Monday Walking 01-30-23

It is said that only boring people talk about the weather - guess I am boring, but I don't have much to talk about these days.  

Walking north on Brian St (the next street over) I can just get a glimpse of the snow covered mountains.   And you can see by the wet asphalt that we had just a bit of rain early this morning.

Here is a cropped imageshowing the mountains and high clouds that didn't rain again. 

Tree allergy season has started with the Bradford Pears bursting out all over.  They are always the first to bloom, forcing me to carry wads of tissues.  Because they are the first I think I react more to them than the other trees that bother me.   After this onslaught my nose and lungs get "calloused" I guess.  

Hard to photograph the blossoms in between the leaves that turn color at the same time the blossoms open.  

Meanwhile, KoKo is really bored with all the picture taking!

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Photo Fail 12-15-22

Worked hard at staying off my feet today, but we did go out.  KoKo just piddled in the backyard, no walk, and then we went to Starbuck's drive thru.  On the way I could see the snow covered mountains so we drove up to the top of Bastanchury (bas-tan-CHUR-y) Hill which is the highest place around.  Unfortunately the trees have grown up to block a lot of the view.  But the problem today was my cell phone camera (I think).  

Below is a gated community, above that the Brea Hills, and that light streak is the snow on the distant mountains.  Unfortunately they just blend into the sky. 

Same with this one, perhaps slightly more clear.

 

Did I take a breath and jiggle the cell phone?

And really extended.  Not my best effort. 

And then we were driving right by The Hat, which has the best pastrami around, so we drove thru and picked up a huge sandwich (ate half for dinner tonight).  When we turned on to Imperial Hwy I decided to stop for $3.99/gal gas at Arco!  Then east to our favorite Starbuck's and home to sit in my chair to read, have a nap, and do some paperwork - with my leg elevated.  Only 198 steps yesterday, but I didn't have my phone in my pocket all the time.  Tina did the honors for KoKo this evening.  What a friend!!!

He resents my lap being full of paperwork, or anything but him.

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A New Year 01-01-21

The thunder storms we had on Sunday night and Monday brought local hail, although I don't think there was any at my house, but we had 1 1/2" + of rain.  And there was snow on the local mountains (San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges).  Someone posted this morning that there was were miles long traffic jams on the roads up to the mountain resorts.  I'll take the snow at a distance!

This was taken on Christmas Day from the roadside at Bastanchury Hill.  

 

And this was taken this morning, New Year's Day, while stopped in the left turn lane on Bastanchury Hill.  There was NO traffic this morning so I felt safe stopping in the middle of the street.  The closer hill you see is actually a land fill.  I wonder if it will eventually become so high that one can no longer see the mountain ranges.  

We went out to find a Starbuck's drive thru that was open.  And so did everyone else.  When we found one we spent about 45 minutes in line!  But it was okay since it gave me time to do my e-mail and read some Facebook posts.  And KoKo could see there were other dogs looking out car windows.  Sometimes they bark, but KoKo seems to realize those dogs are not going to come near.   It was a chance to get out of the house.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and the temp eventually got up to 73.  Nice California winter weather.  

I wish you each a joyful, calm, peaceful, friend filled, worry free 2021!

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A Sunday in isolation 03-29-20

I didn't mean to garble "Struggling" on my blog last evening, but maybe it is apropos!  Sorry, I'll try harder.

One morning we drove up to the top of Bastanchury hill to try for snowy mountain pictures again.  All the sky was clear blue, but the mountains were hiding behind their very own bank of clouds.  

The larger mountains were almost completely hidden, but in the very middle of this image the top of Mt. Baldy shows.  Just to the left of the tallest cloud. 

Here is a wider shot with one little stray cloud up above.  The white to the left are the lower mountains without clouds.  

There were only two other occupants in the park. 

This lovely large Raven - about the same size as KoKo. 

He was croaking a regular tune. 

And this barebacked fellow off in the corner of the hedge.  Meditating perhaps, he was facing west, does it matter?

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Saturday morning drive 11-30-19

It rained during the night and it was cool (48F), but colder at higher elevations.  This morning we were going for coffee when we had our first view of the SNOW on Mt. Baldy (4,393 ft).  It is early this year, or maybe it seems that way since Thanksgiving was later than usual.

So, before coffee we drove up to the top of Bastanchury (Bass'-tan-chur-ee) hill where there is a park dedicated to the terrific view of the area all the way from the towers of Los Angeles to Ontario, if there weren't trees in the way! 

Mt Baldy is the tallest, whitest peak on the left. 

It is an awesome view anytime, but with snow on the mountains it is the best. 

 Then we got in line at our favorite Starbuck's where KoKo can hang out the window and stare to his hearts content. 

This is the Corvette in front of us.  

 The V has to be short for Corvette, but what is DNT? 

 Rick's dented Vet?  Only I don't see any dents.

Don't?  Donut?  Down Time?

It will remain a mystery. 

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On the Road Placentia to Bishop, CA 05-18-18

Yes, I finally got off!  Had terrible leg cramps during the night, despite the "leg cramp pills" and didn't sleep at all well.  So I slept in a bit and got out of the house about 11am.  Stopped for gas, Starbuck's, PO drop box, AAA, and on the 91 Fwy about 12noon.  Which I thought was pretty good - considering.  Heavy traffic all the way to the Hwy 395 turnoff at Apple Valley, then the going was smooth and the cars well spaced.  Nobody can go more than about 70mph on this part of the highway, it is too up and down and mostly only one lane in each direction.  Did a pit stop at the Hwy 58 junction and another when I got to the Manzanar National Historic Monument.  And I was just in time because as soon as I got in the bathroom the announcement came that they close at 4:30pm.  Whew!  The visitors center is in the old, original auditorium/gym that was constructed in about 1944, but it is all divided up into exhibit rooms, gift shop (very nice, many books and videos), bathrooms, offices, etc.  It isn't just one giant room anymore.   I've been there twice before, once many years ago when there wasn't a monument, just cement curbs, broken blacktop, and lots of tumbleweeds.  I hope I can see it again when there is time to look at the exhibits. 

Arrived in Bishop about 5:30pm, got gas first thing, not because I needed it but because I am afraid I will forget before starting off in the morning.  I've done that!   Checked into the Holiday Inn Express, usually my favorite place to stay anywhere, but I remember I wasn't happy here the last time and I am not this time.  There were no first floor rooms so I am on the 2nd floor.  It is a long skinny building, corridor with rooms on each side.   But the elevator is at the far end of the building.  So, once you get your luggage out of the elevator I had to walk the corridor almost to the front of the building over the registration desk.  DUMB.  The corridor is not clean and my room has no clock!  The one nice thing is it has a chaise lounge that I can put pillows at the head and sleep in it.  Hurrah.  I brought my "bed bag" with pillow and quilt, so I will be quite comfortable if I ever get to bed.   Gotta have a shower first.  So, here are some pictures of this lonely road and I will try harder tomorrow. 

For a reason I can't figure out these pictures are not in order.  But it is too late for me to rearrange them tonight.  Check back sometime if it matters to you.

I have never understood why someone would move to a desolate place, miles from "civilization" and build their dwelling right on the highway.   Do you love that brown utility pole in the front "yard".

Here is another one, not quite so close to the road, but overlooking the highway.  Why?

Multi purpose gateway?  Sign on a water tank.  And why the water tank here on the edge of the highway?

Flat track north of the junction with Route 58.  Nary a Shadow or a Mountain in sight. 

However if you look carefully you can see a lone Joshua tree on the far right. 

Here is an idea for quilting the sky.  Lots of wires running from solar farms?

An even narrower section of Hwy 395.  But there is a mountain!

Getting into the foothills of the eastern Sierra Nevada. 

There is still lots of snow up on the tops of the mountains.   Mt. Whitney is there behind the clouds somewhere. 

This is further north almost to Bishop.  

Quite a bit of lava rock along the way.   I suppose it is millions of years old. 

Just south of Bishop, perhaps these are the mountains around Bishop Creek.  Don't think I will pay them a visit this trip.  

One plus for Holiday Inn Express - they have these paperboard quilts behind glass in the lobby and breakfast room.  

I tried to take out the reflections from the overhead spotlights. 

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Wordless Wednesday on a Thursday 11-02-17

 

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Road Trip - Mt. Hood came out 05-01-13

It was a wonderful day and the weather was perfect - look at that cloudless, BLUE sky!
Terry Grant had invited Gerrie Congdon, June Underwood and me to her house for lunch and some Show&Tell.  Unfortunately, June was not feeling well and couldn't make it; instead we were joined by Terry's daughter on a day off from teaching 6th graders.  A lovely salad and homemade bread which was very, very good.  Maybe I'll try bread making again, it has been decades since I did.  Terry showed me her studio, which is even more impressive than the pictures she has posted on her blog and she has work in progress up on her design wall.  She does such great work and I am always interested in how artists go about creating. 

Too soon it was time to leave and I took the route to I-5 that Terry told me about, it was a snap.  I stopped in Sherwood to mail a package and when I was closer to I-5 Mt. Hood popped out of the trees.  And then I couldn't get a good view between trees and trucks and hills, so from I-5 I drove NE on I-205 to the view point I stopped at going north.  I knew I would have an excellent view of "my" mountain from there.  It is miles out of the way I needed to go to head home, but it seemed important to have just a few more pictures. .


My first view before she hid behind trees, trucks and hills.
 

Here is another bit of history from the signs at the view point.  I am surprised that Portland had electric power in 1889.
 

There is the mountain towering in the distance and Willamette Falls at Oregon City in foreground.
 

Not Niagara, but impressive all the same.
 

Pulling the image closer.
 

And even closer.  I am very fond of this mountain which we could see from our front yard when I was growing up.  The movie "The Shining" was filmed on location at Timberline Lodge located on the slope of Mt. Hood.   Nothing to do with anything - just a factoid!

I am in Grants Pass tonight and will drive south tomorrow until I feel I need to stop for the night.  Maybe in the Sacramento area.

Amazing Mountains 04-28-13

Anytime I drive I-5 through NoCalifornia, Oregon and Washington, I hope to see all of the snow capped mountains.  Mt. Shasta in NoCalifornia was out of her cloud cover and wearing her thick white robes when I drove up.  And now I have seen a few more mountains.  Perhaps I'll catch the rest on the way south.


 I have added Mt. Baker to the sights seen - way off on the mainland.  04-26-13
 

Mt. Baker - My camera is not strong enough to take a clear image at such a distance.  But I think this makes an interesting picture. 04-26-13
 

 
Mt. Baker on another day when the sky was clearer.  The fir trees are just north of Coupeville, WA.  04-26-13
 

On Thursday after the class was over I sat on a bench on the Coupeville waterfront enjoying the view and a scope of ice cream.  In the far distance the snow capped Twin Sisters Mountains.  04-25-13
 

Here is my bench - under a blooming cherry tree.  I can't imagine what the canisters are for.  04-25-13

On Friday I went exploring and from the highway I had a glimpse of the Olympic Mountains off to the west, so I took the next road that went that direction and saw signs indicating a walking trail.  
 

I found a trail head with parking and followed the path toward the water.  04-26-13
 

It turned out I had quite a hike to get a clear view of the Olympics.  In the distance are the mountains on the peninsula.  In the center of the picture is an old block house build in the mid-1800's and an old house of equal vintage.  I wonder if they are replicas, they seem to be in amazing shape for buildings exposed to the elements for over 150 years.   04-26-13
 

The block house is on the right of the picture.  The Olympics in the distance.  04-26-13

I continued north on the highway to Oak Harbor which was very busy getting ready for their Holland Festival this weekend. 

A rather incongruous image with the heavy traffic in the foreground and the tops of the very wild Olympics poking up in the distance.