Sunrise, Calle Lillies, Bixby Bridge, And the Wisteria Gate, Won't You Please Come In?

Up way before sunrise to go to the coast.  My main goal was to get the Calle Lily and ocean shot.  Little did I know how difficult it would be to find at first.  Little did I know how difficult it would be to get down to the area to shoot.  Little did I know how easy it was if I would have just come down the other side.  Oh well, lessons learned and memories that will last a lifetime :).........

The San Francisco City Hall

In April 1978, San Francisco City Hall received a special award from the American Institute at Architects as one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture in the country. It is truly beautiful and open to the public for tours.

Northern California Grapes

We are so blessed in Northern California with such a great harvest.  God is so very good to us and He is to be praised.  Thank you Jesus.

Mare Island

According to Wikipedia, "On November 6, 1850, two months after California was admitted to statehood, President Fillmore reserved Mare Island for government use. A second drydock was begun in 1899, a concrete structure 740 feet (230 m) long set on wooden piles; it was completed in 1910. By 1941 a third drydock had been completed and dry dock number four was under construction. The ammunition depot and submarine repair base were modern, fireproof buildings. A million dollar, three-way vehicle causeway to Vallejo replaced a ferry service. By May 1941, with a monthly payroll of $3,500,000. In 1941, the drafting department had expanded to three buildings accommodating over 400 naval architects, engineers and draftsmen. The hospital had 584 beds. During World War II, the shipyard employed up to 50,000 workers.In 1993 Congress approved the findings of the Base Realignment and Closure report, leading to the closure of Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The shipyard had long been the economic engine of the city of Vallejo, employing 10,000 workers after reductions in 1988. When Congress ordered the base closure, the shipyard employed 5,800 workers.

As a submariner, I heard many many stories about Mare Island, but was never onboard a submarine that went into dry dock for an overhaul there. It is a base rich with history and I hope that it can be repurposed. Many of the buildings are deteriorating and much of Mare Island is currently not being used, as far as I can see.