Unusual Harbor Cruise...
The 148-year old
Star of India sailed again last weekend in San Diego.
The iron-hulled beauty was at full sail during what used to be an annual event.
It has been 4 years since the last sailing of this floating maritime museum.
When I went onboard last summer, I heard rumors she might sail again this year.
Tied up at the dock, she has only a few sails unfurled so it's quite a sight to see her in full glory.
Unfortunately, I wasn't there for the actual sailing.
I received this photo in a daily newsletter I get online from my old days of working for the
San Diego Union-Tribune.
In the 1960s my Mom came out from Charleston to visit.
She and my young son Chris made a tour of
The Star.
Last summer, Chris was aboard again, with me, his wife and my 16-year old grandson.
In this interior picture I exaggerated the tilt of the ship for effect.
I mean, we were still safely at the dock.
Underway in the 1860s, I am sure the early travelers suffered through a lot of rough seas.
And many tedious days of calm when the wind power died down and the sails were slack.
Hmmm. I wonder if an iron-hull attracted lightning?
(Click the photos that I took to see more detail.)Thanks for coming aboard. Feel free to walk about the cabin.
Labels: 148-year old floating museum, iron-hulled, Photo by Penny Lingo, San Diego Harbor, Star of India
Things you learn "on the road"...
The world famous San Diego Zoo has approximately a gazillion visitors a year.
It has many helpful signs to make your visit more enjoyable.
The animals are grouped in logical clusters - country of origin - and arranged so they are easily visible to the public.
Oh, they can duck into their caves and hiding spots but usually are right out there.
I like that they also identify every tree. Because the zoo is also a noted zoological garden, I guess they almost have to.
No, I did NOT place my hat on the head of a cute baby seal.
It was a statue next to where real polar bears frolicked in the water.
Yes, the water was cold.
You can walk around the giant place or take a guided bus tour.
Overhead is an aerial tramway that takes you across the entire zoo.When I looked down, the monkeys were gawking up at me.
Just as famous - and a lot older - is the San Diego Harbor.
This is a real Navy Town.
There are TWO aircraft carriers to tour and they serve lunch on the fantail of the
USS Midway. Hey, Patriots Point.. hint* hint*.
Larger-than-life statues form a Salute To Bob Hope and the dockside centerpiece is a GIANT statue of the Navy nurse in Times Square being kissed on VJ Day when Japan surrendered in WWII.
In fact, the whole harbor area was filled with 20 different ships, from Tall-masted schooners to a Russian submarine admitting visitors.
The Queen of them all though was the 149-year old
STAR OF INDIA.
Her sails unfurled, she was a stately reminder of the harbor history.
Her iron hull - the first ever - was 3x the thickness it actually needed to be and enabled her to survive all these years.
Once a year she sails around the harbor and I bet the 150th anniversary will be something extra special!
(Click twice to make the pictures bigger.)
It was fun visiting San Diego again.
My blog started 5 years ago writing about things that happened there. Go back and check it out.
Thanks for dropping in.
Labels: Bob Hope, Navy Town, San Diego Harbor, Star of India, The Kiss statue, USS Midway
The 148-year old Star of India sailed again last weekend in San Diego.
Unfortunately, I wasn't there for the actual sailing.
In the 1960s my Mom came out from Charleston to visit.
