Houma Way from Home

Back in Houma, after an awfully short weekend visit home. The Ridley Thomas was chased off the job, replaced by the tender Nick Skanski. It's a very awkward arrangement, involving a huge mobilization ("mobe") which may or may not be complete by 6 PM Saturday--our target departure time. The less said about my state of mind right now, the better--but I'm up to playing tourist again and showing all of my dozen or so (if that many) readers my new situation, at least. Including, being docked on the bayou. A very heavily industrialized bayou, with barely any traces of bayou left, it's true. But what once was a bayou, at least.


Gator #1

Gator #2

Gator #3 (heading toward me at the time)

Work at the fantail. A busy place, with the A-frame still being assembled!

Not sure I'd want to be wedged between a 130-foot boat and the dock.

Ye olde A-frame, which will tow the fish.

The towfish, with most of the equipment still to be added.

Just a spot of deckwork...

The crowded mess known as our rear deck.

Ryan, one of the guys running the spectrometer (a tool which identifies chemicals in the water).

The rear deck, from the superstructure and looking aft. (The big white container on the right is the control van.)

Sunset over the Emily Bordelon.

Sunset over the construction yard--those are platform legs being built.

The row of ships alongside us in port.

The inside of the control van (that big white cargo container), looking aft.

The control van, looking forward.

See, the other ships' back decks are crowded and messy too, really!

The Nick Skanski, from the port side.

The connection point for the tow cable to the fish.

The towfish, showing the platform which will carry the spectrometer, and behind that, the round frame which will carry the rosette of 10 sampling bottles.

That would be my state of mind right now.