San Diego

After visiting Old Town I headed back to my motel. The next day I went to SeaWorld.

$11.00 to park the motorcycle and the motorcycle parking is right outside the entrance.

Then $86.00 to get in. I went up in the Sea Tower.

This way one can see all over the park.

Unfortunately the windows are screened but you get the jist. The pools hold Shamu the whale and the porpoises and seals and otters. I then had lunch at this place. Sustainable fish and chips. I have never heard of a kind of fish called sustainable but it was okay.

 

 

This wonderful fig tree is at the base of the tower.

I really loved the penquin house.

 

They cancelled the seal and otter show so I took in the pet show instead.

Amazing to see all kinds of animals performing.

Cats pigs dogs ducks wallabies all doing tricks to decorate the stage. Fun.

Then I went to the porpoise show.

 

These are fish in the aquarium.

I found these beautiful poinsettas everywhere.

The gondola ride over the bay was lovely.

This was taken in the shark house. At one place you walk under the sharks but my photos in there did not turn out very well.

This sea lion was waving his flipper and barking begging for fish. There were a lot of seals and otters but I did miss their show. The park was terribly expensive for what I did see. They have a lot to see and do but I think one needs a game plan for when you get there to take full advantage. I returned to my motel that evening and had dinner at Denny's. The next morning it was time to pack up and head for Agua Caliente. I rode up through Julian. The previous day it snowed in Julian and there was a 6 hour traffic delay because everyone was driving from San Diego to play in the snow. The next day there were still cars turned over in the ditch and I am driving by on the motorcycle? Every pullout was full of parked cars and everyone playing in the snow.  If I had known Southern Californians liked snow so much I would have brought more.

 

Flamingos

Over the Bay

Christmas Tree at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Diego trolley ride

I started the trolley ride in Old Town and we went to the Embarcadero where we saw a cruise ship, a naval base, an aircraft carrier , sailing ships and on to Coronado, Little Italy, Gaslight are and Balboa Park where I got off and spent several hours. This was a great way to learn about the city. Our driver commentator was excellent and gave us a lot of insight of what we are looking at.

 

 

 

One of the tall beautiful buildings downtown.

Balboa Hotel

The bridge on the skyline is the one we will be on going to Coronado.

From the bridge looking at False Bay

Looking from Coronado back on San Diego

This house was airlifted on to Coronado after being built elsewhere.

Back on the bridge and off to the right is a large naval base.

Japanese garden at Balboa Park

Statue in Balboa Park. This great place was on the trolley route. I had never heard of it before but it was like a step back in time. Lots of museums but I did not pay to go in. I did however have a lovely lunch of a veggie flatbread at El Prado. This was the view from my table.

There was a botanical building here and of course you know where I stand when flowers and plants are concerned.

 

Orchids

Pointsetta

The facades on these many buildings looks a lot like back in Europe.

A piece of art in the sculpture garden

Another beautiful building on the grounds with the Balboa tower attached. Meanwhile back at the trolley and the ride back to Old Town.

Once back I was taken with the blooms on these Yucca like plants that bend over.

This young man was entertaining on his many flutes in a square at Old Town.

Bourgainvilla

After checking out this beautiful area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palm Springs to San Diego

Jan 1, 2015  A New Year. I am still playing catch up. Today I am in San Diego California. Watching the Rose Bowl parade in my hotel room. But back to when I returned to Palm Springs from Mesa. A good trip back . Christmas was a quiet day cooking turkey and dressing and ham and friends came for dinner. 7 people and 6 dogs.  Ken and Karen had B and Quizzie registered in the coursing at Chino California. So for the next 3 days we rose early and with 3 dogs and 3 people we headed for Chino. Unfortunately B never won the SoCal cup but everyone had a good run.

 

While at the coursing I just had to take a picture of these Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers. The grounds where the coursing takes place is very beautiful and a few of the following pictures are indicative of that. I was really taken with the egrets and many other bird species on the grounds.

 

 

These beautiful eucalyptus trees are everywhere. It was interesting the 1st day when the wind blew as the Palm fronds were falling everywhere. I was somewhat afraid of being hit in the head. The next day, Monday, was quiet so started packing up with plans to leave the next day. It was a good ride from Palm Springs to El Centro through farm country. Once I reached El Centro and turned west the weather started to deteriorate. The temperature went down, the wind was very strong and it started to rain up over the pass. I was certainly happy to see a Denny's and find my hotel.

 

Bird of Paradise plant outside my room.

View from my room of the pool and hot tub. Have not used yet but will do so later today.

 Later that night it snowed. The next day it was tempting to stay in my room and stay warm but who knows when I will be in San Diego again so I got on the bike and headed to Old Town. Then I paid $39.00 for a trolley ride. It was a fantastic tour. Commentary as we went all over even to Coronado.

 

This is the trolley I was on. Named Wyatt Earp and the driver was from Anaconda Montana. I commented I had been there and he replied "On purpose?"

I stayed on the trolley until we reached Balboa Park. Wow. Felt like I was back in Europe. Will continue later today but want to go see some more of this beautiful city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South for a Month

Well after several months of cold and snow and mundane things like scouting, church and I even got in 4 days of working in Lethbridge doing inventory for Fleet Brake. I am finally south and on the bike again. When I got back from California in September I did manage to ride a little. Put the new bike away with 25,426 km on it. Almost worn out. The last ride it was cool in the AM. Frost on the bike to be sure. And I could not get any guys to come over and warm up the seat. No they give me a bad time about the icicles on my hoohaw.

Karl Nordin, Doug Campbell and I went out to Bragg Creek, Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. Took the old coal road to High River and saw a purple outhouse in a field, a black bear up a tree right by the road and an eagle soaring in the valley. After getting back I rode up to Airdrie and then reluctantly put the bike away. The next day this was the scene from my front window.

On Dec 14 I flew to Palm Springs and was greeted at the airport by Karen Maki.

This was the sight that greeted me. Warm temperatures, blue skies and gorgeous flowers.

The following day Karen and I drove around and did some shopping but that evening I got the bike running and out ready to go to Riverside the next day. While the BMW shop was doing my front fork seals and oil change and chain lube My friend Lisa Lattke picked me up and took me to her home in Ontario California and we picked up Bert and went to Famous Dave's BBQ for lunch. We went back to their home after and visited for awhile before going to pick up the bike. I hit a little rain on the way home particularily through Banning. The next day Ken was home and He had to do some deliveries and pickups so we went to Temecula and several places I have never been. We stopped at one place just outside Riverside and the lady there had a neat shop selling horse feed and other STUFF.

 

We passed this mammouth just east of  Riverside and then we went to a city by the name of Norco. It is known as Horsetown USA and instead of sidewalks they have bridle paths. Pretty cool.

 

The next day I rode up Hwy 74 just to the Indian reservation and then turned around and stopped at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument. What an interesting history. I got another stamp in my passport of National Parks book. Friday morning I packed up and headed for Mesa Arizona and Merrill and Joyce's. It was a great ride with very little wind. We went to the Mesa market the following day and that night they took me to Organstop Pizza. What a fascinating place. They have room for 200 people and this amazing organ that takes up one whole wall. I still cannot fathom how someone came up with the idea of having a pizza place and putting this organ for entertainment in it. It is very popular and lines go out the door. Did not take my camera though. No pictures. So that catches me up somewhat. I head home to Palm Springs tomorrow and Jan 2 - 4 is the campout I am registered for in Agua Caliente.