Rafting prologue

I dont have any of my own photos back yet. But I decided to pre-empt my description of Sunday's whitewater rafting trip on the American river with this yet-to-be-purchased pic of our boat doing the Tunnel Chute. This is a class four rapid (class six is 'risking serious consequences or death') - And your's truly is going in first at the front of the boat (lower right).

This is what is said about it.
Tunnel Chute rapid is like no other whitewater rapid in the world. It is actually a man made chute that was blasted by miners to divert the river to allow better access to the previously natural river channel. The river narrows to a width just wider than the raft is long, the wall becomes vertical on both sides of the river and water pours in from the left side, and then the river drops as you see in these photos. The river then flows through a tunnel below the rapid. What a rush!

Look Dear

Deer on the summit moving between the observatory buildings. Just to add to my snake, bear encounters.

Some views from Mt Hamilton

In the last one you can see the bottom of the bay. On a really clear day with a zoom lense you can see San Francisco apparently.

Observatory Buildings

Observatory buildings. The first ones were constructed in 1888.

Lick Observatory @ Mt Hamilton

Saturday arvo we drove up Mount Hamilton to see the Lick Observatory and get some views of the valley. This was one of the longest, continously, tight narrow and windy road I have ever been on. A real thrill ride that left me with a real headache and tired arms.

Summit was beautiful. The Observatory was cool and the views were great.

You can get round-the-clock web cam shots from the roof at http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/hamcam/

USS Hornet #4

Tomcat on the hanger deck and the view down the hanger deck from the cockpit.

USS Hornet #3

Superstructure and the catapult on the flight deck. I froze a little in my shorts and t-shirt as it was a bit cloudy and windy on this morning. The sun came out as I was leaving :(