If you said, "Cities, Charles Dickens, 1859," you probably think you're pretty smart. Look again at the title of this post: "tail"... this is about two dolphin tails.
After 16 months of gray, wet, windy weather, we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous day today! Yes, I am exaggerating: it has only been 11 months of... OK, it has been a few days, but it sure feels like forever.
The day started out with sunshine. Joan made cinnamon rolls. That's the start of a good day! Alas, it was in the 40s when we got up, so we let things warm up before taking on the outdoor stuff. While Joan put away the last of the Christmas stuff, I took the cover off the boat. Rufus came out to sit with me on the boat for a while.
When the temp hit the upper 60s, it was time to shove off. Well, it was time to put some camera gear on the boat before shoving off...
Three different cameras: Nikon DSLR, Canon with a super zoom, and a GoPro. That device in the upper right is a camera platform - more on that later. OK, now shoving off...
Out of our canals and into the turning basin. Only one large vessel there...
Time to set up the GoPro for a test of the camera platform...
The camera facing us...
And, looking out the front...
A shot (with a different camera) looking down the Port Isabel Channel...
It wasn't long before our first dolphin sighting...
Today, it was about the tails...
That's South Padre Island at the horizon in the image above. The dolphins we were seeing were just two: a Mom and baby...
Cute baby face above, and the baby next to Mom below...
Joan talked to them: "What a pretty baby - are you going to show me your baby?" Yep...
Notice that beautiful calm water - a rarity lately. We were enjoying the peace and quiet. And these dolphins.
This viewing came to an end when this boat ran right over the top of where they had been...
We saw other people out, fishing and enjoying the day...
Four guys on a small boat - and obviously enjoying their time on the water.
Pelicans, white and brown...
SPI in the distance...
Then, more dolphins...
The GoPro isn't the best for dolphin photos when they are more than a couple feet from the boat - look close: there's a dolphin in this photo...
Joan got a bit chilly when I ran the boat faster...
Time to head in...
An osprey (above) and cormorant (below) drying their wings...
Turning into our canal...
Neighbors showing us their catch of the day...
Rounding the corner to our canal...
Then, back at our dock. While I cleaned the boat and got it put away, Rufus came to help me...
Joan made us lupper (late lunch/early supper) while I was putting the boat away, and we enjoyed our meal out on the deck; taking in the glorious sunshine.
A bit before sunset, I decided a short scoot ride was in order; the current scooter tag is "your scooter by a bus stop" - got it...
And the next tag from me: your scoot by a museum or gift shop (bonus points for both in the same shot)...
A wait for a bridge opening on my way home...
I seem to recall more days like this during past winters here. This was a delightful change from the last couple days!
No comments:
Post a Comment