We need to hire you guys for our creative work. Try as we might, we couldn’t come up with an appropriate  name for our shore cannon, so we held a contest and invited your suggestions. Result? Practically all of your entries were better than the best our crew could conceive. We would have been happy with any of top six vote getters. The judges were: Ruby, the pirate queen, and her merry band of rovers, Capt Black Andy and his first mate, Art the Dodger, Cap’n Phil and his cohorts, and yours truly and helpmate.

 And, without further ado the winner is:  GOLLYWOBBLER (defined in the pirate dictionary as a source of fear and dread) and submitted by Laura Sperry of Plano, Texas.   1st prize: 4 T-shirts or caps and 4 tickets for a pirate cruise on Black Dragon 

Runnerup is DRAGONFIRE submitted by Hugh Bresett. 2nd prize: 2 Tees or Caps and 2 Black Dragon tickets.

A special award for sheer volume goes to the Marti Stone Gibson family. They almost sank us with the weight of their numerous entries.  Prize: 2 Tees or caps and 2 Black Dragon tickets.

Winners can pick up their loot anytime from Christy McDonald, AKA Ruby, at the Black Dragon store. Thank you all for your participation and we may be calling on your fertile imaginations in the future.  AAARRRGGGHHH!!

Our Black Dragon crew won 1st Place, Medals and $250 bucks in the SandCastle Days 2008 Business Challenge. Ruby also won the “Texas Snowball Toss” competition sponsored by the SPI Polar Bear Club. She won 1st in the Celebrity Division with 21 Texas Snowballs (sand balls). The trick is you have to make them and toss them into the bucket for them to count and you only have 3 minutes. The next closest was 11! Arrgh! It be from tossin all dem Cannonballs matey! 

The crew be:  Ruby the Pirate Queen, Barbaro de Cordoba, Yessica the Crafty, Flea Bite and Bonnie da Blade (pictured here with award winning sculpture) The logo for the Black Dragon on the Sponsor’s Castle was carved by Master Sculptor Joo Hang Tan (Pronounced Zoo Hang and also known as Pirate Zoo). His sculpture was of a Pirate scene that was titled “Welcome to Singapore”.

This was the most successful SandCastle Days ever! And loads of fun! We should absolutely participate again!

Ahoy, mates. As I mentioned earlier, hurricane Dolly did a number on our docks, the one that held Black Dragon’s 9 lb Gribeauval cannon included. As a matter of fact, when we returned to Pirates Landing after the blow had swept through Port Isabel and South Padre Island, both cannon and dock had disappeared. We found the cannon with carriage still in place at the bottom of the Laguna Madre, and shortly thereafter mounted a salvage operation utilizing one block and tackle and seven chollos. Up she came, encrusted with barnacles, carriage and all. A little power washing, some elbow grease and a coat of paint later, and she was ready to bombard vehicles crossing the Queen Isabella causeway. We thought you’d like to see the photos. Never did find the dock. It’s in the wind or afloat somewhere in the broad Gulf of Mexico.

All right. We need some help. We tentatively named the cannon, “Black Wanton”. We don’t like the name. It doesn’t resonate, and we’re out of ideas. What should we call her? (him?) (it?). She’s 5 ft long, is made of cast iron, weighs 1600 lbs, and fires a black powder charge with whatever projectiles you want to stuff down the barrel. She is an authentic working replica of an eighteenth century ship’s cannon. Her carriage is custom made of white oak with iron axles and wheels. Now you know as much as we do. Let’s give her a proper name.  

Send your suggestions via this blog, or to our email address found on www.blackdragoncruises.com. Let’s give the winner four free tickets on a Black Dragon cruise during his (her) next vacation visit to Port Isabel-South Padre. For the fun of it, we’ll throw in four Black Dragon tees or caps, your choice. The runner-up gets two tickets and two tees. Please note that we will not name this noble weapon after your mother-in-law. Let’s hear from ye, ye scurvy sea lice.  

“Aye, what ye be hav’in, mate?” Ruby inquires of me, paintbrush poised at my nose.  “Well…uuh…eerr..I..uh…was thinking…,” I gushed.  “It be dangerous, that thinking, mate!  Ere, I be fittin ye out with a true pirate look, aaww-right?”   I wasn’t about to dislodge any creative bent Queen Ruby might have, so I quickly gave her the go-ahead.  Paintbrush flourishing, her concentration intense, I knew whatever resulted would certainly be Rubyesque!

“There it be now mate, all done wi’ ye!  Ye be look’in mighty pirate-like, if I do say so meself!”  As I glanced in my compact mirror, I could definitely agree with Ruby on that score!  Several minutes later, our lubber-looking crew had been transformed.  Smiles and pirate faces abounding, we were ready for our final pirate-making lesson:  Swordfighting!

“Now, it be a pirates bound ‘n duty t’be prepared to defend ‘imself at close quarters by the tried ‘n true pirate method…wi’ the sword,”  Ruby informs, “so, Riley ere, an meself be showin ye ‘ow it be done.  Now we all are in no doubt as to who be the best swordfightin’ pirate on t’ Dragon,  right Riley?”  Riley unhesitatingly responds with a smile, “Right, my Queen, it be me, Riley the Riot!”  “Eh, what’s that ye say, Riley?”  Riley asserts, “Aye, my Queen, ye heard it right, it be me!”  Ruby challenges her with a “To yer sword then, me girl, we be see’in if that be true or no!”

And swordfight Ruby and Riley did!  We watched with awe as they parried and thrust their way fore and aft, friendly threats filling the air.  “AW-RIGHT, AW-RIGHT, now Riley, cease and desist”, Ruby commands. “We be at an end wi’ our pirate school for this lot.  Now, there be any volunteers to take the sword a’ginst me…Ruby?”  Brave hands went up in a shot and each were given an opportunity to test their skills against the finest swordsman…eerr…swordswoman….eerr…swordsperson the Laguna Madre has ever set eyes upon…RUBY, THE BLACKHEARTED PIRATE QUEEN!!!    

Ahoy!  All ye lubbers!  Aye, me next account of the Black Dragon pirate-making exploits be a bit tardy, but sink and scupper me!!, pirating is busy business, to be sure!!

As I was saying, Ruby, the Black-Hearted and her crew had more in store for us lubbers.  Musket practice being completed, we were now ready for the real thing!  Ruby agrees and prepares us for a suprise attack on an unsuspecting ship.  “Muskets in hand now, an’ all ye drop down to deck an’ keep down ’til I tells ye to fire!!”  The tourist cruise ship coming alongside was ripe pickings.  “Ready”, Ruby barks,”now steady on, mates, steady on….and FIRE!!”  Up we pop with appropriate pirate hullabaloo, musket-waving and shouts of surrender or be boarded!!  Then….KA-BOOM!!!  The Dragon fires a broadside.  KA-BOOM!!!..another and another.  We shout with victorious glee.  ”A good-natured lot!”, Ruby observes, as our high-seas victims wave, smile and aim all cameras our way in retaliation.  “Methinks, they be giving up their ship in a neighborly manner!”, Ruby coos. “Aye, still the guns an’ stow ‘em, me hearties!  Good work, good work!”  We are all grins being amply congratulated by our Queen Ruby.  “Ye be close t’ bein pirates, so look lively! look livey!, it’s off to the paints and brushes.  We be helpin’ ye to look the part, as well!”

As I make my way aft, I’m all agog or is it agrog, at deciding if I want a mustache, a skull and crossbones or an English rose!  Look in again, mates!  Painting and swordfighting to come! 

“Aye,”  Pirate Queen Ruby bellows to the lubbers on board, “Ye say ye want to be a pirate?  Well, to be sure, a pirate must be on t’ lookout for ships loaded with treasure to plunder.  What be a pirate’s first weapon of choice?  Arrrr, speak up now…anyone?…use yer noggins, mates!”

What I wondered? A knife? A sword? Grog breath? What, what, what?  Staring at the lubbers with a sly grin, waiting for our response, she finally informs us, “Why, a musket, o’ course!  Now, all hands here, and pick yer musket.  It be time for practice.”  Most all of the serious pirate-wanna-be’s swarmed the musket cache as Ruby handed out weapons of mayhem.  “Now, we load”, Ruby informs, “an’ when I say ready, muskets up! When I say aim, pick yer target!  When I say fire, well….fire!”  All lubbers, nerves taut, listen for Ruby’s command.

“Ready?” Ruby asks, “Now…aim at someone taller….fire, now…someone shorter…fire…someone older….fire…younger…fire!!”  The muskets, spurting blasts of water, hit intended victims, and frankly, anyone within range.  Queen Ruby, bless her black heart, gamely took a barrage of water-fire.  With shrills of laughter, it was obvious this kind of musket practice was soppy-jolly fun! 

“Aw, right, aw right,” Ruby acquiesces, “ye be showing proficient pirate-like form!  Now any pirate worth ‘is or ‘er salt will clean up after battle!  What four o’ ye volunteer?”  At least 20 hands went up.  The chosen approached Ruby with cherubic smiles.  “Ere ye go, mates, a mop fer each, now follow me, and swab the deck!”  These were the happiest swabbers likely ever seen on the seven seas, to be sure!  Mom, trouble getting your little pirate to tidy his quarters at home? Try this! It might just work!

Keep yer eyes on t’ blog, mates, for the next round of pirate-making-fun!! 

I be tellin ye of me voyage aboard t’ Black Dragon!  So listen up!  I were a landlubber now turned pirate!

Aye, it were a beauteous eve upon the Laguna Madre as we landlubbers eyed the Dragon making for the pier to take on her passengers, I being among them.   Excited!!  To be sure!  From her perch on the bow, Pirate Queen Ruby asks the lubbers waiting below:  “Ere ye ready to board ship?  In pirate lingo an aye for yes, a nay for no”  We gave her a somewhat subdued aye!  “Ere ye ready to become pirates?”  I heard myself give a resounding “AYE” in company with my fellow-lubbers.  “Cap’n Andy, we be ready to board ship!  Don’t know if we can make pirates out ‘o this lot, but we’ll do our best!” 

Aye, board, we did, to a rousing sea chanty and a hearty welcome by Cap’n “Black Andy” Salinas himself, and Art the Thief, or Brigand, or Rogue.  I was so busy taking in all in, I missed the proper introduction.  Before choosing our spot on the ship, we were led to the treasure chest for a photo op. with Cap’n Salinas.  A handsome Captain, I might add, though he had that “plunder” look about him.  None-the-less, my photo showed that “carried away” look in my eyes! 

As we lubbers got settled, Ruby and her assistant, Flea Bite laid down the laws of the ship to all.  Obey, or be shark bait!!  All eyes wide and heads nodding in submission, we were ready to cast off!  AAARRRGH!  More to come on how this lubber wench became a pirate! 

Black Dragon resumed operation today with a successful foray into the waters of Laguna Madre, and returned laden with loot from several sacked villages and booty from helpless merchant vessels. Captain “Black Andy” Salinas reported no damage to the Dragon and no casualties to her crew of riffraff and adventurers. Our apologies to our victims for any unnecessary pillaging and destruction, as well as the gratuitous slaughter, but these ladrones are uncontrollable when their blood is up.

It’s time we introduced a few of the cutthroats that make up our pirate crew. Their photos tell the tale of lives of degeneration and low morals. I’d wager that you have never dealt with such human wreckage before now.

The Black Wanton, our nine lb Gribeauval cannon, fell victim to Dolly when the dock supporting her 1600 lbs collapsed. We will raise her from Davy Jones’ locker in a few days, and resume our 1800 hrs bombardment of the vehicles crossing the Queen Isabella Causeway.    

Dolly roared ashore at S. Padre Island around 0700 hours Thursday, apparently liked what she saw, and decided to stay awhile. From a serious tropical storm with winds of 60 mph, she quickly developed into a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph. At this point, she stalled with her eye just off shore and gathered strength. By 1200 hours, Dolly was a full-fledged category 2 hurricane with winds at 100 mph, accompanied by torrential rains coming down sideways. Electric power was knocked out with utility poles toppling like matchsticks, while cell phone service became unreliable. For the next five hours, she battered and tortured the coast relentlessly, until, around 1800 hours, Dolly moved inland.

Throughout this assault, Black Dragon was moored at the Port of Brownsville basin, which has a hurricane ready facility. She suffered no damage except to her sails, which are tattered but in place. Earlier today, Cap’n “Black Andy” Salinas returned her to home port at Pirate’s Landing in Port Isabel, ready to sail. Her pirate crew are hale, hearty and ready for more excitement. When asked if she was apprehensive during the blow, Ruby (the pirate queen) is quoted as saying, “Pirates worth their salt, battens the ship down, fortifies theirselves with grog, and makes ready to ride ‘er out.  That we did! HEH HEH HEH.  Final score: Black Dragon 1 - Dolly 0.”

Electric power has been restored to much of Port Isabel, and a massive effort is underway to complete repairs to the area grid on a top priority basis. The number of utility trucks heading down rte 100 is such that it looks like an armored column heading to the front. Whoever is responsible for this endeavor deserves our admiration and praise. Our pirate store is open and our phones are working. We’ll be running cruises in a day or so. For questions, call 956 943 6283. We’ll report progress as news comes in.