cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
19269
Spring Break at Paradise Point
We don’t have much mental connection to Spring Break getaways, as we have always lived in Southern California near the ocean. Some people think it’s always Spring Break time here, and I guess that’s how it seems from the outside.
Our seasons vary but they are subtle. Anyway, yesterday we finally found good weather, good health and no good excuses not to walk around in Mission Bay Park, on the portion of an island now called Paradise Point (formerly Vacation Village). We got a chance to see some of the visitors and some of our flora and fauna out enjoying themselves, such as this ground squirrel enviously eyeing the jet ski.
Two squirrels and two ducks, maintaining a distance from one another, but eyes fixed on the water.
Bright flowers were bursting through the grass.
Flowers of various shapes, sizes and colors...
We walked around the Model Boat Basin (water is very low) and envied the skaters who seemed to be having a nice time together. On the other side of the pond (above the skaters)
we stopped to talk with a couple guys fussing with their tiny gas engines (as they always seem to be doing). This rumble-seat equipped Chevrolet is painted “Black Cherry” and a very nice paint job it was, too.
Two squirrels and two ducks, maintaining a distance from one another, but eyes fixed on the water.
Bright flowers were bursting through the grass.
Flowers of various shapes, sizes and colors...
We walked around the Model Boat Basin (water is very low) and envied the skaters who seemed to be having a nice time together. On the other side of the pond (above the skaters)
we stopped to talk with a couple guys fussing with their tiny gas engines (as they always seem to be doing). This rumble-seat equipped Chevrolet is painted “Black Cherry” and a very nice paint job it was, too.
We came to a massive expanse of hawthorne hedge in bloom, backed up by immense banana plants.
Skaters came by again, on another lap… they looked like they knew just what they were doing, but the safety gear indicated it’s probably not the best sport to take up at age 70+ (the only bone I ever broke was my arm, roller skating, at about age 15)
The flowers continued to amaze me and test my wife’s ability to identify each species.
We came around to the main duck pond which was also filled with koy, carp and other large but shy fish. The Ducks paid no heed to us; we were just a few more tourists to them.
Ambling around in the gift shop I was surprised by my wife’s choice of vacation wear!
We decided to climb the tower, a notable work of art whose backbone is a sculpture of “rebar” or reinforcing iron bars normally encased in concrete. There are 81 steps; can someone calculate the height? I can’t.
Skaters came by again, on another lap… they looked like they knew just what they were doing, but the safety gear indicated it’s probably not the best sport to take up at age 70+ (the only bone I ever broke was my arm, roller skating, at about age 15)
The flowers continued to amaze me and test my wife’s ability to identify each species.
We came around to the main duck pond which was also filled with koy, carp and other large but shy fish. The Ducks paid no heed to us; we were just a few more tourists to them.
Ambling around in the gift shop I was surprised by my wife’s choice of vacation wear!
We decided to climb the tower, a notable work of art whose backbone is a sculpture of “rebar” or reinforcing iron bars normally encased in concrete. There are 81 steps; can someone calculate the height? I can’t.
View looking westward. Many long years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, I brought my girlfriend here on a (cheapo) date.
How could we have known that 52 years later we’d still be together? And the tower still standing? And still free to climb?
Looking east, the clouds are scary.
and that we would live over there somewhere South of Mission Bay?
A turtle slept on the lawn in the warm sun, until my attention woke him. Now I was 20 feet away, but a sub-teen girl saw what I was looking at, and ran over to investigate… I asked her to to stay back but she did not, and the turtle, wise in the ways of kids, stretched out his arms and legs and slowly lumbered off towards some protective bushes.
I tried and failed to get my watch in focus but the Bird of Paradise is better looking anyway.
I guess it’s time to get on home, a couple hours and 5000 steps of Spring Break Vacation is all I can fit into today.
On the way home we saw a Bird of Paradise matching-color VW I.D. Buzz.
One of our neighbors just bought it. I’m not convinced.
One of our neighbors just bought it. I’m not convinced.
It’s just so massive compared to the flimsy boxes of my youth.
We stopped at the market to talk to Mark, our fishmonger buddy, and picked up some fresh golden spotted sea bass. I made a tropical vacation meal and we had a great end to our sunny afternoon.
The relish contains persian cucumber, apple, strawberry, coconut, avocado, orange, tiny bay shrimp, and a drizzle of lime juice and maple syrup. It worked!
PS - I tried to take another shot of the watch but this time the camera focused on all the tiny scratches on my crystal, doggone it.
The relish contains persian cucumber, apple, strawberry, coconut, avocado, orange, tiny bay shrimp, and a drizzle of lime juice and maple syrup. It worked!
PS - I tried to take another shot of the watch but this time the camera focused on all the tiny scratches on my crystal, doggone it.
Cheers,
Cazalea & Mrs C
PS -for a more comprehensive tour, see this walk from 4 years ago.
Third time’s a charm
Spring Break at Paradise Point
We don’t have much mental connection to Spring Break getaways, as we have always lived in Southern California near the ocean. Some people think it’s always Spring Break time here, and I guess that’s how it seems from the outside. Our seasons vary but they...
We didn’t see any of that wild Spring Break stuff, this is a family place
Dads and Daughters on bikes sort of thing
Having lived in LA for 20 years...
…I learned that the 4 seasons are: Earthquakes, Drought, Floods, Landslides.
Down here it’s Too Hot, Too Overcast, Too Sunny, Too Dry
My favorite time of year is when every that was here on vacation goes back to their original homes and our population shrinks.
The turtle and the I.D. Buzz....
were the highlights for me this time around 🙂. Cheers, Filip