Monday, October 13, 2008

San Francisco Fleet Week - Photos

This past Saturday Greg and I got to go out in the San Francisco Bay on his department's patrol boat to watch the Fleet Week parade of ships and air show. The day was AWESOME!!
The patrol boat was a part of the fleet of several different Coast Guard and police department patrol boats that were policing the waters and keeping civilan boats out of the fly zone area.
The boat we were on was assigned to sail between Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate all day long. Before the crew had to start working they took all of us out underneath the Golden Gate for a few minutes so we could take in the beautiful view since some of us had never been out under the bridge.
Other than taking a tour cruise from Pier 39 to Alcatraz Island this was the first time I had ever been out on the Bay. The view of the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate, and the San Francisco skyline from the water is awe inspiring. Absolutely spectacular!
I think I should have been a sailor, because being out on the water just awakens my soul. I love it, absolutely love it!
I had so much fun. It was windy and cold, but refreshing to be out there in the open soaking up the sun, enjoying my day and passionately snapping tons and tons of photos. I took nearly 400 of them. Of course, not all turned out great, but I was surprised with how many photos did turn out well. Considering I was taking photos of jets speeding past me at warp speed, and the fact that although I am passionate about my photography hobby, I am by no means a professional with my camera skills, I was rather impressed with how many good shots I did get.
I had been looking forward to this day for almost a year, ever since Greg found out last year from one of his fellow dispatchers that they could go out on the boat and he told me we would try and get us on the boat this year. I've also been feeling very stressed lately, and having a lot of anxiety because of it, so I REALLY needed the day away from home to just enjoy myself and forget my worries.
While I have the chance I would like to publicly thank my DH, Greg, for taking me out for this day of fun. I would also like to thank the powers that be and the crew of ALCO 85 that allowed Greg and I to join them on the boat for the day. The entire crew was extremely welcoming and friendly to everyone on board. Thank you for your hospitality.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:



ALCO 85 - Our tour boat for the day

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

A Blue Angel Jet flies past Alcatraz Island

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Check Them Out - Upside Down

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Another Cool Blue Angels Shot
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
So Close You Can See the Pilots

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Blue Angels Zoom Past the San Francisco Skyline
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Awesome Angel!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
So Close
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

More Amazing Upside Down Flying

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Another Amazing Flying Stunt Right Above Our Heads!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
The Blue Angels Fly Past the San Francisco Skyline
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Blue Angels in Perfect Formation

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Blue Angels Fat Albert Plane Flies Past San Francisco Skyline

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Patriots Jet Team

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Virgin Air Lines
Greg said he could just imagine it being full of passengers going in to SFO with the pilot piping up to say, "Hey guys, mind if we take a side trip and participate in an air show today." LOL

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Canadian Snow Birds

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Snow Birds in Perfect Formation

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

More Awesome Snow Bird Flying

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
So Close You Can Read The Writing on the Bottom of the Plane

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Awesome Flying

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

So Close We Could Almost Touch Them - Well, not quite THAT close.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
The Snow Bird's Flying Formations are Just Beautiful

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Snow Birds Again

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Snow Birds Hiding in the Smoke of their Afterburners - I love this photo!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Snow Birds Fly over the Golden Gate Bridge

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Beautiful Red and White Snow Birds

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here I am Out In the Bay
A Princess Cruise Lines Ship & the Bay Bridge in the Background

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The Golden Gate with a Coast Guard Ship in the Foreground

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
The Sun Shines High Above the Golden Gate Bridge

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

ALCO 1 in the Waters Just Outside the Golden Gate Bridge

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Greg and I In Front of the Golden Gate
So sad this photo is overexposed. :-(

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Greg Takes a Break from Video Taping the Air Show

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Hanging Out on the Fly Bridge of ALCO 85 On The Way Out to the Bay

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
My View of The San Francisco Skyline & the Bay Bridge from the Boat

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Greg Watching the Air Show


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The End of the Day - Headed Back to Port

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

4 comments:

Sarah said...

What a wonderful day for you! You needed this day and I am so glad you enjoyed it! What AWESOME photos! :O)

Sherry said...

Cathy. Wow. Those are some absolutely amazing photos. I am so glad that you included some of yourself. You are so very photogenic. =]

Anonymous said...

WOW! Those are fabulous photos!!! Thanks for sharing. I know what you mean about going on the water. There truly is nothing else like it....Looks like an amazing day!!

Tracy Kosofsky said...

What gorgeous photos! I was going to comment on my favorite but as I was scrolling through them I kept changing my mind about which one to pick. Forget it! I love them all! Glad you had such a great time.