Cub Scout Coasties

Saturday we went with the Cub Scouts to visit the Coast Guard.  One of the Dads is a civilian Coast Guard employee otherwise I'm not sure how you get on base.  Our first stop was the air station near SFO where the search and rescue helicopters are stationed.  This air station has been here since 1941 and SFO, the huge airport grew up around it.  We had a great tour led by a lieutenant who co-pilots helicopters and the crew chief.

 

 

Buddy Boy was able to answer questions about how the helicopter worked.  I'm not sure where he learned that.  Mythbusters? Ruff Ruffman?  I don't remember ever talking about drag or vertical and horizontal stabilizers.

They certainly have a great view.

The kids had a lot of fun climbing in and around the helicopter and rescue basket.

 

Our next stop was the Coast Guard station on Yerba Buena Island.  You get there by taking an exit off the middle of the Bay Bridge between SF and Oakland.  The station has a great view of the Bay Bridge construction.  I'm glad we were there on a weekend.  It would be pretty noisy during construction.  I saw ear plug dispensers by the doors of one of the buildings.

 

We got to go aboard the Coast Guard cutter Pike.  It is an 87 foot cutter used to patrol the Bay.  The Captain and officer of the day were there to show us around.

Here's My Girl sitting watch. The kids were especially interested in seeing the "bedrooms" and the kitchen galley.  They loved the fact that there was a TV with video games in the mess area.

Luckily we were there in November instead of the summer so that we could get a warm sunny day.  The weather is just crazy that way. 

This island really has some great views of the city and the bridges of the bay.

SF and the Golden Gate bridge

 

SF and the Bay bridge

 

Overall, a really great day.