We no sooner entered Mobile Bay when we saw them. Totally by surprise, two cute and playful dolphins surfaced right in front of our bow! What a perfect welcome to salt water and the Gulf of Mexico!
I ran for the camera and saw two more to starboard then more to port. It was one of those "pinch me....is this really happening" moments. I was pointing the camera out into the water when I heard a strange splash beside the boat and there were three of them swimming right beside me close enough to reach out and touch. In all the excitement I did manage to get some snaps but just a few. The rest is etched in my memory bank for ever.
It was mid morning and the fisherman were out trying to make a living, which not only drew in the dolphins but also the sea birds. Clouds of seagulls and pelicans followed thie fishing boats looking for an easy meal. It was comical to watch them fight for any morsal they could get their beaks on. I could almost hear the seagulls saying, "MINE! MINE! MINE!" (From the movie Finding Nemo)
All this was happening while we were making our way from downtown Mobile, where we stayed for a night, to Turner Marine were our mast was supposed to be. After passing through a narrow channel in very skinny water we arrived at Turner's around noon yesterday. Guess what? The mast has not arrived yet.
Finally we have met up with other sailors....lots of them. They are all here waiting for their masts to arrive haha. Actually that's not altogether true as some carried their masts on deck for this trip. Long story short, the truck is arriving today. After that we all have to get our masts ready to hoist. Then we all wait our turn to step them. So far the soonest we can step our mast will be Tuesday afternoon. (November 1).
In the meantime we have lots of cleaning and maintenance jobs that need to be done but more about that....next time.
Dolphins - this is a wonderful sign. In celtic animal symbolism, the dolphin was seen at the protector of sacred wells and sacred water. The Dolphin is the watcher of the waters and the guardians of all things water-associated. Pirate lore also hails the dolphin as a symbol of protection.
ReplyDeleteDolphins! I thought they were killer whales! Ha ha ha ha ha. It's all about perspective I guess. Your dolphin experience was one of those beautiful ones we have every once in awhile. Lovely Janice. N,x p.s. have fun swabbin.
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