Tuesday, June 30, 2015

2015 Easter

We start our trip to Texas with a visit to SoCal. It's a few days before Easter when we leave home. The hills and fields are green with new growth.
Newly planted fields spring to life

The hills are supporting lush green grasses


We take Hwy 154 inland off of Hwy 101 into Los Padres National Forest toward Paradise campground.
Hills are drier as we move inland

Here's our camp for the night



Nice camp with large oak trees

 I love looking up through

the big branches to the sky

We are up early the next morning to sneak through Los Angeles during the mid morning traffic lull. We get lucky and have a relatively easy drive through the LA gauntlet. Soon we are passing San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant which is in the process of decommissioning itself.  Since this plant's useful lifetime was much shorter than planned, we wonder what the average cost of a kilowatt hour it generated and how that cost compares to other energy sources. Although the state's energy czars aren't talking, this type of cost analysis must not compare well as California decision makers are no longer discussing building any more.
Ahh - the LA Diamond Lane is wide open

San Onofre Power Plant

We arrive to find Patti struggling with her new Yosemite OS

Peter helps Patti iron out some of the wrinkles in her new OS. Later we walk to downtown Encinitas to check out Holly's favorite local burner store - Flashbacks Recycled Fashion.
Lots of brightly colored wigs etc

OOoooo - Go-go boots! Do they glow in the dark?

Hey Peter - here's one for you

As we wander back we enjoy the fine spring weather, blooming plants, and Easter decorations. Later, we visit our friends Jamie & Suzy.
This family is eggs-tastic for Easter

Beautiful tree

Simons' garden is looking really good

Suzy prepares an Easter feast, while the rest of us hang out in the back yard. Collin shows us his latest fish surf board that he made and plays his new Dobro guitar.
Easter brunch table

Collin's fish board

It sounds nice


Back at Patti's, we cut some of her lovely roses for the table and enjoy Easter dinner together.




Easter or the Spring Equinox that both occur about the same time of year marks a time of new beginnings for Mother Nature. I have often wondered why New Year's Day is celebrated around the Winter Solstice when life is at a general standstill (in the northern hemisphere at least) rather than the Spring Equinox when life is renewing for another annual cycle.

Garden gate open to Easter and Spring





Saturday, June 20, 2015

California Dreaming




2015 blows in with high winds strong enough to topple a neighbor's redwood tree which blocks our driveway. After cutting up the tree and piling up the branches, we decide it's time to head south for better weather.
Checkers inspects downed redwood

With recent rains, the hills are green again


Winter study of light & shadow

Gaviota Pass


Ahhh... that's more like it!



We meet Peter's sister Holly and her husband Doug in Ventura for dinner. Holly shows us Pin-Ball, her new nighttime toy for Burning Man. After dinner and taking her new glowing balls for a spin, we traipse over to the new Rocket Fizz soda pop and candy shop.
pin-ball for our inner spinner

pin-balls glow at night

Ventura Rock Fizz store

Alien greeter

Lots of snacks & retro fun

Political pop

The next morning we are greeted with a glorious morning. Perfect for a walk on the beach.
The Great Wall of Leucadia

Tractor to the rescue

A Jurassic laughs at human folly from above

Even though Leucadia has gentrified over the years, it still retains it's funky edges. 
Classic pick up

Cool knocker

Burner or Baja bus ?

Great beach weather continues on so the next afternoon we meet our friends Jamie & Suzie for a dog walk on Solana Beach.
Aaahhhh - such a winter's day



Sky divers ride the air currents

Sandstone cliffs

Dog's got to wonder what his master is up to

Cono & Jamie @ play

Go get it Cono

Good boy!

Time to head home

Lifeguard says "hi"

Solano Beach

After a few days, it's time to return home, but first we stop in Pasadena for the once-a-month Rose Bowl Flea Market. This gigantic swap meet is held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, home of the UCLA Bruins football team and the site of New Year's Day Rose Bowl Game, nicknamed the "The Granddaddy of them all" because it's the oldest of the college bowl games which was first played in 1902.
Entrance to Rose Bowl Stadium

Homage to college football and list of annual games


Inside Rose Bowl Stadium



Seeing the Rose Bowl Stadium up close and personal is a real treat for me as I've been watching Rose Bowl games from since I was a kid. But the day is starting to get late and it's time to explore the flea market booths.
Vendor booths in the shadow of Rose Bowl Stadium

Surf board furniture

Light fixtures made from re-purposed vintage cameras

Ooohhh - I like this chair. Just wish it wasn't orange

Vintage Victoria

This couple has found their new living room furniture

After wandering around the Flea Market, we hop back on a freeway heading for Santa Barbara.
LA Freeway

Park in Santa Barbara


Santa Barbara Pier



Skateboarders show off in their park

Day's end in Santa Barbara


Clouds over Santa Barbara harbor
We are treated to another beautiful morning the next day. We decide to do a little exploring.
Santa Ynez River Valley



We turn off San Marcos Pass (Hwy 154) into Los Padres National Forest along the Santa Ynez River to check out some campgrounds for future reference. It's a lovely area especially as recent rains have clothed the hills in green grasses.




After pin pointing future camping areas, we return to Hwy 154 and stop at the Los Olivos General Store for lunch.While munching on very good sandwiches on their patio, we meet a former Bay Area resident who moved to the Los Olivos area several years ago because he owned horses. Since moving here, he's been surprised by the growing number of vineyards and wineries that have sprung up around the area. The movie Sideways highlighted the Santa Ynez valley's growing wine business.
Main street Los Olivos CA

Old pump @ General Store

Santa Ynez vineyard

After lunch we're back on Hwy 101 going home.
Winter days can be spectacle

Mission bell marking El Camino Real

Vineyards around Paso Robles

Almost home! Evening Fog rolls into the Pajaro River Valley


My Grandmother always said "The best part of a trip is being home."

We have a few days to enjoy being home. Then we welcome Leslie and Al for a visit. They are from Rhode Island and have taken two years off to be "full timers" living and traveling in their van. We met them a year ago in Death Valley.
Morning Doga - come on guys share the mat

David hardly working

Leslie & Al @ the PM RV Resort

Since the weather is holding, we take them on a grand tour of the Santa Cruz area.
 Natural Bridges State Park



Natural Bridges is a large "pocket beach"

Sand art in progress


The next stop is the the Santa Cruz Wharf where Al treats us to gelato from the Riva.
Winter walk along the Wharf

Seal lions snoozing under the wharf

Coy pigeons con tourists for snacks

As a storm is moving in, Al and Leslie head south following the better weather - a luxury of "full timers." We stay and get hit by a fast moving hail storm.
Yes - we do get winter weather occasionally in California




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Retired and enjoying life.