Joshua Tree Obsession II

I first visited Joshua Tree in 1987, back when it was just a national monument.  My one and only visit.  It had since (in 1994) been designated a national park and I believe it's the closest one from our house in Rancho Cucamonga -- a short 90 mile drive.  In 1987, I did a bike ride through the park with my friends Paul and Carey, who I just met just a couple months prior at UCLA.  Needless to say, I didn't remember much of the terrain other than the presence of thousands of Joshua trees.  (I also remember suffering on that ride due with the 2800 ft elevation and the winds.) During a recent visit, I was reminded how truly unique this place is.  The landscape is like no other place on earth that I'm aware of.  These postcards are just a sampling of what's inside the park.

Tar Mosaics of Moonstone Beach

Oil and water do not mix.  But one thing water does is facilitate the mixture of oil (or some form of it like tar) and some other substance available in the near vicinity.  Anywhere in the coast of Central California, one will see patches of tar was ashore.  Yes, there is oil off the California coast and all one needs to do is look out in the water and count the offshore oil rigs that dot the western horizon.  There's tar as far south as the beaches of Ventura but I took these photos at Moonstone Beach in Cambria.  I found these mosaics very interesting and what I was looking at are works of art created by random processes of nature.  These are in the truest sense, very temporary installation that will soon wash away at the next high tide.  At which point, it's time to make new one.

Bubble Gum Art

Our annual post-Christmas trip to the Central Coast always includes a stop over at Bubble Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo, just between Higuera and Marsh.  I always find something new in the alley and this one (above) is one of the best I've seen in a while.  On a 35-mm negative is the word "ART" spelled out just above a miniature origami -- yes, just like Gaff from Blade Runner!

Corona Del Mar Sunrise

The price of having to take one of the kids to a diving certification class at Corona Del Mar Beach includes having to wake up at 6am on a Saturday to do the 55 mile drive from home.  Thank goodness I brought my point-and-shoot to capture the sunrise on this 2nd day of winter in Southern California.

The only thing I wished for this morning (besides being on my bike riding on PCH) is maybe be on a kayak in the Newport marina.  Being on the beach this close to Christmas is probably most ideal since all the tourists are gone by now and all the locals are way too busy elbowing each other at the mall.

Windsurfer In The Bay (2012)

Language...has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone.  And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone.

-Paul Tillich

I  took this photograph earlier this year of a lone windsurfer in the San Francisco bay.  Late May, overcast, and I was comfortably sitting inside a boat that traveled across the bay to the Golden Gate bridge and back to Pier 39 when out of the corner of my eye, I caught this white sliver of a sail over to the north.  The wind was as cold as late spring gets and I can't help but think how liberating it must be to hear only your heartbeat, your breath and the wind.

La Jolla Beach in Late Fall

This is why I live here in California and not on the East Coast or in the Rockies.  While the rest of the country is pondering what the start of winter brings in about 3 weeks, we are enjoying 70 deg weather here.  I drove down to La Jolla on Monday to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) and not only was the weather perfect, the availability of parking right on the beach was also a welcome change from how it typically is during the summer months.

The photo above was taken from the 2nd floor of MCASD overlooking the area where the sea lions sunbathe just around where the rocks are.  I cannot think of a more beautiful setting for an art museum.  Below is a shot of the Pacific Ocean from a window opening inside MCASD.  This window is actually the 2nd of 3 pieces by artist Robert Irwin titled 1° 2° 3° 4°.

Above is a photo of the access steps to the breakwater to get to the sea lions, just below a lifeguard tower.  I can't even imagine how many times this wall had been painted and re-painted as it is exposed to sun, wind and salt-water 365 days a year.  Below are some skimboarers riding the afternoon waves.  The water still seemed cold enough so they had wetsuits on.  The only indicator one would get that this is not a typical summer day is the empty beach in this world-famous tourist town of La Jolla.

Memories Of Kamalani Playground

There's always a point in life when you move on to the next phase.  Most of the time it is distinct and life changing.  Other times, you really need to pay close attention or you'll miss it.  Kamalani Playground in Lydgate Park in Kauai was built by 7000 volunteers back in 1994 and when we first visited Kauai in 2005 with the kids, we were just in awe at the size of this playground.  Not a typical park playset on the mainland, Kamalani (Hawaiian for "chief's child") is so complex that you can play there for hours and just about the only way of navigating through it is by using these ceramic mosaics scattered along its walls and corners.  In 2005 and 2007, we visited the beach at Lydgate Park several times and then played at Kamalani immediately after.  This year, I took the kids to Kamalani and although the kids still ran around, it just wasn't the same anymore.  Body surfing and body boarding in Brennecke's Beach in Poipu was more their "thing".  I understand.  After all, JJ and Sam are now 12 and 14, respectively.  So given that I will most likely book our hotel in Poipu next time we visit, we will probably not return to Kamalani.  Last month, I did take several photos of these ceramic mosaics just to serve as a reminder of the countless hours we've spent enjoying our time there.

Kapaa Sunrise (2012)

Ono Family Restaurant, Kapaa (2012)

Brennecke's Beach (Poipu, Kauai)

Brennecke's Beach is in Poipu and we've been there 3 times in as many days.  About 15 miles from where we're staying in Kapa'a, Brennecke's is the best boogie boarding and bodysurfing spot we've seen in Kauai.  They call it for beginners but given our skill level, it is more than what we can handle.  I can stand out a hundred yards in the water and it is only waist-deep but the backwash could be nasty and shoot anyone up about 10 feet in the air.  JJ lost a pair of goggles and I lost a pair of sunglasses while in the water.  But Brennecke's is 100% fun.

Above is JJ on the left and Sam on the right, bodysurfing Brennecke's.  I didn't have my telephoto lens the first couple time but brought it on our third visit.  I did get a few other riders below.

Hike #5 - Kuilau Trail, Kauai

We missed our Sunday hike last week since we were literally on a plane most of the day so we had to make it up today.  This is our 5th hike for the summer and it is a short one, about 3 miles in a tropical rainforest also known as the Kuilau Trail.  This is the kids' 2nd hike through a tropical rainforest, the first one being Manoa Falls in Oahu last year. 

Being in this part of Kauai is no different than being in the Jurassic Park movie set -- which happened to have been filmed in Kauai.

I did not expect to see too many hikers on this trail -- and we only saw about 10 others on this humid Tuesday.  Not too many animals either considering the island is littered with chickens.  It's also a change from all the dry hikes we've been doing back home in California.

Facing East

One of the things different about Kauai compared to the other Hawaiian islands is that most of the resorts are east-facing.  What that means is the golden hour for taking photographs is early in the morning.  I finally got a good night's rest and was up at 6am local time today -- which is really 9am PDT.  While the kids slept, I peeked through the room-darkening blinds and I had completely forgotten about sunrise in Kapaa.  Hoping for a good day of hiking, swimming and boogie boarding.

Garden Island Greetings

The first 24 hours in Kauai had been a nightmare so far.  Two things I've learned. One, never stay at the Pono Kai Resort again.  Not all units have air conditioning.  Yep, that's a fucking bad assumption that maybe 100% of Americans make -- that is every hotel room in America has A/C.  Not goddam true.  Pono Kai condo we got did not have any A/C of any kind so I had trouble sleep in the humid island air. Second, screw Expedia for travel reservations.  Bastards did not have any warning of any kind that my hotel, which is estimated at $1500 for 10 nights did not have A/C.  So I was rebooked to a very nice Marriot about a mile south of Pono Kai.  But something that this whole fiasco has taught me is that American Express is probably the best friend a consumer can have these days.  I called AMEX and after I told them of my situation, they said I have the right to dispute any charges that both Expedia and Pono Kai might improperly put on my card.  But after getting the whole hotel room sorted out, we did drive to Poipu to boogie board at Brenneke's Beach and it was a blast.  We'll be returning to hit the waves again.

47 Days...But Who's Counting

I took the photograph of a rainbow over the First Hawaiian Church in Kapaa during our last visit to Kauai in December 2007.  I wasn't sure I can go back anytime soon but today I'm as sure as I can be.  I finally booked our annual Hawaii trip to the Garden Isle -- June 24th through July 4th.  Yes, that's 47 days away -- 6 weekend from now!  I suppose there's comfort in the familiar so I got a room at the Pono Kai, which is walking distance to most places to eat and is only a short 8 miles from the airport in Lihue.  Hawaiian pancakes, Portuguese sausage, luau, daily ocean swim, Shrimp Station and most of all, I want to find ohana, me and my boys.  And I'm sure if I pay enough attention, I will find the spirits of a dear, old friend.

Big Sky Country

Not Big Sky as in Montana but big sky in Aurora, just east of Denver.  I've been traveling to Colorado for work for a while now with a destination of either Colorado Springs or Boulder.  I always fly into Denver but had never really stayed in Denver -- until this week.  A 3-day meeting landed me at a Hyatt House just off Tower and Pena and this is the view pretty much if I look in the eastern direction.  Denver is very built up in the north, west and south.  So where else do you build?  Signs for (relatively) affordable housing all over the place ($200K affordable, that is) but I'm not too sure about this geography.  I had seen the most spectacular (and scary at the same time) lightning storms in this area and with all this open land, I do wonder what it's like in the summertime.

Returning To The City

Four days in San Francisco is the first vacation planned for the year.  I basically already paid for 3 nights at Fisherman's Wharf starting the Thursday after school ends and returning Sunday, just before Memorial Day.  I took the kids there there for the first time in 2010 and they just enjoyed everything we did from Alcatraz to Golden Gate Bridge to riding the cable cars and even a short (but sweet) visit to SFMOMA.  It's interesting how they wanted to do the same things -- which obviously, they didn't get enough of the first time.  Also just considering bringing our bikes this time around as well since it helps getting around, except maybe for the hills.  Also, considering taking them to Berkeley and Marin County but if they're all for just hanging out, that's just fine by me as well.  It's also Sam's last summer before entering Los Osos High School in several short weeks, so I want to make it somewhat memorable.

Hele On To Kauai

There's a place I recall

Not too big, in fact it's kinda small

The people there know they got it all

The simple life for me

Hele on to Kauai

Hanalei by the bay

Wailua river valley is where I used to play

The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow

The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home

When I was young, not too smart

I left my home, looking for a brand new start

To find a place that's better still

Now I know, I know I never will

Hele on to Kauai

Hanalei by the bay

Wailua river valley is where I used to play

The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow

The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home

Hele on to Kauai

Hanalei by the bay

Wailua river valley is where I used to play

The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow

The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home

It's calling me back home

(words by Bruddah Iz)

We've only been to the island of Kauai twice -- once in 2005 and again in 2007.  The island had been given us countless memories, a time of innocence.  Compared to the Big Island, Maui or Oahu, we actually get to relax over there.  Some driving but mostly just hanging out and enjoying each other's company.  Little did we know, Kauai will always hold a special place in our hearts.  We haven't been back since and I'm just wondering if it's too soon to return.  Without Maura, something will not be quite right.  But then again, I think Kauai is where her spirits are and I know at the very least, I will find peace there.

Kauai is all about swimming in the ocean several hours a day.  We had swim clothes from breakfast up to the time we change to get ready to eat dinner.  Here's Sam in 2005, missing a front tooth washing off sand from his shorts.  Not a care in the world when in Kauai.

Photo I took during the flight to Lihue in 2005.  Maura read the Kite Runner for most of the flight.  She is most happy when on a flight to the islands.

The kids enjoying Melona bars outside JJ's Broiler in 2005.  We discovered Melona bars on the kids first trip to Oahu in 2002.  They've been enjoying them ever since.  I think we're going back to Kauai this summer.  I cannot avoid this beautiful island much longer.  Hele on to Kauai.

True story: In 2005, we were driving home from a remote beach and decided to stop by the side of this winding road that overlooks Hanalei valley (above), where they have tons of taro fields.  I pulled over and we were milling about and I was snapping away with my camera.  Guy in a silver BMW 735i pulls up, gets out for a couple minutes to look at the valley and gets back into his car.  I didn't even notice who it was until he started getting back into his car with a very familiar smile.  A 007 smile.  None other than Pierce Brosnan.  Maura didn't even notice.  I would not have noticed except for a quick glance.  Turned out he's a local.

What's Another Photograph, Right?

I'm guessing at least a billion photographs had been taken from this spot where I stood in Yosemite Valley this morning.  We headed up for JJ's birthday to get some snow play but there wasn't any snow in the valley until we were about to head back home.  An overnight dusting left about an inch or two which was enough to complement the sledding we did up Badger Pass, which is a higher elevation.  El Capitan to the left and Half Dome to the right in this image is probably the most photographed rock formation in this little planet of our.  As the sun came up, the light snow off El Capitan's 7500 foot peak started boiling off and looked like steam coming out of every crack in this gigantic piece of granite.  This year is also the first time we've actually stayed in the valley, at Yosemite Lodge and although it is convenient, the luxury of Tenaya, just outside the southern entrance to the park is my preferred place to stay.  Sad to go home and return to work but thankful at least for the show that Mother Nature put on for us.

Long Commute

It was one of those dream-like drive.  Given the time I was on the road at the obscene hours from 330am through 630am, I may as well be in R.E.M. sleep.  I had to be at Vandenberg AFB by 7am and the 197 miles from Rancho Cucamonga meant a 315am wake-up alarm.  I must have made the drive to Santa Barbara over a hundred times but this one was different.  I was going 70 to 80 all the way and not once did I notice the rolling hills in the west SF Valley nor the farms of Camarillo nor ocean at Ventura.  Instead, I had This American Life and The Moth podcasts keeping me company.  Something about reaping what you sow is most of what I remember in the 2 hours it took to get from Day Creek Blvd to the Roco at State Street, where I got my hot americano and cinnamon twist pastry.  Two customers and a barista at 530am.  No tourists, no UCSB students.  Not even any music.  That somewhat woke me up until I started tracking the full moon setting in the west just above the rolling hills of Lompoc.  It's been at least 20 years since I did the Solvang Century that went through Santa Rosa Road.  I don't ever remember it taking close to an hour by car from US101 to VAFB but the 30 miles wasn't easy driving.  Might have been the anxiety of sitting in a room with a conference table with half a dozen full-bird colonels.  Or maybe it was just plain of sleep deprivation.  I was in such an altered state that I headed straight for the guard checkpoint, completely forgetting that I need to get a visitor pass.  If anything will wake me up, it's an 18 year old MP with an M16 rifle telling me to please turn around and go to the visitor center.  Yes, sir.  That was all I needed today.

A Week Into Winter...

...and it's 65 deg F earlier today along the central coast of California. The weather during our annual post Christmas trip to Morro Bay is typically cold, but not freezing. Normal cold here is the low temps hitting the 40s with winter winds and requiring a heavy jacket and mittens. But today, we hit the tidepools at Moonstone Beach around 1030 am and it was the most beautiful day I've ever seen here, mild breeze and some tourists, but not too crowded. The local roads with lots of out-of-state license plates can only mean one thing. People from faraway places like Idaho, Montana and Illinois are seriously considering moving to the Golden State as I type this blog entry. In fact, you could have convinced me it's summertime except for the fact that the elephant seals (above) are all over the San Simeon beaches, where they give birth to their pups from December through January. And if a winter day like today isn't enough to convince these snowbirds to move here, the national broadcast of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game next week will put any remaining doubts to rest.