Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A Shipyard Tour!

It’s been an interesting week for me with a combination of some new discoveries, a lot of hard work, and new contact with a couple of very special people.  I’m going to share my new discovery first.

 

My camera has a macro setting on it.  I never knew that before.  I was reading the instruction booklet to learn more about using it as a webcam and camcorder and I stumbled across the instructions on how to use the macro feature.  Macro is just a term for extreme close up.  I recently purchased an inexpensive tripod for shooting some video so I’m all set to try the macro feature.  Here are two close up shots of some blooming flowers in the front of our house.

 

 

 

As you can see, I’m not an expert at framing, background, and subject matter yet, but it’s a beginning.  I was just happy that I could now focus on something that close up to the camera.

 

The hard work was because of a very busy weekend due to some great weather and the absence of my new assistant.  He had to go out to Wyoming to be the best man at his best friend’s wedding.  This was no surprise; he covered his need to be away this weekend in the interview process.  I had my high school part timer to help out, but he didn’t come in until 3:30 each afternoon and believe me when I tell you I was really running to keep up with it all.  I got through it and did not have even a single complaint, so all is well on the work scene.

 

The new contact with special people was great.  My sister, Jan, has two fine offspring whom I have lost contact with over the last couple of years due to career constraints, busy schedules, and very long distances between us. I had the opportunity to catch up with both Carrie and Evan and learn of all the happenings in their lives right now.  They are living out in Arizona at the moment.  Carrie is on active duty with the US Air Force and Evan is a food and beverage manager for a very upscale and popular restaurant out that way.

 

I learned that Evan has developed a vocal talent I did not previously know about and he is learning to play the guitar as well.  If I can ever get what I need in order to do some good video, I plan on exchanging tapes and tips with Evan.  He used to really enjoy listening to me play the guitar when he was a youngster.  If I can be of any help to him now, I would welcome the opportunity.

 

That pretty much sums up my week.  I have something else I want to share today, as well, though.  Not too long ago, I was given a tour of that big Ship Yard in Thunderbolt.  That is the yard that does the work on the mega yachts and I’ve posted some PICS in previous entries of the facility as seen from the water.  I always was curious as to how they moved those huge ships around on land to work on them and I finally got my answers.

 

Here is a shot of the work yard area of the facility as seen from the water.

 

 

They have a railway system that goes out on a pier.  The ship is maneuvered at the end of the pier over a platform that has supports and can be lowered into the water and raised up again with the ship resting on the supports.  This next shot shows the supports on the rail system without a ship on it.

 

 

This next shot is of the same railway system but with a ship.

You can also see one of the tractors that are used to pull the rail system with the ship on it.  This tractor has a front loader on it like a bulldozer.

 

 

 

There are some huge airplane hangar-like buildings that they take these ships into for certain types of work.  The different sections are called work bays.  They can move the ship off of the pier and into each work bay via a sliding track rail system. One work bay might be a paint shop; another one might be for mechanical work.  Here is a shot of the sliding rail.

 

 

The next shot is of a ship in the paint bay.

 

 

The last shot that I have to share gives you a feeling for all the activity going on at this shipyard.

 

 

So, there you have it, the Georgia Boatman’s dime tour of a real working shipyard.  I’m sure you can sleep better at night now that you are armed with all of this information.  Personally, I was thrilled to get the tour.  Until next time, I’ll see Ya on the docks!

 

 

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's always a pleasure to see an entry from you Sam! Thanks for the tour around the shipyard, it's interesting to see those huge ships being taken along the tracks so effortlessly! I love the flowers in your yard, that pink one has petals like little tongues, the other one looks like crumpled tissue! I like to use the macro facility on mine, haven't cameras come a long way since we were young?! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels

Anonymous said...

Thanks for showing us your place of work, Sam. I'm looking out on a very small (by comparison) slipway across the water, one which does work on fishingboats and other craft up to 850 tonnes. It features fairly regularly in my pictures, but will collate a few in the near future.

Guido
http://journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tour. I always wondered how the big big big ones got worked on!
Tess

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam :)

It sounds like while you may have been busy, it was a good and productive week at least. :) I always enjoy seeing your photos of the marina, and now the shipyard. We get to see a different perspective of how things go at a marina, because you share with us. Thanks for that. Have a really good rest of the week.

Great photos by the way. I love the purple flowers, what are they? I see them all around Berkeley, but haven't been able to find out what they are. They are fun to photograph, try all kinds of lighting, they can cast some lovely shadows. Keep snapping. :)

Always, Carly

Anonymous said...

I loved all the pictures sam!!! The ones of the flowers were awesome! I love those close up shotts...Helen ( My Everyday Life) does beautiful work with her camera using it!
Take care Sam...Can't wait for more pics!!!
carlene

Anonymous said...

dime?
used to be a nickel
hehe
have a great day, Sam :)

Anonymous said...

love the pictures.  that first flower looks to good to be real!!!! it is so pretty.

glad you have gotten back in touch with your sister's kids.  like you said maybe you can exchange tapes, or what about emails and letters?

Kathy

Anonymous said...

Love your pictures. The flowers turned out beautifully. I had my first camera for quite a while before I figured out exactally what the macro feature was all about. I take that back, my first camera didn't have that feature. It was my second one I was talking about LOL. I made sure this last one had it beacuse I loved that feature and have since ordered some higher macro lens from ebay. I think maybe Evan is following in your footsteps about the guitar. The ship repair docks were very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Have a great afternoon. Helen

Anonymous said...

Great pictures Sam ,the flowers are lovely,and the ones of your boat yard ,so pleased you are back in touch with your sisters family ,.,.,.,Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Lovely photos Sam, the close ups of the flowers are excellent.  I don`t have a good close up on my camera so I don`t get those kind of photos.  Great to hear from you again. :o)

Sandra xxxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam,
It's always such a pleasure visiting you. I lost a lot of journal links awhile back so had to go searching for them. So happy to have not lost yours. Love this entry; so many interesting pictures, and it's always nice to hear that people we care about are embracing life - living it to the fullest. YOU really do that.
I wish I could hear you play guitar. I taught myself how to play many years ago. Sent you the update on my Story in case you wanted to catch up to it. It's been awhile since I was able to work on it. I missed it.
HUGS, to you..and prayers too, my friend.
Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK
       

Anonymous said...

Wow Sam!  You've had a  busy week and I might add, interesting and I think probably rewarding too!  Thanks for the pictures of the shipyard ... interesting and somewhat amazing, really!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam,
I'd love to learn how to play the guitar! :-)
love the close up pics of the flowers too...
Thank you so much for the advice/comment you left in my current entry.
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam! That was awesome! I loved it! Come on down to my new journal. I would love to have some of your stories or whatever you got. Y'all come! Tammy

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you've been a bit busy... always love hearing about what is going on in your neck of the woods.  Love the flowers!!  The first one looks almost fake.. great job!  
d

Anonymous said...

Well, Sam, that's one thing I've done before.  Taken a tour of a shipyard.  My company has 6 boats (vessels as we call them)  being built right now.  I saw a video of the last boat being launched (Emma Jo) in Bayou LaBatre Alabama.  It is a pretty impressive sight!  
Thanks for sharing!

Sam2

Anonymous said...

Those flowers are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Your neice and nephew truly enjoyed reconnecting with you and yours.  They are indeed fine people, and are all the finer  because of being related to people like you.

Anonymous said...

::smiling::  Your flower shots are lovely!  How nice that you were able to reconnect with family.  Distances can really make it difficult at times.  Thanks for sharing!  Michelle  

Anonymous said...

nice job with the flowers!  Better than I've done with close-ups! - K.

Anonymous said...

Hey, a slice of life is never a bad thing. These are the kinds of tours some of us might never get to see up close, so thanks!

Funny you mention Evan and the guitar, my own little guy has just taken up interest in it himself. He's taking formal lessons right now, since I'm not quite qualified as a teacher, but I look forward to a little jam session somewhere down the line.

Good to see ya Sam.

Jimmy
www.stupidsheet.com

Anonymous said...

Hey Sam !   Thanks for the picture tour.  Looks like a very interesting and busy place.  You also answered some questions for me, because every time I go to the marina, I wonder  how they do painting, repairs, etc on these boats .... so I learned something new today, thanks to you !  Sounds like things are going well, which I am so glad to hear.  You take care, Tina

Anonymous said...

wonderful tour Sam! thank you so much!
love ya,natalie

Anonymous said...

http://journals.aol.com/chatzeekay/LifeandLessons
great pics glad you shared them how have you been look slike you have been busy

Anonymous said...

Loved your newsy entry.  You know how we love the boat entries and pics.  Glad to know where Carrie and Evan are now.  I knew some of what they were doing.  We will be in Arizona in June and July.  Must find out how to get in touch a little closer to then.  Love you, Lynn

Anonymous said...

Hello Sam The Pink flower in your first picture is beautiful ~ it hardly seems possible it is real ~ the second one looks as if it made of tissue paper ~ glad you made contact with you sister Jan's offsprings ~ it must have been lovely catching up with them ~ and learning about what is going on in their lives ~ Glad you managed to get everything done and with no complaints on the work front it must have been really busy ~your picture tour was great ~ I have often wondered how they managed to transport boats to be repaired and painted ~ I just never realised there were such facilities to move them around ~ thanks Sam really enjoyed the read today ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

Sam, Sure enjoyed the Shipyard tour. I'm glad that you are eager to help out the Niece and Nephew. I take those opportunities when they come up. It's good for the soul. As far as the camera and the pictures go you are so far past my poor pictures I am very impressed. I can barely get the damn thing to stay in focus. My Regards, Bill.

Anonymous said...

Fab, as always :)

Now all my questions are answered... Well, about the big shipyards anyway ;)

The photos were great!  Glad you found the new setting on your camera.. Now we can get close up shots...

Catching up with people is always a good thing!  Especially family.

Thanks, Sam!

Cat