Public Art in Bellingham

On a building wall near the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, we found a mural celebrating the culture of the native americans who first lived is this area. ~B

Orion on Top

Like Powell's Books in Portland and Tattered Cover in Denver, Village Books in Bellingham, WA is an incredible bookstore spread over 3 floors of a 100 yr old brick building in the historic area.


Nice to see Orion magazine gets one of the top eye level spots in the "Travel, Environment, Earth Sciences" carousel. ~N

Reflections

At Squalicum Marina in Bellingham reflections danced on the smooth oily waters. ~B

Lopez Island Spiders

Walking at dawn we found a field of spider webs. ~N

Dockside

On a small commercial dock in Anacortes, amid a jumble of broken down equipment, rusty hulks and heaps of deteriorating dock lines, through the rotted window of an old boat, silhouettes of cranes and masts are outlined against the evening sky. ~B

Lopez Island, WA

We walked along the beach as we waited in Anacortes WA for the ferry to Lopez Island - we almost stepped on this huge jelly fish.

All the kayaks! We may never leave Lopez Island! ~N

Cascades National Park

Hiking the Jackita Trail we walked alongside Canyon Creek. As the sun came through the trees, it struck the rushing water creating an impressionist view. ~B

Lake Chelan, WA

We drove into the small Washington town of Chelan last night - it hugs the edge of a huge lake on the eastern side of the Cascade mountains. The breeze was slight, the light was low and this old dock was rotten and falling down. ~N

Leavenworth, WA

A dying town decided to re-brand itself and Leavenworth WA became a bit of Bavaria in the Cascades. As one writer put it - "It's Bavaria without the airfare". But beyond the yodeling and oompah muzak, a touch of the old Leavenworth remains. ~B

Near Mt. Ranier in Washington

Today we hiked near Mt. Ranier, above the valley where the National Park's Visitor Center is located. ~N

Shaniko

In north central Oregon is the small, dying town of Shaniko. The hotel and cafe are closed and up for sale. The RV resort - a dilapidated building a few hundred yards from the center of town - is for sale. Buildings are shuttered and businesses are closed. Currently there are 27 inhabitants, but that's expected to drop to 11 and, perhaps, not rise again. One of two active businesses is a lonely trailer offering espressos. It's run by an elderly man with few teeth and the feeling that his town is dying around him. ~B

Bend, Oregon

Caitlin Skypes with Jason. ~N

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

"Bobby"

Around our patio and visiting our hummingbird feeders have been as many as 6 birds UNTIL "Bobby" decided to be the new marshall in town. Perching in a nearby bush or, more recently, on a clothes line near the feeder, "Bobby" vocally challenges, fluffs and then attacks other hummingbirds who come to feed. ~B

La Jolla Shores

Across the street from the beach, between million dollar+ condos, an abandoned broken down wooden shack sits on a grassy lot behind a chain link fence. ~N

The Guardian

In El Cajon, in a small community garden behind a "Senior Living" apartment, an owl stands watch over a small garden plot. ~B

The Eyes Have It

From across the parking lot the eyes caught my eye like a circus had come to town. It was just a delivery truck parked in front of our local Starbucks - an ad for the San Diego Wild Animal Park. ~N

Doin' Good

At Mission Bay Park, amid roaring jet skis, flaming BBQs, partying families, joggers, cyclists, kiteflyers and skateboarders, Zach ran his lemonade stand. Last Sunday he made over $100 in 3 hours - this Sunday the total's still unknown. But what is known is the proceeds are going to support Downs Syndrome efforts. "Buy a lemondade for charity?" he asked everyone passing by. His friend's brother has DS and Zach wants to help. ~B

Lake Dixon in Escondido

At sunset a park employee walks the dock and ties up all the rental tin fishing boats. ~N

Cats of Mission Bay

Along the Mission Bay Jetty live an unknown number of feral cats. Wild and shy they hide and hunt among the rocks. Alongside a portable shelter food, coagulated and fly covered, in a styrofoam container has been left by an unknown person oblivious to the trash that will eventually end up floating in Mission Bay.

Flying Rocks

We woke up early to loud heavy machine sounds. They had the street closed to raise this crane to level, on blocks - then they lifted 2,000 lb garden rocks, swinging them several stories high to put them in our neighbor's back yard . . . where they're building one big waterfall! ~N

Ambiguous Message?

In an old building in Hillcrest at University and 6th, the City Delicatessen has served San Diegans since 1984. Deli meats, pastries and breads, mashed potatoes with gravy, Reubens or pastrami on rye and other deli delights. Above their sign a frieze, recently uncovered or added?, displays a wide selection of fruits and vegetables. ~B

Old Town

Walking through Old Town this afternoon we found pajamas, clay pots and lots of shadows. ~N

In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

In a window in South Park, an eclectic neighborhood of San Diego, posters advertise events/happenings/gatherings that trigger flashbacks to the 60's in San Francisco - Buckfast Superbee?? Bragging Wealthy Whore Entertainment Vaginals??? ~B

A Pinot Twilight

The sunset tonite almost seemed to borrow the ruby color of our wine. ~N

Pining Away

Behind our fence, down the slope, there was a forest of tall pines. Leaning more and more, even cracking, roots smelling of turpentine invading neighbor's drains and shedding needles that find our pool with every breeze. Their owner, our down slope 'neighbor', refused to acknowledge protests, turning angrily away and voicing threats if a tree was harmed.

Yesterday morning we awoke to a miracle - chainsaws and men climbing the trees lopping branches. By evening the trees were all gone - but not missed. ~B

Floaters

We often find floaters (or sinkers) in the pool. My heart sinks when I find their quiet bodies moving slightly with the rippled water. Out of the corner of my eye I saw this hollow eye and gaping mouth, fresh - todays death - oh no.

Walking closer I realized it was only a recently saved paper image for a possible journal page - cut from a magazine on a patio table, one I neglected to tuck under a paperweight the night before. ~N

E Street Coffee House

At the E Street Coffee House amid a scattering of tables patrons study, read newspapers, hustle business, plan weddings and just hang out. Glasses are free; water is 25 cents. Attitude is, well, attitude. ~B

Painted Walls

This one downtown San Diego is on 8th Ave at Broadway. ~N

Pool Pals

WARNING!! Do NOT leave your pool toys unsupervised!! ~B

Lines & Shadows

Harsh lines and shadows embellish the porch of an Escondido nursery store in the hot noontime sun. ~N

Serenity

Above the trees, looking over the valley, away from the clutter of our every day life, shaded, but airy, is our studio in the sky. ~B