Angel Fest: Blue Angels on Angel Island

Friend Jenny and I took the ferry out from Tiburon on October 8 to Angel Island State Park, then a shuttle to Point Knox across the bay from San Francisco to see the beginning of Fleet Week. The Navy's Blue Angels Jet Team performed along with the Breitling Jet Team from France and a number of other stunt flyers. The air show ran from noon to 4PM; the seven-member Breitling team from 2-3PM (their vapor trails and maneuvers were particularly intricate) and the Blue Angels in the last hour (tight formations are a hallmark of this team). Different websites cited different times, though I understand the Angels ALWAYS perform between 3 and 4PM. The jets sound like thunder, and the sound reaches you well after the airplanes have moved past. The most thrilling moment for me was when the Blues arrived over our heads on Angel Island, flying in from points north.
Here's my brief video of moments from the day.


For an amazing video of the Breitling Team over New York, see this YouTube. It makes you want to be a jet pilot (or at least buy a very expensive watch).

Once They Were Giants--and Still Are!

It's Bob!

Draft horses--an animal most people associate with the Budweiser Beer team of Clydesdales--are enormous! Weighing in between 1500 to 2400 pounds (the weight of an average automobile) and standing 16 to 19 hands tall at the shoulder (64 - 76 inches; a "hand" is four inches), these gentle giants tower over their fans. The draft horse is the second strongest work animal in the world, after elephants; a pair holds the record for hauling 5.38 tons! Clydesdales are one breed of these hefty horses still used for farm and lumber work and wagon pulls. In addition, the American Cream (the only native American breed), Belgians, Percherons, Shires and Suffolks are popular breeds.

The Annual Draft Horse Classic in the Nevada City Fairgrounds has been held for the last 29 years, and features buggy and wagon driving and a log-hauling competition. Competitors come from all over the United States and Canada. During the Sunday show I attended, we were treated to single ladies and single men buggy competitions in addition to six-horse team driving that takes incredible skill and practice.

The driver actually holds the reins to all six horses separately

In between the competitions, trick riders, precision teams (the California Cowgirls), and antique wagons (including an authentic chuck wagon and dairy delivery truck) entertained the crowd. One of the most beautiful and accomplished displays of horsemanship I've ever seen was by wild mustang trainer and genuine horse whisperer Bobby Kerr; the two animals he rode for the crowd were trained from the wild in 120 days, and it was clear the horses adored him and worked with him as members of a team. He also brought in two of his trained dogs who acted the part of cattle to demonstrate the horse's ability to cut and herd. One of the funniest moments of the show was when Kerr had his main mount climb up into the back of his pick-up truck and have a seat for the ride back out of the area.

The show wasn't the only attraction: there was an excellent display of horse- and wildlife-themed art, and continuous entertainment in a nearby stage.including Sidewinder,a western swing band, and Sourdough Slim, the Yodeling Cowboy--seriously impressive yodeling, folks.

 Next year's Classic is September 21-24. If you, like me, had a total obsession with horses as a little kid, you will LOVE this. Between shows, visitors are allowed to visit the horse barns and say hello to the big boys and girls. It's a little disconcerting when a horse's head is three feet above your own, but these are truly the gentle giants of the horse world, and as sweet-tempered as can be.

See a bigger, better version of the video below at Vimeo:  http://vimeo.com/185190626