Tag: boats

First annual Earth Day on the Bay in San Diego.

Our big blue marble Earth dangles in the sky on San Diego's Embarcadero for an Earth Day event.
Our big blue marble Earth dangles in the sky on San Diego’s Embarcadero for an Earth Day event.

Last weekend Earth Day was observed at the jam-packed EarthFair in Balboa Park. This weekend, the first annual Earth Day on the Bay took place. The event was centered around the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and concentrated on maintaining a healthy coast and ocean. Admission to all the awesome museum ships was free, and being a cheapskate, I decided to walk down to the Embarcadero and enjoy myself!

Earth Day on the Bay featured free admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego and many environmental organizations with exhibits.
Earth Day on the Bay featured free admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego plus many organizations with environment-themed exhibits.
The historic 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley, the museum's hub, is also featuring nature photography by Ansel Adams and others.
The historic 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley, the museum’s hub, is also featuring nature photography by Ansel Adams and others.
The TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition ship is visiting San Diego at the moment.
The TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition ship is visiting San Diego at the moment.

As I walked across the deck of the Berkeley, enjoying views of our beautiful big San Diego Bay, I happened to notice an unusual boat docked among the museum’s ships. The hull included the United Nations Environment Programme logo. Apparently, people participating in the TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition are visiting San Diego for a couple days.  They gave a talk yesterday at the museum about their mission. According to their website, it is to inspire children in classrooms and share examples of nature’s beauty, and foster innovations for a green planet. They believe that great human goals and progress can be achieved in balance with nature.

TOPtoTOP, docked by other museum ships, is equipped with many solar panels. It's sailing around the globe using only human and natural power sources.
TOPtoTOP, docked among other museum ships, is equipped with many solar panels. It’s sailing around the globe using only human and natural power sources.
The various Earth Day exhibitors on the waterfront included the Port of San Diego, with a report on their conservation and other green projects.
The various Earth Day exhibitors on the waterfront included the Port of San Diego, with a report on critical conservation and other green projects.
The first annual Earth Day on the Bay attracted a modest crowd, but it's a good start!
The first annual Earth Day on the Bay attracted a modest crowd, but it’s a good start!
This big inflatable whale allowed humans to grasp the scale of the marine mammal.
This big inflatable whale allowed humans to grasp the scale of the marine mammal.
I enjoyed a unique harbor tour on a Maritime Museum boat, which I'll blog about shortly!
I enjoyed a harbor tour on a very unique Maritime Museum boat, which I’ll blog about shortly!

I got two cool blog posts coming up! I had a couple of fun adventures today! Plus I still have lots of photos from my extensive Saturday walk around Liberty Station. I’d better get busy!

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Beautiful views from Cabrillo National Monument.

People on patio behind Visitor Center take in a breathtaking panorama.
People on patio behind Visitor Center take in a breathtaking panorama.
View from Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center scenic overlook. Downtown San Diego is visible to the east.
View from Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center scenic overlook. Downtown San Diego is visible to the east.

Last Sunday, after I checked out the new Yankee Baleeiros whaling exhibit in the Visitor Center, I wandered about Cabrillo National Monument and took in the many beautiful views. My camera was very busy!

Tall ship America sails south down the channel out of the bay and into the open ocean.
Tall ship America sails south down the channel out of the bay and into the open ocean.
Looking out over San Diego Bay. Shelter Island lies in the distance beyond Naval Base Point Loma.
Looking out over San Diego Bay. Shelter Island lies in the distance beyond Naval Base Point Loma.
One of many interesting signs. This one shows typical commercial and pleasure craft seen on the water below.
One of many interesting signs. This one shows typical commercial and pleasure craft seen on the water below.
Statue of Cabrillo donated by the Portuguese government at a popular lookout spot.
Statue of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at a popular lookout spot.
Naval Air Station North Island seems to glow beyond the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center building.
Naval Air Station North Island seems to glow beyond the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center building.
I took lots of photographs while climbing up toward the beautiful Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
I took lots of photographs while climbing up through native coastal vegetation toward the beautiful Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
Looking southwest over two World War II bunkers toward the distant Coronado Islands, which are a part of Tijuana, Mexico. The new lighthouse is down by the water.
Looking southwest over two World War II bunkers toward the distant Coronado Islands, which are a part of Tijuana, Mexico. The new lighthouse is down by the water.
People gaze out at the beautiful sky and ocean from a popular whale-watching point.
People gaze out at the beautiful sky and ocean from a popular whale-watching point.
Gray whales migrate past Cabrillo National Monument from December through April. Spouts are often seen from here!
Gray whales migrate past Cabrillo National Monument from December through April. Spouts are often seen from here!
Sculpture of a gray whale and a cetacean's vertebrae along walkway that leads from the old lighthouse.
Sculpture of a gray whale and a cetacean’s vertebrae along walkway that leads from the old lighthouse.
Looking northwest toward the tidepools below and Pacific Ocean breakers.
Looking northwest toward the tidepools below and Pacific Ocean breakers.

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Shining Freedom sculpture catches fire!

During my recent walk around Coronado, I came upon a dull, lifeless metal sculpture standing at the center of a small park. But then a rising sea breeze moved the nearby trees. The sculpture began to slowly turn. I stood in one place, snapping a few pics…

Freedom sculpture at Glorietta Bay Yacht Club Promenade appears dull and utterly lifeless.
Freedom sculpture at Glorietta Bay Yacht Club Promenade appears dull and utterly lifeless.
Freedom turns in the wind and surfaces begin to reflect the bright sunshine.
Freedom turns in the wind and surfaces begin to reflect the bright sunshine.
Shining Freedom sculpture catches fire! The kinetic sculpture was created by Jon Koehler.
Shining Freedom sculpture catches fire! The kinetic sculpture was created by Jon Koehler.

The public art, titled Freedom, was sculpted by artist Jon Koehler and installed in the Glorietta Bay Yacht Club Promenade in 2009.

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Crazy donut-shaped boat features a barbeque!

This crazy boat shaped like a donut features a huge central barbeque!
This crazy boat shaped like a donut features a large central barbeque!

I walked about Coronado yesterday and got material for a few blog posts.  First, check out this crazy watercraft!  I saw it while walking along Glorietta Bay and thought–what the heck is that?!?!  It’s a floating barbeque! I’ve seen pictures of jacuzzi boats, but never something inventive resembling this!  I wonder what the Coast Guard thinks of the thing.  To me, it looks like fun!

The Barbeque Donut can be found at Seaforth boat rental dock in Coronado.
The Barbeque Donut can be found at Seaforth boat rental dock in Coronado.

Perhaps you saw my post a little over a year ago about the very cool “Imagine Tent City” public artwork on Coronado. It stands just south of where I took the above pics. Well, I got many more really great photographs and have added them to that old post. You might enjoy checking it out!

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Float your boat on San Diego Bay!

Fishermen enjoy a day on San Diego Bay with downtown skyline in background.
Fishermen enjoy a day on San Diego Bay with downtown skyline in background.

I made a discovery last weekend as I searched through hundreds of old pics on my computer. It seems I really like to photograph anything that floats in San Diego Bay! There’s just something very striking about purposeful objects that move across the sparkling water. Here’s a variety of photos…

Ferry approaches Coronado while navigating past other ships and boats.
Ferry approaches Coronado while navigating past other ships and boats.
Kayakers paddle under the Coronado Ferry Landing pier.
Kayakers paddle under the Coronado Ferry Landing pier.
Kayaker checks out the water underneath Joe's Crab Shack.
Kayaker checks out the water underneath Joe’s Crab Shack.
Paddling away on San Diego Bay. Looks like a fun adventure!
Paddling away on San Diego Bay. Looks like a fun adventure!
Guy in small inflatable with bucket, net and fishing rods hopes to catch something.
Guy in small inflatable with bucket, net and fishing rods hopes to catch something.
USS Ardent (MCM-12) mine countermeasures Navy ship cruises along the bay.
USS Ardent (MCM-12) mine countermeasures Navy ship cruises along the bay.
Huge Dole cargo ship brings in millions of bananas from Central America.
Huge Dole cargo ship brings in millions of bananas from Central America.
Sailboat heads out from Shelter Island Yacht Basin past Scripps research ship Melville.
Sailboat heads out from Shelter Island Yacht Basin past Scripps research ship Melville.
Billowing sail is colorful under San Diego blue sky.
Billowing sail is colorful under San Diego blue sky.
Man casts from shore of Shelter Island, hangars on North Island in the background.
Man casts from shore of Shelter Island, hangars on North Island in the background.
A bunch of beautiful yachts in a row behind the San Diego Convention Center.
A bunch of beautiful yachts in a row behind the San Diego Convention Center.
Boats docked in large marina between Harbor Island and Spanish Landing.
Boats docked in large marina between Harbor Island and Spanish Landing.
Maritime Museum of San Diego's Swift Boat, PCF-816, returns from a harbor cruise.
Maritime Museum of San Diego’s Swift Boat, PCF-816, returns from a harbor cruise.
The Harbor Island Fuel Dock is always a hub of boating activity.
The Harbor Island Fuel Dock is always a hub of boating activity.
Sailboat leans on sparkling water of our endlessly fascinating big bay.
Sailboat leans on the sparkling water of our endlessly fascinating Big Bay.

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Wally the sociable sea lion greets boaters.

Forgive me for telling the following very silly story.  I suppose I like this short story because it happens to be true.

As always, please follow the captions…

A beautiful day on Shelter Island and kayakers approach the boat ramp area.
A beautiful day on Shelter Island and kayakers approach the boat ramp area.
A fisherman has arrived on a boat and he's tossing leftover bait to pelicans and gulls.
A fisherman has arrived on a boat and he’s tossing leftover bait to pelicans and gulls.
And look who else is tagging along--it's Wally the sea lion!
And look who else is tagging along–it’s Wally the sea lion!
Wally is looking for a free meal, himself. A large fish would be very nice!
Wally is looking for a free meal, himself. A large fish would be very nice!
Wally spots some new arrivals coming into the little boat ramp area.
Wally spots some new arrivals coming into the little boat ramp area.
It's the kayakers! Wally comes on by to look things over and say hello.
It’s the kayakers! Wally greets everyone and quickly looks things over.
Some curious, sociable mammals (and a few birds) enjoy a moment together.
Some curious, sociable mammals (and a few birds) enjoy a moment together.

The fisherman told me the California sea lion’s name is Wally. He told the kayakers the same thing. So it seems his name must be Wally!

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Slanting light and color on Tuna Harbor pier.

New ropes, floats and lobster traps on San Diego's Tuna Harbor pier.
Bright new ropes and floats among lobster traps on San Diego’s Tuna Harbor pier.

Early this year I published a blog post about delightful heaps of junk on a working pier. As I recall, those heaps of junk were indeed quite delightful.

But they don’t compare with the extraordinarily awesome piles of stuff I saw today!

Very late this afternoon I took a walk along the same G Street Pier, on San Diego’s picturesque Embarcadero.  Just minutes before sunset, the sunlight was beaming almost horizontally across the glittering blue water.

Here are a few things that I saw:

Late afternoon sunlight brings out super bright colors.
Late afternoon sunlight brings out some startling bright colors.

My friend Jeremy reports that lobster season is just a few weeks away, so that probably explains all the brand new, unfaded lobster-catching gear that I saw along much of the pier.

Just a delightful mess of stuff touched by slanting light beside the bay.
Just a delightful mess of stuff touched by slanting light beside the bay.
Steel rebar and nets form interesting patterns of light and shadow.
Steel rebar, nets and tarp form interesting patterns of light and shadow.
A pleasing pile of rusted metal frames of some sort.
A pleasing pile of rusted metal frames of some sort.
Huge cylinder used by live bait boats to haul in nets glows with reflected sunlight.
Resting on the pier, a huge cylinder-like drum used by commercial fishing boats to haul in a seine net seems to glow.
Seagull flies off tall mound of fishing nets while another gull watches.
Seagull flies off tall mound of fishing nets while another gull watches.
White rope curled softly atop parallel shining rods of metal.
White rope curled softly atop parallel shining rods of metal.
Crazy ship's structure on pier almost conceals docked fishing vessel.
Crazy ship structure lying on the pier almost conceals a fishing vessel docked in Tuna Harbor.
Part of San Diego's skyline rises beyond angular steel jumble.
Part of San Diego’s shining skyline rises beyond angular steel jumble.
Another delightful tangle on the wonderfully untidy pier.
Another delightful visual tangle on the wonderfully untidy pier.
Ghostly white dried material clings to stacked lobster traps.
Ghostly white dried material clings to stacked lobster traps.
Purple floats strung on colorful rope across traps on pier.
Sun-touched purple floats strung on cheerful green and yellow rope.
Faded image of a face on a protective tarp smiles upside down.
Faded face on a crumpled protective tarp smiles happily upside down.

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Flag Day in downtown San Diego.

Tangled flag hangs in front of San Diego hotel.
Tangled flag hangs in front of San Diego hotel.

Today is national Flag Day. So during my afternoon walk around downtown San Diego I took photos exclusively of American flags. Here are some shots that you might find interesting…

American flags top many tall office buildings.
American flags top many tall office buildings.
Flag Day celebrated from a downtown rooftop.
Flag Day celebrated from a modest downtown rooftop.
Reflection on windows of big American flag mural.
Reflection on windows of big American flag mural.
Bald eagle and American flag mural on Beech Street wall.
Bald eagle and American flag mural on Beech Street wall.
Patriotic flags on USS Midway superstructure.
Patriotic flags on USS Midway Museum superstructure.
Red, white and blue adorn cafe below flight deck.
Red, white and blue adorn cafe below USS Midway flight deck.
Small boat cruises San Diego Bay with flag.
Small boat cruises around San Diego Bay with flag.
Gulls take flight by American flag on Embarcadero.
Gulls take flight by American flag on busy Embarcadero.
Old Town Trolley Tours booth has a flag out.
Old Town Trolley Tours booth has a flag out.
Flag in the sea breeze above Star of India.
Flag flies proudly in the sea breeze above Star of India.

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Quiet spring day at Silver Strand State Beach.

Park ranger removing weeds near beach entrance.
Park ranger removing weeds near State Beach entrance.

The Silver Strand is a narrow strip of land that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach. The northern portion is used as a training ground for Navy Seals. Other areas contain housing, marinas and a hotel. Much of it remains in a natural state.

Halfway down the strand, sandwiched between San Diego Bay and the blue Pacific Ocean, you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach, a beautiful state park featuring a great beach, RV parking, a large picnic area, and a boating facility. Apart from the RV area, which is very popular, the place often seems half-deserted. Even during summer weekdays.

I rode my bike through the park on a perfectly sunny spring weekday and I saw half a dozen people.

Closed lifeguard lookout on Silver Strand State Beach.
Closed lifeguard lookout on Silver Strand State Beach.
Except for RVs to the north, beach is almost empty.
Except for RVs to the north, the beach is almost empty.
Kelp on natural beaches is the home of tiny wildlife.
Kelp on natural beaches is the home of tiny wildlife.
Silver Strand Grill is closed and nobody is about.
Silver Strand Grill is closed and nobody is about.
From one empty side of the strand to the other.
From one empty side of the strand to the other.

Here I’m passing through a tunnel under the highway from the Pacific side to the bay side.

Dozens of unused picnic tables on a sunny Spring weekday.
Dozens of unused picnic tables on a sunny Spring weekday.

There are scores of picnic benches on the bay side and very few ever seem to be used.

One small figure sits at end of picnic table row.
One small figure sits at end of picnic table row.
Colorful kayaks at Crown Cove Aquatic Center.
Colorful kayaks at Crown Cove Aquatic Center.

The boating center gets a little more activity on weekends. I’ve seen folks out rowing along the water.

Lots of unused boats on the bay side of Silver Strand.
Lots of unused boats on the bay side of Silver Strand.
San Diego Bay beyond a group of beached sailboats.
San Diego Bay beyond a group of beached sailboats.
Trail leads from Silver Strand bikeway across natural habitat.
Trail leads from Silver Strand bikeway across natural habitat.

You’ll find this natural area in the north part of Silver Strand State Beach, on the east side of the highway.

The wood plank nature trail is in disrepair.
The wood plank nature trail is in disrepair.

The endangered California least tern nests in clear, sandy areas along the Silver Strand. I wasn’t able to spot any during this visit.

Information sign rusted and unreadable.
Information sign rusted and unreadable.
A rabbit among brittle coastal plants.
A rabbit among brittle coastal plants.

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Life on the water in San Diego Bay’s Crescent.

Life on the water near San Diego Coast Guard Station.
Life on the water near San Diego Coast Guard Station.

Most people walking along San Diego’s Embarcadero never venture north of the Hornblower boats docked at the Grape Street pier. They’re missing a lively, less-touristy area of San Diego Bay known as the Crescent. Many residents live on small boats moored in this corner of the bay, just west of Little Italy and south of the Coast Guard Station.

Take a walk along the sidewalk and you’ll see folks sitting on benches looking out at the bay, or bicycling along, or out on the water rowing to their floating homes. You’ll see Coast Guard boats and helicopters, folks pumping out their boats, kayaks, fishermen, sea lions and lots of different birds. Turn around and you’ll see planes landing at Lindbergh Field.

Rowing to a boat moored in San Diego Bay's crescent area.
Rowing to a boat moored in San Diego Bay’s Crescent area.
Many people live in small boats on San Diego Bay.
Many people live in small boats on San Diego Bay.
This old sign describes the Crescent Area just south of the Coast Guard Station.
This old sign describes the Crescent Area just south of the Coast Guard Station.
People love to bicycle along the edge of picturesque San Diego Bay.
People love to bicycle along the edge of picturesque San Diego Bay.
Photo taken behind Coast Guard Auxiliary station on North Embarcadero.
Photo taken behind Coast Guard Auxiliary station on North Embarcadero.
Sprinkles of light dance on the small waves of San Diego Bay.
Sprinkles of light dance on the small waves of San Diego Bay.
One boat moored in the Crescent with downtown skyline in the background.
One boat moored in the Crescent with downtown skyline in the background.
Boater walks along the Embarcadero with some drums.
Boater walks along the Embarcadero with some drums.
Wildlife sign and boats on the North Embarcadero.
Wildlife sign and boats on the North Embarcadero.
Vessel Assist boat just brought in a disabled jet ski.
Vessel Assist boat just brought in a disabled jet ski.
Living on the water near downtown San Diego.
Living on the water near downtown San Diego.
This boat has a nice potted garden for a backyard.
This boat has a nice potted garden for a backyard.
Biking and reading a newspaper along Harbor Drive.
Biking and reading a newspaper along Harbor Drive.

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