From Richmond 2

Here was post #1 of what could become a series from over five years ago.

Dusk rarely finds me at my places along Richmond Terrace, but last night I was here with elizabeth, and she took a pic much like this one, and when she sent it to FB with the question “Guess who my dinner date is?” one friend wrote back . . .  “the great Gatsby?”  So call this  . . . what the great Gatsby sees as tugster on a short day’s journey into night, apologies to Mr O’neill.

Barney Turecamo passes Gatsby’s place, as do

Frederick E. Bouchard and B. No. 210,

Ellen McAllister,

Fidelio,

Dorothy J,

Blue Fin,

and Weddell Sea.  

Gatsby’s for the night . . . was actually Blue–formerly known as R. H. Tugs.  From Blue, it was a short walk to Sailors Snug Harbor for the 25th annual John A. Noble Art Auction.   And I’m very pleased to say that

a print of my foto below brought $500 into the museum’s funds for restoration of Robbins Reef Light, and the framed foto went home with a very happy friend.  To see the other 49 items in the auction catalog, click here.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Bright Lights 5

Here were 4, 3, 2, and last but not least enlightening 1.

And where’s this?

Let’s spiral outward a few.

A noteworthy woman once lived here, you know  . . .  the

. . . Germany-born Kate.

See more here on the Noble Maritime Collection site.  Noble is the steward of the light and is seeking help restoring it to Kate’s tenure at the light.

I have a folder devoted to fotos “illuminated” by the light.  Like January 2010.

February 2012,

also February 2012,

November 2012,

right after Irene in August 2011,

and July 2012.

Anyone have Robbins Reef Light with noteworthy vessels . . . to share?

Click here for some of my favorite images of Kate’s Light.

Thanks to Erin Urban for the passing along the first six photos, taken by Brian DeForest.

KVK Tourism

And I thought I was a solitary tourist wanting to see the sights here?  I always do bring outatowners here to my “offices” for the scenery.

And to think that he too thought a maritime center devoted to contemporary shipping is sorely needed along the busy channels of the sixth boro.

First, Noble Maritime IS open this Saturday and Sunday, Labor Day.  More than half the fotos in this post are from the well-worth-seeing display called “Tides of 100 Years.”    Snug Harbor also caught some attention in the New Yorker  this week.

The KVK always intrigues and amuses.  Like, this tanker . . . made me think Torm is mini?    No way . . . it’s heavily-laden,  it’s rusty,

it’s orange (or would you call that cantaloupe?).

Over beyond it at Bayonne’s dry dock, USNS Dahl is getting a make-over.

Farther west, Maersk Phoenix is transferring a petroleum product and soon to head into the Mediterranean.

John Noble is the godfather of this blog.  And this exhibit helps you form a fuller idea of the artist.

And lest you think, it’s only his fabulous artwork, it’s more . . . like this manual below.  John Noble had a Jeepster, one of my all-time to-be-coveted vehicles!  See the flickr image to the left margin of this blog.   Anyone remember his topless Jeepster around Staten Island?

And here’s a taste of his workshop . . ..

If you have a chance this weekend or soon, come to see this exhibit.  Spend some time in the museum, and then find a place across the road to sit and watch his inspiration.

Tangentially related:  My Jeepster story does NOT involve John Noble or even NY.  I was born in coastal North Carolina, a marshy farming area where deep ditches tend to outline roads.  My slightly older relatives–who will stay unnamed–used to waterski behind the Jeepster.  Run the tow line from the car to the ditch, where the skiier crouches at the ready hoping to begin the ride before a snapping turtle, alligator, or water moccasin happens along.  Once the tow gets going, keep your skis cranked forward in the ditch, not toward the car.  Can be done. Has been.  Wish I had fotos!

If anyone has Noble Jeepster stories, please leave a comment.