My first PJ attempt.

This is the Portland, OR, 2004 Rose Festival. An annual tradition, the Portland Waterfront turns into a week long party. To help celebrate, US Navy, US Coastguard, and HMCS Canadian Warships park along the Willamette River Seawall, right in front of Downtown Portland. This year, due to increased terrorist threats, security is at historic levels. In years past, one could walk along the seawall and gawk up close at a USN Destroyer Class Warship. This year, jersey barriers, barbed wire and M-16's limit access to the USN portion of the seawall. In any event, the City of Portland is glad to have them here! (Even photographing the ships from a nearby bridge I drew some security attention from the NIS. Glad they are on top of it!)

Anyway, its an annual tradition for me to be around when the ships come in. You oughta see what they do to Interstate 5 rush hour traffic.

I love it!