Mmmmmm…..motorboating…

Little Big Town had me at “Boondocks” and they’ll be keeping me for a long time with their latest song “Pontoon.” We owned a pontoon boat for several years. As a matter of fact, here it is…..

“Who said anything about skiing?’ – Little Big Town
That would be my dad holding the lines. Handsome fellow, isn’t he?

As fun and convenient as they are, they do not go fast. And that’s okay. But when you have an eight-year-old that likes to go fast, you sometimes need to upgrade. Or side-grade, whichever the case may be.

Thank you Little Big Town for renewing my memories of my “crawling condo” and giving me the inspiration to get this written up and all of my favorite boat photos posted. Some are way more extravagant than ours. Some might even be ours. Most are not.

Boats really are a floating form of magic carpet, gliding and glistening across the water (pontoons even have that extra astro-turf to them). Just like the commercials, everybody waves and wants to follow in your wake. Well, maybe not the wake of a pontoon boat but you get the idea.

Following the Wake

This serene scene was taken on a sightseeing boat ride aboard the Crystal Dawn, which leaves out of Pirate’s Cove Marina. Oh, and I will be posting some of the yachts found in Pirate’s Cove. I like to think that the people in the boat are waving. I can’t really tell. So, yeah, they’re waving.

Sunset ride across Roanoke Sound in Manteo, NC.

Pirate’s Cove is full of beautiful boats and sportfishing yachts like this. This shot is a favorite of mine. I just love when those clouds cooperate.

Pirate’s Cove Marina, Manteo, NC.  This is the place to go for charter fishing trips and mega-yacht oogling.

Ta-daaaaa! Here is one of my favorite boat scenes. This was taken in Clearwater, Florida at Frenchy’s Oasis Motel (which I will definitely be blogging about at some point). We spent three wonderfully fun and sunny days with this as our “backyard” view. Pelicans and seabirds converged on the dock every morning to check out the stash of goodies and handouts at the restaurant next door.

The backyard view at Frency’s Oasis Motel in Clearwater, Florida.

This is another one of my “always-take-a-photo-no-matter-how-many-I-already-have” locations. I just love the sparkly look of the water and the line-up of docked boats. This is at Sturgeon Creek Marina on Lake Anna, Virginia. The jet-ski in the foreground is ours.

Sturgeon Creek Marina at Lake Anna, Virginia.

Okay, so kayaks and canoes are not technically “motor” boats. But these are cool and colorful and offer a peaceful glide across the water. Both of the following photos were taken in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Colorful canoes in Roanoke Sound, Manteo, North Carolina.

And the kayaks…..

Colorful kayaks in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

You’ll notice that a lot of my photos are from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My camera pretty much never leaves my side. Here is another one from the harbor in Manteo.

Boats in the harbor – Manteo, North Carolina.

My favorite time of day to snap photos is all day early evening. The light is usually softer and gives off nice shadows and reflections. I particularly like the moss on the post in this one.

Jordan Point Yacht Haven, on the lower James River – Hopewell, Virginia.

A few years ago, some good friends of ours decided to get married on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. It was also the year of our tenth anniversary. What better way to celebrate two wonderful occasions than with a tropical trip.

Sailboat, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

This was also taken in Tortola. The island is just gorgeous. I love the way the mountains come straight down to hug the water.

Small marina in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

This is what our friends sailed off on after the wedding. I’m sorry to say that Barefoot Cruises is no longer in business. This was an amazing boat….errr….”ship.” Funny story….we had an opportunity to go on board and look around (and I will say that the interior is just as gorgeous as the exterior). My husband inadvertently called the vessel a boat and was kindly reprimanded by one of the shipmates, “It’s a Ship.” We still laugh about that.

Barefoot Cruises – Tortola, BVI.

The front…

Barefoot Cruises aboard the Mandalay – Tortola, BVI.

…and the back….

Mandalay – Tortola, BVI

Key West always offers great boat photos.

Sunset under sail – Key West, Florida.

In Florida, both birds and clouds cooperate.  How great is that?

Key West, Florida.

That concludes the Boats section of my favorite tag-line…..”boats, beaches, bridges and the islands they inhabit.” I made it up myself. I have written a previous post on the Bridges section and hope to soon get with it on the rest of group.