After work Thursday, I spent several hours watching this huge ship and one other come in, complete with the Portland Fire Bureau's fireboat honoring their arrival.
USS KIDD arrives. The dark strip across the top of the photo is the underneath of the Steel Bridge with both the lower and upper levels lifted. That's one of it's towers to the left. In the background the open bridge is the Broadway. And that slight arch you can see going from the Kidd upward to the left is part of the arch on the Fremont Bridge.
I stood in amazement as the tugs swiveled the Kidd right there in front of me, so that its bow pointed back towards the Steel Bridge, then pushed it up to dock beside the USS Lake Champlain which had come in earlier in the day.
The fire bureau boat continued upriver as the Kidd was turned. I realized that I needed to change from my zoom lens to the regular one and stepped to the other side of the walkway along the east side of the river, right at river level. Already I had put up the hood of my raincoat to keep the brisk, cool wind off my head. As I turned my back to the fire boat to make preparations to change lenses, I heard something coming towards me--the spray from a fireboat cannon! In seconds I was drenched as if I'd stepped into a waterfall, shoes full of water--not from the spray but from the stream of water. Thank goodness I had my hood up and my back to the boat! Thank goodness nothing happened to my camera or lenses! Not only had I been able to see the fire boats shooting water, I'd met that water up close and personal, an utterly unforgettable memory.
USS GARY arrives. You can see the entire Steel Bridge opening in this photo and that the Broadway Bridge has already closed.
You can see evidence of the wind that blew the entire evening in this shot of the Gary's flag. It says, "USS Gary FFG-51. Two guns. Back off varmint!" I took about a dozen shots but couldn't get a better one than this.
Left to right, USS Kidd, USS Lake Champlain, and behind them, right to left, are the USS Preble--you can see a portion of it--and the USS Gary, all you can see of it is the tower, antennas, etc. Those trees along the wall are the cherry trees in this post.
The fleet is in.
Monday is departure day.
I love the colored water. Also the sailors lined up in the first photo. They remind me of Mr. Salty.
ReplyDeleteDouble triple wow!! Awesome series! You did great work and paid a price for it too. Good thing you got hit with water water and not colored water, lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Great pictures, they all give me chills.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I enjoyed the colored water but it was the first photo of the sailors lining the deck which I found most appealing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I especially liked your perspective. That you were at river level. Sorry you paid the price of getting wet but you will always remember the experience. This will be a story you share thirty years from now.
I'm envious.
Love the fireboat pictures! I've never seen them using coloured water before.
ReplyDeleteA.
Nice photos. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI always find myself amazed watching a ship be called around in such a small space.
ReplyDeleteGreg
Hobart Daily
Bicheno Daily
You have great photos, Lynette. Crisp, colourful, and the Navy has always had a special place in my heart. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the red and blue sprays.
ReplyDeleteClose call with that cannon shot, though! I'm glad your camera paraphenalia is okay, but I hate to think of you squishing home in soaked clothes!
"Louis" really appreciates your posting these photos. Like 'Blognote', the Navy has always had a special place in "Louis's" heart.
ReplyDeleteU.S.S. Kidd is a Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG). Her keel was laid on 1 March 2004; she was launched on 15 December 2004. She is 511' long and her maximum beam is 66'. Her crew is 348 enlisted and 32 officers. Her home port is San Diego.
U.S.S. Gary is a Guided Missile Frigate, also home ported in San Diego. She was launched on 19 November 1982. She is 453' long and has a maximum beam of 47'.
U.S.S. Lake Champlain is a Guided Missile Cruiser launched 3 April 1987. She is 567' long and has a maximum beam of 55'.
U.S.S. Preble, DDG 88, is a Guided Missile Destroyer launched on 1 June 2001. She is 511' long and her extreme beam is 66'.
"Louis" posted this on Memorial Day about four Navy Admirals.
"Louis's" posts about the World War II submarine U.S.S. Pampanito are here, here and here.