A Short Trip to Washington...August 9-13

We were able to see Nicholas out in Walla Walla! It was a fun combination of seeing him and sightseeing in the area.  Our highlight was on the morning after we arrived.  We were slated to see Nicholas after he was done at work.  We were sitting outside having a hearty breakfast at one of the several great breakfast place when guess who walked by on his way to work?!  We were all amazed and it was a fun meeting!  It's a good example of how small Walla Walla really is.  

Our second highlight was that the hotel we stayed at, the Finch, had free bikes we could borrow!  How fun is that!  We biked around campus one day and made our way further out to the surrounding neighborhoods and to Pioneer Park (very old, very tall trees here) on another day.   Walla Walla is well-known for their wineries. We did a tasting a L' Ecole but we both agreed the complexities were mostly lost on us.  Our drive out to the countryside outside Walla Walla was eye-opening.  It was very arid and sparsely populated with farms miles from one another.  It was also very hot while we were there (105) and we were surprised to learn the peak of the heat was around 5pm.  Nicholas brought us to many different restaurants in the evenings. We also were introduced to Andy's Market. It was great to spend time with him!

New England Adventures...July 25-29

Camping at Lake Pawtuckaway in NH!  We tried a new campground this year.  We stayed on Horse Island at Pawtuckaway State Park.  The days were marked with the number of mosquito bites one could rack up!  Unfortunately, that seemed a direct result of the rainy days from earlier in the month.  Two different groups tried two different hikes and came back with their own bug stories (and bites/welts).  A trip to the grocery store was even needed to purchase calamine lotion!

That being said, this was an interesting campground.  It was a long drive in from the entrance through conserved land.  Our area was in the middle of the island, but the campsites were large and water views were a stroll away.  Lake Pawtuckaway was actually two smaller ponds that were merged for mill purposes.  It is unusual in that it has small islands and plenty of submerged rocks.  A first for us was seeing cairns on a lake to denote rocky spots!

In the end, the reviews for this campground were mixed.  There is definitely some nostalgia and a desire to return to White Lake, but on the other hand, this lake had plenty of interesting spots to kayak.

New England Adventures...June 18 -28

Happy anniversary on the lake!  The end of Michele and Adelaide's school year brought us to a two week stay on Highland Lake in Maine.  We frolicked on the lake with friends, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, and paddleboards!  When not on the lake, the lakeside hammock beckoned for a leisurely read or an afternoon nap.  The challenging 1000 puzzle supplied by the house kept us entertained.  Carol is the master jigsaw puzzler!

John hiked one day. Later when we ordered pizza from an OLD menu, we found the Old Speck pizza--the very mountain he climbed.  Although it was not a current option, there was an old timer who could recreate it for us.  We also went adventuring for some craft breweries. One day we wandered all over without success until we found the Bunker Brewing Company in Portland.  They had outdoor seating which is always a plus during covid. The place itself was in a converted auto repair building.  The laugh was really on us after that afternoon of meandering though. For what did we find right down the street from the the local grocery store near us?  An industrial park with 4 craft breweries:  Foundation, Battery Steele, Austin St, and Allagash!  Too many for us to explore, but we tried one and took home from another.

The view from the master bedroom was amazing! John and Michele awoke one morning at 4 am to see the spectacular sunrise over the lake.  The house itself had everything you could want.  It had a finished basement which was great for the teens.  The adults forayed in occasionally for a game of ping pong.  The hot tub was put to use and we had many a meal on the deck.

What a way to kick off summer!

Santa Monica Pier

The kids had an interest in visiting the Santa Monica Pier, especially the amusement rides. When we arrived there Monday, before heading down to the pier with the masses, we first went into the Atlas Obscura nearby. Although the building is clearly marked, the entry is ambiguous since the attraction is in shared space with a senior center. That made it all the more intriguing and the free admission was a bonus! The room was circular and easily fit us all. The usual pinhole was more like a porthole. The image was displayed on a large round disc that could be rotated. We could see all around us and even could focus small areas.  Very interesting.

Down at the Pier, we all took a ride on the historic carousel houses in the hippodrome designed by designed by Charles Looffe to house one of his carousels (it was replaced about 23 years after its installation). Jeff also knew of Looffe carousel at Crescent Park in RI that is still in operatiin. The amusement rides by the beautiful beaches gave a feeling of bygone times. Although touristy, it is nice to see places like this still exist and people delight in them as much today. As the kids enjoyed unlimited rides and some independence, the adults went off to the Dudes Brewery Co. for a sampling of local beer and snacks for lunch. The highlight of our time there though  took place outside. There was a HUGE swarm of bees in the air that finally settled on a table. They were covering a section so thickly that they looked like a dripping stalactite. It was an uncommon sight for us, for sure.

Our west coast adventures have come to an end. It was another fun trip. The best part for us was spending time with Jeff and Amanda. Thank you guys for your wonderful company and gracious hospitality.  Hope we see you both again soon!

Hurrah for Hollywood

Per our tourist request, Amanda and Jeff were kind enough to take us to a Hollywood sign viewing point. To our surprise, it was a popular spot. Down the road was the Hollywood Reservoir, an artificial reservoir constructed in 1924 and seemingly not in use at the present. It was a lovely location and we enjoyed a walk around it and got many views of the Hollywood sign without any of the crowds!

Afterwards we went to the Science Center. This was fun for kids and adults. Among other things, we saw an IMAX film about Apollo 11, experienced a hurricane simulator, and saw the space shuttle Endeavour while learning about the space shuttles and their missions.

We weren't done with museums yet though. We had two more gems to visit. The first was the Center for Land Use Interpretation  (clui.org). The mission of this organization seems to be looking at how humans interact with the planet and how the man made structures reflect culture and this interaction. The website, of course, describes it much better. The current exhibit was about shortwave radios--the history, the old buildings and sites devoted to them, and one site that still broadcasts the Voice of America. Right next door was the Museum for Jurassic Technology (http://mjt.org/) This is another place that is difficult to describe. At first glance, it seems to be a museum for strange collections and an introduction to obscure historical figures. A small truth is tied to these things and people so it is not clear to the visitor that these exhibits are not as straightforward as one might think. 

The evening ended with a delicious meal and games. Do you know the height of an Oscar statuette? It could win you big money in Wits and Wagers if you do!

Mission San Juan Capistrano

We headed south today and visited this mission. It is widely known for the swallows returning each year. Actually though, there was a spate of years that they didn't return. Due to urban growth,  they could find higher buildings in the surrounding areas for nesting. Scientists have worked hard to keep them returning to the mission including playing a male swallow mating song to attract them in. We all toured at our own pace with the help of audio guides. The mission has had an interesting history. Afterwards we were able to meet up with Jean and Fenway to catch up.

Snakes in LA

We arrived in Los Angeles on Friday. Amanda and Jeff took us for a fantastic hike at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. It provided a panoramic view of the city. I was just amazed at how large and sprawling it was. We also learned about the Baldwin Hills Reservoir which was formally on this site and which failed in 1963. After cracking, it emptied in 77 minutes and destroying nearly 70 homes. Now it is an inviting green, grassy bowl with many trees. It is a contrast to the scrubbier, dry landscape around it.