TimeOut

My Walk Started Last Night, with Hanami

By "accidentally" browsing through European Watch Company's website, I was exposed to this pink GS.

I didn't know what Hanami meant, so of course I looked it up, and discovered it's a Japanese tradition of enjoying the transient blossoms of Spring... thus the GS special edition (but it's for American collectors only?).

Anyway, I recalled the blossoming tree from the other day's walk, and remembered seeing another few trees blooming around here. So I resolved to get up early and go for a flowering tree walk. But not THIS early (I remembered I had neglected to plug in the car, and saw this moon while dashing outside to get the Volt hooked up).

This is about the right time to leave the house on a cloudy morning, with my special High Accuracy GS on my wrist.

When I saw the first blooming tree, I put the camera bag over my shoulder (no Mrs C today to carry it for me), fired up the Sony, and hit the sidewalks.

OK, not a tree but still too beautiful to pass up!

Here we are -- five in one yard!

I wonder if they would allow us to have a picnic in their yard, under these trees?

I moved down the block and around the corner to find this English style home amidst the Spanish/California majority

My progress did not go unnoticed!

A VERY DIFFERENT sort of blooming tree. You never notice things so precisely without a camera in hand (and later big screen to highlight the oddities).

Bloomin' Gnome Gardens are all over the place, where you least expect them.

Nice looking Syncro with rear plate stating NJ Surf - huh?

This is a bumper crop year for citrus, particulary lemons!

Lovely tile work on a number of Spanish home steps

I didn't see many birds today. Maybe they prefer sunshine to threatening clouds. I do.

A striking contrast featuring unusual plants.

A concerned, but quiet dog.

There was some construction on the main road so school buses were taking a short cut through the residential streets.

As were two elderly women cyclists. I can't remember when I saw two ladies older than I am by some years, out on bikes

Apparently regular riders, not together, going different directions...

I bought a Honda Element the first day they were for sale; it was #146 off the assembly line. I always dreamed of adding one of these camping conversions (aka Westfalia) but never did it.