southern california vacation
We just got back from a great vacation, so full of good things that when I loaded all the pictures to the computer and looked at the first one, I thought, "where the heck was that?!"

Fri: drive to San Simeon, walk along the beach collecting cool rocks, then sumptuous dinner

Sat: drive north for a few more walks and scenery. Here's a cool spot where we found lots of pelicans and cormorants -- some fishing, some snoozing. There were also 2-3 sea lions fishing in the same cove so it must have been good!


Another stop at the beach in Ventura (suddenly warm water!!), then took in the hanksmr art show and visiting in Ventura/Camarillo, then,
Sun: drive to Holly's to check out her new digs, drop her at work in Downtown Disney and go to a movie.
Mon: Drop the Saturn off for repairs, then to the ferry terminal for a most excellent jet ski ride:


OK, it was a very impressive "jet ski" propelled catamaran -- each hull containing a 3100 HP diesel engine driving high velocity water out 14" diameter nozzles. YOWSA -- 42mph!! On the way out of Long Beach harbor, we saw this week's shipment of sale items arriving for Harbor Freight:

...or, maybe these...


Seriously, it was impressive to see probably 2 dozen freighters waiting for off-loading! ...and, the few we came close enf to read a name were China based.

We bummed around Avalon and went snorkeling, then for dinner we found just what we were looking for, "Antonio's," and got a table on the balcony overhanging the water! Bev had the "best fish and chips ever" (i concur) and I had an anchovi+olive pizza and beer. YUM. Here's our view of the Avalon Casino from our table. :))


Odd thing, next morning after breakfast, we went outside to find Santa Ana winds had kicked up and the whole harbor was getting rocked with rather fierce winds and swell coming straight into the harbor. Skiffs and a dock or two were getting pulled loose and the harbor patrol was scurrying about trying to save things from getting worse. We also saw a smallish boat (18' ) dragged in later that had sunk. Here is a wave hitting and spraying up over the sea wall just in front of the balcony where we ate such a peaceful dinner the night before!


Part of our package deal was a "tour" option, and for that we chose to tour the Casino building. That was really fun and interesting, as part of the charm of Avalon is the history and it's hey days in the 30s-40s.

Some skiffs tied up, viewed from the ballroom floor terrace of the Casino:


Lastly, here is our snorkeling spot -- we went Monday and then nicely, the Tuesday mornign winds had died down again by the afternoon, so we decided to go again. The Casino tour guide told us this "private beach" was open to the public -- go figure! So, we enjoyed a very nice beach access to the snorkeling cove, as well as rinse showers afterward. Snorkeling was perhaps not quite as excellent as my memory had it -- at least not as good as I had bragged in comparing it to Hawaii -- but still quite good.


We were back on the ferry heading back just a couple hours after getting out of the water. Got back to Holly's after a late dinner, then picked up the Saturn (smog repairs completed with success) and drove home Wednesday.