Oakland-Alameda Naval Air Station - Now Alameda Point, Home of the USS Hornet And More Cool Ships

I made a quick visit to Alameda Point, home of the aircraft carrier - USS Hornet.  Being a "military brat" (raised by a retired career Air Force father), I love ships, planes, jets, etc.  I didn't have time to go on the Hornet, which is now a museum, but I did want to scope out the island and get a few shots in preparation for a future trip.  

xoxo

Nikon D3300

Help Bring Justice for an American Hero and His Family! Please Read!

Those of you that read my blog frequently know that I don't do this very often - if ever really.  But today I feel so moved by this family's search for justice that I am sharing this petition and ask any reader to please sign!

A 16 year old kid brutally murdered SGM Randy Smith in his rental property located next door to the kid's home.  This kid, Tarik Vasquez, had no business being in that rental property.  According to two witnesses - his so-called friends (although I don't think this sociopath knows the true meaning of friendship) - Tarik shot SGM Smith with a shotgun belonging to one of the friends who was staying at the home when no one else was there.  He then stole the victim's truck, ditched it, then walked back to the house to brag to his friends about the murder. 

For some unknown (to me anyway) reason, the alleged murderer was granted bond at $50,000 and has been living comfortably back in the community where the victim's grieving wife, two sons who are also in the military, and his grandchildren still live. 

It is inconceivable to me that this would happen!  

This case was just profiled on "The First 48" and, as I usually do, I googled it to see if there were any updates and I saw that not only is this kid free when he shouldn't be, the trial that was set for October 30th has now been "cancelled"!  

Justice needs to happen for this family and this alleged murderer who acted so callously needs to be off the streets!!  

Please take a moment to sign and SHARE!  And thanks for listening to me rant. 

xoxo

Travelogue: Marin Headlands San Francisco Bay Area 10/2016

I am so excited about this post!  

In my last post, I showed you how I accidentally visited a pod of pelicans.

Today we're going to visit one of the most magnificent and interesting places in California - the Marin Headlands.  Home of the Golden Gate as well as many varieties of wildlife and rugged nature, including Redwoods, today we'll focus on the views from Hawk Hill and some of the intricate network of military bunkers used to protect this important port in days gone past. 

I tried to get down here before the sun rose as I wanted to try my hand at capturing the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise.  As it happens, I got here about 20 minutes after sunrise, but it still made for amazing photos!  I love the black and white rendition above; it's one of my absolute photos of the day!

And the ones in color aren't too shabby either!

After the sun was above the City, I turned to my secondary occupation.  Pokemon Go.  Well, that and exploring some of the bunkers.  I didn't actually stop by one of the main bunkers, Battery Spencer, because I wanted to try to locate some of the "hidden" ones that supposedly dot the hills. 

This one wasn't exactly hidden as you can see.  It's right off the road. 

So cool looking!  I had to try to get an "artsy" shot of the rings leading up the side.  I wonder what they were used for?

In search of the hidden, I climbed up the hill to the top of the ridge.  It was slippery!

But at the very top, I found immediate gratification!

A rusty air vent led down into the bunker below, while at the upper right of the photo above, you can see the top of a camouflaged bunker peaking out.

Here's a closer look.

Meanwhile, my vantage point of the road had changed quite a bit.  

The fog was leaving it's dewy wake on copious spiderwebs in the underbrush. They were all over the place, and I'm thankful for the fog to show me where NOT to step!

As I continued my way up the ridge, I found more signs of the hidden bunkers that were buried beneath me.  Such as this even better hidden air vent. 

And another entrance on the back of the ridge.  This one showed some signs of partying in graffiti and beer cans. 

This is the view over to Hawk's Hill.  You can see one of the main tunnels in the distance.  More on that later. 

The fog seemed on a quest of it's own, slithering over the curves of the road and settling on top of the hills in search of something before fading away.  

I half climbed and half slid my way back down to the road and then hiked up the hill to the parking lot where I had left my car.  

This is Installation 129, an unfinished battery on Hawk Hill.  Hawk Hill is so named because it is a perfect spot to watch the fall migration of raptors due to the thermals in the area.  I was there too early and didn't see any on this day.  But that's okay because there were plenty of other things to see.

I headed through the tunnel eager to see what was on the other side.  I knew I would be able to look across at the ridge where I had been hiking and was curious if I could distinguish the spot with the hidden bunker entrance.

This is the tunnel that was visible in my previous picture!

I put a little pink star just under the hidden entrance.  Otherwise, you could barely see it!  I really wonder what is under this ridge that I hiked along.  The road is on the other side and maybe the entire thing has a hidden world underneath it, now closed forever. 

On this side, the buildings are really quite interesting and a little bit creepy!  

In this next tunnel, there were some dark and dank rooms you could enter.  I walked in but quickly left because I was scared!  I need to take a flashlight next time. 

And on the other side was a huge circular room that probably used to hold a gun or radar or something equally exciting.  But now all was just graffiti and silence.

Turning around was a path that looked as if it led off the cliff thanks to the fog.

I stood there and looked down into the fog and could hear the ocean crashing below.  I glanced to my left and saw the equally mysterious and mesmerizing Sutro Tower.  The rail encouraged me to walk that way and off into oblivion.

I pulled myself from the fog's spell and turned to the light, which had another path that led to the batteries atop the installation. 

This path held people and ravens (crows?) to show that I had made the right choice.  

 Such an amazing blend of history and nature!

  With views that just couldn't be beat! 

And ravens (crows??).

I think this one is definitely a raven!  

"Nevermore!"

Next post, we head for a black-sand beach with an amazing earth bridge and lagoon. TTFN!

xoxo

Nikon D3300

California Capital Airshow-On the Tarmac! 2015 Part III

More planes!

F-15

Canadian Snowbirds! Up up and away!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

And making a heart.

I love bi-planes.  I'm still fascinated every time I see one dusting crops (which, sadly, isn't often in this drought).

Meanwhile, on the tarmac, there were tons of aircraft to tour and people/things to see.

I love seeing these huge planes.  They look so graceful in the sky, but on the ground they are such behemoths that you wonder how in the world they can fly!

Nose cone!  The next several pictures are of the F15 Screaming Eagle.  Love.

So cool seeing all the kids and families excited over these beautiful aircraft.

So much love for the Cal Fire pilots and firemen of all types.

Between the wings of a biplane.

Camo

xoxo