We pull away from the Embarcadero aboard the Admiral Hornblower, on a special harbor tour provided by the Port of San Diego.
Last Saturday I enjoyed a special boat tour of San Diego’s harbor. The free tour was created by the Port of San Diego for Maritime Month, which was actually May. (The earlier tours were so popular, an additional June date was added.) The main intention of these tours was to educate the public about the importance of San Diego Bay, and the waterfront’s many contribution’s to our local economy.
We set out on the Admiral Hornblower and checked out a number of fascinating facilities that are overseen by the Port of San Diego. The Port of San Diego manages San Diego Bay and a strip of surrounding waterfront land. Its five member cities are San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Coronado.
According to their website “The port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 20 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of hundreds of tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.”
Well, what exactly did we see and what did we learn?
I took a few notes, which I’ve placed in my photo captions. Let’s head out onto the water on an overcast day and see some fascinating sights!
Looking back toward the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. This facility can host special events or welcome cruise ships. Every visiting cruise ship adds 2 million dollars to the San Diego economy.Someone enjoys recreating on San Diego Bay as we pass Tuna Harbor. Tourism and commercial fishing rely on San Diego’s versatile harbor.It’s Saturday morning, so the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market is open on Fish Harbor Pier near Seaport Village. It’s the place to go if you like fresh seafood.Now we are approaching the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Most people associate it with those big yellow Dole ships that bring in about 185 million bananas and other fruit each month!The Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal is to undergo modernization. Some transit sheds will be removed, to create more flexible laydown space.These are windmill tower components.This part of the facility is used for transferring cement between ship and shore.This 1,800-ton-per-hour bulk loader handles soda ash, bauxite and fertilizer exports.Docked south of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, beside the Cesar Chavez Park pier, are the vessels of Pacific Tugboat Service.Near the east end of the San Diego–Coronado Bridge is the first of three big shipyards–Continental Maritime of San Diego.Navy ships are undergoing repairs and modernization. The white plastic wrap prevents paint particles from entering the environment.The next shipyard as we head south is BAE Systems. They also provide repair and modernization services. This huge ship in one of two dry docks is completely concealed!This is a new type of stealth Navy ship–a guided missile Zumwalt-class destroyer. DDG-1000 is the first of its class. Its radar image is similar to that of a fishing boat.Another vessel is being worked on at the BAE Systems San Diego shipyard. You can see floating oil spill containment booms in many of these photos.Finally we are nearing the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard. New ships are built here. It is the largest full service shipyard on the West Coast.It’s an overcast “June Gloom” late morning on San Diego Bay.As we continue into the South Bay, we see a large ship is being moved away from the shore by tugboat.It’s the Palmetto State, a fuel-efficient ECO Class tanker that was built at the NASSCO shipyard.Now we are beginning to pass Naval Base San Diego–what some refer to as 32nd Street Naval Station. It is the principal homeport of the U. S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet.This is the USS Essex (LHD-2), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.San Diego is home to these three Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships.The unusual white vessel is a barracks barge–where a crew lives while their Navy ship is undergoing major repairs.The USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returned from deployment recently. The gold anchors indicate this ship has earned the Navy’s Retention Excellence Award.Now we are past the Naval base and approaching the National City Marine Terminal.I see lots of cars. If you own an automobile imported from Japan or South Korea, there a good chance it arrived here.Vehicles of all type arrive here by huge roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships, including trucks and tractors.Longshoremen drive hundreds of new vehicles off the ships. Warehouses nearby are used to install accessories. White wraps on cars protect them from dirty stuff like seagull poop! Some ospreys have nests atop those high lampposts.These totaled cars arrived from Hawaii! They’re headed to San Diego salvage yards.Half of the new cars are sent to their final destination by train, the other half by truck. This facility accommodates super long freight trains–120 cars long!We’ve turned about and have headed back to the North Embarcadero. Before we dock, we check out a superyacht temporarily moored in the middle of San Diego Bay.This is the Attessa IV, owned by Dennis R. Washington, 76th wealthiest person in the United States! The Port of San Diego accommodates all sorts of ships!
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A group begins an easy nature hike down a trail at San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
On Saturday I visited Gunpowder Point, just south of where the Sweetwater River empties into San Diego Bay. The marshy area is a wildlife refuge. It’s part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, to be exact, and home of the popular Living Coast Discovery Center.
After visiting the Living Coast Discovery Center, I enjoyed a guided nature hike down a short trail through the Sweetwater Marsh.
I was pleasantly surprised by the bare natural beauty. I didn’t see a whole lot of wildlife during this visit, but I know our region’s marshes and estuaries are often teeming with birds. San Diego is part of the Pacific Flyway, a major route of migratory birds that stretches from Alaska to South America.
A map inside the nearby Living Coast Discovery Center shows the location of the Sweetwater River and the marsh where it enters San Diego Bay.Hiking through Chula Vista’s protected Sweetwater Marsh on a sunny day. It’s mid-May and the once green and flowering plants have begun to dry out. In this photo I see some prickly pear cactus. During the hike I also recognized black sage and coastal sagebrush.Our guide shows us saltbush. It is adapted to the type of salty soil in this coastal marsh. Its leaves taste salty!Sign by the trail. This area is called Gunpowder Point. During World War I, Hercules Powder Co. extracted potash and acetone here from kelp harvested offshore in the Pacific Ocean. These were used to make cordite, also called smokeless gunpowder, for the British.A sail on the bay beyond a drying field of San Diego Sunflowers.The short, easy hike is ideal for families.Some sunflowers are still yellow.The San Diego Sunflower, or Bahiopsis laciniata, is often found in a coastal sage scrub environment.The Silver Strand and Coronado Cays can be seen across San Diego Bay.We’ve arrived at the wildlife refuge’s narrow sandy shore. Birds could be seen here and there in the distance.As the group continues on, I linger to take in the sunshine and wide views. I notice what appears to be remnants of the potash manufacturing operation from years ago. Some benches allow rest and meditation.Stones and debris on a beach in the wildlife refuge.Some mysterious (to me) concrete ruins on Gunpowder Point.I arrived at a bird observation structure. All was very quiet. I saw a California least tern hunting small fish along the water’s edge. Few people seem to come out here.Depending on the tide, the area near the shore can be open water or a mudflat that supports shorebirds searching for food.Bird’s beaks are specially designed for feeding. Some beaks filter plants from the water, some grab flies out of the air, and some probe the mud.The tide must have been out, because this platform stood above a drying mudflat. I believe that might be bright green eelgrass in the shallow pool of water.Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, or crystalline ice plant, is salt tolerant. My hike through the marsh produced some beautiful surprises.Hiking through an expanse of green in San Diego’s South Bay.
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Bronze birds near entrance of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and regional complex headquarters in Chula Vista.
Having some fun!
Today I visited the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista. I should have a couple blog posts coming up with lots of photos.
First, here’s a fearless caterpillar that I spotted walking on a crab under some birds. The crab and bronze shorebirds are artwork in front of the wildlife refuge headquarters! The visiting caterpillar is a resident of the surrounding marsh. Perhaps it’s an art lover!
I searched the internet for a few minutes, trying to identify this particular fuzzy caterpillar. No success. Leave a comment if you know!
An inanimate crab beneath the bronze shorebirds is being visited by a living creature.A fuzzy caterpillar makes its way over the crab.Wildlife living in the Sweetwater Marsh meets art.
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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!
This old rusty steel skeleton of a ship is actually one of two cool sculptures near the Pier 32 Marina in National City.
Check out these two very cool sculptures! I spotted them as I walked from a National City trolley station to Pepper Park yesterday, on my way to the big International Mariachi Festival.
Both of these sculptures are located at the Pier 32 Marina. And both are a lot of fun!
This huge metal sculpture by the marina flags is called Le Bateau Ivre, by artist Alber De Matteis, 2008.More detailed photo of this work of awesome nautical art! Looks like a ghost ship!The second sculpture, just down a pathway, is School of Blue Bottle Noses, by artist David Boyer, 2008. It was part of an Urban Trees exhibition on San Diego’s Embarcadero.Those blue Bottlenoses are actually bottles! Like a pod of turning dolphins, they shift direction in the wind!
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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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
If victory is your destination, make excellence your governing value and perform the work necessary to become great. Wisdom on a plaque outside Olympic archery training range in Chula Vista.
It’s not often you get to visit where Olympic athletes train!
Today, my favorite part of the Celebration of Champions event at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center was checking out where Olympic archers hone their skills. There was more to see than the immense indoor and outdoor archery ranges. My eyes and mind were captivated by a large museum-like display of the history of archery at the Olympic Games.
Please enjoy the following photos. To learn more, read the captions!
A special public event is held at the Easton Foundations Archery Center of Excellence, part of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, which is now called the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.Kids see what Olympic-level archery is like during the Celebration of Champions event.Outdoor archery targets in a row. Some of the world’s greatest athletes take aim at these!Words inside the archery building at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. To be disciplined athletes of great character; challenging ourselves to achieve excellence in the pursuit of glory.Photos on the wall inside the front door show Olympic archers together and in competition.Bows await inside the immense indoor archery range at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.Participants and spectators against the back wall of the indoor archery range.Youth learning archery skills check arrow positions on targets after a period of shooting.An Easton arrow flying through the air lit the Olympic flame at the 1992 Summer Games.A display case shows artifacts relating to the history of organized archery and Easton bows and arrows.Along a corridor running the length of the Archery Center of Excellence are museum-like displays concerning archery during past Olympic Games. (Click image to enlarge.)The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece in 1896. Archery was featured in some of the early years.Photo of FITA President Mrs. Inger K. Frith who helped archery to become reestablished as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee.Early year displays include a 1904 program for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and an early version of archery competition where the bird target sat atop a 31 meter pole.As one proceeds down the hallway, time moves forward. In 1972 John Williams became archery’s first male gold medalist and Doreen Wilbur won the first gold for women’s archery.Walk down this hallway and you might rub shoulders with Olympic athletes!The 1972 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada saw the United States set new archery records.In 1984, at the Los Angeles games, New Zealand’s Neroli Fairhall was the first paraplegic athlete to compete in Olympic archery.The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta based the competition on head-to-head single elimination, a change that proved very popular.In 1996 American and crowd favorite Justin Huish became first male to win individual and team gold.In 2000 South Korea’s women dominated archery at the Sydney Summer Olympic Games.More fascinating Olympic Games history on display at the indoor archery range at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.In 2004 the Olympic Games returned to its birthplace: Athens, Greece. The archers competed in the marble Panathinaiko Stadium which is about 2300 years old!Beijing, China hosted the 2008 Olympic Games where many records were broken.And perhaps, one day, these young people will break world archery records!
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Kids get a chance to practice archery at an outdoor range where Olympians train! A special activity during the Celebration of Champions event at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center!
For 23 years the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista has been utilized by hundreds of Team USA athletes. It has now transfered ownership from the United States Olympic Committee to the City of Chula Vista. Although the large 155-acre facility is now called the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, it remains one of the most important U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training sites. And now non-Olympic athletes, including people who live in the community, will have a chance to develop their sporting skills here, too!
Today, a fun Celebration of Champions event was held to showcase this state-of-the-art facility to the public, and to honor local achievers. I’d never visited the place, so of course I had to go check it out!
And I took some photos! As usual, read the captions!
The colorful driveway into the 155-acre Elite Athlete Training Center complex includes graphics depicting many different Olympic sports.The state-of-the-art facilities at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center are located in the Eastlake community.Folks enter the Copley Visitor Center courtyard to enjoy a special celebration. The 23 year old Olympic Training Center today officially becomes the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center!While the adults checked out event tents, kids were playing with soccer balls on the nearby grass. Perhaps some of these youth will one day be Olympic medal winners!People sign up for a special tour of the elite athlete training complex, which includes grass fields, an indoor and outdoor archery range, a BMX track, and more. Future plans include a gymnasium and pool.One of two cool bronze sculptures near the main door to the Visitor Center. This male Olympic athlete appears to be a wrestler.The other bronze sculpture appears to be a female Olympic swimmer or diver.A large Olympic flame is blazing in the circular courtyard in front of the Visitor Center. Many outdoor booths were set up by various community organizations for the special event.Perhaps a future athlete will wear this baby clothing. Team USA had lots of cool stuff for sale.Several plaques are arranged around the courtyard. This one lists all the host cities of the Olympic Games–both Summer and Winter.Sign describes in detail how host cities are chosen for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Click image to enlarge.)The history of the Paralympic movement is described on this sign. Sport for athletes with an impairment has existed for more than 100 years.People slowly converge on an outdoor stage where a ceremony will celebrate the transfer of ownership of this training complex from the United States Olympic Committee to the City of Chula Vista.I spotted this plaque while heading over to join the audience.Ernest W. Hahn, 1919-1992. Visionary developer and philanthropist whose tireless efforts to fund and build the ARCO Training Center will inspire athletes from across America to pursue their Olympic dreams.While I had a chance, I should have headed over to take pics of the kids trying out the super awesome Olympic-level BMX track. You can see them with their bikes in the distance.Everyone prepares for the big ceremony, which will also honor local champions! Those are the champions assembled to the right!Chula Vista mayor Mary Salas kicks off speeches by gathered dignitaries.Nearby on the grass, these kids were more interested in sports. Talk is cheap–action is what matters!Representative from the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs speaks a few words. This training center in San Diego is used by a very large number of Team USA Olympians.To symbolize the transfer of the complex to the city of Chula Vista, a Paralympic track and field athlete who has won numerous medals carries a torch onto the stage!These walkers in the audience were recognized as champions during the ceremony!Many champions from San Diego’s South Bay head up onto the stage to be honored and given a medal by the mayor. Some excel in sports; others are teachers, coaches, community leaders, law enforcement officers, artists…About halfway through the ceremony, I sneaked off to check out the Visitor Center while few people were inside.Huge graphics greet visitors inside the front door. The Chula Vista Olympic Training Center is dedicated to the development of America’s future elite athletes.Today’s training center has sport venues and facilities for archery, beach volleyball, BMX, canoe and kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, plus track and field!Several displays inside the Visitor Center include a video of great Olympic athletic performances.A cool exhibit devoted to David Wagner, who plays Wheelchair Tennis. He is a champion at his sport!After the ceremony I walked around. I regret now that I didn’t sign up to take a tour. Here’s the BMX track. Looks like a bumpy ride!Here’s one of the grass fields. It appears to be used for rugby, field hockey or soccer.I was drawn toward the archery range, which was so cool I’m going to blog about it next! Here’s some outdoor action during the event.Walking toward the archery complex, I saw this inspirational quote concerning the Olympic Path by Conrad Hilton. Life’s journey is worthwhile. Choose a meaningful path.Kids try their hand at archery at the Celebration of Champions event at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista!
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Walking past public art in Chula Vista’s Bayside Park. The Fisherman is a sculpture of a great egret, created by Stephen Fairfield, 2006.
Look at these cool examples of public art! I spotted them Saturday during my visit to Chula Vista’s Bayside Park.
Some of the artwork, as you can see, is rather strange and surprising! Read the photo captions to learn more!
The Fisherman, by Stephen Fairfield, was a part of a past Urban Trees exhibition along San Diego’s Embarcadero. It’s now part of the Port of San Diego Tidelands Collection.Dark shadow of what appears to be a gigantic egret on a walkway in Bayside Park.One of several tables by San Diego Bay containing a tile chess board.Walking north along the beach area. Downtown San Diego and the Coronado Bay Bridge can be seen in the distance.Still walking north, toward more interesting public art at Chula Vista’s Bayside Park. This is Wind Oars by George Peters and Melanie Walker, 2004.Oars in the blue sky change position in the shifting wind. A kinetic artwork landmark in San Diego’s South Bay.Like rowing through blue water above.At the north end of Bayside Park, we now approach some unusual temporary art. Bench Party, by artists Jose Parral and Tasia Paulson, will be on display through May 20, 2017.Visitors to the Bayside Park might sit here and talk, or take in views of San Diego Bay.A large group of people could sit here and have a bench party!The huge travelift at Marine Group Boat Works in Chula Vista is seen beyond the benches. Super yachts and large boats can be lifted out of the water there.A breakwater by Marine Group Boat Works looks like strange art on the water. Rising in the distance we can see Point Loma.A bird swims past stacked rocks.Feeding birds at a park picnic bench.A second sculpture from an Urban Trees exhibition is also located at Bayside Park. This is San Diego Synergy, by Kent Kraber, 2007.Seabirds soar above fish, their food.A school of fish in the ocean kelp.A silvery tuna between a fishing boat and sailboat, at the base of the San Diego Synergy sculpture in Chula Vista.
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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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
Just sitting on a bench at the Chula Vista Marina. Masts of sailboats touch the clear sky. Another sunny day by the water.
Last Saturday morning I did some walking around the Chula Vista Marina and the neighboring Bayside Park. It was a perfect day for a leisurely stroll. Sunlight reflected from the water onto the smooth shiny hulls of boats. A forest of masts tickled the blue sky.
I sat down for awhile to drink in the calm and beauty. Another reason to love San Diego!
The Chula Vista Marina and adjacent Bayside Park are perfect places to relax and recreate.An abstract sculpture near the Dockmaster’s Office.The sculpture is titled To Remember Me, by Ross Barrable, 2001. In tribute to Ron McElliott who believed in the potential of the South Bay.Some street art on a nearby utility box depicts a tall ship on the ocean.Sitting at a table by the marina feeding the birds.Hundreds of sailboats and pleasure craft in the Chula Vista Yacht Harbor await an opportunity to glide across San Diego Bay.Walking the dog across Chula Vista Bayside Park’s fishing pier, next to the marina.A fisherman out on San Diego Bay. The Coronado Cays are visible across the calm blue water.A happy sun shines on the marina building.A beautiful fountain on the grass near the Chula Vista Marina office.
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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!
Some happy street art in National City. A high five, pink rabbit and heart.
I found even more cool street art while walking around National City! Check out these photos! Colorful utility boxes and transformers seemed to pop up wherever I turned!
Transinfinite Gems. Love Your Soul. Blessings and Love.A creatively painted utility box near a National City street corner. Is that a can of soda?Someone just let loose with many strokes of color on this transformer box!This cool street art definitely attracts the attention of people walking down the sidewalk!An abstract human figure that drips ink into a river. This fantastic image appears to be full of symbolism.More cool designs on a series of electrical boxes. National City, in San Diego’s South Bay, has lots of great street art!A contrast of real leaves and painted leaves.Barren trees in a purple-blue sky.Another side of the same box.Branches from sky and ground, like grasping, skeletal fingers.
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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!
These arches in National City’s Morgan Square Plaza delight the eye with their colorful tiles and designs.
Check out this cool public art in San Diego’s South Bay! These colorfully tiled arches can be found in Morgan Square Plaza right next to the National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. As you can see in one photo, the plaza isn’t far from Heritage Square and historic Brick Row, which I recently covered on this blog.
It appears these mosaic arches debuted along with the plaza itself in October 2007. I searched the small pocket park for a plaque, and later for information on the internet, but can find almost nothing about this unique public art. I did see that the bust of former National City mayor Kile Morgan was created by the talented San Diego sculptor Richard Becker. According to Becker’s website, he created the POW Monument at the US National Cemetery, busts for The Emmys in Hollywood, and a bronze sculpture of Homer Simpson for Fox Studios.
Cool art in the public square next to the National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.Visible beyond the brick arch is one end of Brick Row, one of several historic buildings in Heritage Square.Across Morgan Square Plaza is a monument to a former National City mayor.The bust of Honorable Kile Morgan, mayor of National City from 1966 to 1986. He established the Mile of Cars and Plaza Bonita. Sculpture created by San Diego artist Richard Becker.Another photo through the arches. The Southwestern College Higher Education Center stands across National City Boulevard.The beautiful patterns on this wall-like artwork are composed of many brightly colored tiles.The National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is located near the public art arches.Fun photo of one arch within another.Cool public artwork in National City at Morgan Square Plaza!
UPDATE!
During a walk in 2019 I discovered a plaque describing this Streetscape Project, titled Portals in Time. The different arches are called Brick Row, Hispanic Portal, Filipino Water Wall, Kumeyaay Water Wall, Agriculture and Ship Building, and The Bay.
Click the following two photos and they will enlarge for easier reading:
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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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
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