Joseph Strauss, R.I.P.

“…I am totally out of sympathy with the ‘Can’t be done’ policy, as evidenced by my work on the Golden Gate Bridge, which you may know was considered impossible…my first duty now is to safeguard my health, and for this reason I plan to assume no active duties until fall.” —excerpted from letter, Joseph Strauss to the Pacific Seadrome Company, June 4, 1937

Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss, the man who “dared the impossible” and supervised the construction of “The Bridge that could not be built”, died on May 16, 1938 at the age of 68, less than a year after turning over the Golden Gate Bridge to the newly created Bridge District.

Word a Week Challenge: Orange

Here is the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear night. Enjoy.

Word a Week: Orange
Photo © Allan G. Smorra, All Rights Reserved

Photo Notes: iPhone 5 using Night Modes photo app, edits in Snapseed.

A Word a Week Challenge: Orange

Spring Fever

Today was one of those days. It was absolutely gorgeous at the Golden Gate Bridge and my co-worker and I got the opportunity to climb up the Main Cable on the East Backspan of the South Tower to replace a lamp in one of the Cable Outline Lights.

After we were done, I stopped on the return trip to take this photograph. Enjoy.

Q: How was your day, Honey?
A: Fabulous!
Photo © Allan G. Smorra, All Rights Reserved

Photo Notes: iPhone 5, Camera+ app, edited in Snapseed.

Weekly Photo Challenge: A Day in My Life

I am taking the easy way out on this week’s challenge: A Day in My Life. Embedded below is a short video that was made by the Media Department of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. I have been an active member of the IBEW since 1968, and I am one of eight electricians at the Golden Gate Bridge.

I hope that you enjoy my day.

Q: How many electricians does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None. Real electricians aren’t afraid of the dark!

Allan’s Note: I am always on the lookout for new How many….does it take to change a light bulb? jokes. If you have any, please share them in the Comments section below.

Travel theme: Bridges

This week Ailsa has challenged us to post a photo of a bridge. ‘Nuf said…

The Golden Gate Bridge
Photo © Allan G. Smorra, All Rights Reserved

I took this photo with my iPhone 5 using Camera+ and then I made edits with Snapseed.

Travel Theme: Bridges

Tagged “H”

“Hopper is a bear of a guy with a bushy mustache and a sensitive side. When he noticed that waterfront joggers have a ritual of touching the fence at the dead-end of the sidewalk next to Fort Point, he had the bridge’s sign painter make a sign with two handprints on it, and another sign with two dog paws, because one woman had her dog touch the fence.” —“Saving Lives Just Part of the Job” by Scott Osltler, San Francisco Chronicle, January 10, 2001

Enjoy my take on the letter “H”.

Hopper’s Hands
Photo © Allan G. Smorra, All Rights Reserved

I took this photo with my iPhone 5 and made edits in Snapseed.

Related blog: Hoppers Hands - Who is Hopper?

Tagged “H”