cazalea takes readers on a unique stroll through Liberty Station, a historic naval training center, while showcasing his vintage Seikomatic-R 30-Jewel Pocket Watch. This post beautifully intertwines personal narrative with horological appreciation, offering a glimpse into a collector's daily life and the charm of carrying a non-wrist-worn timepiece.
There's a lull in the rainstorm that hit last night, so Mrs C and I decided to walk while we had the chance.
As the title implies, today I am carrying a watch on a chain; my Seikomatic-R 30-Jewel Pocket Watch. As we are coming to the end of the collection, I have run out of water resistant watches and this (safely in my pocket) seems the best choice for today.
To avoid walking in mud, we went to Liberty Station. This is a re-purposed military installation, built just after the first World War. It was the Naval Training Center (NTC) from 1923-1997. Many thousands of sailors from my generation and earlier were trained here. And if you know Abbott and Costello's movie "You're in the Navy", you have seen NTC/Liberty Station.
Notice on the map that the streets in Liberty Station are laid out in alignment with the channel and NOT with North, South or the surrounding streets. Typical of the Navy to focus on the water, not the land... The green area is now public parkland, the red zone is public housing (condos and apartments) and the blue area is military house and faciltities. The rest is commercial use of various sorts, almost all housed within the existing structures which are preserved for their historical interest.
Enough of the background, let's get to the watch and walk. Nice size for a pocket watch, and in its original leather case, too. But the date's wrong.
No problem; it has a bi-directional date switcher (one click out) and in a flash, I am on the right date.
This is a fountain in the commercial zone, and I am facing towards the water (roughly SE).
Now we are looking along the long axis of the central field. This is where troops marched for 60+ years.
And the same view, but under the side archways. I don't believe you could construct such a consistent and symmetrical facility today. Function triumphs over form now; it was not the same a century ago in the military.
Looking through an archway towards the water.
Looking through the next archway towards the water. The angle of view is the same but the actual view is different due to plantings, trees, birds.
Now we are at the other end,
under a flock of seagulls, looking back. Notice the sky coming alive with the sun (as well as the birds).
We got away from the buildings and over to the park for a clear perspective of the eastern sky.
Some guns to remind us why this place was built,
what men did here,
and the price of Liberty.
This being California in the winter, there are still flowers in bloom.
Like this lonely rose ...
Lonely, but perfect!
A dragon temporarily on loan here while its permanent home in Balboa Park is being renovated.
I wanted to climb up on it but I also didn't want to get wet (it was dripping).
As we headed home after our walk the skies to the west began to light up, while overhead it was quite dark.
As I am writing this up the rain is again hammering down. I hope you can get the effect through the screen - I'm not prepared to get my watch (and self) any wetter than this!
Nine o'clock and we have a momentary lull in the storm, and some sunshine.
Thanks for reading. Are you wearing a Seiko today?
Cazalea
