Weddings and Sunsets

Over the past week we've seen just about everything as far as the sky goes. Bright blue sky to fog to pastel skies. On Saturday the wife and I decided to go for a walk on Good Harbor Beach. When we left the house the sky was clear, five minutes later we were at the beach and the fog showed up! Wedding party and surfers! Bride holds up a dog! Allie at the creek. Fog arrives Lone walker. Wave on wave! Whisps Changing light. Fishermen's Memorial up close. The real Motif #1! Beacon Marine Basin at dusk. Crescent moon! Smith Cove Harbor sunset. The sun has set. Pastel sky. Jupiter sky!

River Tow!

A couple nights before the Gloucester Schooner Festival I got a call from my brother-in-law asking if I could give his son a tow. My nephews engine failed to start on his small skiff after he was clamming along the banks of the Annisquam River. Unfortunately at the time my boat was on the mud as the tide was too low. Darkness was soon approaching and luckily he was able to secure his boat at a friends dock overnight. The following day I was able to tow in his boat but again the tide was working against me. The tide was going out and I had a short window to get my boat to his which was docked on the tidal Mill River. We managed to retreive the boat and make the run back to his berth. But as soon as I saw how low the tide was as I passed under the Blynman Bridge, I knew getting to my slip may be a difficult job. I didn't have one minute to spare as the bow grounded out as soon as I pulled into my berth....perfect timing! Harbor Cove The old Birdseye plant soon to be the site of the Beauport Hotel! Blynman Bridge Railroad bridge soon to be replaced. Commuter train heads to the Gloucester depot. The 862' long A. Piatt Andrew Bridge still under repair. Houseboat on the Annisquam! Tired boat! Port side tow. My nephew Andrew securing his boat. Back under the Blynman Bridge. "Last Rodeo" passes the Paint Factory. She's bottomed out soon to be high and dry!

Firefighters Make a Great Stop!

It was about 7:30pm when I was almost home with a Maria's pizza when I smelled smoke. No sooner did I set the pizza down in the kitchen when my sister-in-law called and said something was going on near East Gloucester Square. The pizza had to wait as I grabbed my camera to investigate. I could see smoke in the direction of Beacon Marine then soon discovered it was the woodworking shop further down the street. By the time I got close the Gloucester Fire Department had the fire knocked down and with the help of Manchester By the Sea, Rockport and Essex fire departments prevented a major blaze. The building contains much exotic lumber and no doubt paints and varnishes. Next door two large fuel tanks and scores of stored boats big and small. Last June I was there to capture the light against the same building during a wonderful sunset. Sunset reflection. Smoke pours out. Roof work. Entering Attacking the fire. Firefighters organize. Fire knocked down. Just to the right you can see a corner of one of two fuel tanks!

The Mother of Grace Feast!

The Mother of Grace Club was established during World War II by mothers and friends of service men to pray for the safe return. This has been a Gloucester tradition since. Sunday I walked over the catch the concert during this colorful event.

Schooner Blast!

With so many images of Gloucester's 2012 Schooner Festival it's been tough to decide which ones to post. The last few days I got away from the photo files then sat right down to work on these. "Adventure" about to depart under her own power. Leading the parade! Crowd around the helm. "American Eagle" backs out of her berth. The rigging of "HMS Bounty" looms above. "American Eagle" bow At the dock. Maritime Gloucester docks "Liberty Clipper" at US Coast Guard Station Gloucester. Gloucester Community Emergency Response vessel. "Fame" passes Fort Defiance. A happy crowd at Fort Defiance! "Sugar Babe" passes the Paint Factory. Kayaks and the schooner "Thomas E. Lannon". "Fame" in between. Schooners big and small. "Spirit of Massachusetts" and "Summerwind" "Fame" follows "Summerwind" "Spirit of Massachusetts"' "Summerwind" and "Fame" "Thomas E. Lannon" heads to the races!