San Diego, CA Day Two

Ah, the San Diego Zoo! This facility is the benchmark from which all zoos are measured. We started with the bus ride through the zoo to see the overall layout, then hoofed it back to the rear of the lot to see the Polar Bears and Panda Bears up close. We had a nice Asian salad for lunch along the way. Being a weekday the crowds were light and we were able to get around nicely.

We returned to the front of the facility on the skyway gondolas and were treated to a nice view of San Diego. The zoo is a great place to spend the day, so if ever in San Diego do not miss it.

And so our wonderful visit in California came to an end. We would board our flight the next day. What a great trip this was. We made lots of new memories, and I had a chance to reminisce over very old ones at my 50th high school reunion. Thanks to all of our great hosts for your generosity.

San Diego, CA

Monday was the last of our driving days on this trip. We arrived in San Diego in time to join Michael and Margie for lunch in La Jolla. Lunch was followed by a stroll along the ocean and a bit of shopping by Margie and Barbara.

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Nothing in the window out sparkled Barbara's smile.

Despite the cold water, there were many swimmers in the ocean. These were hardy souls doing long distance open water swimming, and they were joined by kayakers, paddleboarders, and sea lions. Lots of noisy sea lions. They were unconcerned about the humans, but the males were competing for rocky perches and, of course, females. It was not much different with the humans up on shore.

We dropped the rental car off that night at the airport and saved a day or two of rental since the Rubins volunteered to drive us to the airport when we leave. On our return Michael grilled up a nice tri-tip and we settled in for sports on the TV.

Carona del Mar, CA Day Three

We had a relaxing Sunday. After sleeping in we drove to the Orange County Airport to meet up with Lisa, Jack and Lisa's parents Michael and Margie for lunch. Lisa had been in the LA area for a wedding and while she was celebrating her friends wedding Jack was staying with her parents. Originally Lisa was to fly back to Dallas out of Orange County, but she travels space available and there wasn't any! Michael and Margie brought Jack up for the flight that wasn't, and ended up taking both Jack and his mom back to San Diego where they managed to get home on a flight that night. They did a lot of driving, but we scored a great visit with Jack!

Jack with 1/3 of the grandparent team.

We spend the afternoon strolling Laguna Beach and ended the day with pizza and a Balboa Bar, a treasured local ice cream bar.

Newport, CA Day Two

Saturday was sailing day with the Oasis Sailing Club on their Catalina 34. We were blessed with beautiful weather but little, if any, wind. At the end of the day we managed to do some sailing in the harbor itself just prior to returning to the dock, otherwise we were under power most of the day. It was still great fun!

S/V Oasis V.

Barbara waiting for wind.

Skipper Malcolm waiting for wind.

Jean and Alex looking for wind.

It was fun, just the same!

 

Corona del Mar & Newport Beach, CA

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We had a leisurely drive down US 101 from Santa Barbara to Corona del Mar. The portion through Los Angeles was as you would expect, but the rest was pretty nice. We arrived in time to rest up a bit before going out with Malcolm and Julie Read for dinner on Newport Harbor. The Read’s have a Duffy boat. For those not acquainted with these craft, they are electric boats meant for gentle cruises on calm waters like lakes and harbors. They are a perfect fit for the Newport Harbor, and there are hundreds of them. That might be an exaggeration, but not by much. They are pretty cool. Most are eighteen feet long and have a surrey like top and roll-up sides. Great little boats! If I lived on a lake I would want one.

Captain Malcolm at the helm.

Lots of food. Lots of wine. Heaven!

Cupcakes! They were huge!

After dinner we enjoyed a sunset view from Ocean Blvd. It was clear enough to see Santa Catalina Island on the horizon. As you know it is “Twenty-six miles across the sea…”

Newport Harbor.

Harbor entrance. Catalina Island on horizon.

Santa Barbara, Day Two

We continued our fun in Santa Barbara by having Stella andParis, two standard poodles, jumping into bed with us. These two think they arepeople, as most dogs do. At fifty pounds they make big lap dogs, but they tryanyway.

We met friends for lunch at Brophy’s at the marina. Brophy’sis yet another great place to eat. I know it sounds like all we do is eat, butwhen we find a good place to eat we like to pass it on to friends so they canenjoy them is they are in the area. Anyway, I have known Bruce and LindaPickard since living in northern Virginia and working for Martin Marietta inthe District of Columbia. They are absolutely great people. They came to SantaBarbara for Bruce’s 45^th HS reunion the weekend before meeting themfor lunch, and the following weekend they were off to a niece’s wedding at alocal winery. It was a great coincidence that allowed us to get together.

Bill, Linda, Barbara and Bruce

After lunch we said our goodbyes to Bruce and Linda andwalked the beachfront and pier. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed having achance to work off some of the calories we have been packing in. We have been verylucky to have terrific meals on this trip, and the best was yet to come. 

Barbara and friends

Randy took us to the Santa Barbara Community College fine dining facility. Randy isthe head of the culinary arts program there, and one of the courses involvesrunning a fine dining restaurant. The students order and prepare the food,provide the dinning room service, and handle the management of the enterprise.They do this under the supervision of a chef/professor. Actually, the culinaryarts students also operate the cafeterias and a coffee house on campus. I have to say, they do a great job. If you are in Santa Barbara while classes are insession, contact the community college and inquire about reservations. They serve Thursday and Friday evening. Come prepared for a two-hour, four course fine dining experience with a wine included. You will not be disappointed.

Tomorrow we are off to Corona del Mar south of LA.

Santa Barbara, CA

We had a great drive down to Santa Barbara from Carmel. To save time, we took US 101 through Paso Robles rather than Highway 1 down the coast. It is still an attractive drive for the most part.

We arrived just in time for cocktail hour. Randy is an expert on wines so we were in for a treat. My sister Jocelyne and her husband Randy have created a wonderful outdoor living area in their backyard. Randy is a chef and head of the culinary department of the Santa Barbara Community College, and he has been treating us to wonderful meals.

Barbara and Jocy with Paris, one of two standard poodles.

Randy is a very talented guy. The backyard living area is centered around an oven/grill/fireplace that he built himself. This is an amazing structure. There is a fire pit grill, a smoker, a fireplace, and a pizza/baking oven built out of block and stone.   

 

The fireplace is gorgeous at night and puts out a ton of heat, but the unique part is the baking oven. He builds a wood fire in the oven to get the stones to a high temperature. Once to temperature he removes the coals and can then cook a variety of foods as the oven cools to lower temperatures. First would be pizza or roasts, then breads followed by more delicate dessert items or slow cook meats. It is pretty cool to watch him in action, and dinner by firelight is fantastic.

On Wednesday we drove to Carpenteria, CA. This great seaside community is only a short drive south. The main street is lined with many restaurants, but we were only interested in a burger at The Spot. This is a burger stand that is very popular with the locals, as is the Island Brewery microbrewery. 

Bill and Jocy at The Spot

Island Brewery. Great beer!

Both are only a short walk away from the Carpinteria State Beach Campground. California has several of these beachfront campgrounds, and they are very popular. Unfortunately for us, though, they are geared for smaller rigs and tents. Anyone reading that has an RV of 35’ or less should keep this campground in mind. 

Carpinteria State Beach Park

Carpinteria State Beach Park

 It is a great beach.

Carpinteria State Beach Park

Carpinteria State Beach Park

Carmel, CA

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The reunion dinner was wonderful. The Freemont Hills Country Club did a wonderful job. The food was really quite good, but the chance to get together with so many people from my past was priceless. We had a good time.

Sunday morning we got up and drove Highway 17 over the mountains to Santa Cruz for dinner with my brother Bob and his wife Karen. It was another great meal, this time at the Crows Nest restaurant at the entrance to the yacht harbor. After lunch we walked the docks. If there is anything more entertaining than watching someone trying to dock a sailboat, it is watching people trying to back their trailers down the launching ramp and these folks did not disappoint.

Crows Nest in background

Santa Cruz harbor entrance

Crows Nest

Bob and Karen at Crows Nest. Great food!

 

Karen, brother Bob, me.

As if watching Animal Planet, we witnessed a harbor seal chasing a salmon for his dinner. The salmon made it up onto the rocks to get away, but was fatigued. It would slowly drift back towards deeper water and the waiting seal. Finally the seal crept up onto the rocks, grabbed the salmon by the tail, and pulled it into deeper water. The salmon got a burst of energy, broke free, and sped off under the docks. We don't know the final outcome, but we were hoping for the salmon's escape.

My, what big eyes you have!

We continued on down the coast to Carmel. What a great little town. More art galleries than any town needs greet you downtown, and the main street continues right down to the sea. You would be hard pressed to find a more picturesque seaside town. There is plenty of history, too. The Carmel Mission (San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo) was founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1771 as the second of the California Missions. It became the Mother Mission and home of the founder. Mass is still celebrated here.

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

We have been staying with my mother’s cousin. Hyla is the last of that generation of my family, and it is nice to have a chance to spend some time with her. She is living in her parent’s home that has been in the family for many years. It is within walking distance of the town center and the beach. Walking back is up hill, though, so you need to be in shape.

We got out and visited the mission, Monastery Beach and Point Lobos State Park. It was a cloudy day, but that is a very normal occurrence here. Watching the fog coming in over the treetops has a particular charm and is part of the character of Carmel. Monastery Beach and Point Lobos are the two locations where I most frequently did my SCUBA diving in the early 60's. Great beach diving, but pretty cold water.

Monastery Beach

Carmel River

Point Lobos

Point Lobos

Point Lobos

Point Lobos

Point Lobos

Point Lobos (Find the deer)

And, at the end of the day?

Tomorrow we are off to Santa Barbara.