Challenging conditions for the Dartmouth Lower Ferry

grebeman

Old Codgers Group
With close to a SE gale blowing in from the sea the conditions for the Dartmouth Lower Ferry when landing on the Dartmouth side were very challenging today and the service was close to being suspended. There has been a ferry crossing here since the 1700's, today worked by a small pontoons capable of holding about 8 cars and driven by a tug lashed alongside. During the day both pontoons are in use passing one another mid stream, at quieter times just one is in use. The tugs are called Hauley IV and Hauley V named after the Hauley (or Hawley) family who first moved to Dartmouth from a nearby village in the 1300's. John Hawley was a member of parliament, a businessman and a privateer, in other words a pirate given royal approval.
Whilst it was sunny for a while following overnight rain, within two hours the rain had returned in torrential form and the streets were running with water.

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The ferry approaches the slipway on the Dartmouth side having crossed the river from Kingswear

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This is the gap that it is aiming for

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Here is a ferry approaching the slipway. You can see why one or two vehicle owners decided not to risk the crossing and turned round when they saw the conditions

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The view from the pontoon side with a couple of holidaymakers enjoying the spectacle

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Whilst waiting for the vehicles to get off and the next lot to get on the tugs engine is kept full ahead to hold the pontoon against the slipway

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Getting on and off was all about timing today

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The skipper chats as he waits for the vehicles to get aboard

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Having gone astern and cleared the slipway the tug, secured only by the head rope swings around to face the Kingswear side of the river

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With a stern rope now also secured the tug starts off in earnest towards the Kingswear landing slipway

All shots with a Panasonic G1 and 14-45mm, f3.5-5.6 zoom.

Barrie
 
good interesting shots Barrie - the original G1 plus 14 45 is a good piece of kit - the images always have a "clean" look - I use mine quite a lot
 
good interesting shots Barrie - the original G1 plus 14 45 is a good piece of kit - the images always have a "clean" look - I use mine quite a lot

I started off without the kit zoom, mainly using adapted lenses, but was influenced by posts on this forum that said how good the 14-45 was as a kit lens. I got one before they possibly disappeared and find myself using it more often. More than adequate for regular type shots, can't believe that I'm beginning to favour a zoom lens.

Barrie
 
I started off without the kit zoom, mainly using adapted lenses, but was influenced by posts on this forum that said how good the 14-45 was as a kit lens. I got one before they possibly disappeared and find myself using it more often. More than adequate for regular type shots, can't believe that I'm beginning to favour a zoom lens.

Barrie


Barrie - I've always liked the G1 and the zoom - I bought it when it was first released

I used it at a Wedding at the weekend

Here's one of my favourite shots - (not everyones favourite, just mine) - at 45mm, (= 95mm)

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