Jeff Dennis was out at McLain State Park watching for the Ranger III to return from Isle Royale and snapped a great shot of her gliding past the Upper Entry Lighthouse. Then he headed to Houghton to capture her as she sailed on the Portage getting ready to go under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. Nice shots and he was also able to record a video while waiting for the Lift Bridge to open for the Ranger III. You can still hear the winds from the gale force warnings the day before, on Jeff’s video.

Then last week one day, Jeff was in the right place, at the right time, with his camera in hand and snapped the third photo, of a swan’s wings slapping the waters of Torch Lake as it was taking off, reaching for the sky. What a great shot that one is with the splash from the wings frozen in mid-air.

And to top off his neat shots, today, Jeff said this guy in the fourth photo was enjoying the rain from the night before. Jeff figures it’s some type of Tree Frog and I would have to agree on that one, but I have no clue what type. Those suction cup hands and feet are pretty handy for climbing walls like that.

So, all in all, Jeff had a busy week following the Ranger, the swan and Mr. Tree Frog, too. Glad he took us along!

That's one amazing photo of the swan's takeoff! I wonder if Fritz was watching it(?)

Isn't it wonderful to see the
Ranger out and at it again? But my
favorite is the picture of the
swan. What a great shot!!! Tree
frogs are so darn cute.

Interesting set of pix, Jeff! The first two
of the lighthouse and R-III are a pretty
shade of coolness.
The swan looks like a Boeing 737 taking
off on a rainy day and my guess is that
the frog landed on a freshly painted fence.
I thought the video was building up to the
the R-III pulling a wheelie or something.
All-in-all…very nice.

I love all the pics but that swan pic is amazing!!

Beautiful. Isn't the ship stored to allow winter
offices for staff?? Would that be incredible or
what?

Love the swan pic....AND the frog. I grew some
morning glories on tomato cages several years
ago..had a few of them little bitty green tree
frogs on them.