Cazalea takes readers on a nostalgic journey, rediscovering one of his earliest Seiko Kinetic watches from 2004. This post not only highlights the enduring appeal of a well-maintained timepiece but also shares the practical steps involved in replacing a kinetic capacitor, offering valuable insights for collectors of similar models. His narrative seamlessly blends watch enthusiasm with observations from a recent walk, creating a unique and engaging read.
This story starts in 2004. This is one of the first Seiko I ever bought, and here I am shown wearing it at Lulworth Cove, in Dorset, England.
A close-up on the watch -- its 100M water resistance was not challenged by the slight ripples on the pebbles.
I re-discovered this watch in a small leather watch travel case in my file cabinet a few days ago. I ordered a new kinetic capacitor and slotted it in place last night. It's a bit more effort than a battery, and 5x the cost for the part, but should be good for another 10 years. This is a titanium streamlined / integrated case and bracelet sports watch from a series Seiko had "around the turn of the century". Even back then I had no rational control over my watch buying, and ended up with these two perpetuals as well as the kinetic. These are battery-powered.
I must have decided (can't recall) that I had too many, because the titanium-cased one with yellow second hand is long gone, while the steel one is waiting on the bench, dead for lack of movement parts.
I suppose I could button it up and wear it for one last walk, but that feels like cheating at solitaire.
(Yes, that is a real gold Datejust slumming with the Seikos). But let's get onto the walk now.
We saw dozens of herons in the river yesterday, so we thought that might be a fruitful spot to walk. We've never all the way East to the highway bridges which cross the river, because there are too many homeless encampments. I was a bit uncertain about parking there, but we observed 5 local police cars with lights flashing and all the officers standing around in the street talking to locals. We took that for a good omen and started west.
It's a gray and dreary day, sorry readers.
This locked under-bridge area was un-locked, occupied, and full of junk. We spotted a dozen or so folks crashed out in there, as well as a young lady scurrying away in her stocking feet.
Within minutes we were clear of the bridges and drifters, and found ourselves along the channel with hundreds, if not thousands of water-loving birds.
I know we are on a migration path from north to south, but it looked like all the birds in the US and Canada decided to skip Mexico and Central America, and do their wintering here.
As we walked I began to reconsider my plan for an out-and-back walk. A more pleasing but longer trip would take us out to the bridge in the distance, then back on the other side of the river.
We noticed a big congregation on the spit of land ahead, and
as we got closer, we saw them all waking up and slowly edging away
from this guy. Is it a goose? Some unfriendly species? I'll have to do some research on him.
Hmmm. He doesn't look dangerous. Not like a hawk, falcon or osprey.
At the other end of that island in the stream, we found larger birds, like this ruddy duck.
An egret and one or two herons. No signs of the multitudes from yesterday. A passing couple with tripod, binoculars and huge camera lens confirmed that the saying "Here today, gone tomorrow" was coined by and for bird-watchers!
The bridge-building has progressed. The temporary work bridge on its east side has been taken up and dumped alongside the freeway, in this storage area.
Because my fleece matches so nicely, Mrs C made me pose to show the scale of this crane!
We walked all the way across on the new eastern bridge; it wasn't finished last time we came here a few weeks ago.
And here's a look at the cloud layer, the river, and the other bridges in the distance where we started our walk. The tide was rising to 5.5 feet today while we were there, and is at its peak now as I am typing this (near noon).
On the north side of the river there are also some illegal overnight campers, but they are in vehicles and not in the bushes and under bridges. They are kept in check by the bridge workers,
and a non-stop flow of runners and cyclists. (I don't think she is using her hand as a mask, she is talking on her phone as she's running)
I managed to catch a total of 4 runners with both feet off the ground. See above and below.
And this bird too.
Here in his normal position:
I marveled at the elaborate hydraulic lift hung off the back of this motor coach which has seen better days.
Rather than go back
under the freeway, highway and railroad bridges to our car, we opted to walk across no-man's-sand-land to cross over instead.
as the skies were threatening and we wanted to avoid getting wet.
We noticed 6 more encampments in this area, all miles from a place to park, a store to patronize, facilities, etc. The occupants had to be operating via bicycle. Most were well camouflaged; this one was the exception.
We finally got to the bridge taking us to our car, but discovered there was no sidewalk, just a fairly high and narrow curb which put the railing at about knee height as we walked facing oncoming traffic and bicycles. I think you can see what I mean.
I didn't like being so high and so close to the edge when crossing this huge 12-lane-wide river of roaring vehicles. And while bikes and cars kept our bridge busy too.
As we reached our vehicle this truck came out of the bakery, bringing with it a fantastic cloud of fresh-baked-bread aroma.
"Let's go home for some hot chocolate and cinnamon toast", said Mrs C. "Done", says I.
Thanks for coming along with the Seikos, so far and so often.
Cheers,
Cazalea
