Watchbird

Our outing o' the day involved big bowls of clam chowder and a stroll on the municipal wharf. Seals, seagulls, pelicans, an otter. And a birds-eye view of a rough water rescue--a zodiac boat with two fishermen had run out of power and was drifting off shore in the storm-angry surf. Who knew the fire department had a marine rescue unit? Personnel in wetsuits and helmets piloted a large jet ski which towed the disabled boat around the wharf to the public docking area. Watching this drama unfold was fascinating--one of the firemen was in the water assisting the fishermen as they tried to secure the rescue lines; he was also on hand to help if anyone fell overboard as the powerful waves rolled the raft around next to the pilings. The second guy on the jet ski was there to warn of incoming waves and to be ready for any emergency. All went smoothly--the boat was secured to the pier, all the gear was handed out and hauled up to the roadway, and the passengers finally climbed to safety. The boat itself was hauled up by winch, and in no time it was deflated and rolled up, ready to go home. It was fiercely windy out there, and cold. One of our fellow spectators insisted that it was warmer in the water than at our vantage point on the pier.