The Lone Sailor
The Lone Sailor
At the north end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is Vista Point, a place with panoramic views of the bridge spanning the strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the city, the Oakland Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz. There is a statue there called The Lone Sailor, dedicated in 2002 to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. It’s a replica of a statue at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Its plaque reads, “Here the sailor feels the first long roll of the sea, the beginning of the endless horizon that leads to the far Pacific.”
I think about those sailors who have left the port of San Francisco and passed under the bridge, many of them headed to war.
Golden Gate Bridge from Vista Point
I also like to think of those sailors taking in this view of the city of San Francisco as they returned after long durations at sea.
San Francisco from Vista Point
This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website.
Great shots, as usual, Cathy.
🙂
Nice, Cathy! You always remind me to take a look at the nearby things and appreciate them. (Although SF isn’t so near anymore. 😉
Thanks, Katrina! It’s amazing what fun and interesting places we can find close to home.
You’ve captured this beautifully!
Thanks so much!
Beautiful! I think we may take a trip over the bridge during Thanksgiving. Will make a point to see the Lone Sailor.
Thanks, Debbie. Hope you’ll take a few minutes to stop at Vista Point and see it (and the awesome views from there).
Great pics! And I really enjoyed the thoughtful write-up as well. I’m glad you also showed the pics from the sailor’s point of view, so to speak. After reading the first paragraph I was really curious as to what exactly he was seeing 🙂
Thanks, Sabrina. I appreciate your kind words.
I like the idea of taking in the view upon their return – it would be a sad moment as they head out under the bridge.
Love the shots.
Thanks, Leigh. It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?
I love San Francisco and that is a view of the Golden Gate Bridge I haven’t seen.
Glad to show you something new, Lisa!
Nice shots, Cathy. Having grown up in Halifax, the seat for the Canadian Navy on the Canadian East Coast, we have many memorials to our sailors. A future post for me, perhaps. 🙂
Thanks, Nancie! I’ll look forward to seeing your sailor memorial photos! 🙂
Beautiful photo, Cathy!
Your comments are always appreciated!
I agree with Sabrina, I loved your write up and thinking what an emotional place it must have been for the sailors.
Thank you, Laurel. It was the emotion of the statue and scene that really compelled me to do a post on it.
Great photos, Cathy – and thought-provoking writing.
Thanks, Sophie 🙂
Thanks Cathy for this. The reminder to stop and reflect upon all who have sailed from harbours , and those who didn’t come back.
It is amazing sailing into the harbour at SF
He looks so sad! 🙁
Cool photo. I love the clouds in the background.
Very cool–on all my visits to SF, I never saw this. Thanks!
San Francisco is a wonderful place to visit. I know the bridge and surrounding areas quite well, but did not come across this statue. Nice post!
Great photos! I’m really glad you contacted me. Such a small world!
Bummer! I wish I would have known about this earlier. I was just in San Francisco a few weeks ago and visited the Golden Gate Bridge a handful of times. I’ll put it on the list for my next visit. Thanks for the tip, Cathy! — Michelle
one of my dream is to visit San Francisco. this is what i am saving money for 😀
Great story behind such lovely photos. I don’t remember seeing this statue. Perhaps I need to take some time out over the weekend to revisit. 😉 Tour of my own city?