Tag: coronado bridge

Tour of San Diego Navy ships from old Swift Boat.

The restored Swift Boat, PCF-816 approaches the Maritime Museum of San Diego on downtown's waterfront.
The restored Swift Boat, PCF-816 approaches the Maritime Museum of San Diego on downtown’s waterfront.

Last weekend I embarked on a very unique boat adventure on San Diego Bay. Enjoying sunshine and a cool ocean breeze, I sat outside on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s restored Swift Boat, and took in various interesting sights during an approximately one hour tour.

PCF-816 is a small Mark ll Patrol Craft Fast “Swift Boat” that was originally used in San Diego (1968-1969) to train sailors before they were deployed to fight in the Vietnam War. In 1971 the vessel was donated to the Republic of Malta, where it was used to patrol their coast. In 2012 the beat up boat returned to San Diego.  After many hours of work by volunteers, it was carefully restored to it’s present fine condition. You might note in the photos that she still flies the Maltese flag.

If you’re fascinated by tacking sailboats, arching bridges and sprawling shipyards, interested in military history or modern Navy ships, or just want to enjoy a cruise on San Diego Bay, you might enjoy this tour!

Inside the museum's steam ferry Berkeley, visitors check out informative exhibits as they wait to board the Swift Boat.
Inside the Maritime Museum’s steam ferry Berkeley, visitors check out informative exhibits as they wait to board the old Swift Boat.
With the introduction of Swift Boats into the Coastal Surveillance Forces of the Navy in 1965, the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado became a major training center for Swift Boat crews.
With the introduction of Swift Boats into the Coastal Surveillance Forces of the Navy in 1965, the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado became a major training center for Swift Boat crews.
Patrol Craft Fast (PCF) was the U.S. Navy's official name for a Swift Boat. They were small, shallow draft water vessels operated for counterinsurgency operations during the Vietnam War.
Patrol Craft Fast (PCF) was the U.S. Navy’s official name for a Swift Boat. They were small, shallow draft water vessels operated for counterinsurgency operations during the Vietnam War.
People board the Vietnam-era boat from the Maritime Museum's docked steam yacht Medea.
People board the old Vietnam War-era boat from the Maritime Museum’s docked steam yacht Medea.
We cast off and begin a partial tour of the bay, including enormous shipyards and many San Diego Navy ships.
We cast off and begin a partial tour of the bay, including enormous shipyards and many San Diego Navy ships.
A museum volunteer narrates our tour and points out some of the unique sights on San Diego Bay.
A museum volunteer narrates our tour and points out some of the unique sights on San Diego Bay.
No matter what boat or ship you choose, a cruise of the bay is both relaxing and invigorating.
No matter what boat or ship you choose, a cruise of the big bay is both relaxing and invigorating.
We pass under the immense bow of the USS Midway aircraft carrier, which is also a super popular and fascinating museum.
We pass under the immense bow of the USS Midway aircraft carrier, which is also a super popular museum.
We pass a sailboat and begin under the Coronado Bay Bridge. We are approaching San Diego's very large, busy shipyards.
We pass a sailboat and begin under the Coronado Bay Bridge. We are approaching San Diego’s very large, busy shipyards.
A huge Navy ship in dry dock at BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard. NASSCO and Continental Maritime also have enormous yards on the bay.
A huge Navy ship in dry dock at BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard. NASSCO and Continental Maritime also have enormous yards on the bay.
The gigantic gray ship is the USNS Lewis B. Puller. The first of its kind, it's a forward staging base that will act as a floating base or transfer station.
The gigantic gray ship is the USNS Lewis B. Puller. The first of its kind, it’s a forward staging base that will act as a floating base or transfer station.
USNS Bob Hope is another huge ship! She's a vehicle cargo ship used for Army vehicle prepositioning, She's the only Navy vessel to be named after entertainer Bob Hope.
USNS Bob Hope is also huge! She’s a vehicle cargo ship used for Army vehicle prepositioning, She’s the only Navy vessel to be named after legendary entertainer Bob Hope.
That unique ship in the middle is a new Independence-class littoral combat ship. USS Coronado is a trimaran, which allows it to operate in shallow water.
That unique ship in the middle is a new Independence-class littoral combat ship. USS Coronado is a trimaran, which allows it to operate in shallow coastal water.
USS Essex is an enormous United States Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship based in San Diego.
USS Essex is an enormous United States Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship based in San Diego.
Naval Base San Diego (also called 32nd Street Naval Station) occupies a long stretch of South Bay. It's the largest United States Navy base on the west coast.
Naval Base San Diego (also called 32nd Street Naval Station) occupies a long stretch of South Bay. It’s the largest United States Navy base on the west coast.
Guy enjoying the tour dons helmet and mans the Swift Boat's old 50 caliber machine gun, which is mounted over a 81mm mortar.
Guy enjoying the tour dons helmet and mans the Swift Boat’s 50 caliber machine gun, which is mounted over a 81mm mortar on the boat’s rear deck.
A pith military helmet once worn by Viet Cong soldiers is passed around for the passengers to examine.
A pith military helmet once worn by Viet Cong soldiers is passed around for the passengers to examine.
A watchful seagull and lazy sea lion share a harbor buoy on calm, sunny San Diego Bay.
A watchful seagull and lazy sea lion share a harbor buoy on calm, sunny San Diego Bay.
Heading back toward downtown San Diego, we learn more about the history of Swift Boat training in San Diego.
Heading back toward downtown San Diego, we learn more about the history of Swift Boat training in our fascinating city.
After docking, I get a quick pic of the Mark ll Swift Boat's small pilot house.
After docking, I get a quick pic of the Mark ll Swift Boat’s small pilot house.
Swift Boat, PCF-816 is one of many interesting, diverse vessels in the Maritime Museum's collection.
Swift Boat, PCF-816 is one of many interesting, diverse vessels in the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s collection.

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A few cool sights around Mercado del Barrio.

Cool mural in new Barrio Logan development.
Cool mural in dynamic new Barrio Logan development.

Mercado del Barrio is a relatively new retail development on Cesar Chavez Parkway just south of downtown San Diego. It was designed to help revitalize Barrio Logan. You can find it situated near the base of the Coronado Bay Bridge, right next to Chicano Park. A number of very colorful murals add life to the new buildings. Some of the art can be seen when driving over the bridge.

Walking around the area I took a few cool pics that you might enjoy!

Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Face on bold mural at Mercado del Barrio.
A very colorful face at Mercado del Barrio, painted by renowned muralist Mario Torero.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Colorful art above a store's glass door.
Colorful art above a store’s glass door.
Beautiful artwork near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Beautiful mosaic artwork by artist Betsy K. Schulz near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind a mural in Chicano Park.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind bold artwork in famous Chicano Park.

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Amazing views from Coronado Ferry Landing.

Lounging and enjoying a stunning view of San Diego.
Lounging and enjoying a stunning view of San Diego.

People gravitate toward water. Water sparkles, soothes, delights, attracts the eye and invites reflection. I love the opening to Moby Dick, where Melville says: “Let the most absent-minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries–stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water . . . ”

Look at these folks just gazing at the water!

The Ferry Landing in Coronado offers amazing views of San Diego Bay. Stand out on the pier, splash on the small beach, sit on the grass or on the patio of a restaurant, and just gaze in a quiet reverie at the passing boats and the gleaming San Diego skyline. Call me crazy, but I could linger here for hours.

That’s one reason why I love to take the ferry to Coronado!

people gaze toward downtown from ferry landing

The second pic shows people on the Coronado Ferry Landing pier.  During the day, San Diego’s downtown skyline is a beautiful sight. At night, all lit up, it’s like a glowing dream. If you were turn to the left, you’d see a whole bunch of people fishing.

Fishing from the small Coronado Ferry Landing pier.
Fishing from the small Coronado Ferry Landing pier.
People board the Silvergate ferry for downtown San Diego.
People board the Silvergate ferry for downtown San Diego.

Next we see people filing from the pier down to the float where the ferry ties up. During the tourist season, the Silvergate ferry takes people to the Convention Center; a larger ship takes people to the Broadway Pier. You can bring your bicycle on board (or rent one at the Ferry Landing) and bike across the island to the ocean side, where you’ll find the Hotel del Coronado.

The Coronado ferry is great short cruise on the bay.
The Coronado ferry is great short cruise on the bay.
Silvergate docked at Coronado with San Diego skyline.
Silvergate docked at Coronado with San Diego skyline.
Visitors to the island of Coronado arrive and depart.
Visitors to the island of Coronado arrive and depart.
People stroll down a path near the ferry landing.
People stroll down a path near the ferry landing.
Kids play on the beach next to the ferry landing pier.
Kids play on the beach next to the ferry landing pier.
Paddleboarding just off the Coronado Ferry Landing.
Paddleboarding just off the Coronado Ferry Landing.
Amazing view of a beautiful sunlit city.
Amazing view of a beautiful sunlit city.