pirate hunting
The day after my bike ride I learned that the ships I’d glimpsed would only be in town until Thursday morning. I was determined to get a shot, and so after getting home from work I packed up my camera and tripod and set out for the waterfront. I arrived to better conditions than I had hoped for: the rain had stopped, the clouds had parted to reveal the light of the setting sun, and the ships were circling one another, cannons firing. I found a decent vantage point just above the water line and, shouting my joy into the aether, set up shop with my camera and started taking pictures.
Things couldn’t be better. I had the light, I had a good spot to set up my tripod, and I had the ships easily in my sights. All I had to do was wait for them to cross paths again so I could get a good shot of them firing at each other.
Except they didn’t want to play along.
One of the ships had drifted down towards the Ross Island Bridge. I trained my camera on it, waiting for a shot when it turned around, but as I waited the other joined it, and the two retreated beyond the bridge and outside of my field of view.
I waited for a few minutes, grumbling in frustration, hoping they would come back before I completely lost the light. With the sun sinking fast and no sign of them coming back I realized I probably wasn’t going to be able to keep a promise I’d made not an hour before to come back with close up shots unless I packed up and chased these pirates down the river.
Dammit.
The stretch of the river along the west bank of the Willamette between the Marquam and Ross Island bridges is a remnant of an earlier time before Portland saw the value of having public space along the river and most of the area was industrial. I jogged back up to the road out of sight of the river, walked down past a fenced off lot that seemed to be used only to grow chest-high weeds, a private parking lot, a fenced-off lot of gravel and assorted concrete rubble, an office park, and a ship yard before I was finally able to veer back towards the river, hoping that the ships hadn’t doubled back yet. I was starting to think I’d missed out before I walked around some of the new condos that are going up along the south waterfront and found them hiding away.
I found out later that the one on the right is the Hawaiian Chieftain; the one on the left is the Lady Washington, and was in all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
I watched them furl their sails and turn around; as the sun dipped below the horizon they turned on their lights and started puffing smoke as they fired up their diesel motors. I think this just goes to show that pirates are cheaters.
it’s just like those scurvy pirates to be uncooperative.
and for your troubles, a joke:
A pirate walks into a bar. He’s got this giant wooden steering wheel coming right out of the crotch of his pants. Everyone tries to be polite, but finally the barkeep has to ask: “What IS that thing, man?”
Pirate looks down and says, “Arrgh. I dunno matey, but it’s drivin’ me nuts!”
Yer just jealous ‘cuz you couldn’t ride on the pirate ship like the COOL boys. Admit it.
Beautiful pictures.
And THAT is a funny joke! :o)
Way to give chase! I certainly appreciate it.
Did the pirates sink the rowers? They seem like a prime target there in the foreground.
Avast ye matey! Aaargh!! And other piratey stuff.
Very nice pictures! And good chase..
FANTASTIC! I love your devotion and energy to “making the shot happen.” I’d have given up and gone home with my head hanging low.
You mean, you didn’t even TRY to steal a pirate ship? I’m disappointed.
kat, I’ve been trying all day to think up a pirate joke to top that one, and I just can’t. you beat me.
michelle, you’re right, I AM totally jealous of those cool boys.
claire, they totally blew up the row boat, but I’m trying to have less violence on this blog so I left that part out.
shari, ahoy yourself, matey!
kyra, thanks! and I go to great lengths for my readers.
lewis, never let it be said I’m not willing to suffer for my art.
jennie!, if you and Figment had been there to even the odds I might have given it a go.
You should come visit Massachusetts. In MA, pirates don’t say arrrrgh, they say
aaaaaagh.
You get points for brevity.
Great shots. Way to to stick with it. A true artist.
I have to say, Kat cracks me up.
Thank you, good sir!
/bows
You’re withholding a new post because I haven’t nagged at you?!?!?! Oh man… you should never awaken the giant.
Sometimes I just need that extra little nudge.
What awesome pictures!
Those shots are truly awesome.
Thank you, and thank you!