You're probably thinking: "Jim, are you going to be on American Ninja Warrior?"
Ummm... no. We figured we should try getting the boat out with all this dredge pipe wrapped back and forth. Before we were ready to head out, the dredge was running and the pipe sank below the surface. "Nice!" I was thinking. Then, about 5 minutes before shoving off, they stopped and the pipe floated back to the surface. "Not so nice"... OK, that wasn't exactly what I said.
We experimented with different ways to cross and push the pipe down. "Thunk" and "Scraaape" let us know when there was probably a better way. Definitely a two-person endeavor. Joan pushed down on the pipe with a boat pole while I ran the motor up, shut off, then back down... before we drifted into anything. Come to think of it, it was kinda similar to American Ninja Warrior. ;-)
It took a while. Out of the canals, we saw this ship in our turning basin...
That is a big ol' anchor...
I looked it up when we got home - looks like part of the SubSea Seven facility that is located here, the Ocean Project is a 194 foot supply and support ship.
Heading towards the ship channel, we got our first view of our dolphin friends...
No, Joan is not wearing a jacket because it is cold - a bit breezy out there, but a perfect temperature - she needed the long sleeves for the sun protection.
On with the show...
A bit of back-lighting on the photo above, you can see the spray. Unlike whales, dolphins don't "spray" out their blowhole - they just clear any water that might be in the opening before they breathe in.
Looking west, that is the Port of Brownsville, about 12 miles in the distance, with a dolphin in the foreground...
We wished each other a "Happy Thanksgiving!" and headed different directions. Still enjoying the dolphin views...
Some bow-surfing...
Look at that cute face...
Heading for home, this passed overhead...
A Coast Guard helicopter - if it isn't a training mission, someone is likely having a bad day.
A sportfisher went by...
In a "First Ever!" event, it wasn't throwing a huge wake! Really, one in a row!
Do you know what this is...
No, not dolphins, it is two pelicans splashing. I am calling it: a pelican jacuzzi!
Passing back through the Port Isabel Turning Basin, you can see some infrastructure improvements to facilitate bigger vessel docking...
Back into our canals, we "ran the gauntlet"... with some experience under our belt and a discussion of applying what we learned, it was easier. So, even though the pipe has made getting in and out more of a challenge, we aren't "trapped" at the dock. :-)
Some wind and rain forecast for tomorrow - sure glad we were able to get today!
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On edit:
As the day wound down, there was more noise in the canal. Yep, the dredge guys were back and were moving the pipe around. They may have discovered that we were able to get over the "7 snakes of pipe" and decided they had to put a couple more bends in there. Or, more likely, they needed to shove some of that pipe through the small opening under the bridge so the dredge on the other side can move further down.
When we heard their small skiff revving loudly, I went out to check on them - the pipe was almost back to our boat and the ass-end of their boat was getting close... while they revved the heck out of the motor in reverse! When the saw me, they moved to another section of pipe to continue the antics.
I wrapped the bimini up on the boat and put the cover on it. Joan put the cover on the deck furniture. Truth be told, while it sounds like we're in for some rain and wind in the upper 20s or higher, we both wanted to keep an eye on what was happening in the canal. And, near our boat.
OK, not just us - Izzy was curious about all the commotion, too...
About the time the dredge guys disappeared in that small bridge opening, the sun was down and the sky was looking pretty dramatic...
We had moved our folding recliners to enjoy the best view of the antics and the sky (since the table and chairs were covered). Just a lovely day to be outside.
Just before coming in, Joan pointed out the sliver of moon in the sky...
Nice day.
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