The last time I looked before I went to bed the wind was S at 3kts. That's perfect in my mind and maybe fishing would be on the uptick. Falling tide right before dawn! Yes, it was time to try the pier lights and see what was happening,
What was happening was the wind was back out of the SW at 10-12 kts when I arrived. The tide didn't know what the hell it was doing and it was totally opposite what the chart said. And it was choppy inshore, and the water was brownish. I knew before I ever made a cast, it was in vain. In this particular spot, at this particular time, chances of a fish were almost nothing, despite there being a whole ocean at my feet.
That's why they call it fishing instead of catching. I did play with a small gar a little though and got it to grab the lure for a bite, and then let it shake off. There were several gars and one other fish jumping. Maybe a mackerel. Maybe anything it was so fast in the darkness I couldn't identify it, although it was worthy of a pan.
Don't get me wrong, I STILL enjoyed the trip and was back home before 6am. I'm on the second cup and considering a nap until my wife gets up. So....being as there were no fish to be had, I watched the sky and water as light began to come upon the world. There wasn't any bird activity, either; nothing flying, diving, wading, or swimming, Only the clouds coming of the tip of the Big River, and one flash of lightning due south maybe 100 miles. So far the sound didn't even reach.
I forgot to transfer the SD card from the computer to the camera and couldn't even take pictures. Nobody was up yet in the neighborhood and it was very quiet and serene. Change is coming. There are motions and discussions about the beach house and the legacy lies heavy in my mind. The wind ruffled my shirt in the dawn and it was as quiet, cool, and bug free as it ever gets. It has been my pleasure to learn the lessons this place has to offer for many years, enriching me in ways far from lucre. It has been a good investment.
The wind would have been perfect to beat to Biloxi....if you had enough stamina to make it. Don't plan on beating in the catboat unless you have some wind. It just isn't worth it. I think the Big River is still causing trouble for our area. The water hits the gulf almost due south of us and combined with that the local rivers have had plenty of rain. Too much fresh water has lagged the fishing, although shrimp season is due to open soon. Nothing doing in the pier lights. Sooner or later some salt will start filtering in. And maybe that SW wind will move to SE.
And besides all that, the showers are never-ending. Not so much storms, although there is usually some lightning, as just WET. You're probably gonna get a rain today if you live here. We got ours at 5am this morning. It's sure to be sometime in the day, but after midday is a better bet. And speaking of camera, it is such a hassle this time of the year, because once you bring it outside the air-conditioned house, you have to let the lens normalize for about 30 min. The rainy season I guess, if you live in Nigeria. I'll never forget Kingsley talking about "the weather" and there was absolutely NO difference than it had been.
I don't think we have had more than a one day or two without rain for over a month here. Some days we have had rain most of the day and night. It beats a draught though.
When I would do my CG training at Mobile, we could set our clocks by the 2PM thunderstorm - it was that consistent. This was typically in May or June.
Fred W
I'm considering a new tent for Disciple Ship. I'm looking at the pop-up type, the kind you open up, they unfold, and they're ready to go. Two basic requirements. One: it has to fit in the boat. Two: it needs to be waterproof. Lots of reviews on several "waterproof " models say they are not! If I'm going to do any cruising, I feel like I need that. My current tent works, but it's a bit of a pain setting up.
Cool Fred, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. We live to the west of the airport about 20 miles as the crow flies. The land heating up in the morning sucks moisture laden air off the Gulf, as it rises inland. Mobile Bay is shaped like a big funnel, and moisture is sure to gather over the north end of the bay and begin raising all matter of noise, rain, and lightning. I've seen some very impressive thunderstorms form there. And experienced many too.
Luckily we live to the west and they don't affect us very much except occasionally, and then, out of that direction, it is usually noteworthy. The rain is making the grass grow and we checked on the beach and yes, it needs mowing. It's always something. But yesterday, it was sit on the porch and drink a beer and watch the sun set. Life does have its compensations. The only bird life I could find was metal... two Ospreys and the menhaden spotter coming in from the boats.
The Osprey is very impressive, with much less noise than a helicopter and much faster too. And the spotter pilots have a great job don't they? Flying out over the gulf and look for fish, what could be more fun? They always get their feet wet at the mouth of the river and are a common sight. I guess I'm too old for that job though....I'd kill myself trying to pee in a bottle.
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I do love the shore photos. Those two are very nice for me. Your fit well with the ones I've seen with line in other places along the coast, some down into Texas. But so true, are the great photos in the marsh from areas on the coast as well as upriver past Natchez, Vicksburg, and the Yazoo area up to Greenville.
Like the areas along Pascagoula not all smalltown places are thought of as great places to spend some water time.
The pink glow on the water is pretty cool.
It was most awesome yesterday. Storms built to the north and then an ill-defined shelf cloud swept down across the water. As if a switch had been thrown the hot air, seemingly holding little oxygen, was swept away by a cool breeze from the north. I knew the cool air inside the core of the storm had overcome the updrafts and being heavier, was falling. The huge oaks bent under the force for several minutes, but the temperature started dropping immediately. I'm sure the boaters on Horn Island were freaking because the sky was black to the north. The worst sign of all. But the winds tore it up and the shore didn't get a drop of rain, only the tolling thunder to tell that the event had ever taken place. And it was finally cool. The sun set just after and that set the sky aglow, not necessarily just in the west, but all around as the mists left over from the storm reflected the light and the whole sky glowed.
Yeah, it was awesome. No pictures. How do you photograph the whole?
Mary came by and told me her nephew had been catching redfish and flounder and told me I ought to give it a try under the lights if we were staying. I thanked her and assured I would another time but we were toasted from all the lawn work. We've got mountains to do, thanks to sago palms and a snow this year. The grass is mowed and the whole hilltop looks like a park, although I forsee chainsaw activity on the palms. And then there's replacing the window pane the owl flew through the other day. What a mess. Literally.
You have to pace it in this hot weather. It was so hot before the storm to the north you almost couldn't breathe. Talk about a breath from heaven, that cool air making the oaks bend was absolutely WONDERFUL. Dale, I've been planning a boom tent for the catboat for 10-15 years now. Maybe one day LOL.
Yeah, it was awesome. No pictures. How do you photograph the whole?
I have pictures of the Grand Canyon. Well, parts of the canyon. How do you photograph the whole? Even the parts I have pictures of look so flat and you can not really see how immense the whole thing is. And when you see pictures of the whole canyon, they are satellite pictures and without the state lines drawn in you have no idea of the scale. And storm pictures usually don't have anything on the ground to reference the sheer size of the event.
I might be taking the easy way out, but I'm trying to use store-bought tents with my dinghy. I've used a free-standing tent a few times that fits fairly well on the sleeping platform, but it's cumbersome to set up. I just ordered one of those pop-up tents. Take it out of its cover and it opens full-size with zero effort. Size is right with enough height for sitting in a low beach chair. Should be here tomorrow. Looking forward t trying it. Hoping it's waterproof as advertised. Of course, if it rains it won't shed the rain overboard. We'll see.
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Captain, I would be interested in the dimensions of the bottom of the tent when you get it. I saw a video that and English woman posted of using a pop-up tent on her mirror dingy and I believe she also uses the same tent on her Scamp. I seem to remember that she said that model was no longer available.
Wayne, I have had the pleasure of hiking down to Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River from the south rim of the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab trail and back up to that rim on the Bright Angel trail with my Dad back in 1968. Also, again in 1973 from the north rim with my Wife. Both memorable trips with still vivid memories. You should hear them tell the stories. You are so right that pictures can't grasp the immensity and grandeur of the place.
Here are the stated dimensions. It is advertised as 2-person. I wanted sitting head room and room for gear. Should fit my platform almost perfectly. From Amazon. I'm hoping that since it's "army surplus", that it will be waterproof. Several reviews of similar makes warn that they're not. Hoping this one is different.
Brand Londtren
Product Dimensions 102"L x 57"W x 43"H
Riley, I love watching storms over the water, but not so much when in them. Spectacular sunsets and rises over water are natures art at its best. Here are a few Photos I have taken from and undeveloped section of ocean beach and barrier islands here in SC. It is an 11-mile paddle Through marsh creeks and bays in a sea kayak out to where we camp on the beach.
Sunrise
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Sunset
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Wonderful pics! First one is my fav!
Tent arrived today. Easy setup and takedown (a little tricky but a simple 3-step procedure does the trick; video provided). Length as stated (102"). Width is a little flexible (57"). Sides can be compressed a bit. I'll be eager to see if it is indeed waterproof and how it fits on my boat.
Some pluses on this tent. A door on both ends which will give me access to bow and stern. Side windows which can be opened/closed from inside the tent. All four openings have screens.
Dale, Not to hijack the thread, but I would like to follow closely, your efforts with the tent.
I am anticipating employing some kind of tenting arrangement for the SCAMP and if I can get something off the shelf and not have to engineer/sew something together from scratch, I would prefer it! :D
LOTSA Pics, Please!! ;D
Charles Brennan
I suspect that if more than a light or short rain happens water will get into this tent. However. a tarp over the boom would probably be sufficient to keep water out. Also, high winds have a way of deforming the walls pushing them down unless there are guy ropes to the sides of many backpacking tents. Think mountaineering tents. so, consider doing this as well as tying the stack loops down when setting the tent up.
I too am interested as it would be roomier for two people if it could fit on the Scamp. I did a search on Amazon and found this one-person option that would easily fit on a Scamp.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2YWHBLN/?coliid=I2U3CXH19BF7A2&colid=19ARYS9922JV9&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it
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