Saturday, July 07, 2007

Here Kitty, Kitty...

Sydney puts on a glorious mid-winter's day as the USS Kitty Hawk purrs into town on her farewell tour. 47 years after first hitting the waves, the last of the US navy's conventionally powered carriers is nearly ready to sail off into the sunset - but not before ensuring the "entertainment" establishments in the Cross enjoy one final bumper weekend...

Down at Woolloomooloo, the Kitty's escort ships are on high alert, ready to repel any flying telephone assaults from Mr Crow's penthouse at the end of the wharf.

The business end of US naval firepower. In nearly half a century of active service, this floating battlestation has seen more wars than the G Bush duo combined.

A fearsome Super Hornet remains sits idle as her top gun prowls for targets of a different kind in the bar stip on Darlinghurst Road.


AWACs support peeks over the bulkhead on the gleaming foredeck. No doubt lovingly polished by Johny Howard himself.

The usually idyllic Garden Island naval base bears more than a passing resemblance to Pearl Harbour, albeit with Kate Beckinsdale regrettably absent.

Oh saaaaaay can you see... incoming greenbacks by the dawn's early light... The bars around the base gear up for the stampede of 6,000 cashed up sailors looking to turn their first trip onto "dry land" into an oxymoron.

CV-63 in all her glory. A full complement of Super Hornet's from the VFA-102 Diamondback squadron await their next call to duty.

Captain on the bridge! Aye aye Sir!

Anchors away!