From the other side...

No, this is not about the supernatural.

The Lighted Boat Parade was this evening.  We wondered how the turn out would be... the weather was gorgeous, but the participation of boats in the annual parade has declined the past few years.  Last year, the parade was canceled, due to bad weather.  The publicity from the Chamber of Commerce was messed up - one publication had last year's announcement that the parade was canceled.  The website had last year's starting/judging point - which was a major difference from this year.

For the last 10 years or so, when we have been here during the parade, we have had a boat in it.  We have seen the weather be cooperative and we have seen it downright ugly - trying to keep lights in place, and lit, when the wind was howling.  Fog.  Cold.  Hot and humid.  The perspective is very different from the shore.  I always enjoyed doing a pirouette in front of the judging stands, some Jimmy Buffett Christmas music playing, then traveling along the route, honking and waving.  Sometimes we could get close enough to the crowd to toss some candy.  This evening, we were in the crowd... on shore... watching.

We took one scooter to the swing bridge, knowing that the boats would have to go in and out through there for the judging, then on to the rest of the parade route.  No idea how many boats there would be.  As we pulled up to the bridge, I was surprised to see that there were only a few cars and maybe 20 people.  A couple of commercial boats waiting for the bridge to open...

There were cars waiting to get across the bridge from both directions - the bridge swung shut, allowing the car traffic to clear.

The judging was happening a half mile or so from where we were - a straight shot, so we could see the boats... not a lot of them.  One of the first commercial boats being judged set off fireworks from their boat...

Another small private boat came up to the swing bridge, caught on the wrong side of it...

Looking back that way, we could see a light fog developing on the water by the causeway and South Padre Island (where the parade will end).  And, the full moon coming up over the island...

The bridge swung open, and the boats that had been judged were heading out.  The little one caught on the other side didn't seem to be in a big hurry to get to the judging.  He had better hurry - it looks like there are only about 10 boats in the parade and they are all heading away from the judging area... he may be a little late to the parade.  Literally.

I didn't bring a tripod, the shaky images bear that out.  Still, it was fun.  A small group that was on the swing bridge, trying to get a close view...

And, some more shaky lighted photo images...

And that was it.  A little anti-climatic, but still fun.  As we walked back to the scooter, we came across Scarlet, the lady who operates the Sea Life Center and Fins to Feathers (dolphin and bird watch boats).  She asked about our time in the Pacific Northwest... and said, "I haven't seen you out there in your boat this year."

Yeah, we visited for a while.  We may have to go out on her boat - she knows the local dolphin groups.

Back to the parade... I think I like the views from within better.  ;-)