Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

August 20, 2013

The Mayflower II Comes Home

On August 7th, I got to see a once in a lifetime event.  The Mayflower II, replica of the original ship in which the Pilgrims sailed, was being towed back to Plymouth Harbour, after spending nearly a year in drydock, in Fairhaven, for repairs.  Thanks to a marine traffic website, I was able to follow the progress from home before heading down to the park to wait once it got to the Wareham area.

People were already there when I arrived.  It was hot in the sun that morning too!

Cormorant I think, or some kind of weird looking duck, and a lobster pot.

I do love this bridge.

Really getting crowded now!  There were people lined up on the other side too, and a few friends were down at the Sandwich end watching too.

Still waiting.

Once everyone saw the helicopter in the distance and which eventually flew overhead, we knew it was nearly there!

Police boat escort and a fire hose!


Here she comes!!!



I cannot imagine making the journey across the Atlantic on this tiny thing.

I got chills seeing this ship outside of her normal place.

She arrived safely back in Plymouth Harbor a couple of hours later.

5 comments:

  1. It is amazing what people did with less of everything back then - smaller ships, no sure maps, and battling the finicky Atlantic.

    Thanks for sharing these photos - well done, JoJo, I love seeing a photo study of an event.

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  2. Wow that is amazing!! How lucky you got to see it. I can not imagine facing storms on the sea in that thing.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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  3. Greetings human JoJo,

    Those are incredible photos. What an experience for you and all those who watched on.

    My human has been to Plymouth. Yes, that one in England. Thanks for another visual delight, my human friend.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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  4. How wonderful to see that.Lovely photos.

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  5. Traveling any distance on that ship gives me the shakes...amazing what our ancestors endured.

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