Irene Leftovers and the Days After !

The day Irene came ashore I took 204 images and had some leftovers good enough to post. As the storm departed it gave way to a deep blue sky and took with it the humidity.

And please remember, I took the storm photos with a 300mm zoom lens and I further enlarged most after download. At no time was I close to the reach of the mighty ocean, but I hope they give you a sense of being in the middle of it all.



Crowds build along Stacy Boulevard.

Tempting nature!

The Fishermen's Memorial

Standing tall.

Pointing out a breaker.

Taking a chance to take a picture!

Long reach of the spray!

Wild seas!

Bass Rocks

Sea foam

Couple fishing.

"Amanda Marie"

"J's Escape" the day after Irene.

My dock.

"Thomas E. Lannon"

"Kenneth J. Duncan"

"Cat Eyes" unloads at Fishermen's Wharf.

"Debra Ann II"

Now there's a classic!

Harbor seal!

"Independence"

"Thomas E. Lannon" sneaks behind Ten Pound Island.

The Curiosity of Irene !

Note: All these images were taken with a 300mm zoom lens and most were further enlarged once downloaded to my computer. Never tempt Mother Nature!

Irene was pegged by the experts as one of the most dangerous hurricanes to hit the northeast. Cities shut down, airlines flew their planes to safer airports and trains sat idle. Here in Gloucester boat owners scrambled to haul out while others like me prepped our boats best we could. By daybreak the wind caught up with the rain bans turning the sea into a frenzy. Bumper to bumper traffic of "rubber neckers" headed to the shore. The only thing missing was the street vendors, they would have done a great business! But it never ceases to amazes me of those who play chicken with nature. Never a smart thing to do. In the end we dodged a bullet, yes some trees were down and there was spotty power failures but all in all we survived just fine.


Playing chicken with Irene!

Dragging the kids through the gauntlet!

Soaked!

Photo time!

"Stand next to the wave"!

Now I'm getting worried.

Yes I kindly told dad the dangers of having his kids so close.

Tons of water, nothing to play with.

Now this is dangerous!

Taking pictures much too close! About a minute later a baseball size stone landed nearby!

Police show up to warn the onlookers.

Fishermen's Memorial

The only thing missing is the hull!

Steering through heavy weather!

White out!

Sitting on the bench and getting drenched!

Backwards breakers!

Bass Rocks

My boat did just fine.

And so did the Tarr & Wonson Paint Factory....It's still there!

And so is Rudy's boat! She held up fine Rudy!

Just Waiting !

While waiting for Hurricane Irene to arrive the air was still and heavy with humidity. It felt like a tropical jungle, you could break a sweat just standing outside! And as time was passing several "day boat" fishing vessels went out and came back with their catch. My concern was the fishing vessel "Miss Trish II" who departed earlier in the week and wasn't expected back until Sunday at the earliest. Just as I was wrapping up my work on Fishermen's Wharf here comes the "Miss Trish II" rounding the Cape Pond Ice docks and pulling into her berth. A trip cut short for a good reason.
Later in the afternoon the first rain ban hit the area with a drenching downpour. Usually after a rain like that the humidity is broken.....not this time, there's much more to come.

My boat prepped, bimini top folded up and secured.

Aft view.

Low tide and in the mud as the first rain comes down.

Fenders deployed in case a wayward boat or float heads her way. I didn't realize how dirty they were!

A couple of gulls talking about Hurricane Irene!

Schooner "Thomas E. Lannon" prepping for weather.

The bow of the Whale Watch boat "Privateer IV" passes in front of the Ocean Crest dock.

Usually there are over 100 passengers aboard, not this day. Too bad because it was flat calm out.

Ocean Crest workers....With a flood tide from a storm surge, they'd be up to their waist in water!

Boom secured.

"Miss Trish II" arrives to her berth.

Boats in Smith Cove.

Even a yacht seeks shelter.