![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_WEFnTQVKgyk9MWuhXtHBovCEEBHYh6edlYU2IMydybNv9DNGMFRTmsaRd8yCYTLfhsW8mp-IpNWzOQQXyIykXFT0Ey_mPtKzcw2v13FTA8vcRR8TYl7UHBMi8mlDTa-LZ0L/s400/BIG-4-23-08-2.jpg)
I noticed the St. John Survey boat this morning. I'm not very familiar with boats, but this one must have a flat bottom to get so close to shore.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N0WfA0RbXCFFTDOKEAGiFdgkRJrVGIrvaUwAgMbJ5uyLZoW10EWTntl1DY5o6IbOBO7MgpNaMW8Y6IPe3eDaFLcwl0UGihyphenhyphen5X4L54BEsJa7UwDmdVFkCCeYoPGTuJ5SQyz1f/s400/BIG-4-23-08-3.jpg)
I've seen the survey team at it before, so I knew how close he'd come before turning around -- on a dime, I might add.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJopSYKHoh73PteetNB4zLcYe5xBmC-cLvLF9Qztye8nDfpm0BBn-Wu4av_v6ai_bHaXaLC1vrqOzOvG4UhvSj-L2cryvhx5rxitkq7aNSKuaQX3_K6RXrjTlA91ZQH10b4hP/s400/BIG-4-23-08-4.jpg)
I wonder if they are accustomed to the astonished expressions of people on shore. It's very strange to watch the boat come in so close.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgRKor4AiVcnvCFKynEzdMg3JCrfktNAEr4CTsE5wfOPQM8IfVmlFO6f_EeTu5fA3pgmI5nWeXih9iprYAjxPsTlfa_5jZrVS79jVzJr-4CyEUMC2VRvOleiWkU8yLonDQJl9/s400/BIG-4-23-08-5.jpg)
Off he goes again, back out in the Gulf for a quarter mile or more, it seems. Then he turns and heads back again.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rPl6y3Jv0gjfuSgFCM8JVtyo68ZLskDnYG2Kfitd-fWxBLVVMZnnJpTZ9sLe58Q4Ez2aKvWqTE5X4rxmif_8tz9Bl1a6V82Vv_27Pl2zYFk_ZTpVYJorrJnE_naFVMnPBTKd/s400/BIG-4-23-08-6.jpg)
Aha! I think I discovered his beacon!
NOTE: Brian Link with NOAA - Navigation Services Division was kind enough to provide a link to their website which explains how and why a "hydrographic" survey is conducted. The boat in my photographs above is not one of theirs, but they do have one in the Pensacola area right now.
NOAA - Hydrographic Surveys
Sadly, it seems I did not discover a 'beacon'. Brian though I simply stumbled across an old antenna stuck in the sand.
3 comments:
Did they come back and retrieve the transponder later, or is it left for a permanent point of reference. I find this kind of stuff most interesting. It makes me wonder how it is done. S T E B
I think the sand crab is trying to get better reception in his hole:)
HA! Now THAT is hilarious! I can just visualize it.
Thanks for the great laugh!
DJ
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