Dim Sum, Dogs, and Dodgers

“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” (Denzel Washington)

In spite of our pre-planned itineraries, Ruth and I love the idea of finding unintended surprises on our long road trips. In spite of the predictable annoyances of smog filled air, wall cluttered graffiti, and endless freeway gridlock, the greater Los Angeles area, however, typically provides for us a multitude of spontaneous pleasures. Seemingly influenced by So Cal’s illustrious, media entertainment reputation, three scheduled destinations on days 47-50 of our current road trip thus provided us with heartwarming episodes of PG movie potential in unexpected fashion. With such family entertainment themes on our LA visit in mind, I thus present the following, self made videos below and accompanying photographs.

Scene 1 – Cute Puppy Starved For Love

On our three day stay with friends Jennie and Tommie in Thousand Oaks, we found amusing entertainment in the warm company of their son’s Schnauzer puppy, Archie. Always demanding our immediate attention, Archie’s playful antics put on quite a talented show for us.

Scene 2 – Authentic Chinese Eating Encounter

In the colorfully cavernous dining area of NBC Seafood Restaurant in Monterey Park, we indulged in a unique variety of Dim Sum delights served off roving carts by eagerly attentive waiters. Seemingly oblivious to this spectacle of boisterous server flair, closely knit Asian families of young and old, dined slowly and shared quality time around circular tables.

Scene 3- Dodgers Winning Fever

With Clayton Kershaw on the mound in combination with a Bobblehead giveaway at the ballpark, we found good reason to purchase reasonably priced, upper deck tickets for Saturday night game at Dodger Stadium. Joining into the wild enthusiasm of the hometown crowd, we enjoyed the “nail biting suspense” of a Los Dodgers win in comeback fashion.”

April 29, 2019 2

Pacific Coastline Dreaminess

“To the shore Follow! Oh, follow! To be at rest forevermore!” (James Russell Lowell)

In our three weeks traveling south along route 1 in coastal California on the midpoint “leg”of our 2019 road trip, I’ve covered in three previous blogs the highlights of our featured beachside destinations. In the following poem I’ve composed with accompanying photographs, I now present a concluding tribute to a region that has again filled my heart and mind with lasting images of meditative goodness as a result of this unforgettable travel experience. Namaste.

In Pacific Coast landscape my heart longs for more, as there’s will to seek solace along desolate shore. As west winds flow so freely like trains from the sky, pay heed to young surfer for his wave lifting high. With eons of stones perhaps I’ll strike gold, yet just one tiny pebble can trigger my life changing mold. Let’s trod a path down cliff steeply to find pure nature’s thrill, and caress unspoiled beach in spite of dusk chill. These dizzying curves that I drive mindfully in motion, strike firm will to return, thus fullfilling my west coast emotion.

April 24, 2019 4

Strong Touch Of Earth Day Spirit

“In nature, nothing exists alone.”(Rachel Carson, 1962)

It’s Earth Day again for Ruth and I on our third, extended road trip stay in close proximity to the Central California coastline. Unsurprisingly, our attendance at a Sunday Earth Day Festival on a blue sky filled, sunny afternoon at Cambria would offer strong evidence of how this region strongly respects Earth Day initiatives of enhanced environmental awareness, endangered animal protection, and the sustainable resource use on earth. Thus gathering my thoughts from this event and our most recent excursions throughout Central Coast California, the following self made video and photographic display in the ensuing paragraphs thus attempt to reveal to my readers the critical need to support such Earth Day initiatives.

At Limekiln State Park along the Pacific Coast Highway, we hiked amidst primarily second growth Redwood trees to the remnants of large kilns. The entire Redwood forest here was once cut and burned in the late 1800s in these stone ovens to make way for lime and wood exporting operations. More recently downed trees that we observed on our walk had been ravaged by climate change and uncontrolled fire.

Thousands of elephant seals migrate to the Beach rookery near San Simeon, California. Walking along the boardwalk to gawk at these amusing creatures, we learned how humans once hunted their blubber for their oil to the brink of extinction. Now protected as a species, these endangered marine animals today face recent threats from invasive human contact and ocean affected, climate change.

The Thursday night Farmers Market in downtown San Luis Obispo tantalized our taste buds with a large display of locally grown, fresh fruit and vegetables. With great interest, we also learned that such California produce sold here would most likely be grown pesticide free. In fact, the state of California has recently moved strongly to ban consumer sales of food products exposed to poisonous pesticide spraying. Where does your state stand here?

Who would have thought that a local shop, “Beads By The Bay” in Morro Bay would house a sunlit, outdoor cove in the back of the store filled with succulent organic plants, rare rock collections, and an herb shrouded fountain? Sitting quietly amidst this treasured garden as my wife shopped for beads, I felt warmly spiritual here admiring these uplifting natural surroundings.

Our morning outing to the Earth Day Festival at Greenspace Creekside Reserve In downtown Cambria would provide vivid evidence that Earth Day’s importance is alive and well in this environmentally activist community. As outsiders from South Florida, we enjoyed gaining a Central California perspective through informal expert discussions and acoustic guitar music about how to get involved in environmental education, advocacy, and action.

On a personal level, I learned from this festival to become more cognizant of some simple reminders to make Earth Day an every day occurrence in my life.

Plant something to feel the healing power of nature

Let my voice be heard for environmental preservation

Volunteer/contribute donations for endangered animal protection

Buy reusable items to avoid wasteful action.

Get produce organically from a local farmer’s market

Conserve fossil fuel energy use and go solar.

April 22, 2019 10

Boosts of California Coastal Energy

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”(Albert Einstein)

As Ruth and I reached the midpoint of our current road trip adventure, we rejoiced in our return again to the captivating Pacific Coast shores of Central California. Beginning with a three day slowdown in “surftown” Santa Cruz, we would slowly make our way south along steep cliff-side curves of the famed “Pacific Coast Highway” to quaint Cambria for a well needed, ten day respite from the daily rigors of road road travel.

Would you like to feel suddenly calmer and more contented now? Notice then the positive energy emanating in the following photographs as we immersed ourselves into the stunning natural beauty of our coastal shore visit. Feel the cool bark of my spontaneous hug of an ancient Redwood tree that so proudly lives on for centuries in a densely primeval forest. Savor the smooth textures of a colorfully interesting rock that we patiently examine on a secluded beach. Walk daringly with us along a steep, roadside cliff for a better view of the mountainside plunge to the aqua blue ocean below. Feel the rush of cool air as we stand silently amidst a beautiful cascade of rushing waterfalls.

In beach touristy Santa Cruz, a three day stay at a cozy cottage close by our longtime friends Bobbi and John would first spark carefree visions of adolescent freedom and innocent play” in the late 1960s. A touristic jaunt around town, however, would spark more serious interest in the town’s illustrious historical past.

We first entered the Pacific Coast Highway from the north as the nightly fog invitingly began to lift in mid morning. Stopping frequently at bridge turnoffs, we savored for over twenty miles the stunning views of cliffside coves along the sea on our right.

At the midpoint of our PCH drive near mile marker twenty five, we stopped at the “Redwood” shrouded town of Big Sur for lunch at the Ripplewood Resort Cafe. A curious bit of rock hunting and bird watching here then would captivate our attention here.

Two miles south of Big Sur, we entered Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Here we were greeted by a wild turkey as we began an easy, two mile hike along the River Gorge Trail. Notably making our way alongside this gentle stream, we passed an old Homestead Cabin. Reaching the Trail terminus at the base of the gorge, I admired the attraction of fluttering butterflies amidst this bubbling calmness.

Passing the oasis rest stops of Lucia and Gorda, the forty nine mile drive to Ragged Point became more noticeably steep and winding. Spring flowers blooming prolifically along this road stretch above the aqua blue sea thus revealed endless photo opportunities.

While immensely enjoying the challenging drive of the PCH today, the late afternoon arrival at our Air B&B lodging in Cambria brought us a welcoming calmness.

April 20, 2019 0

“Here & Now” Welcome By The Bay

DThe Bay Area is so beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while I’m here.” (Billy Graham)

“Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every house a poem, every dweller within immortal. This is the whole truth.” (William Saroyan)

It’s easy to feel lost in the cool fogginess of the San Francisco Bay Area. Compounding one’s confusion, the gridlocked traffic entering and leaving along bridges and mountainside towns can further discourage one’s touristic enjoyment. In spite of these uncontrollable obstacles, the natural beauties , historical landmarks, and cultural vitalities of this region would unmistakably serve for Ruth and I as a captivating series of now moment “highs” during days 30-36 of our spring road trip. With seemingly little time to write on each action-filled day, I resigned to take a break from blogging for one week to allot more time to capture S.F. sensory stimulations enhanced by way of photography. Enjoy the following presentation as expressed in various categories of personal interest.

OPENING WEEKEND BASEBALL SERIES – ORACLE PARK

While the current San Francisco Giants presently are not performing well on the field, we relished the opportunity to purchase two affordable tickets behind home plate on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon. In fact, this slow moving pitching duel on the field seemed somewhat secondary to the historic designs of the ballpark as well as the beautiful panorama of the surrounding bay and downtown skyline from our seats.

MAKING TIME FOR S.F. COMPANIONSHIP

We enjoyed a relaxing day with our close friend Dan, who lives quietly with his two dogs at his “artsy” downtown apartment along a steep hill. Stepping curiously into his patio, I witnessed fantastic views of the distant bay and surrounding downtown skyline. We then accompanied Dan for a relaxing lunch at the popular indoor mall at the historic Ferry Building nearby Embarcadero Plaza. Strolling further along this Eastern waterfront shoreline, I gained a historically authentic sense of S.F. “then and now”.

A HISTORIC ENIGMA OF DIVERSITY AT ANGEL ISLAND

Opting to skip popular Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on this vacation, we instead hopped a short ferry ride from Tiburon harbor to remote Angel Island. From the State Park Visitor Center a rigorous uphill walk led us to the old U.S. Immigration Station. Functioning as a west coast version of N.Y.’s Ellis Island, thousands of immigrants entered the United States here from 1910-1940. Our brief tour of this facility, would offer an authentic look at the harsh treatment of Chinese families in particular, who were detained here indefinitely in cold and cramped barracks then. A closer look at walls inscribed with detainee poems of desperation provided further evidence of of this sadly racist era in America history.

CULINARY DELIGHTS FILL THE SHORELINE AIR

The open air atmosphere of food offerings along Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 41 provided a tantalizing opportunity to satisfy our sensory induced appetite to our heart’s content.

A CREATIVE IMPULSE TO FEEL JAZZ GROOVE

On the other side of the Bay at refurbished Jack London Square in Oakland, Yoshi’s provides a classy scene of live jazz. Hearing the Tommy Igoe Big Band perform brilliantly the classic hits of legendary drummer, Buddy Rich would thus provide an excitably memorable moment in our Bay Area visit.

A FITTING TIME TO FEEL SENTIMENTAL IN S.F.

My wife and I celebrated our newly joined marriage in December, 1974 at the Hyatt Regency, San Francisco on Embarcadero Square. A brief revisit to this honeymoon hotel with our friend Dan would provide vivid memories to share with him of those loving times.

April 15, 2019 13

The Art Of Road Tripping

“I’d been to California once or twice, been all over the East Coast, but I didn’t really know the country in between. So, my goal was to really see America. And that was the frame for the journey. It was the first great journey of my life and it was the most important experience of my life in terms of shaping who I am.” (Josh Foer, Atlas Obscura, 4/3/19)

No matter what age you are, the experience of embarking on an American road trip can significantly help you embrace living life to its fullest . In our country today, busy people receive their daily fix of news from either television or the internet. Why not sample authentic America from different regions of our country for yourself this year? As I embrace the bright awakenings of springtime with my wife on our present nationwide road trip, consider the following personal questions.

(1) To what extent are Americans so divided as politicians say they are?

(2) Am I so different from those who are portrayed as opposed to my point of views?

(3) Does the immigration issue really call for building more walls in this country?

(4) What new friends made on social media can you meet face to face on road trip visits?

(5) How will your exposure to the stillness of wide open spaces in the American West impact your present state of mind?

(6) If you realized you had only a short time to live, how might a cross country road trip impact your end of life, spiritual understandings?

Perhaps the road trip artistry expressed in a 2003 poem by the late Kurt Brown might inspire you to “move the needle” for seeing for yourself, your own version of the American dream.

“The new road runs along the old road. I can see it
still imprinted on the earth, not twenty feet away
as I drive west past silos and farmsteads, fruit stands and hogs.”

“Once in Kansas, I stood in a field and watched
the stars on the horizon revolve around my ankles.
People are always moving, even those standing still
because the world keeps changing around them, changing them.”

“When will the cities meet? When will they spread until
there is a single city—avenue to avenue, coast to coast?
What we call “the country” is an undeveloped area
by the side of the road. There is no “country,” there is no “road.”

“It’s one big National Park, no longer the wilderness it was.But the old world exists under the present world
the way an original painting exists under a newer one.
The animals know: their ancient, invisible trails cross
and re-cross our own like scars that have healed long ago.Their country is not our country but another place altogether.”

“Anything of importance there comes out of the sky.
In Amarillo the wind tries to erase everything, even the future. It swoops down to scrape the desert clean as a scapula.”

Other Reference:

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/road-trip

April 8, 2019 0