Tag: water

Fun sailing on Mission Bay’s model boat pond.

Member of the San Diego Argonauts gets ready to place a small sailboat into Vacation Isle's model yacht pond.
Member of the San Diego Argonauts gets ready to place a small sailboat into Vacation Isle’s model yacht pond.

A silvery sheet of water near the center of Vacation Isle is where dreams take sail. Tiny dreams with tiny sails.

Today I took a long meandering walk about Mission Bay, and spent a fair amount of time lingering around what is simply called the model yacht pond. Connected to the bay with an underground pipe, the pond rises and falls with the ocean’s tides. The tranquil sheet of saltwater, surrounded by grass, trees and the many picnic benches of Vacation Isle Park, has been enjoyed by model boat hobbyists for over half a century.

A very cool club called the San Diego Argonauts utilizes the model yacht pond for radio control model boating and racing. Every Saturday morning, their Scale Boat Division runs electric and steam-powered craft on the pond. Many of the tiny vessels are remarkably detailed, even museum quality. One tiny tugboat even blew its horn at me while I took some photographs!

Saturday afternoons is when the wind-driven sailboats come out to compete or practice. The Sail Division of the San Diego Argonauts has many skippers who’ve won National Championships!

Today I saw so many sails at once, I could hardly believe it! The model yacht pond was the scene of a glorious regatta. These model boat sails tack by remote control, so racing around the tiny floating buoys requires many of the same strategies as racing a full-size sailboat!

On Sunday the pond features model power boats, which can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour! I’ll definitely have to check that out one weekend! I’ll take pictures!

Model boating is a fascinating, beautiful hobby to watch. I’ll bet it’s a lot of fun building a boat and watching it float across this magical pond!

A scale boat enthusiast spends part of his Saturday in San Diego's sunny Vacation Isle Park.
A scale boat enthusiast spends part of his Saturday in San Diego’s sunny Vacation Isle Park.
Two electric-powered model boats navigate by radio control across the smooth pond.
Two electric-powered model boats navigate by radio control across the smooth pond.
This small tugboat blew it's horn as I took this photo!
This small tugboat blew it’s horn as I took this photo!
A model sailboat is made ready. The friendly guy who owns this boat showed me how the sails are moved by remote control.
A model sailboat is made ready. The friendly guy who owns this boat showed me how the sails are moved by remote control.
Another member of the San Diego Argonauts wheels his sailboat down to the bank of the model yacht pond.
Another member of the San Diego Argonauts wheels his sailboat down to the bank of the model yacht pond.
Wading out, in order to place one model sailboat into the water.
Wading out, in order to place one model sailboat into the water.
The miniature boats look beautiful on the gleaming water. They operate in the ocean breeze much like actual sailboats.
The miniature boats look beautiful on the gleaming water. They operate in the ocean breeze much like actual sailboats.
Three model sailboats tack to go around a tiny buoy.
Three model sailboats tack to go around a tiny buoy.
The model yacht pond can be found near the center of San Diego's huge Mission Bay Park, which is the largest urban aquatic park in the United States.
The model yacht pond can be found near the center of San Diego’s huge Mission Bay Park, which is the largest urban aquatic park in the United States.
Many sails float dreamlike across the blue water.
Many sails float dreamlike across the blue water.
A fun day in the park for young and old alike.
A fun day in the park for young and old alike.

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Another day to be thankful in San Diego.

Two gulls take a nap in the San Diego sunshine the day after Thanksgiving. Many people were taking a pleasant, easy walk along the waterfront.
Two gulls take a nap in the San Diego sunshine the day after Thanksgiving. Many people were enjoying a pleasant, easy stroll along the waterfront.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. I just took a walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero. If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are 12,000 words that hint at why I’m thankful every day to live in this beautiful city. I could write volumes and volumes.

A sleepy sea lion doesn't care what sort of crazy, wild-eyed antics his buddy is engaged in.
A sleepy sea lion doesn’t care what sort of crazy, wild-eyed antics his buddy is engaged in.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego's historic ship Pilot crosses the bay as white clouds glow gloriously in a blue sky.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic Pilot boat crosses the bay as white clouds glow gloriously in a blue sky.
This seagull was watching me taking a walk around Tuna Harbor. I wonder what she thought I was up to.
This seagull was watching me taking a walk around Tuna Harbor. I wonder what she thought I was up to?
A couple snuggled on the rocks by Seaport Village watch a gull take flight from the nearby wall.
A couple snuggled on the rocks by Seaport Village watch a gull take flight from the nearby wall.
A busker magician comedian mime guy gets tied up in inescapable rope during his funny routine at Seaport Village.
A busker magician comedian mime guy gets tied up in inescapable rope during his funny routine at Seaport Village.
Mrs. Claus greets a child and mother at the Seaport Village's East Plaza Gazebo.
Mrs. Claus greets a child and mother at the Seaport Village’s East Plaza Gazebo.
A guy carrying a skateboard ambles past outdoor diners at Sally's Seafood on the Water.
A guy carrying a skateboard ambles past outdoor diners at Sally’s Seafood on the Water.
A helpful tot picks up a photographer's tripod after a photo shoot at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
A helpful tot picks up a photographer’s tripod after a photo shoot at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
A snowy egret checks out a small stone in the Marriott Marina on San Diego's waterfront.
A snowy egret checks out a small stone in the Marriott Marina on San Diego’s waterfront.
Magnificent clouds the day after Thanksgiving on San Diego's Embarcadero. Visible is a Dole cargo ship at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
Magnificent clouds the day after Thanksgiving on San Diego’s Embarcadero. Visible is a Dole cargo ship at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
Taking flight in the sunshine.
Taking flight in the sunshine.

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Art exhibit: water, drought, and San Diego’s rainmaker.

The 9th floor gallery at San Diego's Central Library features an art exhibit called RAINMAKER. The theme is water, drought and climate change.
The 9th floor gallery at San Diego’s Central Library features an art exhibit called RAINMAKER. The theme is water, drought and climate change.

RAINMAKER is a fascinating, thought-provoking art exhibition at downtown San Diego’s Central Library. Because it will be coming to a close this weekend, I recently headed to the library’s 9th floor gallery to check it out.

Charles Hatfield was hired by the city of San Diego a hundred years ago to produce much-needed precipitation in order to fill Lake Morena. He might or might not have created the torrential rains and catastrophic flooding that followed his efforts at “moisture acceleration”. Was Hatfield an actual scientist or a charlatan? The question remains open.

This art exhibition focuses on the importance of water in our arid region, and how people affect and are influenced by the environment. Twelve local artists have contributed pieces which touch upon this theme. RAINMAKER is especially relevant today, considering San Diego’s current long drought, and the threat of coming winter storms caused by a strong El Niño that has developed in the Pacific Ocean.

Charles Hatfield, self-proclaimed rainmaker, was hired by the city of San Diego in 1915 to fill Lake Morena Reservoir during a severe drought. Record rain and floods ensued. Was this a coincidence?
Charles Hatfield, self-proclaimed rainmaker, was hired by the city of San Diego in 1915 to fill Lake Morena reservoir during a severe drought. Record rain and floods ensued. Was this a coincidence?
Photo at RAINMAKER exhibition shows catastrophic San Diego flooding caused by 30 inches of rain in 1915.
Photo at RAINMAKER exhibition shows catastrophic San Diego flooding caused by over 30 inches of rain in 1915.
Adam Belt, Willow Wash, 2015. Paint, graphite and reflective powder on canvas. Where is the boundary between science and magic.
Adam Belt, Willow Wash, 2015. Paint, graphite and reflective powder on canvas. Where is the boundary between science and magic?
Roman de Salvo, Joinery Blossom, 2013. Chinese elm, glue. Metaphor of Earth's ecosystem, with networks of family, community, interdependence.
Roman de Salvo, Joinery Blossom, 2013. Chinese elm, glue. Metaphor of Earth’s ecosystem, with networks of family, community, interdependence.
Eva Struble, Navy Yard, 2011. Oil and acrylic on canvas. This piece emerged from a trek through Brooklyn's Navy Yard. A vision of decay that is also expansive, waiting.
Eva Struble, Navy Yard, 2011. Oil and acrylic on canvas. This piece emerged from a trek through Brooklyn’s Navy Yard. A vision of decay that is also expansive, waiting.
Margaret Noble, I Have Arrived, 2015. Mixed media installation with 3 pedestals, 3 plant boxes, 3 sprinklers, and 3 handheld audio players. Lawns have been a symbol of status in society.
Margaret Noble, I Have Arrived, 2015. Mixed media installation with 3 pedestals, 3 plant boxes, 3 sprinklers, and 3 handheld audio players. Lawns have been a symbol of status in society.
Tools of the Rainmaker. The scales, measuring scoops and barometer in this case were donated to the San Diego Library in 1972 by Paul A. Hatfield, brother of rainmaker Charles M. Hatfield.
Tools of the Rainmaker. The scales, measuring scoops and barometer in this case were donated to the San Diego Library in 1972 by Paul A. Hatfield, brother of rainmaker Charles M. Hatfield.
Jim Wilsterman, Rain Event #10, 2011. Earth, fiber, raindrops. Somewhere between photograph, sculpture and painting, this art has recorded rainfall using clay and mud.
Jim Wilsterman, Rain Event #10, 2011. Earth, fiber, raindrops. Somewhere between photograph, sculpture and painting, this art has recorded rainfall using clay and mud.
Sheldon Wood, Drought Dreams, 2014. Watercolor on paper. With the lyrical movement of rain on a hot surface, references to petroglyphs and lost sinkholes, and an atmospheric perspective...
Sheldon Wood, Drought Dreams, 2014. Watercolor on paper. With the lyrical movement of rain on a hot surface, references to petroglyphs and lost sinkholes, and an atmospheric perspective…
Lisa Hutton, Supercell with Chickens, 2013. Graphite on paper. Environmental artwork depicts storm clouds.
Lisa Hutton, Supercell with Chickens, 2013. Graphite on paper. Environmental artwork depicts storm clouds.
Lisa Hutton, A Flood and a Fire, 2013. Graphite on paper. The catastrophic effects of environmental disasters.
Lisa Hutton, A Flood and a Fire, 2013. Graphite on paper. The catastrophic effects of environmental disasters.
Four pigment ink photographs of desert environment by Michael Feld record beauty and natural history.
Four pigment ink photographs of desert environment by Michael Feld record beauty and natural history.
Dominic Paul Miller, rain gatherer, 2008. Ink on mylar. Part of a larger body of work concerning uranium mining and the Navajo Nation, who have scant access to running water.
Dominic Paul Miller, rain gatherer, 2008. Ink on mylar. Part of a larger body of work concerning uranium mining and the Navajo Nation, who have scant access to running water.
Gabriel Kalmuss-Katz, Dear Hatfield, 2015. Speculative writing. Reflects modern anxiety associated with urbanization.
Gabriel Kalmuss-Katz, Dear Hatfield, 2015. Speculative writing. Reflects modern anxiety associated with urbanization.
RAINMAKER, a fascinating art exhibition at San Diego's Central Library, continues through November 29.
RAINMAKER, a fascinating art exhibition at San Diego’s Central Library, continues through November 29.

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The iconic Guardian of Water sculpture.

Guardian of Water sculpture faces San Diego Bay.
Guardian of Water sculpture faces San Diego Bay.

Two of San Diego’s most iconic sights can be found in close proximity. The Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, attracts tourists just a few steps down the Embarcadero from Donal Hord’s classic Guardian of Water sculpture.

Postcards and brochures promoting San Diego are often graced with this elegant granite sculpture. Since 1939 it has stood facing San Diego Bay at the foot of the County Administration Building.

In part funded by the Works Progress Administration, the famous sculpture depicts a simple pioneer woman holding a jug of water. Pictured in the mosaic tiles and basin are cloudlike water-bearing nudes, a dam, an orchard of citrus fruit trees, dolphins, fish and sea snails!

Donal Hord sculpture debuted in 1939.
Donal Hord’s sculpture debuted in 1939.
Side view of the iconic Guardian of Water.
Side view of the iconic Guardian of Water.
County Administration Building in background.
County Administration Building stands in background.
Sea snail on basin of the Guardian of Water.
Sea snail on basin of the Guardian of Water.

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