I went through the images from the USS Providence field trip and I was amused at what i ran across. These are snapshots to be sure, but they capture what they capture, even if they aren't beautiful.

My grandfather helped design and build the Nautilus. He told me about it and the dangers they faced and the long hours. So, like the submariners who took her to the North Pole, I cannot but look fondly upon the boat and have a sense of pride and connection. We visited the Nautilus and then went over to Groton to visit the Providence.

As I described in my previous post I didn't bring a fancy camera with me but apparently I did have my little Olympus XA. Looking at this image (and some others from the same roll) I'm fairly impressed. I guess as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. I shelved it a little while back when I started using Contax rangefinders, but perhaps it will find its way back into my pocket.

I then borrowed Amie's little Panasonic P&S to keep going. How far we have come to have a giant container of Kikkoman soysauce on the galley of a submarine (I grew up learning about the Japanese and American conflict on the sea in WWII).

I want to put up one last photo for chuckles... but it isn't that funny and may not do my unwitting photo subject any justice so I am going to leave it be. But, for a description I have the Capt. talking to us with an odd commercial on the TV in the background.

Every now and again a "once in a lifetime" opportunity comes along. For me it was the opportunity to board an active Los Angeles Class nuclear attack submarine. The USS Providence (named after this fine city) was in port in Groton, CT and through Rotary connections we were able to have a private tour of the boat by the skipper.

Being an active nuclear attack sub (think Hunt for Red October - the hunter was one of these) I figured taking a camera of any note would be frowned upon ( so I didn't take one). Little did I know that they really didn't care too much except for one of the command rooms (which we still got to see). From an artistic standpoint it wasn't the inside that was so cool. In fact it was the outside, docked next to another nuclear sub, both sitting low in the water. The boats looked so innocuous against the water and tree-lined surroundings, just dark black tubes floating on the water.

It was a great experience, especially for a history buff like myself.

Here is Capt. Holland, John McGinn (Rotary President), and representatives from the Naval Society. I may post one of the photos from the trip later showing the changing of command ceremony.