In search of photos of the TRACEN Alameda training 'tug' circa 1978

[EX-CG-GM]

I used to go to Jack London Square pretty regularly when I was in Alameda.  Drank at Kirby's Elegant farner, the Bombay Bicycle Club and some place that was supposed to look like Jack London's cabin.  There was a huge schooner moored there.   About 150 feet.   Went aboard it once.  A guy on the Dexter had his own 65' schooner and we moored by the big one.  They gave us a tour.  Incredible.....right up to the crew's berthing.  Looked like an old CG ship.  I think the racks were ony two high though.  Way up in the bow.   Guy told us he charged the crew to sail the ship.  Think it was about $150 a month, which was pretty good money back then.  The owner of the schooner owned several furniture stores.

We left.....hell the CG paid US to serve on their ships!

[Cupamud]

Stan (and Zoomer),

I poured back many a beer with good friends at Heinhold's First and Last Chance in Jack London Square--is that small, dark, beautiful tavern still in operation?! God, I loved that place 

 

Regards,
Larry

[Zoomer]

I don't know if its still there.....I have docent duty on the lightship, which is moored at Jack London Square, on the 26th....I'll look for it.  Send me a PM to let me know exactly where in Jack London Square it was located.  Jack London has had a major makeover in the past years.....

[EX-CG-GM]

Larry-


I haven't been there in many a year so don't know if it's still there or not.

I too had a drink or 9 there years ago......

[Cupamud]

It was in the back left corner as you entered the little square. At least that's what my two remaining brain cells tell me...

 

I have an old postcard of the place---will dig it out and try to post it in the next couple days.

Thanks for looking!

And docent duty---cool!   

[mawood]

Here's a dated air photo of Government Island. Notice that the new barracks haven't been built yet.  If you look at the dock just off the causway, you can see the small boats and tug used for training.



When I went through (June-Aug 1970), the tug was painted black.  Toward the end of our training, we took a day cruise to Treasure Island and back.  We were drilled in helmsmanship, being lookouts, and line handling.

mw

[Zoomer]

Now THAT is OLD!  If you look at the parking lot coming onto the island over the causway, there isn't a credit union building.  It was there in '68 when I went to bootcamp...so the picture had to be before that.  Too bad none of the ships were tied up at the time of the picture, could have help date the picture.

On my trip out of Jack London Square this past weekend, I didn't see the bar in question.  If its tucked in the back, next time during a lul in the tours, I'll take a stroll down the inside of JLS and see if I can locate it.

[vftb]

But you can kinda make out the Porpoise Club    When I went to boot camp it looked pretty much like that, forgot about the credit union.  But, after spending over a year and a half there as an instructor, later on, it sure looks funny without the "new" recruit barracks behind the grinder.

[mawood]

Here are a couple other pics. 

The top photo is newest as it includes the "new" recruit barraks (now home of USCG Pacific Area, Eleventh District Office and MLCPAC:



And below is a real oldie. Note that the swimming pool building has yet to be constructed:



And finally, from the days of wooden ships and iron men...



Mark .. Used board to resize image to remove slider.

Code:

[img width=800]http://www.alamedainfo.com/Estuary_Inner_Harbor_of_Oakland_California.jpg[/img]

[sparky]

Breaks my heart to see the old grinder that soaked up all my blood sweat and tears the summer of '63 covered with "new" buildings...I don't know whether or not the grinder or the obstacle course was my favorite.  Climbing the cargo net the first time was a pretty sight, arms, legs whatever all over every direction. Didn't take long to figure it all out though.

[Cupamud]

Wow, appreciate the great photo posts--I promised a bit ago to post a postcard I've had since my drinking days at Heinhold's First and Last Chance Bar, foot of Webster St., Oakland, CA. Hopefully, it turns out alright:

 

Larry

Cropped photo to reduce page size ... Buoy

[EX-CG-GM]

Was the Last Chance just off the square, on a side street to the left if you were facing the water?

As for the grinder........I hated that place with a passion.  Passed out there from running, lots of folks puked there from a variety of exercises, pebbles tore your hands up.....

They should nuked it!

 

[vftb]

C'mon Stan where's your spirit?  I loved getting out there in the morning before the sun came up and doing burpies 

[EX-CG-GM]

C'mon Stan where's your spirit?  I loved getting out there in the morning before the sun came up and doing burpies 

And you call ME a sick puppy!   

We had guys that would drop out of formation on the way to the grinder and climb the trees in front of the chapel to try to hide!  Silly ****s, they weren't exactly the first to ever try it and the permanent party folks checked the trees every day!   

[Cupamud]

Stan,

Was the Last Chance just off the square, on a side street to the left if you were facing the water?

As you left the base going across the bridge, you took a left and went down maybe a quarter mile (?) and then turned left into Jack London Sq. and it was tucked away in the back left corner of that area. I usually walked there and stumbled from there. 

Larry