Desert Walk

Palm Springs, CA -- Not far from Palm Springs is a cut-off road that winds up a canyon called Whitewater. Always up for an adventure, I took the five-mile single-lane and came across a most beautiful oasis (featured tomorrow). Beyond the tall cliffs, crystal-blue pools and nature center, is this quaint trail, begging to be walked. I would have but I was only on a lunch break and wearing loafers, wool trousers and a dress shirt. It was 102 degrees too...

Ports O Call

San Pedro, CA -- Tourists look out onto the shipping channel of the LA Harbor. The Port of Los Angeles is the worlds largest working port. Container ships of all sizes line up at the breakwater waiting their turn to pickup and unload their goods.

Overlooking the port is a New England-style village. Ports O Call was developed (I believe) back in the late 60s. Its host to restaurants, boutiques and curio shops along the stone walk, giving tourists a small taste of the East Coast. Surround the village are private yachts, harbor tour boats as well as scuba diving and charter fishing boats. The harbor is also home to many commercial fishing vessels, which are interesting to browse just after they arrive home from sea.

Smokey LA Skyline

Pasadena, CA -- Spring fever overtook us all as a dry, balmy wind blew through our group and into the valley. This is our weekly Happy Hour hiking group in the foreground. Behind us are the buildings of downtown Los Angeles which, are under a shroud of smoke from the Santa Barbara fire.

Bee Sighting

Living Life in a Sock

Wasps find the most clever places to take up residences. This time, a wind sock at a local airport was the property of choice.

Child Labor for a Good Cause

Sierra Madre, CA -- Last weekend, our church had an all-church work day. We had a good turnout, including a few willing kids who put some of us old folks to shame.

Flashback

Corona, CA -- A few years ago, I heard the distinctive sound of a vintage twin-engine plane fly over me. I was near an airport and saw that the silvery 1940s Douglas was about to land, so I rushed to the terminal and arrived just as the two balloon tires chirped on the El Monte Airport runway.

The plane taxied up to the greeting area and the door flipped open. Long story short, I befriended the owner of the plane, later chartering the DC-3 for 20 of my customers as well as logging a couple hours behind the wheel (every pilot loves to brag about flying a DC-3)!

I took the photo above of my friend "Scout." She loves costumes and thought a period photo in front of "Rose" would make a good Christmas card. Indeed it did.

Our Dog "Chip" Died Today

Two hours ago I received a call that our family dog died from an overdose of chocolate. I ran out to the animal hospital where they had Chip on the table. We all took our turns saying good bye to our friend.

Good ol' Chip consumed 48 chocolate squares, or 1.2 pounds of dark chocolate! I guess he died happy... but we are all very sad.

Thomas' Tower

Pasadena, CA -- A ribbon of electric wires cross the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. I took this photo of the tower during a night-hike on the Sam Merrill Trail Wednesday night.

Some of us call them Edison Towers, high tension wires, etc., while others consider them an eyesore. Nevertheless, they do bring things to light--or is that GE...?

Nap Time

Orange County -- Nothing like a good cat nap after a hardy meal.