![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puddleshark
On Thursday evenings in the summer, there are fireworks in Poole, set off from a special barge moored out in the harbour. Crowds of people gather along the quay, and a great flotilla of yachts and cruisers gather on the water. The pleasure boats run special firework cruises, setting off around the harbour or along the coast, with a carefully planned return to catch the start of the fireworks.
Last year, when I went on the fireworks cruise, the weather was terrible: rain blowing sideways, and the wind trying to steal my all-inclusive fish-and-chips supper. This year, the weather was lovely, and we got to see the sun set behind Old Harry Rocks.
The Sandbanks peninsula, with Poole Harbour on this side, and the sea on the other side. Sandbanks is where the millionaires live, on and off, in castles of glass, a few feet above sea level.
The Harbour Master's patrol boat, in the fierce tide race at the narrow mouth of the harbour, beside the chain ferry that carries cars and pedestrians across.
The Haven Hotel.
The MV Trinity, a general freighter, bound for the Channel Islands.
Close up, you can see her original name, from before she changed owners.
Buoys marking the narrow channel on the approach to Poole Harbour.
The Isle of Wight lurking on the horizon.
Busy sea lanes.
A yacht heading to Poole for the fireworks.
The sun setting behind Old Harry Rocks.
Swanage Bay, with the light fading.
Here our boat made a wide circle, and we chugged back towards Poole. The wind was chilly. I put a sweater on, and it was still chilly. How wonderful to be cold, after so many days of heatwave. Darkness fell. I upped the ISO on my camera to 6400.
I actually used Lightroom's AI noise reduction on this image, because Canon image quality is pretty dreadful at high ISO. I'm impressed by the results, but I also feel that this looks like an image taken with a mobile phone. Perhaps I'm allergic to perfection? (Not worried. Given my skills, it is not an allergy that would normally manifest itself).
A grainy high ISO image of the MV Barfleur, on her way back from Cherbourg. As she passed by, children on the decks waved down at us.
I love coming into Poole Harbour after dark, with the buoys flashing, red to one side, green to the other.
Nearing the quay, we joined the many small craft gathered on the dark water, and at 10pm the fireworks began.
As the one-time owner of a noise-phobic dog, I am a little puritanical about fireworks. But I still have to admit that this was a fabulous display.
Disembarking afterwards, I walked back along the quay, the crowds now beginning to disperse, but the music from the pubs still loud. I'd left the car over in Hamworthy, as parking is sometimes a problem in the centre of Poole on firework nights. Had to wait because the lifting bridge was up, letting through a great string of yachts, all heading back to their moorings now the fireworks were over. The yachts passed, the bridge went back down, the pedestrian gates opened, and the bridge operator, perhaps not realising that the PA system was still switched on, was clearly heard to say "It's open, you numbnuts..."
no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 04:21 pm (UTC)I think it was the best firework display I've ever seen...
no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 10:36 pm (UTC)My money is on the hard-pressed bridge operator knowing exactly what the pedestrians could hear, I think 'numbnuts' is quite affectionate really. :-D
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 04:25 pm (UTC)LOL. It's not exactly what you expect to hear over a public announcement system, but I think it amused the pedestrians.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 02:11 pm (UTC)LOL at the bridge operator!
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-09-20 11:24 pm (UTC)What a lovely display!
Over here cities are swapping out drone dancing for fireworks. Visually, I'm disappointed; as a dog person, I'm delighted.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-21 08:50 am (UTC)Drone dancing! I wonder if we'll ever get to see that here...
Milwaukee Wisconsin is on Lake Michigan
Date: 2025-09-21 04:18 pm (UTC)which provides an excellent place to shoot off fireworks.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper shot video comparing the new drone show with a traditional fireworks in a neighboring town.. The TV stations just used spectator phone videos.
Re: Milwaukee Wisconsin is on Lake Michigan
Date: 2025-09-22 04:46 pm (UTC)It's not really the same as fireworks. But still preferable if you have a noise-phobic dog!