Looming Giant

Looming above a small town, Mt. Shasta was considered the most active volcano in the Cascade chain - until Mt. St. Helens blew. With three main peaks of over 11,000, 12,000 and 14,000 feet, she is a formidable presence. Last active in 1915, Shasta will someday rumble again. But until then, the small and pretty town of Mt. Shasta City will continue as an active outdoor destination and a surprisingly upscale village. ~B

Delta Dreams

In the Sacramento River Delta, tucked beside and below a levee, sits an abandoned single lane town established by Chinese laborers over 100 yrs ago. Only tourists stroll the empty walk ways now . . . someone has placed an enlargement of a historic photo in an 'out of business' store. The old Chinese worker stares into my camera with obsolete dreams and hopes for America.

The Racers

Last week at the velodrome a tight grouping of riders flashed past us in the final sprint to the finish. ~B

Bend or Bust

Today we drove, drove and drove - from SD to Tracy. It was 103 degrees through CA's central valley . . . hot dusty rolling mountains topped with graceful sagging power lines. ~N

Gettin' Buff

Changing directions ~ we decided to get in shape so we added cycling to kayaking. That lead to new bike racks and needed storage for extra gear. Are Sherpas next?? Or even, god forbid, spandex!!! ~B

Visions of Past

Today we shopped at bike shops for new more comfortable seats. By one counter, in a locked plastic case were the beautiful colors of Chris King components. ~N

Poopies

At the end of the point of land over La Jolla Cove, cormorants have roosted amid their poop for generations. Key suggestion - stay upwind! ~B

Double View

Today was a perfect summer day - warm above the water, cool and clear below the water. ~N

View from Below

Laying on my back on the bottom of the pool, looking up through my bubbles at the deck above. ~B

A Latin Fair

Bright colored threads adorn purses, skirts, blankets and blouses. Long tables at the fair are full of festive, lighthearted carvings . . . but in a shadowy corner a gaunt watcher looks away. ~N

Empty Spaces

A high rise in La Jolla. Large balconies with views. Empty, unfurnished and unused. ~B

A Coffee Break Broken

In the late afternoon a man scrounges through the trash can in front of a Starbucks. He finds coffee cups with small amounts of coffee and pours the leftovers into a single cup before he carefully walks away with it. ~N

Back of the Bay

Away from the condos and resorts, on the backside of Mission Bay, is a marina, a boat yard and a few stores. And adjacent to the parking lot, inside of a cyclone fence draped in a blue tarpaline, sits a lonely tiki bar. The patrons are locals and the usual mix of boat yard workers, sailors, and old men with no particular place to go. We liked it. ~B

Yakking on Lake Morena

The hour was early, the air was still and the water was like glass. We paddled for several hours on the lake and near the dam. Our new kayaks are awesome! ~N

Splish-Splash

Today N and I finally bought two inflatable kayaks - for exercise and to explore both San Diego area bays and lakes, plus maybe a few small lakes in the Eastern Sierras? From West Marine, but really Advanced Elements Advanced Frame singles - 10' 5" long and 34# inflatables. Highly regarded, but with a learning curve on set up and storage. Tonight we put one in the pool and gave it a try. Tomorrow - Lake Morena. ~B

A Pause to Pose

On the walkway above the beach, a young couple stops and sits for a local artist. ~N