Tag: sky

Windblown banners on a November day.

A windy day in November.

Banners all about the Broadway Pier fluttered and billowed in the sunlight.

…

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!

Sunset above USS Theodore Roosevelt.

This evening after work I walked to the end of Broadway Pier.

As sunset approached, slanting rays of light seemed to crown the USS Theodore Roosevelt, now docked across San Diego Bay at North Island.

…

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!

Star of India sail crew prepares for history!

The Star of India, built in 1863, the oldest active sailing ship in the world and oldest iron-hulled merchant ship afloat, will once again take to the Pacific Ocean in November!

History will be made as she embarks on her first sail in five years. The short voyage upon the ocean off Point Loma and up the coast will be guided by a new captain, and made possible with the heart, muscle and skill of volunteer crew members.

This afternoon the Star of India’s sail crew was high up in the rigging practicing. From the deck below I watched as they set sails, squared yards, and performed some of the acrobatics aloft that are necessary to perform their duty with coordinated precision.

As members of the sail crew rehearsed their ballet in the sky, others were meeting in the Star of India’s saloon, charting the historic ship’s voyage into the future. An exciting future!

…

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!

Photos at kite festival in Ocean Beach!

Dozens of kites take to the sky at the 70th Annual Kite Festival in Ocean Beach!
Dozens of kites take to the sky at the 70th Annual Kite Festival in Ocean Beach!

The older I get, the more I enjoy watching kites. I like to sit quietly and watch joyful kites flutter and soar like birds. It’s such a simple thing. I must be well into my dotage. Or perhaps I never grew up.

Today I headed down to Ocean Beach’s Robb Field to check out the big 70th Annual Kite Festival. This popular family event is presented by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach, who make the world better with their generous, charitable work.

According to the event’s description, The OB Kite Festival is the oldest children’s kite festival in the United States. All I know is, even on an overcast day, those kites made the sun shine throughout Ocean Beach.

A couple has front row seats to a lot of colorful kite action at Robb Field in OB.
A couple has front row seats to a lot of colorful kite action at Robb Field in OB.
Young and old participated in this very cool event.
Young and old participated in this very cool event.
Among a variety of festival participants were some clever vendors who conveniently sold kites!
Among a variety of festival participants were some clever vendors who conveniently sold kites!
Materials at a kite creation and repair station include markers to add color to new kites.
Materials at a kite creation and repair station include markers to add color to new kites.
I saw some four-legged friends on the grass.
I saw some four-legged friends on the grass.
The event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach and the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. The Point Loma Kiwanis Club also participated. They distribute cookies to the troops as a comfort and thank you.
The event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach and the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. The Point Loma Kiwanis Club also participated. They distribute cookies to the troops as a comfort and thank you.
Bubbles mix well with kites.
Bubbles mix well with kites.
This guy has a cool U.S. Navy Blue Angels kite!
This guy has a cool U.S. Navy Blue Angels kite!
Any day blessed with a breath of wind, even a cloudy one, is a perfect day to go fly a kite!
Any day blessed with a breath of wind, even a cloudy one, is a perfect day to go fly a kite!

…

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 photos for you to enjoy!

Streams of sunlight above the bay.

A dark wall of clouds as day ended. The magic before sunset was fleeting. Like a miracle, streams of sunlight touched San Diego Bay.

…

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!

Three photos from steam ferry Berkeley.

My home internet is being changed, so I probably won’t blog for a few days. This weekend I might simply relax and read.

Meanwhile, here are three cool photos that I took yesterday before sunset from the passenger deck of the steam ferry Berkeley at the Maritime Museum of San Diego!

Enjoy!

…

Thank you to all of my readers! Enjoy the rest of your week! Take care!

Richard

SpaceX rocket rises above world’s oldest active ship!

A barely visible SpaceX rocket Falcon 9 rises above Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship!
A barely visible SpaceX rocket Falcon 9 rises above Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship!

My plan this cold, partly cloudy morning was to head down to San Diego’s Embarcadero to hopefully photograph today’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.

I did manage to catch an image of the rocket’s flight, but it’s so tiny you can barely make it out! I suppose I should get a fancier, more powerful camera. Can you see the faint white streak in the above photo?

The Falcon 9 launch was from Vandenberg Air Force Base, northwest of Santa Barbara, about 280 miles from San Diego. To my naked eye, for a few seconds, I could see the minuscule rocket soar into the sky, through the rigging of the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India!

Star of India, originally named Euterpe, is an iron-hulled merchant ship that was built in 1863. Driven by capricious winds, the tall ship circumnavigated the globe 21 times during her storied history.

Falcon 9 is a technologically impressive space launch vehicle. During today’s mission a reused Falcon 9 lifted Spain’s advanced radar satellite Paz into a Sun-synchronous orbit of Earth.

As the satellite effortlessly orbits our planet, it will track ships that ply the ocean–ships that trace their own proud history back to the Age of Sail, when brave vessels like Star of India pushed forward to new horizons.

…

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!

A winter’s day full of magical light.

You might enjoy these photos.

Before and after work, walking to trolley stations, I sought warmth in my light jacket against the cold winter wind.

Shivering, I looked up toward the sky.

Scudding clouds above were ignited by the sun. Their fire, like mirror magic, blazed to my right and then to my left.

…

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!

Photos of beautiful tall ship Stad Amsterdam.

The complex masts, yards and rigging of a fantastic tall ship.
The complex masts, yards and rigging of a fantastic tall ship.

Stad Amsterdam is perhaps the most beautiful ship I’ve ever seen. It’s now docked in San Diego not far from the Star of India. The incredible Dutch clipper ship, which is operating as a cruise ship, will be visiting our city for a week or so.

I posted some evening photos of Stad Amsterdam taken on Friday here. I also shared a couple of fascinating facts about the ship.

This morning I walked down to the Embarcadero again to see the beautiful tall ship in its full glory. Here are my photos…

A wave from a crew member working high up on a yard of the beautiful three-masted clipper ship Stad Amsterdam.
A wave from a crew member working high up on a yard of the beautiful three-masted Dutch clipper ship Stad Amsterdam.
This is perhaps the most beautiful ship I've ever seen.
This is perhaps the most beautiful ship I’ve ever seen.
Volunteers and sail crews from the Maritime Museum of San Diego got a special tour aboard the Stad Amsterdam.
Volunteers and sail crews from the Maritime Museum of San Diego got a special tour aboard the Stad Amsterdam.
This friendly guy on deck spoke to me for a minute and other curious people who were passing by.
A friendly gentleman on deck spoke to me for a minute and other curious people who were passing by.
I walked along the length of the Dutch tall ship to see its full glory.
I walked along the length of the Dutch tall ship to experience its full majesty.
Close photo of the stern of Stad Amsterdam.
Close photo of the stern of Stad Amsterdam.
Another friendly crew member near one of the elegant wood cabins on deck.
Another crew member near one of the elegant wood cabins on deck.
Members of the Stad Amsterdam crew work together to manipulate a sail.
Members of the Stad Amsterdam crew work together as a team to manipulate a sail.
Hauling a rope that is attached to a canvas sail high above.
Hauling a rope that is attached to a canvas sail high above.
Walking along the Embarcadero looking at the beautiful visiting tall ship.
Walking along the Embarcadero, looking at the extraordinarily beautiful tall ship.
The profile, size and color scheme of Stad Amsterdam makes it appear a little bit like San Diego's own Star of India.
The profile, size and color scheme of Stad Amsterdam makes it appear a little bit like San Diego’s own historic Star of India.
I asked about the figurehead of the Stad Amsterdam and was told it doesn't represent any particular person. The female holds a globe and points forward into the future.
I asked about the figurehead of the Stad Amsterdam and was told it doesn’t represent any particular person. The female holds a globe and points gracefully forward into the future.
Crewmembers take to the ship's rigging to do some work.
Crewmembers take to the ship’s rigging to do some work.
Out on a yard unfurling a heavy sail.
Out on a yard unfurling a heavy sail.
The majestic ship has masts that touch the sky.
The fantastic tall ship has masts that touch the sky.
Crew members wrestle with a sail.
Crew members work with a sail.
The three-masted clipper ship Stad Amsterdam docked near the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
The three-masted clipper ship Stad Amsterdam docked near the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Figurehead of the beautiful Dutch tall ship Stad Amsterdam.
Figurehead of the beautiful Dutch tall ship Stad Amsterdam.

…

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 photos for you to enjoy!

Undulating spheres of rainbow joy!

Here’s a treat for your eyes!

I spotted a bubble producing street performer by Tuna Harbor as the sun was setting today, and he was nice enough to let me take a bunch of photos. Sunlight refracting through the bubbles became joyful rainbow spheres, which undulated like living dreams into the tinted sky.

Pure magic!

UPDATE!

I met the cool guy again in Balboa Park and learned his name is King Bubble!

…

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!