Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Got there.

The final phase of my three day journey.  The Seattle skyline.

A quick, multi-tasking shot of tall buildings taken while rolling along in moderate traffic.

Finally, my mother-in-law's driveway.  The first round of ice and snow melting away.  Sunny California and Fort Bragg has become far and wee.

I'm ready for a walk!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Day Two. Still gittin' there.

How about "Walking Dublin"!!

My sister and I got in an early morning walk, she says "hike", to the top of the hill behind their house! Perfect!

I noticed they have the same sort of signage we have!!
I inspected some grapefruit along the way unlike anything I have seen in Fort Bragg.

Yesterday I crossed the Golden Gate.


Later in the day, after my visit to Fort Miley, this was the line up for the Bay Bridge on my way to Dublin. A beautiful day with horrible traffic. Some folks drive this mess every day!

I am so lucky.

And now, breakfast over, Day Two, time to head north.

Step one. gittin there!

No walking but a lot of gawking today as I set off on my journey.  I have a 1:30PM appointment at the VA Hospital in San Francisco for starters.   They want to ultrasound my thyroid.  Then over the Bay Bridge to my Sister and Brother-in-law's in Dublin for the night.  I'll show you what I saw along the way tomorrow morning.

Over and out!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Last morning walk. Oops! Opossum

According to Wikipedia...  "Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive strategy make them successful colonizers and survivors in unsettled times."

Except this one on Cedar Street!

And, it looks like Christmas is winding down.

Speaking of unsettled times and things in change..., I've been "slowly" adjusting to the idea of moving to Seattle for the next five months; January to May!  I volunteered to be primary caregiver for my mother-in law at her home in Shoreline (just north of Seattle).  I'm not really happy about leaving Fort Bragg AND California but it is the good and right thing to do; besides she is a great lady.

I'm taking my computer with me because I want to continue this blogging thing.  So, for a while, it won't be about walking and gawking Fort Bragg.  I'm not sure what it will be about but hopefully, if you hang in here with me, we will  find out!!

2009.  Oh boy!

Friday, December 26, 2008

31 degrees

31 degrees this morning.  I could hear the surf as a continous white noise even from my bed encouraging me to get up and come see!  And, as always, I'm glad I did.  The Pudding Creek Trestle was slick with frost but not impossible to cross even though State Parks had put up warning signs at the southern end.

A thin crust of ice had formed in the pot holes.

Frost on the Headlands.  A seldom seen scene!

I was suprised to see strings of pelicans using the high surf conditions to cruise along, rising and dipping as the waves broke.

There was even a dusting of frost on the sand dunes!

This would have been a great photograph if my hands and camera weren't so darn cold!

On the way home I spotted this pair of Brewer's Blackbirds as they spotted me!

A glorious morning as news of massive storms rake most of the country.  The weatherman says we will have rain this weekend.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Hi Kids

I got in a two hour walk this morning and even though it was dark and sprinkling, it felt great!
I'm still in my "out of whack" phase but gaining on it and a walk really helped.

I noticed the new bike lane markings are installed on Main Street/Highway One through town.  They look great but then I got to noticing other markings along the sidewalk and I'm not sure what they are about.....



I love mysteries.

Meanwhile, have a happy holiday season and for those of you who are into the christmas thing, have a happy and safe Eve and Day!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Out of Whack!

I seem to be "off my feed", "out of step", "discombobulated".  I've posted no blogs for what?  Three days?  I hate to do this to my blogging friends and voyeurs but that is how it is right now.  "I'm off the rails".

I think a lot of it has to do with this time of year and my natural tendency towards hibernation rather than walking in the cold dark rain!  But, excuses, excuses.

To cut to the chase, I just don't feel like blogging right now.

So, meanwhile, check out my favorite bloggers listed over there on the left.  I will be back, when the muse strikes.  Happy pre-holidays!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Changeable weather

Yesterday afternoon was clear and sparkling.

At the intersection of Franklin and Oak Streets I could see the road had been sanded because of early morning icy conditions.

I spotted this good news in the window of the vacant "Honor's Bakery" on Franklin Street!

This morning we have returned to, "Warmer with rain on the way".

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Ketchup!

I woke to 31 degrees this morning with ice and frost everywhere.  I decided slipping on an icy sidewalk would be a negative rather than a positive for my early morning walking and blogging so..., 
I rolled over and snuggled closer to my honey!

Here's a few bumper stickers from previous walks.


This it the most decorated home I have spotted this season.

This statue epitomizes, for me, California getting with the Holiday Spirit.

And finally, let me point out I have my Fort Bragg "Odditiy" shirts for sale at Toto Ziada's for those of you into walking and gawking.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Cold Snap

Not as cold as elsewhere in the nation but cold enough!  I was struck by the amazing patterns on frozen car windows this morning.

These were on the side windows of a Volvo.

Overhead, geese flew by.  I always wonder how cold their arm pits get when they're flying through freezing air!!  Brrrr.  :-)

Monday, December 15, 2008

Monday Morning.

'Twas a dark and stormy looking morning.  But it didn't sprinkle a drop during my walk even though I wore my raincoat!  During the night it rained just under half an inch.

More decorations are showing up around town although it seems a bit sparse this year.

The waining moon managed to peek out for a few moments.

These folks are ready for global warming and rising seas but in the meantime, the boat will serve well as a planter box!

A while back Elaine of Willits Daily Photo posted a photo of the Skunk Train Depot.  Here is a view of the Skunk Train Depot at our end of the track.

As an aside, if you happened to catch the news...,
 I say, what a fitting final farewell to that f---ing fool and it took an Iraqi newsman to finally express it!  The Emperor has no clothes.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

A change in the weather

Another walk out the Haul Road but this time it is 37 degrees and NOT sunny!

No surfers out this morning either!

Even the tourists are sparse.

But it is all spectacular in it's own way.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Reflection and Observation

A self portrait in one of the ornaments hanging on the Town Tree in front of the Guest House Museum

The recent, highly popular, full moon between a tree and the Guest House Museum.  Note the time taken via the Town Clock; 7:04 AM.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Sky Watch Friday

Lenticular clouds forming off Mount Rainier.

"Sky Watch Friday" is an interesting blog that happens every....  Friday!
Folks from around the world post their photo of the sky.

  This is not my photo but rather a photo my son Jeff recently took while flying in the Seattle/Tacoma area.  Jeff has his private pilots license and keeps his hand in by renting a Cessna and going for a spin, now and then, while building his own plane at home.  To see the plane he is building use this link and then click on RV-7/A in the left column.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Special Day

My 93 year old! mother-in-law is visiting for a few weeks and yesterday we took her for a walk on the Haul Road.

  The weather was spectacular but cool.  Here, my wife is pushing mom across the refurbished trestle bridge.

Along the way we spotted this Osprey flying inland with a fish!

The old haul road is a bit bumpy for a wheelchair but we had a great time and walked as far as Virgin Creek before turning back.

The frosting on the cake was seeing Gray Whale spouts!  There was a group of about six heading south on their annual migration to the lagoons of Bahia California.