A few vessels the public can visit during the San Diego Wooden Boat Festival at the Koehler Kraft boatyard on Shelter Island.
Yesterday I headed over to Shelter Island to check out the annual San Diego Wooden Boat Festival. The event is taking place all Father’s Day weekend at the Koehler Kraft boatyard. Proceeds from the festival help out local charities.
Koehler Kraft is where many wooden boat owners head if their vessel needs a repair or upgrade. The boatyard was founded in 1938. I enjoyed poking around the place, and examining some very cool vintage wooden boats. There were also beautiful newer boats, and a few had unusual, fascinating designs.
Enjoy my photos and read the captions to learn more!
A look at the Koehler Kraft boatyard from a platform that juts out over the edge of Shelter Cove Marina in Americas Cup Harbor.People walk out to look at some wooden boats during a very cool festival on Shelter Island.Koehler Kraft’s San Diego Wooden Boat Festival is taking place on Father’s Day weekend.Various boats in the boatyard are being worked on. Some displays show the public how wooden boats are made.One can see the exposed framework of this small wooden boat.Inside the Koehler Kraft building are several more wooden boats. The big one being worked on is Siwash, a 1910 yawl that held the round Catalina time record for 27 years.Friendly folks show off lots of cool stuff at Koehler Kraft.I love how wood is everywhere. Working here must be a woodworker’s dream.Another boat is being worked upon. The varnished wood is simply beautiful.Now we’re outside again, looking down at the water where many boats crafted from wood await.Boats can be moved into and out of the water using these old rails and a wheeled platform.The Marjorie is an elegant wooden boat.Visitors to the San Diego Wooden Boat Festival check out a variety of interesting vessels.This small boat is named Tom. It’s a 2015 catboat. Carvel planked Port Oxford cedar on white oak frames.Water reflects rippled light on the smooth stern of Old Glory.Some guys and a dog on the deck of Sally, of the San Diego Yacht Club.Wooden boats have amazing character. Even the weathering adds personality.One’s eyes can take delight in these boats all day long.I believe I’ve seen the Patricia Belle at the yearly Festival of Sail. It’s a schooner cargo type boat built in 1998.Everyone is checking out these great boats!Someone peers down into a beautiful wooden sailboat.
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Construction of a new fire station at Pacific Highway and Cedar Street. When finished this station will serve the North Embarcadero and Little Italy.
Many cranes now fill the sky in downtown San Diego. They seem to be concentrated in East Village and along the waterfront. I’ve lived in downtown for a long time, and I don’t recall seeing this amount of construction activity in many, many years.
As you might have noticed, I like to walk along the Embarcadero. During the past few months I’ve been watching the progress of several construction projects not far from the water. Every time I go for a stroll it seems that I have to tilt my head farther and farther back…
It’s fascinating to watch new buildings slowly rise into the sky–and to watch as old buildings are swept away. It seems that human ambition is like an ocean that crashes wave after wave, unceasingly changing the cityscape. The things we see today will in time be replaced, and, like ourselves, become a small bit of history.
Here are some photos. Most I took late this afternoon. (The first four photos, which show the new fire station construction, were taken very recently.)
Read the captions!
The new fire station is west of the railroad and trolley tracks, in order to avoid potential delays when fire engines are dispatched to emergencies near San Diego’s harbor.I took this photo (and the next) about a week after those first two photos. Huge steel beams have appeared!A new bayside firehouse is being built in San Diego!Graphic on the fence surrounding the now closed Anthony’s Fish Grotto. A new waterside dining experience is coming called Portside Pier.Portside Pier will be just south of the Star of India and include a dock for visiting boats. (Interesting that this graphic doesn’t show Point Loma, North Island or any land across San Diego Bay!)Portside Pier will include Brigantine, Miguel’s, Ketch Grill and Taps, and Portside Coffee and Gelato.Demolition of the Navy Broadway Complex has been underway for several weeks. I believe a remotely-controlled robot is being used to destroy the old building floor by floor, starting at the top level.Another look at the old Navy Broadway Complex being slowly removed. Heaps of debris are growing.Photo taken from Ruocco Park shows the Navy Broadway Complex demolition, plus the construction of the new InterContinental Hotel (left crane) and Pacific Gate by Bosa (right crane).The Navy Broadway Complex is being demolished to make way for Manchester Pacific Gateway, which will include four office buildings, a retail promenade, tourist attractions, a park and two hotels.A look at the demolition so far from Pacific Highway. The Navy Broadway Complex has evolved since the early 1900’s and has served the Pacific Fleet in various capacities.The tall Pacific Gate by Bosa appears to be nearing completion. Photo taken near intersection of Broadway and Pacific Highway.Construction continues near the base of Pacific Gate, a high-rise luxury condo.Pacific Gate rises in the distance, behind the construction of a new InterContinental Hotel, located at the site of old Lane Field. Photo taken from across Harbor Drive.When finished, this InterContinental Hotel will provide 400 luxury waterfront rooms for visitors to San Diego.I took some photos of ground floor construction as I walked along Pacific Highway north of Broadway.Another photo of construction of San Diego’s new InterContinental Hotel.Looking upward.Lots of cranes are in San Diego’s blue sky! A dynamic city grows and continues to evolve.
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A maze of yellow tape. That’s what you call an abundance of caution.
Here’s something funny I saw this morning as I walked through downtown. There was so much yellow caution tape wrapped around this building, it looked like a crazy web or a funhouse maze . . . or some sort of daunting, unsolvable puzzle!
A terribly tangled web. Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Fun LEGO creations on display during the House of Denmark lawn program in Balboa Park.
Wow! Check these out! Here are some super cool LEGO creations that I saw today in Balboa Park!
I was walking among the International Cottages when I spied tables with all sorts of fun and amazing stuff made of LEGO bricks. The builders were more than happy to show off their creations!
When I was told the House of Denmark was having their lawn program today, it all made sense. The LEGO company is based in Denmark, of course.
I also enjoyed looking at some cool Viking weapons and crafts displayed on the lawn nearby. If you want to check that out, visit my Beautiful Balboa Park blog by clicking here!
This tent was a magnet for the young and young-at-heart. Talented LEGO builders were showing off some amazing creations!I learned this castle was built from a kit. Everything else on display, however, was an original creation.Here we go! I see a fun train, a Viking ship and what looks like cars from an amusement park ride.Look at all the LEGO characters! I see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel comic book superheroes and supervillains and many others!This first batch of LEGO creations was put together by Matt Armstrong, who runs MonsterBrick Creations!Now let’s check out some cool Star Wars characters made of LEGO bricks. These were created by Miro Dudas of Humble Bricks.His detailed Viking ship was awesome!An up-close look at the LEGO ship and its Viking warriors!This American flag created by another skilled LEGO builder was inspired by the Carlsbad Flower Fields! It took a long time and much patience to assemble!There are three levels of colored flowers. The first level had to be installed first, then the second, then the third. The end result is amazing.OMG! One of my favorite movie scenes! It’s a LEGO version of the Chocolate Room from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!Pure imagination! A meadow full of candy made of LEGO bricks! I think Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, would have been delighted by this.I was told that is Augustus Gloop near the bottom reaching for a chocolate flower. Don’t fall into the river! Watch out for the pipes!Here comes an Oompa Loompa sailing down the chocolate river! The Chocolate Room was built by LEGO master John Cooper!A young man had made a number of super cool LEGO characters using his imagination.Awesome!The young man demonstrates how to make an adjustment to one LEGO creation.This table on the International Cottages lawn contained all sorts of unique LEGO creations made by visitors to the House of Denmark event.I’m not sure what these guys are making. It could be literally anything!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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Member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego points to work being done on the Star of India while passersby watch with interest.
Look what I chanced upon today. As I approached the Embarcadero, I noticed a huge crane next to the Star of India. The restored top third of the foremast had just been installed! (You might recall from an earlier blog post this wooden section had suffered from rot and needed some work.)
While I stood and watched, the crane lifted two shrouds, one after another, to be attached to the foremast. Then came several cables! The activity above and below was fascinating to watch. I wish I had a more thorough understanding of all that I saw. Volunteers and employees of the Maritime Museum of San Diego were using their knowledge and skills to help preserve an important part of San Diego and world history!
Crane lifts up guys with a shroud, part of the ship’s standing rigging, to be attached to the starboard side of the newly installed, refurbished top third of the foremast.The ladder-like shroud dangles in the air, near the top of the foremast.Volunteers and employees of the Maritime Museum of San Diego watch from the deck below.Working high in the San Diego sky, above the oldest active sailing ship in the world. Â The beautiful Star of India was built in 1863.That first shroud is done. Those working on the Embarcadero beside the ship prepare the second shroud to be hoisted.Now it’s time to attach the second shroud to the port side.A worker on the foremast grabs hold.Back down again to solid ground!Lots of cables still need to be attached to the foremast, to help it resist the force of the wind, plus gravity and inertia when the tall ship pitches and rolls.One super strong, tarred cable awaiting installation is the starboard royal backstay. It will be attached to the masttop.Guys watch from the historic ship’s rail.Up goes one of the many cables that are part of Star of India’s rigging.A small bit of history in San Diego.Up they go! I bet the view is great!The bottom end of the cable is in place, now back up to the top of the foremast…Up, up…Higher…Intrigued by the operation, people watch from below. A member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego explains the proceedings.Another photo of one shroud being hoisted. I was told this work began early in the morning. As much work will be done today as possible!
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A self-guided tour of the USS Midway Museum often includes aircraft that are undergoing maintenance or restoration. Three helicopter rotors are being reconstructed here.
I love visiting the USS Midway Museum because there’s always something new to see. During my visit today I was intrigued by some of the aircraft restoration work that I observed.
The many different airplane and helicopter exhibits, representing different eras of naval aviation history, are already in pretty good condition when they are lifted aboard the aircraft carrier museum, but there’s always work to do. Time and the elements take their toll.
The USS Midway Museum is fortunate to have a small army (or should I say fleet) of skilled and knowledgeable volunteers. Many are retired Navy, with first-hand experience of the history and technical aspects of these aircraft. All are very friendly and welcome questions from museum visitors!
Sign on hangar deck of USS Midway describes the HO3S-1 Dragonfly’s original rotor blade restoration, which is in progress.A closer look at the spruce plywood ribs, which are spaced on the tubular steel spar.This rotor is a bit further along. It appears part of the rotor’s new surface is being cemented in place.Here’s the HO3S-1 Dragonfly helicopter up on the flight deck of USS Midway. Notice three of four rotors are missing.The aptly named Dragonfly began service in 1946. You might recognize the design if you’ve seen the film The Bridges at Toko-Ri.Part of the Dragonfly’s engine is exposed beneath the rotors.This USS Midway volunteer is grinding away rust from the museum’s A-6 Intruder bomber. He said it’s the type of work that is done between larger projects.The tail of the A-6 Intruder is being restored to look like new, too.Many skilled volunteers at the USS Midway Museum work continuously to keep the many aircraft exhibits in great condition!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of interesting photos for you to enjoy!
On a weekday morning, construction workers remove debris from the interior of the now vacant Gaslamp 15 movie theater.
Here comes a batch of lively photos that I took downtown this morning. I have the week off from work, so I’m trying to take full advantage of it.
On this typical workday, I simply walked down from Cortez Hill and enjoyed some of the ordinary bustle downtown that I don’t always have time to appreciate. Among other things, I noticed the clean up is still going on from last night’s Mardi Gras celebrations. Life goes on…
Workers on scaffolding renovate the exterior of a building on Sixth Avenue.Meals are being delivered by the San Diego Unified School District’s Food and Nutrition Services to Kipp Adelante Preparatory Academy.Priests from St. Paul’s Cathedral provide Ashes To Go and a quick blessing to believers passing by on B Street on this Ash Wednesday.A window washer at work at City Pizzeria.Sidewalk sign proclaims that your future is waiting upstairs!I saw this art in a shop window as I walked by so I had to post it, of course!A row of motorcycles, and a worker taking a break near Horton Plaza.Torn sign at a Broadway bus station informs riders about yesterday’s Mardi Gras detours.This cool guy holding a parking sign outside the Bristol Hotel was nice to smile for a pic.A construction worker crosses Broadway while a homeless man looks into a trashcan.Here comes a guy riding a cool bicycle that appears to be designed for deliveries. Perhaps he’s a courier. A few bike couriers still make deliveries downtown.One guy crosses the street while carrying plans; another escorts dogs with a coffee in hand.People board an MTS bus near the Fifth Avenue trolley station.A walker runs his cane through some spilled leftover ice on a Gaslamp sidewalk.A firetruck turns a corner in the Gaslamp, and reflections of nearby buildings appear in the windows.A worker with Clean and Safe’s downtown program mops the sidewalk while a businessman walks by.An Old Town Trolley Tours vehicle loaded with tourists waits for a homeless man with a packed shopping cart to clear an intersection.People work on laptop computers outside a coffee shop.Birds fly in a blue downtown San Diego sky.Someone unlocks the security gate in front of a small downtown shop. It’s morning, so time to open.I wait for a pollo asado burrito inside The Taco Stand and gaze out the window at B Street.A street musician near the C Street trolley tracks.Finally, I spotted these people as I headed back up Cortez Hill. They were crossing the street with some shining balloons. I guess it must be an anniversary!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
