Monday, April 2, 2012

Watching Boats




When my sons were small, we spent many hours on the edge of construction sites, watching the work in progress. 
.
They never seemed to tire of dusty 
dump trucks and lean, lofty cranes that dwarfed all alongside them.
.


While I think they have mostly gotten over their fascination with heavy machinery, I'm not sure my husband has. For yesterday's outing, he suggested a trip to North Vancouver's  Lonsdale Quay, a bit of a distance from our Surrey home. As drives are what we do, I happily agreed.
.


.

He had been intrigued by a photo in the weekend paper of a massive ship-transporting vessel heading out to a scrap yard in China. This ship is, incredibly, loaded with a full-size log barge, an equally huge log ship and eight old tugs perched on top of those.
.
.


The Development Way will take 25 days getting to China, where it will then lower a floating deck under the water and lift the ships up to release them in place. Wouldn't that be a process to watch?

.

.
We were thoroughly intrigued when the tide eventually pulled the ship around to let us see the full scale of how wide this load really is.
.



Of course, I took many  pictures of the waterfront, having a
personal fondness  for shiny red tugs and orange container cranes.
.
 I was pleased to be able to include cormorants in some photos, since I see them infrequently, as well as our well-known Convention Centre  and ever-present ferries and freighters.



Since my eye is drawn more to details than the big picture, the fountains, murals and mosaic floors of the market competed for my camera time. 










Even the clean lines of the inner building seemed lovely to me.


.
Alas...my eternal quest for the perfect seagull picture
 came no closer as I got this fellow on our way out
...one day I'll be satisfied with a shot!
.


11 comments:

Penelope Notes said...

If I understood correctly that vessel loaded with a discarded ship and tugboats is heading for a scrap yard far, far away. Interesting that we can’t accommodate their demise right here at home. I like the murals that appear to be underwater. What an awesome wavy effect! Sounds like you had a great time and made the most out of one of our rare sunny days. :)

Katy Cameron said...

Wow, that must be some size of a ship! Love the mosaics, and as for the seagull, allow me to shoot and stuff one of the little buggers that wakes me up every morning and send it over to you, you can practice to your heart's content ;o)

Lonicera said...

Loved the underwater red starfish mosaic - glorious. The scale of those big ships is difficult to imagine! Lovely pictures.
Caroline

Olive said...

I like big equipment too. The seagull is splendid.

Pat said...

That ship-transporting vessel is an incredible hulk of a ship! The Chinese certainly know how to make large ships! Then we'll buy stuff back from them made of that scrap metal. The underwater mosaics are beautiful as are the other designs you captured. That's a nice shot of the departing seagull, too!

adrielleroyale said...

Great shots, and I LOVE that last one :) I'm on a quest this summer for a great bird shot too :) Although I think I want a great eagle shot, we'll see...

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Yay, a cool drive to one of my fave places, AND great photos, AND a post from you! I would dearly love to have a floor or even a wall with those same curvy trees painted on them. Wow.

Tins and Treasures said...

Good Morning, Lynette,
Thank you for sharing your fabulous photos of your outing with your hubby. I also love the ones you took of the underwater murals.

Have a terrific Tuesday. ~Natalie

joo said...

I could watch boats for hours and I'm absolutely crazy about ports! Superb post:)

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

What wonderful photos. Thanks!
Madeleine Begun Kane

Anonymous said...

Wire brush them top off with a water proof grout..
thruflow interlocking panels