Pelican evening

 

I am not a particularly boat-able person, as I have likely mentioned in these pages at some point or other.  But I have a friend who lives in Switzerland who is the only person on the planet these days who can occasionally get me on a boat.  Maybe there's a joke here somewhere, person from Switzerland, which is obviously landlocked (we're not counting lakes, now), drags person who lives at the beach but hates boats out on a boat ride, and mayhem ensues.  Maybe we can make a sitcom about it.  Hollywood, can you hear me?

Anyway, we had a blast riding the water taxis around Long Beach harbor last Sunday.  We also had a blast last summer riding the ferry on the Seine.  We're figuring on taking a boat to Catalina next time we hit LA together.  But I didn't let myself be talked into the boat on the Salzach, once I saw the pilot doing donuts in the middle of the river.  I have my limits.

We saw two seals, a tortoise, and a flock of pelicans, one of which is pictured above.  The seals just stuck their noses up, it's really tough to get a picture of more of a seal than that when they're in the water. (I have lots of experience getting pictures of blank water from the time we had a pod of dolphins in the river down the block from my house - timing is everything, and my timing is bad.  Also, the lag time on these digital cameras is pretty awful, I used to do better with film.)  The tortoise didn't break the surface, he was just a rather large dark space in the water.  These are the seal noses:

We also had fun riding the LA Metro, which is quite a compliment coming from someone who rides and hates NJ Transit every day.

The mayhem was due to the great idea we had of riding on the front deck of the catamaran as it left Alamitas Bay Landing to head back to Long Beach.  I guess the tide was coming in, and as the boat picked up speed, we got soaked.  It felt good, sort of, but then we wisely (IMO) chickened out and went inside for the fast part of the ride. 

I don't quite understand the physics involved in getting soaked while sitting on the front deck of this (we were way back against the bulkhead), but then, I'm not a boat person.  I also don't think the back deck is any drier.

And actually, I have to credit the woman who sat next to me on the flight out to LA for teaching me a technique for not getting seasick.  She told me all you have to do is watch the shoreline, because it doesn't move (unless there's an earthquake, then all bets are off).  Then even tho you are moving, you won't get seasick.  Amazingly, it worked!  I have to try this again sometime (not too soon, tho).  And if we get that boat to Catalina one day, I'll see if it works when there's no shoreline visible.  THAT will be the real test.

A wind off the ocean

I guess it's not summer anymore, which is a good thing, in my opinion.  Yesterday's picture, since today there are clouds and a wind off the ocean still, but less differentiation, more a solid grey with glary light.  Last evening it rained for a bit, enough to discourage holiday cookouts, even the hearty who thought to set up tents finally packed it in and went inside.  We were with family having the traditional Labor Day lasagna, which fortunately is an indoor event.  There's a story there, but I'm not entirely sure what it might be.  Suffice it to say we discovered Pablo likes lasagna.  He's not Italian (he's a Chihuahua), and neither are we, but lasagna is universal.

From the weather maps, this seems to be the edge of what's left of Issac, coming out of the midwest.  I'm not sure how that creates a wind off the ocean, though, unless we are trying desperately to fill in the low pressure area that is what remains of the former hurricane.  Seems to me that action might keep the rain somewhat more inland, but this morning's walk was shortened because of the drizzle or spray or whatever you'd like to call the water that was hanging in the air.  Misting, perhaps, or what I used to call dismalling, back in the day.

With a little bit of luck, it will clear up sometime later, so we can have a long walk, since we get testy if we are not adequately exercised.  Fortunately or not, Pablo does not "do" water, so if there is rain, we mainly stay inside.  

It amazes me how quickly the season can turn, yesterday summer, today something else.  Like someone flipped a switch.  And it seems the switch will stay flipped, at least the next few days.  It's supposed to rain every day this week.  Sure, we could use the rain, but other places could use it more.  I'd like to share....

Summer's last message

Of course, one could attribute the current state of Spain's economy to this philosophy.  Apologies to my Spanish friends, who are nothing at all like what this implies.

I prefer to take it as advice for the waning days of summer.  Labor Day weekend around here means we get the beach back soon.  It's Bennies Go Home weekend.  It's also a time to reflect on the important things in life.  Like, why is it still so darned hot outside?  And, if I only get the paper on weekends, why do I have such a huge pile of unread papers sitting in my kitchen? 

That last one is probably because I haven't been here much.  Which is good, this is not a good place for me to be in the summer.  I prefer the beach in the cooler months, when there aren't so many mostly-naked and really ugly people spread all over it.  And in the dead of winter, it is beautiful, and empty.  Which is perfect.

Here, in no particular order, are some scenes from my summer.  I'll spare you the travelog, I hate listening to people's tales of their wonderful travels.  Suffice it to say, I had some fun, and I need the sitting and doing nothing right about now, to recover.

 

And probably my very favorite moment:

PS.  If anybody really wants the travelog, send me a note and I'll try to fill you in.