Red Right Returning, a practical directive to mariners, has such a lovely, poetic ring to it! Just rolls off the tongue nicely!! The words refer to the nautical convention that says the red markers will be on the right or starboard side when a boat is traveling from the sea towards port. And, here in South Florida, when traveling south on the Intra Coastal Waterway (i.e.; towards Texas) the red markers are to the starboard. The "big ditch" starts in New Jersey and its end point is in Texas.

As a person generally interested in lighthouses, I also find charm in marine beacons of all sorts which guide us home and keep us on the right path. Though not well versed in the language of the nautical guide posts, I find them compelling subjects. Images in this gallery are various channel markers or beacons I encountered traveling the waterways of home. Although refering to them as oceanic bird perches would not be completely inaccurate!!