Thursday, November 6, 2008

Going Out to Sea

Sky Watch Friday

Gray Clouds looking down on their Mother, the Ocean

We were at Texas Point, only a few hundred yards from the Gulf of Mexico, looking for Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Seaside Sparrows, and Rails (you know ,the small thin bird, skinny as a rail). Texas Point is the most extreme point in SE Texas and composed mainly of salt marshes. We had left the 4-Runner and were walking quietly down the small gravel road which goes down to the radar station. We didn't have any cameras except for the little point and shoot that Martha always carries in her pocket.

The photo taken by Martha is of a tug, pulling a small drilling platform, which is going out to the off-shore waters. The channel is Sabine Pass which goes up to the shipyards and Port Arthur just beyond.

As always, Click on the Photos for full page views.


Going Out to Sea
Through the Salt Marshes
The high tide was going out, thereby helping the transport.
The water was still deep in the pass.
April 22, 2005, 6:22 PM (exif data)



PS: I looked up the Tide data on my Palm Smartphone,
Using "Tide Tool
" (Good for anywhere in the world, any date).


Topographic Map of Sabine Pass Area
(Centered on the small towns of Sabine and Sabine Pass)


Yes, we did see some Seaside Sparrows and Several Rails.
Leave us a comment if you liked the photo.

Do you like the inclusion of Topo Maps to show the location?


For other SWF posts,
see Tom's SkyWatch site here
.


Troy and Martha

.

73 comments:

Louise said...

That's not the Texas I usually picture in my mind. I love the color in the photo, and I've never seen a platform being carried out to open water. Quite interesting as well.

Brad Myers said...

A beautiful photo, and I always enjoy reading your test that goes along with the image.

Daryl said...

Wonderful photo, Martha, and I do like the map, Troy .. for me it serves as an anchor.. now I know where that tug was ..

:-Daryl

Woody said...

I agree with Louise, I've never seen that before either. Great Photo as always

Photo Cache said...

I do enjoy your text too a lot. It's amazing how strong those little tugs are.

Beautiful. Happy skywatching.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi TRy and Martha,
very nice I like the explanation,

!

My sky is here:
www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com

JoAnn D Eyes

Anne said...

Just a perfect picture.
Number one in the roll, and number one behind the lense.

Nice weekend from a norwegian girl.

Tanya Breese said...

Great photo! Happy Skywatch!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Very good photo, Martha, and interesting view point for Sky Watch. Your point and shoot did a great job.

I remain in awe of the complexities of off-shore drilling platforms; it was interesting to see the parts of one.

indicaspecies said...

Brilliant photography of the tug against a lovely sky. The greenery is fabulous!

I just put up my SWF post here:
http://indicainq8.wordpress.com

Have a nice week, both you and Martha.
- celine

Reader Wil said...

This could be the Netherlands! It's a great picture! I like the maps you add to your posts.

 gmirage said...

The contrast of colors in this photo is beautiful.

Happy Skywatching! - ViennaDaily

EG CameraGirl said...

Ah, so that's what a platform looks like. I assumed the platforms were built where they stand (or float) so I'm surprised they are taken out to their spot by tugboat. ;-)

Anonymous said...

That's pretty amazing to see that tiny boat pulling that big rig. Nice shot. :-)

Dewdrop said...

The ocean... mother of the clouds... duh! I have never thought of that before. I mean I am very familiar with the ways of the water cycle and realize that clouds come from the ocean and other bodies of water, but... wow, the mother of the clouds. Troy, that rocks! Great shot. Very interesting!

naturglede/Randi Lind said...

That was a spesial photo. Have a nice weekend:)

Arija said...

That is a wonderful shot Martha! Lov the marshes and the contrast of the il rig and tug. I don't move without at least one camera aboutme somewhere either.

Nova said...

nice.. i love the sky and the clouds in the sky.. you can also visit mine through HERE

Gaelyn said...

What a great photo! Ladders to the sky.
Glad you got to see birds too.
Good map.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Troy: Congrats on #1 this week. What a wonderful capture of the wonderous sky show. Really neat post today.

Tess Kincaid said...

Those little tugs are amazing, aren't they? Nice shot, Martha!

Angie said...

A very interesting post

Barb said...

Tug boats are amazing little work boats! Love the salt marshes!

Anonymous said...

That's so pretty with the Salt marshes. I love the blue and green...

Dirkjogt said...

This is a special one, great picture.

Rune Eide said...

The sea cannot be very deep if they can drill with that one! However - I liked the picture.

Concerning the map - probably OK if you have some knowledge of the area. I haven't.

Kim said...

I like the perspective of this, and the green colors.

imac said...

A Great Post and a photo thats very fitting to your Post.

G. Crappy said...

Fantastic shot!! Thanks for sharing it.

Carole said...

I love this shot looking out across the salt marshes. The Gulf is so beautiful.

Sylvia K said...

Great shot! Interesting composition with the platform and the water and sky. Thanks!

Petunia said...

I love reading your possts and look at all your great photos:)

Unknown said...

Great photo. happy SWF.

Leslie: said...

Beautiful shot - I like the grasses in the foreground along with your narrative. :D

Unknown said...

Lovely shot and interesting information!

Sharon said...

Great photo. That would have been really interesting to watch.

Sharon

david mcmahon said...

Lovely work - as always.

Cape Cod Washashore said...

I love the yellows of the seagrass in the salt marshes this time of year! Beautiful shot!

Carver said...

I love that photograph. So beautiful as well as interesting.

Anonymous said...

Wow - how totally interesting! Thanks for educating us!

Kahshe Cottager said...

Fabulous photo!

Thanks for visiting my SWF! Have a wonderful weekend!

Anonymous said...

Great photo! I really love seeing views of the sky.

Happy Skywatch - My Skywatch

Patricia said...

Very beautiful, I loved the photo and the information. Thanks for the map too.
Happy wkywatch!
My blog

Laura ~Peach~ said...

cool photo and interesting reading to understand it all better.
Happy sky watching!

Rambling Woods said...

This is a different kind of photo for SkyWatch...very nice..and I agree with your about the word verification. Hate it as I never get it on the first try..

Anonymous said...

That is pretty view and i like it. TC

Anonymous said...

I scrolled through your page and your photos are GREAT - Gorgeous!!!

Unknown said...

Great piccie of a very interesting subject, I never knew they moved them like that!

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful photo! And I agree what Louise said.Never saw something like that before! Pretty cool!


Mine's, HERE. If you haven't seen it yet;)
Happy SWF!

Unknown said...

The image of the tug dragging the drilling platform is an exceptional composition...Thomas

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Congratulation, you get the first place with a fine post.

Anonymous said...

So unlike the Texas I saw, but then Texas is many times bigger than little 'ol England. Great pic.
Worthy POTD

Michele said...

Nice information.. excellent photo for a P&S.. impressive! I would someday love to see Texas with my own eyes.
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat- Canada

Jane Hards Photography said...

Always learn something new when I stop by and tthe photo is lush in colour.

Janet said...

Beautiful. Texas has such diverse lands.

kjpweb said...

Wow - that's something you don't see everyday. Excellent!
Cheers, Klaus

Anonymous said...

Very interesting photo. It's not a scene I've ever seen before.

Great sky. :)

Jackie said...

Oh boy I have seen it. I was born in Gladewater. All of my family both biological and my adoptive family are from East Texas.

Travel anywhere from Texarkana down to Houston and I have relatives.

Also my biological mother lived along the Sabine river in a tent when she was pregnant with me. So I guess you could say that this river is in my blood.

What an absolute joy to see this great shot!!

Thanks for the memories too!!

Happy SWF:-)))

Cath said...

Aaahhh what a refreshing sight. The photo reminds me of your header. I am not sure I remember the blog this way around - have you been tweaking? I love it anyway.

Thanks for visiting and your lovely comments on my blog. Much appreciated.

AphotoAday said...

Cool... And yes, I always love looking at topo maps...

DeniseinVA said...

A great and another wonderfully informative post. Thank you.

Naturegirl said...

Amazing sky watch image!

storyteller said...

Your photos and messages always teach me something which is why I return. The map was interesting too ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Mary said...

what a neat shot!

Enigma said...

Thanks for the story, and the beautiful photo to go along with it. Like Louise said, this is not the Texas we think of. I have never seen anything like this before. Great to know how things work.

Zeee said...

I love this shot! Beautiful!

Sally said...

Wow, that's an amazing photo. Except for the rig it reminds me of the Camargue area in southern France. Thanks for visiting me at Sydney Daily Photo

Tootie said...

That is a very interesting photo. Thanks for your Sky Watch!

SLW said...

I DO like the photo-- and the map. What a difference from our land-locked topos here, took me a while to figure out what was what... Land, marsh, water... so MUCH water! And an old dumping ground (well, not ground)-- how quaint! (not)

Great sky, wonderful grass...

Doug Taron said...

Oh no! I've been away way too long. Beautiful stuff. I really liked the post from Big Bend. Lost of great photos here, too. I'll amke a point to stop by more often.

SandyCarlson said...

I love that!

myonlyphoto said...

What a beautiful photo, it almost look like painting. Martha has excellent eye catching these nice views. Anna :)

Kathie Brown said...

That's an amazing photo. I have never seen anything like it! How does that little tugboat do it!