SKYWATCH Friday Season 4 Episode 30

One of my favorite scenes: the minarets of the University of Tampa shot from across the Hillsborough River as the sun begins to set.

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SKYWATCH Friday - Season 4 Episode 19

The blue sky and clouds over downtown Tampa looking out across the Hillsborough River from Tampa Preparatory School. The Cass Street Bridge,shown to the right in the open position, is undergoing a months-long maintenance and refurbishing. Media General and the tower of WFLA News Channel 8 can be seen past it.


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A Bridge Tender's vantage point

It was already still and quiet as night as the sun set this evening over the Hillsborough River. This is the view facing north from the bridge tender's house on the Kennedy Street Bridge. This particular bridge was built in 1913, and is the third to cross the river at this spot. When it was built it was named the Lafayette Street Bridge but was renamed in 1964 in memory of President John F. Kennedy following his death the year before. (The President's motorcade crossed this bridge when he visited Tampa on November 18, 1963, just four days before his assassination in Dallas.)

In the distance on the right is the new Tampa Museum of Art, which is still under construction, and the open Cass Street Bridge is straight ahead. After heavy rains throughout the day the clouds disappeared just before the sun began to set. But, the air is still thick with humidity. Looking down at the boat passing under the bridge it occurred to me that the place to be tonight would be out enjoying the much cooler air on the open water.

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No Points for Second Place

The Rutgers University crew team, 2008, left their tag on the wall just under Kiley Gardens in Tampa's downtown. The artwork left by the teams is intended more for opposing college and university rowing teams then for us so they may at times be somewhat cryptic. RU is Rutgers, but No Points for Second Place is pretty clear, even to the passengers on this passing boat on the river. Many of these I just cannot figure out but I don't think they care; that's not the point. Like it or not, the effort that went into completing this red, white and blue design, and careful lettering, had to have been a well-orchestrated team effort...how do the teams always end up with a right-brain artist crewing with them that can create these mural? And, I always ask, when do they do them that no one ever sees them at work?

Your Empty Bench Awaits

It cannot get any more inviting then this bench sirring empty alongside this peaceful stretch of the Hillsborough River. Up a ways for the office towers, traffic and seawalls of the downtown area, this spot is quiet and relaxing. It really is as nice here as it appears. The afternoon air is a bit hot (and humid) but an rain shower might come to cool things off. Maybe.

Railroad bridge or work of great modern art?

The Cass Street Bridge, 500 feet in length and built in 1926 at a cost of $400,000, was added as a river crossing to relieve some traffic on the Lafayette, later named, Kennedy Street Bridge. It connected Tampa’s main downtown with West Tampa. It is closed for 8-months for structural repairs and should reopen in October. (After state inspection it was found to be “structurally deficient.”) The railroad bridge, which is shown in the open position, sits beside the Cass Street Bridge; it was constructed in 1915. The bridge allowed railcars to travel south from Tampa’s downtown area, across the Hillsborough River, to Port Tampa. The street and bridge were named for General Lewis Cass. As interesting as a railroad bridge may be, the man who the street was named for is far more interesting if you love history. Until I took this shot I had no idea who Cass was. Born in 1782, during our struggle for independence from England, Cass served as a military officer, governor of the Michigan territory, United States Senator representing the state of Michigan, Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, and Ambassador to France. My guess is the street was named for him because of his post as secretary of war and the Indian Removal policy that was a major issue at that time. He ran for president on the Democrat party ticket in 1848, but lost the election to Zachary Taylor. From 1857 until 1860, when Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, he served as Secretary of State under President James Buchanan. He died in 1866.

The bridge, named for such an accomplished politician and statesman, has acquired a brilliant, unusual and un-statesmanlike patina. I think much of the color and decoration has been added over the years by our illustrious university and college crew teams who row up and down this stretch of the river in their skulls. I featured the Laurel Street Bridge on June 23 that showcased some of their wild and extremely colorful and creative crew art. The Laurel Street and Cass Street Bridges, and this railroad bridge, are all listed as Historic Bridges of the United States.

This bridge is called the ACL Bridge because it was built to carry the trains of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad. For bridge engineering fans out there, it is a “truss bascule” design; as we less educated should know, that refers to the large, weighted portion raised up on the right side (that looks to be a very large canvas and amazing work of modern art.) These giant weights act as a counterweight to the bridge span and continuously balance it as it is raised to allow boats to go through. (Bascule is French for seesaw and balance.) According to the bridge design sites, this is the most common type of movable bridge. The Laurel Street Bridge, just up the river from Cass Street, is also a bascule design.

If any of you are movie fans, and are real good at your trivia, the 2004 movie “The Punisher” was filmed in Tampa. It starred John Travolta, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Roy Scheider and Thomas Jane as the Punisher. Part of the car chase scenes were filmed on the Cass Street Bridge.

As construction of the new Tampa Museum of Art nears completion, it’s fitting that a modern masterpiece – the sides of the counterweights for the bridge - might be within a few yards of the blank exhibit walls of the new museum. I wonder if they have contemplated featuring them in a show. It could be quite a blockbuster. (Or at least it would certainly be talked about.)

A Bridge of Quite Different Sighs: Tampa's 83 Year Old Columbus Drive Bridge Is Looking Strong and Sturdy in Black and White.

Tampa has plenty of bridges over the river and bays. Many of them were built several years ago and have been regularly inspected and maintained and a few, such as the Howard Franklin Bridge and Gandy Bridge over Tampa Bay, have had entire spans replaced in recent years. This bridge over the Hilllsborough River at Columbus Drive is one of those that you speed across and never give it a thought. It's so fast and routine that very few even notice they're crossing a body of water. You're only on it for a matter of seconds and then it's forgotten. A swing-type bridge built in 1926, it is an entirely different structure, and experience, when seen from the water. We need to stop once in a while and really look at these places and things from our lives that we might see every day but pay little if any attention to. Yes, admittedly it is old, and may be showing its age and some wear. But it's a fascinating example of design and engineering that is recognized as one of roughly 32,000 Historic Bridges in the United States. It was built right long ago and still serves its purpose very well. Even if we don't pause and take a closer look.

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Rowers are Great Artists, Too: Crew Teams Leave Creative Evidence That They Rowed Tampa's Hillsborough River

The Laurel Street Bridge in Tampa was constructed in 1926 and is a “pony truss bascule style that pivots” from one side of the river's bank. This extremely colorful old concrete building, which houses the mechanical works, lies under and on the west side of the span. (If there are any bridge engineers out there you are welcome to chime in with a more accurate explanation of how it works.) Suffice it to say the bridge is over 80 years old and has seen everything in its day from sailing vessels hauling goods for unloading onto Tampa’s docks to today’s million dollar pleasure craft gliding under its steel span. Of course the traffic on top has been just as interesting and indicative of the vast changes we have seen in automotive design and technology since the first Model A crossed over the river. But through all the years the Laurel Street Bridge has withstood every test we could throw at it, including nature’s wrath of storms, flooding, the constant sun and deterioration caused by pollution in the air and water. The fact that it's still standing is a testament to its design, construction and constant maintenance. I realize I am not showing the entire bridge because the most fascinating parts of all of the bridges that cross the Hillsborough River in Tampa’s downtown are the works of art on the sides and foundations left behind by our friends on college and university (even a few high school) rowing teams. The art may have started to appear as early as the 1940s when the University of Tampa, which fronts the Hillsborough River, began its first crew team. The university crews began arriving back then and are here from January to March each year. Teams come to train from Princeton, Yale, Rutgers, Dartmouth and other colleges. And if you look, they have left reminders that they were here. Year after year. So it isn’t a recent rash of vandalism or overly-enthusiastic graffiti artists come to life. As you study the designs and messages, and before you dismiss these spray-painted and brushed-on tags as graffiti, just know that even the new Tampa Bay History Center (which I featured in yesterday’s post at Tampa Florida Photo) has taken more than casual notice of this artistic explosion on our river’s bridges. On its third floor is a wall-size exhibit featuring one of the bridges and the art left behind by the nation’s rowing teams. Many crew teams come to Tampa to train on our river and channels during the winter months when it is very cold up north. It must be a favorite place for the teams who use the facilities on the riverfront. (It's even hot and sunny at Christmas!) The men’s and women’s teams work very hard to perfect their technique and also find time to enjoy Tampa, Ybor City and our nearby Gulf beaches (if they can escape their coaches that long.) But, apparently one activity they will always find time for is leaving evidence that they were here. These talented kids, great athletes all, have to be fast, creative and in some case, nimble daredevils to hang and suspend from bridges and seawalls to get their design and message just right. It must be visible to every other school’s team that rows by after they leave. Whether it’s called urban art, school insignia or just plain graffiti, it is an important part of who we are as a city and some part of us should be proud that students from many of our nation’s top colleges and universities want to be remembered for having crewed in Tampa. I’m all for celebrating that achievement with them. (Plus, their artwork will always make for great photography.)

SkyWatch Friday: The marina at Ricks on the River is the place to ride out the approaching storm

This easterly view of the sky over Tampa shows the clouds beginning to gather, darken and grow more menacing. But we really need the moisture in those threatening, blackening clouds. Thankfully they'll let loose a real downpour which might last 15 minutes, more or less. The funny thing about Florida rain showers here on the Gulf Coast, now that we are back into our rainy season, is my street might get an inch of good, soaking rain, this marina 2 inches, and your house, a few blocks away? Zero. But, guaranteed, the humidity will drop a little and the air will feel cooler, even if the temps stay around 90+ degrees (32+ degrees celsius!) Our drought isn't over yet but the rain is falling more regularly and the water reservoirs and the rivers are beginning to rise. These boats tied up at Ricks's marina on the Hillsborough River won't be sitting up high and dry on the sand if the rains continue. At least not anytime soon from the looks of the storm that is surely coming this way.

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Rick's Pirate Girl welcomes you with treasure and rum on the riverfront

This is a departure from yesterday's shipboard worship services but I couldn't resist. I am always drawn to handpainted artwork and murals on commercial establishments, whether it's a laundromat, convenience store or, as in this case, a riverfront bar and grill. The murals and their subject matter do of course differ from wall to wall depending on the product, service and clientele. In this case, Rick's on the River is a very popular restaurant located smack on the Hillsborough River. It is just a couple of minutes from South Tampa, the downtown business district and maybe faster by boat. Although several places in Tampa have good views of the water, not many allow diners and those looking for a cold drink to pull up to the dock and take a seat. Rick's certainly provides ample space with slips for boats up to 50 ft. in length. Right now the marina is crowded with every imaginable kind of watercraft and the docks and services look first rate. The place has lots of outside seating, even a large, inviting private party area. Plus, they feature live music every day. And, they are open every day of the year serving a delicious-looking menu including fresh oysters and quenching, cooling drinks. (They do cater.) It's enough to make any friendly pirate girl give up her plundering ways, drop the swashbuckling sword and join the boaters for terrific live music, a basket of fried onion rings, grouper and an icey bottle of Land Shark beer. (Visit their website. It's lots of Florida fun and very informative with menus, location and marina information - Ricks on the River. ) Yo-ho-ho, you landlubbers. This is a place to steer your ship when you're looking for Tampa treasure. Note: I cannot guarantee the pirate girl is waiting (although this fantastic mural will greet you upon arrival.)

It's a tough life but someone has to live it.

The Arts Center Lofts in downtown Tampa provide the backdrop for another gorgeous day. With humidity below 30% and a good breeze, the 91-degree temperature seems almost comfortable. These condominiums are on Doyle Carlton Drive just north of the Tampa Performing Arts Center and right on the Hillsborough River. The boat that is fast making its way down the river towards the bay is a 37-foot Maxum Sport Yacht. Along with a sleek appearance and plenty of room to entertain up top, this boat actually has two queen sized berths below deck. Although not exactly a small investment new at close to $300,000, it sure ups the fun factor on a day like this. (Can you imagine filling the 300-gallon fuel tank.? Wow!) What more could you ask for than a clear blue sky, puffy white clouds, warm breezy weather (almost NO humidity) and a pleasure craft like this one to help you enjoy the day on the water. Just add giant Gulf shrimp and a pitcher of cooling refreshment. Done!