SoCal Trip - 5 - Balboa Island

An interesting little island. Many of the homes decorate for Christmas and for four nights during Christmas time they host a boat parade as well.

Some go all out!

 Scott says this high wire Santa is quite the attraction at night.

Beary Christmas.

 Windows loaded with Christmas bears.

 The little sign under the collector sign states, 'Hobby gone awry.'

This lady was adding some finishing touches to her display.

 Penguins!

A little simpler, but still quite a bit.

Their dock was decorated in similar style.

Snowmen.

Another nice nativity scene.

 This window picture shows a few boats and the mainland (Newport).  Not Christmassy, just kind of cool, although you can see a bit of their inside decor in the darker reflection.

SoCal Trip - 4 - Back to Dana Point

Back at Dana Point but this time down below first.

Walking across the bridge one has a window overlooking the ocean.  I guess this is to show why so many people live where they can overlook the ocean. 

Nicely decorated bridge and underneath (on both sides) were mosaics 

I thought the ship was interesting. A closer look will show why.

Must have been fun getting your family's picture in the mosaic. I never realized that photos could be applied to tile so easily.

A standup paddleboarder glides by in the little inlet.  Didn't seem like a very fun sport. I mean at least you are sitting down all the while when paddling a kayak.

So many boats. And people build right up to the edge of the cliffs.

 This is only a small portion of all the boats.

Back up at the overlook, this shot gives a better idea of how many boats are docked here.  And this is just one little harbor town! We began to realize how big the boating industry must be.

We could see the cliffs earlier, but couldn't get a good shot to show them.  In the way distance are houses built up the hillsides.

Here's that old ship again and another old one behind it.

Anoother look at those aloe flowers in the sunlight.  A little hummingbird was darting around but too quickly for my camera.



SoCal Trip - 3 - San Juan Capistrano

This is the view of the mission from the Starbucks across the street.  However, if you should be planning a visit, you might want to try the coffe place shown below (you can get a Starbucks anywhere).

The Starbuck has an old brick facade which is carried over into the little plaza pictured below.

 Fall is in the air here, too.

 It was too early to tour the mission, and I had just been there this summer, so I took a few shots from outside the wall.

I don't know if they age the tiles before using them as replacement pieces or if these have come from a renovation project.

I took a side trip to a little historic district to catch a little local color.

The Hummingbird House Cafe is well over 100 years old and is located just across the tracks from the old train depot, which doubles as a couple of restaurants. It is along the entry way into the old San Juan Capistrano.

The Hidden House is also well over 100 years old and might make for an interesting coffee break.  As I said, you can find a Starbucks anywhere.

 Another old house with an 'interesting' accent color choice.

The old train depot is now Sarducci's and beside it, off the tracks, is an old railroad car restaurant called The Vintage Steak House

In a little park we just happened by this HUGE tree covered with ornaments.

 One last shot of some nice color by the train depot.

SoCal Trip - 2 - Dana Point at Sunrise

High above Dana Point is a nice little lookout over the harbor. It was a chilly 47 degrees (F) so we didn't stay long after sunrise.

I believe this is a replica of an early ship which picked up furs and delivered goods way back in the day.  Richard Henry Dana Jr. had signed on such a ship in his youth and later wrote of this area in his book, Two Years Before the Mast. 

 Sun up is obscured by clouds, but the harbor is a quiet place early in the morning.

Looking the opposite way from the harbor is a nice agave.

And right beside the lookout ramada is a huge aloe plant with striking flowers.

Moon setting above the cliffside condos or apartments modestly decorated for Christmas.

SoCal Trip - 1

Thanks to Scott Ravenhorst, or Mr. Foam, I was able to take a quick plane trip to Southern California, aka SoCal. First night we checked out some lights in the neighborhood.

This must have taken some time to put together.

 Close up.

 Another nativity also done very well.

 This trumpet-blowing angel is heralding the good news alongside the above nativity scene.

Never had seen a lighted horse and ducks before!

Fall is in the Air

When much of the country is looking at or for snow, we are finally getting color change on a few deciduous trees down here.

Admittedly not much to look at, but I'll take what I can get. 

Do I miss the days of raking leaves? No. Do I miss the piles of leaves and kids jumping into them? Yes. And I miss the smell of fall.

 

Here's the same tree from the sunnier side.

 And a nice reddish one...

 And a close up, of course!