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was kind enough to put me up while I was there. It was nice to have a buddy to hang out with after spending much
time on my own. (1&2) Pacific Beach has a boardwalk and on the weekends is filled with college age kids and
surfers. I had to get a shot of this adorable little girl playing with a domesticated pig, (3&4) In downtown La Jolla
there is no large beach area, mostly cliffs and rocks. But, the views are beautiful and downtown La Jolla has an
upscale feel with boutique shops and better restaurants, (5) Balboa Park is centrally located in S.D. and has many
facilities, including: the US Navy Hospital, the San Diego Zoo, a botanical museum and a variety of other
museums. I visited the Science Museum, the Koi fish pond, the Botanical Garden, and the Photography Museum.
The Botanical Gardens has a man made pond in front of it with lily pads, turtles and many Koi fish – very serene.
The garden itself is in a midsize, very tall enclosure with many wonderful plant and floral varieties, as well as a
couple small waterfalls flowing through, (6) I drove out to Coronado, where I got a photo of the famous Del
Coronado Hotel, (7-9) S.D. Zoo is a very well put together zoo. They try to make the animals comfortable in
enclosures that are supposed to represent their natural environment, and (10) Drove to La Jolla one last time to
visit the small beaches, have lunch and walk around downtown.
who was in from DC for a wedding. (1) Once in Santa Barbara, Alex and I went for a beer on State Street in
Historic Old Town Santa Barbara and caught up. (2) From S.B. I drove along Pacific Coast Highway (P.C.H.) on
my way to Malibu. The views were wonderful with mountains rising up on one side and the ocean on the other.
considering moving here so I wanted to investigate). (1) I pulled off when I reached the northern most beach
community of LA proper, Santa Monica, (2) Once settled in, I walked out onto the famous Santa Monica Pier. It
is huge and has much history. Today, there is a small amusement park, many shops, a restaurant and fishing from
the end of the pier (photos), (3) Brunch at Venice Beach on the boardwalk at a place called the Sidewalk Café.
This is a good, central spot in Venice for people watching – street vendors are set up all along the sidewalk and all
types of people go walking by: tourists, normal locals and alternative culture locals, (4) famous Muscle Beach on
Venice Beach, (5&8) One of my touristy days was in Hollywood. I parked next to Hollywood Boulevard then
walked. I saw the Avenue of Stars – stars names in the sidewalk set in a golden star. I got a photo in front of the
Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held. Then I checked out the architecture of the three
refurbished 1920’s theatres: The El Capitan, The Pantages and the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. (6&7)
Grauman’s is where the biggest stars have their hand prints and a written message in a section of concrete in front
of this ornate Chinese style theatre.
Hollywood. I ended up at a dirt walking path, which led me to an excellent view of the “Hollywood” sign, (3)
Today, I drove to downtown LA to check it out in the daytime. Besides the shiny, contemporary office buildings
and stately museums and a concert hall, most of the residential section is dirty and impoverished. The new Disney
Concert Hall is an architectural marvel, designed by Gehry. (4-6) I went to the J. Paul Getty museum today. This
Meier design is another incredible feat of architectural; including the coordinated, integrated buildings and public
spaces with fountains, grass fields, and (6) gardens with mountaintop and (5) city views.
earth, Sequoia National Park. The Giant Sequoia Groves are simply incredible. These trees are the largest by
volume and weight in the world, which makes them the largest living creatures on our planet. There are wider trees
and taller trees, and older trees, but none larger (combination of width and height). (1) compare my car, lower left,
to the grove of Sequoias, (2) Sequoia National Park with a mountain range and valley in background, (3) The
General Sherman Tree takes the top prize. It stands 275 feet tall, with a circumference at the ground of nearly 103
feet. One of its trunks alone weighs approximately 1,385 tons (x 2,000 = 2,770,000 pounds) and it is
approximately 2,200 years old, (4) The General Grant is known as the Nations Christmas Tree and is the only
living monument to our war dead, and (5) another example of the magnitude of these incredibly large trees.
mountain roads through forests and groves of Pine and Giant Sequoia trees. There were creeks and small water
falls. I took the turn-off to (1) Glacier Point. From this high ground, you get a wonderful view of the much of
Yosemite Park, including Yosemite Valley with Yosemite Falls (the tallest in N.A.), the Royal Arches (a granite
shear wall), (3) Half Dome (a granite mountain), the Merced River, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall and Yosemite
Village. From here, I drove into the valley below. This is a large flatland between the mountain ranges on either
side. There are woodlands and (2) meadows (w/ bear foraging) with the Merced River meandering through the
middle, and (4) I drove into downtown San Francisco this evening, California countryside.
Yerba Buena Gardens – a comfortable green area with a man made waterfall surrounded by museums, an IMAX
theatre and their Convention Center. I walked through part of the Financial District on the way to China Town.
(2) The China Town entrance feature was actually made in China and has an authentic air. I walked by the
Chinese shops along Grant Street – you feel as if you could be in China here. Next, I walked down to the (3)
Trans-America building. I walked up the steep streets to (5) Coit Tower. At the top there are wonderful city
views, including: Lombard Street (the curviest in America), Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, (6)
Alcatraz, Oakland, (4) the Bay Bridge, the Financial District and downtown.
headed over to (1) Ghirardelli Square, where I picked up a free chocolate sample and looked around this historic
landmark, where they used to manufacture chocolate and other confections. Presently, it retains its historic
charm and has unique boutique shops, a chocolate shop and an ice-cream parlor. (sweets day). Next stop, (2)
Lombard Street, you can just make out Coit Tower in the upper right, (3) famous pastel houses on a steep S.F.
street, and (4) me with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
beauty. There are cliffs, small rock islands right off the coast, (1) rivers flowing to the sea with sand deltas,
beaches with waves lapping up upon the shore and multitudes of sea birds. North of Pt. Arena the coastline
becomes increasingly rugged. There are a string of small towns, most of which were former lumber and fishing
ports. (3) Near the town of Leggett there is a large standing Redwood tree through which you can drive your
car. Leggett is known as the “Gateway of the Redwoods,” because many redwood parks are found north of
here along Redwood Highway, Rt. 101. North of Garberville by seven miles starts the (4) “Avenue of the
Giants,” a 33 mile road, which use to be part of old Hwy. 101, now Hwy. 254. This scenic drive winds through
some of the largest surviving groves of redwoods. Coastal redwoods are the tallest living creatures in the world.
Heights of 300 feet are common; the tallest one measured is 368 feet. After a number of other coastal towns
you’ll come upon Redwood National and State Parks. The park covers 110,000 acres on the North Coast, of
which 38,000 acres are protected coastal redwoods – very impressive.
