months and watch them. If my mom and I were out on errands and near there, we’d grab an ice cream cone and sit and watch them too. (My apologies for the late response. My internet was out and now thankfully is back.)
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I’m still trying to come up with a bug protection plan before it cools down enough to start walking again. And it would be nice to find a place to sit with an ice cream and watch something… anything…
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I feel for you Barbara as you really enjoy your woodsy and botanical garden walks. I heard our long-range forecast for Fall and it was that we will have a warmer-than-average Fall and most likely hot, not just warm. Sigh. It was hot and humid when I left this morning, but it will be hotter tomorrow with severe weather in the afternoon/early evening and a stormy day Friday, so I wanted to go today. But the only thing enjoyable in that walk was seeing the squirrels and birds come over for peanuts and seeds. That last half-mile where the trees are gone is hot now. I saw a few squirrels splooting. I got a photo of one last week laying on a tree stump sprawled out, so I’ll use that as the header image in an upcoming post. He/she looked worn out and even peanuts didn’t entice him to come down to the path. I couldn’t toss the peanuts as it’s all chickory and weeds there along the pathway. A real mess.
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I know how that poor squirrel felt — it’s way too hot when it’s too hot to eat! It’s going to take a long while for you and the critters to adjust to your new surroundings, with missing trees and harsher temperatures…
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I’ve seen splooting over the years, but usually showing some peanuts “invigorates” (for lack of a better description) that squirrel . It just looked so miserable. I’m going to be doing an update on Council Point Park with some more photos I took and info about the final outcome of the project that I recently received. Sadly, I don’t think it will ever look the same, no matter how they spin it, nor how many pollinator pants they place along the shoreline. I heard, then read, Accuweather’s prediction for Fall yesterday and am disheartened about how hot Fall will be and severe weather will continue due to the heat. I saved the link if you’d like it as the article encompasses the entire U.S.
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I read it, too. Sigh…
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What to wear in hot sunny weather is always a dilemma. Hopefully no ticks!
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Yes, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. We’ve had a rainy week so far and it will continue and now we’re hearing to be wary of West Nile Virus due to the rain and abundant mosquitoes. I am wishing Fall was on our doorstep, something I don’t usually do. (My apologies for the late response. My internet was out and now thankfully is back.)
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Miss Linda……………………………………..you are such a good interesting writer ……………………………..I always learn something about your excursions around the neighborhood………………………………..I do miss going to those parks………………….
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Thank you Ann Marie. I am glad you are enjoying the posts. That was a nice walk from Dingell Park to Bishop Park, one I am sure you might have done in the past? I am wondering now why I didn’t park there and walk to the Street Fair over the years since parking is at a premium. I know you miss them. [I’m sorry for the late response. My internet was shaky, then went out for the better part of a day.]
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Dark clothing attracts less harmful sun rays? I’m with you about being surprised. Maybe it does. As for light clothing allowing you to see ticks, now that I believe. Of the two possible problems, I dislike ticks more than sunburn so I’m going with light clothing.
Great photos, btw
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I was surprised Ally. A friend of mine is a fly fisherman and he goes to Florida every Winter and does a lot of fishing. He always wore SPF clothing as he’s out on the water and so he never burns or tans, so I decided to get some. Here is what I learned about dark clothing: “Darker colors, such as blue or black, absorb more UV rays than lighter shades like whites and pastels. This means the UV rays are less likely to reach your skin. But bright colors, like red, can also absorb UV rays.” Yes, it is a toss-up what to do … I don’t like ticks either, especially after I was so careful, then found the tick in my ear two days after an excursion which I thought the path and area was little too unruly and unkempt for my liking. We’ve had a lot of heat and humidity plus rain, so now the local news media cautions about West Nile Virus. I am ready for Fall (and have been for a while this year). Thank you, glad you liked the photos.
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Ugh, I hate ticks. I have had them on me but luckily no Lyme disease. We live in a bad area for ticks, we have a few bird migration routes near us. I haven’t had any this year though, we try to stick to the trails. I love those big freighters, so huge, it’s fascinating to me how they build them, must take a long time.
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Yes, I hate those ticks too Susan and now our local media is saying we’re ripe for West Nile Virus due to all the rain, heat and humidity we’re having – ugh for that too. The mosquitoes have been bad this Summer and in the daytime yet. I was lucky I saw that tick on my outer ear and it didn’t attach, but that excursion was one day I didn’t wear a hat because it was cloudy and I was hot. So, back to the hat when on a trail. Hopefully you’re not getting any wildfire smoke as you enjoy your favorite park this Summer. It has not reached us here yet. I am amazed by the size of the freighters too. I watched a documentary on the “Edmund Fitzgerald” which was built right here in River Rouge, Michigan. It was interesting about how it was built – it was probably on one of the anniversaries and, unbelievably, next year will be the 50th anniversary of its sinking.
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You must have listened to the song that Gordon LIghtfoot did on the Edmund Fitzgerald? I love that song, the words are so poignant. Yeah I can’t believe the bugs this year, they are horrible, it’s hard to enjoy being outdoors. They are relentless. We have no smoke yet but they say it will be the fall before the fires are out in Alberta and BC, it’s so very sad. Jasper National Park got hit bad and a lot of residential homes and other resorts etc are burned to the ground, not to mention the wildlife.
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I love that song and I really liked Gordon Lightfoot from the beginning. What a songwriter and singer he was! Good as to no smoke for you. Those Canadian wildfires are so devastating, especially Jasper. Horrid. A fellow (U.S.) blogger commented a few weeks ago she was excited for her/husband’s trip to Banff. They are likely still there and I’ve been checking daily to see if they are being evacuated and it doesn’t appear so … yet. So sad.
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Ticks or sunburn – another reminder that life is all about trade offs.
As one who lives in landlocked surroundings, I love your photography of lake scenes.
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Thank you JP – it is good to see you back! You are now caught up to where I have not closed comments (30 days). 🙂 I closed comments to avoid SPAM and that said, I fished you out of my SPAM folder. I was getting 50 -100+ SPAM comments daily before doing this.
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