cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
19346
Seiko Journeys Don't Really End at Jennings
I find myself queued up with 50 fishermen, itching to get to a fishing lake that opens at 6am. Why am I (we) not home sleeping in a warm bed?
We started moving ahead on Bass Drive as my Bell-Matic reads 6:02
Rather than have a gatekeeper, for security and safety we had to jump out of our vehicles and line up at the bait store, for a day use permit, boat rental, tackle and/or bait.
My wife stood in line while I paced impatiently with the camera.
Each guy who went in asked something hopeful, like "But will trout take night crawlers at Cactus Patch Cove?" even after reading the neatly-printed sign placed next to the door...
During the 20-minute admission interlude, I did get a couple nice photos -- the boat rental dock extending out into the invisible water blackness is my favorite.
The skies were hinting of pink, purple and blue as we drove around the east side of the lake. The west side has a campground but we are separated from them by fences and signs.
A few white pelicans flew in, perhaps all the way from Chollas Lake (13 miles/20 km), to pose for me and overwhelm the little coot.
The few trails were gentle and soft underfoot, unlike the rocky river bottoms of a few of our recent hikes.
This is the first wheelchair fisherman I've seen at any of the several hundred local lakes and ponds I've visited in the past two years.
This is our first visit to Lake Jennings when the park has been open. Our other visits have only been to the Campground side.
"Hey Honey, look what's happening up here -- wait, what are you doing with my camera?"
A very unusual gray, white, beige, silver-trunked eucalyptus tree had caught my eye before she caught me wandering.
She was watching and listening to a small group of very vocal fisherboys who were breaking the peace and solitude of the sunrise.
An El Camino Glamour Photo for our Fearless Leader -- this is early Seventies if I remember correctly.
We thought about renting a boat but the air wasn't that warm, and they only offered all-day rentals at $50 so we decided against it.
Here's today's whole pod of pelicans.
Here we are looking to the west and the dam; you can see the sun's light is just hitting the hillside.
The campground is over there on the west side. Although it's a nice place to camp this time of the year, it can be scorching in the summer. In fact, even today the forecast here is 86°F (30°C). And you can't jump in this lake because it's for storing drinking water.
Here's a shot I took 15 months ago, standing on the dam and looking back to the side we are on this morning.
"Hey Honey, look what's happening up here -- wait, what are you doing with my camera?"
A very unusual gray, white, beige, silver-trunked eucalyptus tree had caught my eye before she caught me wandering.
She was watching and listening to a small group of very vocal fisherboys who were breaking the peace and solitude of the sunrise.
An El Camino Glamour Photo for our Fearless Leader -- this is early Seventies if I remember correctly.
We thought about renting a boat but the air wasn't that warm, and they only offered all-day rentals at $50 so we decided against it.
It looks like a man with dog on top of the hill but this is a drinking water reservoir and no dogs are allowed, so the camera must be wrong...
Which way should I go? wonders Mrs C.
This way looks nice.
Which way should I go? wonders Mrs C.
This way looks nice.
We've been scouting around for about 40 minutes. This lovely Seiko Bell-Matic dates from before that El Camino. It's been restored and pimped out a bit.
This was supposed to be my last buy of 2020, but it fell into a Postal Black Hole for 3 weeks, so I bought all those ladies watches, my Credor from yesterday, and so forth.
I can't tell where the branches end and the reflections stop! My wife says the branches go into the water, hence my confusion.
The only flowers I saw today are here.
I missed the bees I was aiming for. Hmmmmmm. Just imagine they are working these flowers. Hmmmm.
I can't tell where the branches end and the reflections stop! My wife says the branches go into the water, hence my confusion.
The only flowers I saw today are here.
I missed the bees I was aiming for. Hmmmmmm. Just imagine they are working these flowers. Hmmmm.
A single white pelican cruised majestically towards me, leaving a huge wake behind.
Mr Pelican stopped and gave me a glare as I took another picture. I'm not sure if the infrared / laser focusing beam OR the shutter noise annoys birds most, but they definitely notice. Land animals don't seem so sensitive.
Here's today's whole pod of pelicans.
Here we are looking to the west and the dam; you can see the sun's light is just hitting the hillside.
The campground is over there on the west side. Although it's a nice place to camp this time of the year, it can be scorching in the summer. In fact, even today the forecast here is 86°F (30°C). And you can't jump in this lake because it's for storing drinking water.
Here's a shot I took 15 months ago, standing on the dam and looking back to the side we are on this morning.
As we drove towards the entrance/exit, I noticed in my rear view mirror that cactus was lit up on the hillside by the rising sun. They seem to have grabbed the best locations, as they are among the first patches of vegetation to receive direect sunlight.
The "Public Access Pier" which in practical terms means The Pier for People Who Can't Walk Very Well, If At All, and Need Close Parking
Perhaps these are Public Access Perches for Pelicans Who Can't Float Very Well.
The Heron Trees and the Cormorant Colony. Cormorants like to nest together in dozens, scores and hundreds. Pelicans are not welcome here.
I could only see this tree from across the lake, and this is the closest my camera can get us to their nesting site.
A fearful fisherman, who brought his own boat rather than rent, masks his face even though there is no one in sight. Except us, and we are 100 feet away.
Fearless Finch, with a natural mask, glaring, but not at me.
He's looking at the finch on the other tree.
Sun's up, the lake shore is warming up, bird battles are heating up, and we get up to hit the road. Goodbye to the rocky hillsides of San Diego County and back to the beach we go.
Thanks for coming to the lake with us today.
The "Public Access Pier" which in practical terms means The Pier for People Who Can't Walk Very Well, If At All, and Need Close Parking
Perhaps these are Public Access Perches for Pelicans Who Can't Float Very Well.
The Heron Trees and the Cormorant Colony. Cormorants like to nest together in dozens, scores and hundreds. Pelicans are not welcome here.
I could only see this tree from across the lake, and this is the closest my camera can get us to their nesting site.
A fearful fisherman, who brought his own boat rather than rent, masks his face even though there is no one in sight. Except us, and we are 100 feet away.
Fearless Finch, with a natural mask, glaring, but not at me.
He's looking at the finch on the other tree.
Sun's up, the lake shore is warming up, bird battles are heating up, and we get up to hit the road. Goodbye to the rocky hillsides of San Diego County and back to the beach we go.
Thanks for coming to the lake with us today.
This is our 77th walk with Seikos, and that's as good a number as any to call an end to this project. We started unintentionally, found it to be fun, and made it a routine for almost 3 months.
I had expected to have 50 watches (tops!) and never anticipated I would find, borrow, repair and/or buy a bunch of new watches!
We have prepared spreadsheet of the whole adventure which I will soon post.
Thanks for the roughly 24,000 reads thus far.
Cheers,
Cazalea
Seiko Journeys Don't Really End at Jennings
I find myself queued up with 50 fishermen, itching to get to a fishing lake that opens at 6am. Why am I (we) not home sleeping in a warm bed? We started moving ahead on Bass Drive as my Bell-Matic reads 6:02 Rather than have a gatekeeper, for security and...
I am going to miss these walks...
Especially since there are no plans to visit SD anytime soon.
Super Series
What a great story again. Inspiring, touching and personal. Combined with some great photos, birds and all in an area I know a bit but like a lot. Thank you so much for this series.
