cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20933
The Action is on the Water
We walked along Harbor Island, in San Diego's Big Bay. We didn't expect much but were seriously overwhelmed by the activity, both on the harbor and on shore!
A C-Tractor #11 Tugboat got us started for the day (2 Caterpillar V-12 diesels with 4800 hp and 35,000 gallons of fuel).
We spotted this lizard watching us, but he slid around the rock before I could be sure I had a focus on him (I did).
His new position offered me a highly unusual vantage point with the camera -- right up his backside (and yes, he is clinging onto a vertical surface). After the photo I looked left, the way he was looking.
A Boston Whaler caught my eye.
A San Diego Tourist Board type photo of downtown.
My wife spotted a crab on the rocks below our feet.
While I was noticing another lizard noticing me.
We are right across from SD International Airport and I was surprised to see this very small air freighter taking off (1981 Beech twin turboprop 1000 hp cargo)
My wife yelled Sting Ray! We got much better photos of this guy than of the rays we saw in Coronado Cays last weekend.
We went over to the Marina side of the island, where the foliage became more interesting.
Does anyone recognize the fruit on this tree?
A Navy helicopter pulled our eyes back south to the Bay.
where we could see North Island behind a guy in a small boat engrossed in texting (probably to his girlfriend on the paddleboard from a few days ago)
But I wasn't ready to give up on the flowers quite yet, and we walked in the parking lot of the Marina.
White bird of Paradise.
Looking eastward from above a still lane.
A noisy gull drove us back to the Bay side.
As we crossed we saw this over-accessorized Jeep. Wow!
Back on the Bay sidewalk, the runners and dog walkers were out in force now.
Just past 9:30, we've been here about 30-40 minutes.
I was panning to freeze this speeding police boat, and had very lucky timing on this photo of the boat crossing in front of the Navy sign.
Uh-oh, this is a highly unusual configuration of inflatable with tent-on-deck.
Another boat pulled alongside. A drug swap? Political prisoner exchange?
Suddenly the tent collapses and the people look concerned.
AHA! This is a dolphin training exercise (I knew that - you can recognize their boats by the red patches on the outboards - which are there for the dolphins to spot).
As they traverse the bay, the dolphins stay in the tent to avoid sunburn (yes, they do) and prying eyes, then slip into the water and practice different chores for the Navy.
The lady in red has the fish rewards.
Red lady changed boats and you can just see the dolphin in the water, next to the boat, below her.
I raised my eyes and saw a carrier coming out under the Coronado Bridge. This IS a busy day!
A very tight fit under the bridge, and the carrier is speeding up. Will he run down the ferry?
Nope, the ferry got across in a hurry. Notice the two C Tractor tugs on either side of the warship, along with patrol boat escorts.
As the carrier comes closer a bell begins to ring on this fisherman's pole.
He caught a sting ray, showed it to us, removed the hook, and threw it back in.
We see LHD 8 the Makin Island, an Amphibious Assault Ship, is passing by now. A crew of 1000 runs the ship and can deliver helicopters, boats and 1800 Marines to their destination.
It's heading out of the harbor but in the distance I can see something coming in. We jump in the car and drive to the west end of the island.
They pass close to one another, with hundreds of sailors checking out each others' vessels.
The DDG-121 Frank E. Petersen Jr. is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, named for Marine Corps Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and general.
It's a new ship, in the water for a year or so, but just commissioned a month ago.
We were ready to go home but the sprinkler repair crew was on duty, drenching grass, sidewalks, cars, themselves, whatever.
This runner positively leapt in the air while running as the sprinklers came on.
Sorry to be so long-winded and image-heavy today! We hope you enjoyed the walk with us.
Cazalea
The Action is on the Water
We walked along Harbor Island, in San Diego's Big Bay. We didn't expect much but were seriously overwhelmed by the activity, both on the harbor and on shore! A C-Tractor #11 Tugboat got us started for the day (2 Caterpillar V-12 diesels with 4800 hp and 3...
Dolphins work with the Navy?!
I first thought you were saying they were rescuing a dolphin, but then you said Navy exercises. I like to learn more about that. Very interesting.
The US Navy trains dolphins and sea lions in San Diego
A bit like guard dogs on land, the marine mammals do odd jobs, like recovering things that are dropped or patrolling the bay at night. I have a friend who was stationed here during much of his SEAL career. When he took trainees out, they would drop from a...
🤣🤣🤣“i didn’t like how she threw a fish at me every time I answered…”🤣🤣🤣
The Navy program is really something amazing to learn about. A week or so ago, my daughter was asking me about sharks, so I told her that dolphins can fight as a group to kill a shark, and that they are super smart. So this new information will make for a...
Downtown SD, the airpline taking off, the boats docked in the harbor....
and ultimately, the assault ship passing underneath the Coronado bridge - those were the highlights for me from another set of excellent images . Cheers, Filip
Dolphins in Action; my videos
All of these show common or bottlenose dolphins in the open Pacific Ocean, voluntarily accompanying us on various vessels. If you don't think the dolphins are enjoying this, watch another video and look at their faces. They "ride" on an invisible wave of ...
Action packed day ! …
Thanks for sharing this with us Mike, I really enjoyed the seeing the carrier and guided missile destroyer.
What a beautiful walk dear Mike! Full of surprises and interesting things to view and comment. Extraordinary report!
Very interesting to read about Navy training of dolphins and sea lions. I knew about dolphins but not about sea lions. Marvelous creatures thy are. I enjoyed so much making you company through this "paseo" ! Thank you for sharing! Best, Abel