Tall Ships

I thought about 3 different blippers today. First...Skip beat me to the punch. The tall ships came to Cleveland last week. 2. Musings spends a lot of the summer on a boat of some sort. 3. And...Tookie. I saw a boat named Hooligans Holiday. (That's what she calls her dogs.)

My Dad and I went up to Bay City, Mi, to see the arrival of the tall ships. They were supposed to muster out in the Saginaw Bay... and about 12:30 p.m...enter the Saginaw River. Evidently, they mustard so long they couldn't ketchup. 2 p.m., still no ships.

Finally, 2 came in, then 3 more, then 3 more.

The ship tours don't start until tomorrow. BUT...I WANTED TO SEE THEIR INNARDS...THEIR GUTS... TODAY!!!

I handed my camera bag to my Dad, stripped down to my shorts, and dove in. As Martin Short used to say in an SNL skit..."I am not a strong swimmer", but I eventually made it to the ship.

One thing I've learned on the Florida fish docks...you have to ask to board a boat.

From the water I screamed..."CAPTAIN...PERMISSION TO BOARD...PLEASE?"

From the ship, a voice came back..."I AM NOT A CAPTAIN...I AM A COMMODORE!!! PERMISSION DENIED!"

I ask you...How was I supposed to know?

At least I did get a ride on a boat. The Coast Guard yanked me out of the river, and deposited me roughly back on the shore. Like a pirate with scurvy...like a sea dog with the mange...like a sea hag who has worn out her welcome.

This ship, the Lynx, was not the biggest ship, but it was pretty. I put a dozen other shot on my FLICKR PAGE. Some more of the ships, and the sea gull that is posing in this shot.