A Day at Balboa Park and Another One by The Midway

In our continuing effort to see and do it all... we spent a day at Balboa Park, a place where you could easily spend time every week for a year and still have missed something. There are no fewer than 14 museums in the park and another 10-12 gardens and some great architecture. We enjoyed an IMAX presentation at the Science Museum and then us girls went off to wander the grounds while the boys enjoyed the science stuff - it is much like the one in St. Paul.

I visited the Museum of Photography where they were spotlighting CA artists. I learned, again, that everything under the sun can be art if expressed well. One photographer shot only drapery and it made for wonderful art. One man had taken one photograph each day for thirty years and it was a true document of society.


When I left that museum, I was really psyched to go and shoot stuff... but, I really don't know in what I want to specialize...

I do like to shoot flowers and leaves and then play with the photographs...

(a leaf just about to open)

and I do like to shoot reflections of all kinds. This is the most photographed scene in the entire park. It is the Botanical Building behind the reflective pool.

and I do like repeated lines, and objects, and shapes ...

But then buildings are cool, too.

One thing I know for sure, I won't be specializing in pictures of people... although, I do like sculptures of people.

This magnificent artwork is not found in Balboa Park but rather along the harbor by the ship, The Midway. (Smooth transition, don't you think)

While the two Navy Veterans visited The Midway and took in all it had to offer, Bobbi and I visited the shops in Seaport Village, enjoyed the harbor, and had lunch at The Pier.

There are several great new sculptures along the harbor walk including this tribute to Bob Hope who did so many USO shows.

I couldn't resist taking yet another picture of "my" bridge with palms and yet another of the new pieces of artwork.

Life is good in California!

Postscript: As I write this on Saturday night, we just got out of a tsunami warning and it is now raining cats and dogs... life is good and the weather is very interesting!

So, how is it working out traveling with another couple?

Are you still getting along? We have been asked those questions several times lately so I will try to answer it for you...

The four of us travel well together. We seem to enjoy similar things and hanging out with one another is not a problem... but occasionally, one will have to go off alone just for some peace and quiet. And sometimes, the others just ignor each other.

At times, each of us will just lumber along with the rest

There honestly hasn't been time for a lot of rest, so we take it when we can get it.

No one has pounced on any of the others.

Nor has anyone gone off to pout...

You can usually tell by the look if an idea will be well recieved... or should just be forgotten.

Sometimes, I get the feeling one of the boys wants to turn his back to us girls.

There has always been time for food, sometimes too much food!

We have been hanging out at many new places.

It is easy to feel like a youngster with so much new stuff to discover.

I don't think that anyone is ready to "fly the coup" yet.

But, sometimes it is a balancing act making sure that everyone's needs are met.

Overall, birds of a feather flock together and we are doin' pretty darn good!

Oh, did I tell you we were at the world famous San Diego Zoo this past week...

Surf, Sand, and Fishing

Every day this past week has been spent enjoying the beaches in the San Diego area. You may have heard about the extremely high tides up by San Francisco that injured many people who were watching a surfing competition. Anyway, we have had some great high tides here but not nearly as fierce as farther north.

These three rock sitters enjoyed an hour of "rock tumbling" at Imperial Beach, just a short bike ride from our campground.

This surfer was making the most of the waves; he did manage to miss the pier! A few years back we witnessed a memorial service for a surfer who did not miss the pier. Seems like a very dangerous area when there are so many other places to enjoy the sport.

On the opposite end of Silver Strand from Imperial Beach is Coronado Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. That is Point Loma across the water.

And today, the boys went charter boat fishing into Mexican waters where they caught dinner! But, I get ahead of myself. All of these pictures were taken by Mike and I am sure you will agree he did a great job of capturing the day. (Yes, David did catch fish, just not when Mike had the camera out... at least that is the story and they are both sticking to it!) This is the pier where they stopped on the way out to get bait - anchovies. The Seals were also there for this delicacy .

One of the crew took this picture of Mike with a couple of the Redrock Cod that he caught. (I think the Alaska sweatshirt brings him good luck)

The fish are cleaned as the boat travels the hour long trip back to shore. The fish guts are thrown overboard and the pelicans are there in great number to capture the left overs. In the first picture you see one pelican actually taking the leftovers out of the mouth of another pelican.

They circle and wait.

And when there is evidence of leftovers in the water, they descend in droves.

Mike proved to be a very fine photographer today. Check out these shots.

Oh yea, and when the guys got home, David cut up the fish, I made mom's famous beer batter, Mike fried 'em up and David sampled. And we all enjoyed a delicious meal - thanks, guys!

Still lovin' the area!

A Unique One and Three Couples

A few weeks back, when we were in Quartzsite, we encountered a truly unique camper sitting in the desert and I forgot to share it with you. Yes, it was occupied - notice the supply shelf built into the side. Hey Bob, does it give you an idea of how to "re-purpose" some of your older models???

And then I also wanted to show you a couple of the lemons that we harvested in Palm Springs - nearly as big as the can of pie filling that was in the cupboard. The juice from just one was enough for a big pan of lemon bars.

When visiting Ocean Beach Pier, we spotted this couple of good looking pelicans hovering near a fisherman who was cutting up bait.

And when at Santee Lakes, this couple of wood ducks entertained us while begging for food.

Happy Valentines Day!