Sunday, April 15, 2018

Back where I belong...


No, not Bill Bailey - it was great to get back on the water today.  The wind of the last couple days eased up, and it was a lovely day out on the water.

Heading away from the dock, the obligatory view down the canal...


That view makes me happy.  Out the next canal and into the ICW - hoping to find some dolphins, but just happy to be out on the water.  Joan checking out some views on the nature side of our island...


Blooming cacti...


We live on the water, but it is a semi-arid climate.  Heading into the turning basin, we checked out some of the commercial boats currently in there...






In the Port Isabel Channel, on the way to the Brownsville Ship Channel, we saw our first dolphin...




Close (too close for the lens)...



Yeah, I really like that!  We moved south to the ship channel...


All the room in the world, and one boat has to pass another close by.  No idea why.  Looking ahead - more dolphins...





This group was more active!  Tail and belly - it's a very good day!  A group of jetskis came roaring towards us - I expected them to run right over the dolphins... but, they didn't...


One in a row! It was a group of rentals; they slowed and looked for a few seconds, then took off again.  (Paying for them by the hour ;-) )  This barge came our way...


It must be all the snow reports I am seeing from the northland where we used to live - this reminded me of a huge snowplow!  From the side...


It is full of timbers; they have been used for a roadbed by some of the heavy equipment that is putting in a pipeline south of the ship channel; helps them not get bogged down in the sand.

Back to the wildlife...






Speaking of that heavy equipment, as we got close to that operation, there were more dolphins feeding in what was being churned up by the propwash of the tug there...







Men at work...


Dolphins with South Padre Island in the background...


Face...


Dolphins with the causeway in the background...


Yeah, there were a lot of dolphins...




This shrimper was coming down the ship channel, heading for the Gulf...


We expected some bow surfing - wasn't disappointed...



Lots of photo opportunities...



Did I mention the dolphins?




Yes - tail slaps...




We headed for home... happy... glad to be back home.  A bit of bird watching on the way back in...




Home in Texas...


With the boat back at the dock, Joan put down the sun screens on our deck while I cleaned up the boat.

No, we didn't take Rufus out on the boat.  Well, not while the boat was moving - after we got back, I did bring Rufus to the boat to get a preview...


He was curious, but not fearful - that's a good start.


We've been back a week and a half, and this is the first time out on the water (other than bringing the boat to our dock from the ramp)... what a lovely day!

Oh, and the water temp: 73º



2 comments:

Bud said...

Thanks for the pics. It's still winter here you brightened up my day.

Captain Jim and the Blonde said...

Glad to have provided some warmth for you, Bud. Hope spring arrives soon for you - you need to put some miles on that new scoot!