Moving the USS Mount Washington AOT5076 on the

Moving the USS Mount Washington AOT-5076 on the 18 th of November, 2013 A Photo Shoot by Mike Mc. Cullough

Instead of driving, I decided to travel to San Francisco to see the arrival of SS Mount Washington via train and bicycle. I took train 135 from San Jose, arriving at the San Francisco train station before 10: 38 AM. Bicycled to Pier 38 where USCGC Fir was during my previous bicycle trip, but she was not there. Hopefully this ship was not sent to the scrappers like the historic USCGC Storis was.

Then bicycled South to the area of Aqua Vista Park, located South of Pier 50, where there is a good view of BAE Systems Ship Repair - San Francisco, just in case if MV Washington had arrived early. She was not there. To the right in the photo can be seen the Ready Reserve Force ships MV Cape Horne and MV Cape Hudson at Pier 50. Between piers 48 and 50 are the tugs MV Apollo and USS Dekaury. Note something missing aboard MV Apollo. On the way, at Pier 50, photographed the fishing boat Miss Jessie, from Eureka, California. MV Miss Jessie may be after Dungeness crab. If so, the harvest may end up at the restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf.

On the South side of Pier 50 is MV Maritol and the drydock DD #1. Drydock DD #1

In the area of pier 50 was a duck. Vern, didn’t you say you were on one of these in Seattle? At Pier 54 is a railroad pier from where trains were transported between San Francisco, Oakland, and perhaps Marin County.

On the way North I noticed workers checking on the piers along Mc. Covey Cove. Was going to set up base camp at that pier which extends East from AT&T Park, where the Giants Play, located at 37. 7785, -122. 3853 on the Satellite View of Google Maps, but sailboats blocked the view of the Bay Bridge. From here I photographed MV Cape Horn and MV Cape Hudson at Pier 50.

This seagull wanted some Cheetos Mix Ups. Well before noon I set up base camp Base camp between piers 30 - 32 and 38, located at 37. 7834, -122. 3874 on the Satellite View of Google Maps. Would liked to have set up base camp on Pier 30 -32, but it was closed. Besides my camera tripod which I carried in my bicycle saddlebags, the saddlebags also held 4 cans of Safeway refresher soft drinks, a large bag of Cheeto’s Mix Ups, and a copy of Blind Man's Bluff: By the time SS Mount Washington arrived, quite some time after 1 PM, read to somewhere past page 70. MV Mount Washington was planned to dock around 1 PM ( “around 1300”).

At about 2: 55 PM, SS Mount Washington came into view.

After taking this photograph [19], I bicycled South. Stopped long enough to photograph SS Mount Washington, from the center of the Lefty O'Doul Bridge, passing Mc. Covey Cove. AT&T Park is to the left, and the clock states 3: 05 PM.

After photographing SS Mount Washington passing Mc. Covey Cove ( a place where baseballs splash down ), I bicycled to Aqua Park, located South of Pier 54. Photographed from the fishing pier which can be seen on the Satellite View of Google Maps at 37. 7661, -122. 3858 or a short distance to the North of Aqua Park can be seen the Ready Reserve Force Ro / Ro ships MV Cape Horn and MV Cape Hudson at Pier 50. Note the piers which have been allowed to rot. South of Aqua Park is BAE Systems Ship Repair - San Francisco, where SS Mount Washington was heading to. At the date of arrival, BAE Systems Ship Repair - San Francisco the Military Sealift Command oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser T-AO 187 was under going overhaul, and the Matson container ship SS Lihue was laid up.

At about 3: 10 PM (not “around 1300” ) SS Mount Washington came into view

At about 3: 14 PM, one of the tugs changed its position. MV Mount Washington continued past BAE Systems.

But, later on, SS Mount Washington was pushed backwards.

Sometime before 3: 39 PM, the turnaround of SS Mount Washington started.

SS Mount Washington being pushed towards the drydock.

Visible became the offshore petroleum discharge service equipment and the tug MV Z Five. There were people aboard SS Mount Washington.

SS Mount Washington being pushed towards the drydock.

At about 4: 25 PM MV Z Four and MV Z Five Departed; leaving MV Sandra Hugh pushing SS Mount Washington.

At about 4: 36 PM (quite a ways from “about 1300”) MV Sandra Hugh finished pushing SS Mount Washington.

My original plan after photographing SS Mount Washington was to bicycle to Warm Water Cove Park, located at the foot of 24 th. Street, to photograph USS Tripoli, but it was getting dark. Instead I bicycled back to the train station, and arrived there as Train 268 was loading passengers. The train left at 4: 56 PM. When I got off the train, the sign at the San Jose train station said 6: 16 PM. Bicycled home. When I reached San Carlos Street, instead of heading directly home, I went a block West on San Carlos Street and got dinner at Jack in the Box. Arrived home shortly before 7 PM. Mike Mc. Cullough