Monday - BCA

Sorry, we had a quiet day today - boring for you, pleasant for us.

We spent a good portion of the morning identifying some of the ducks floating in the bay before us.  Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, Redheads and the decidedly non-duck little blue herons.  We add these to the growing list of greater and lesser scaups, buffleheads, mallards, pelicans, terns, brants, cormorants, horned and northern grebes and a myriad of wadding shore birds.  Phew, who said boring?

Little Blue Heron

We sat outside with our morning coffees and our maps and talked about where we'll go from here.  I think we've got a good idea now and  made a few reservations to that end.    There were a couple of  errands we planned on doing today, but didn't....oh well, tomorrow's another day.

We packed up Christmas things today too.  Dave readied the box of Christmas gifts to send off to Jesse and he carefully wrapped the ps/cb christmas tree and festive wreath, found a little "hole" in one of the outside compartments and tucked away our decorations for next year.   Heretofore, the Christmas lights still hanging inside will be called called either Valentine's lights, St. Patrick's Day lights, Easter lights, or whatever I chose to call them, or  until they fall down, whichever is first.

Sunday

You meet the nicest people at local Farmer's Markets.....We had our morning second cup of coffee at the Hilcrest Farmer's Market, along with a fresh pastry.  After walking around the entire place several times and buying some golden beets, carrots (to make JoAnn's horseradish roasted veggies), tiny potatoes, Honey crisp apples and cucumbers, we headed for the car.  Thats when we met them....

meet Arthur and Katie

It was early in the day and rain was threatening, so we decided to see what was playing at the movies.  We saw and enjoyed "Guilt Trip" with Barbara Streisand.  There were three or four others that are on our list, but Guilt Trip was showing when we got there, so Guilt Trip it was.

I'm not sure we'll ever get used to how low these planes fly...

The skies alternated between brilliant blue and black, windy and calm, rainy and dry.  We tried to sit outside for cocktails when we got back, but were chased back inside by a sudden shower.

before the rain

a clearing sunset

Tonight - pizza and Downton Abbey.

Saturday

Busy morning outside Beluga today.   Lewis couldn't take his eyes off a very busy squirrel working away nonchalantly in front of him.  Lewis takes his job very seriously.

gulp....

The bay was teeming with birds and ducks and coots and pelicans, either fishing or sleeping.   A large raft of ducks is always directly in front of us and most of them have their heads tucked into their wings, sleeping.  They are a mixed group of scaups, buffleheads, and  cinnamon headed ducks I haven't yet identified.  We also noticed more paddleboarders than usual this morning, but its Saturday I suppose.



Another mundane task led to a fantastic lunch.   We went to the big post office near here to pick up our scheduled mail delivery.  It hadn't arrived yet, so we decided to walk around nearby Old Town and get some mexican food for lunch.   We chose El Agave (recommended to us by Lisa and Hans).  Its location   above a liquor store is less than appealing, but what a great restaurant it turned out to be!  Not the usual, brightly colored place, filled with Mexican pottery, pictures and huge paper flowers.   El Agave is a table cloth sort of restaurant, its walls lined in glass fronted cabinets filled with every imaginable size, shape and colored bottles of Tequila.   The effect is as if you are inside a jewel.  

Of course, we had to sample (just one....) their house margaritas.  While not as good as the Blue Coyote in Palm Springs, they certainly held their own.   No complaints from us.

After our delicious lunch we continued our stroll around Old Town State Park.  It was a sunny day and we enjoyed people watching, but didn't think much of the area.   One Mexican themed souvenir shop after another, one frenetic Mexican restaurant after another....not our cup of tea.    We did, however, find some recreated buildings, i.e. ye olde blacksmith shop, Dr.s office, mercantile, etc. off the beaten path, but by then we were done looking.

Back at Beluga, Nina, Paul and Polly came by for a visit and Nina was nice enough to share the last bit of Gloegg from the other night.   Skol guys!
 (I am in possession of a funny tale about the origins of the toast, "Skol" -  remind me to tell you some time.)

Another Friday

Aaaand, we're back!  I checked the blog tonight before trying to upload pictures, and low and behold, things seem to be working like they used to!   Finger's crossed.

Another sunny clear day, bla bla bla.    We left Beluga about 10 a.m., heading for the jeep dealer in El Cajon  (or as the GPS lady calls it, El Ca joan)  to get a quick tweek on the radiator job they performed a few weeks ago.   They took quick and good care of us and we were out of there by 11.  We haven't been out to dinner or lunch since Jesse left, so we drove to Seaport Village to find a seafood restaurant and a walk along the water in the beautiful sun.

We realized we were dressed like tourists, not business and convention attendees, so we chose a tourist type restaurant over the water.   The Pier Cafe fit the bill perfectly.  Sunny tables right on the water and surprisingly excellent food.  Think, smoked salmon, goat cheese, basil pesto, spinach, capers and red onion pannini with a cool glass of white wine.  Yum.   We had a voyeur all through lunch, but we didn't mind, nothing could dampen our spirits.

Please sir, can I have some more?

Dave making eye contact with the voyeur below

the Pier Cafe

Our after lunch stroll along the waterfront led us to the USS Midway museum, so of course we had to tour it.
What else did we have to do?   We were given audio-tour gear and set loose on this huge ship that was a city on the sea for 47 years.  It carried a crew of 4500 people and up to 80 planes.  The audio tour was fairly interesting, but when we were able to sit in on personal talks by "yellow hats", (docents with real, first hand knowledge)   history really came alive.  I was absolutely mezmorized by one docent who had been a fighter pilot.  He spoke with great knowledge and good humor about his experiences learning to land and take off from one of these floating platforms.   My favorite part of the ship tour.

you can see how huge the Midway is when you look at the kayak on the left

Dave and the fantail view

I told you we were dressed like tourists....

runway center line....

We walked the boardwalk back to Seaport Village and on past to check out the San Diego Marriott and the Convention Center.  We spent many enjoyable days there, "back in the day", the heyday of the SPI conferences.     Dave kept looking over his shoulder, almost expecting  Jack Avery tap him on the shoulder!

The San Diego Marriott - Jesse called them the convex and concave hotels.

Thursday

  Dave, Paul,  and his friend Alex played golf at Tecolote Canyon Golf Course this morning.  It is a beautiful 18 hole. par 3 course situated in a canyon about 10 minutes east of Mission Bay. Tight, narrow fairways made this  target golf.  Dave says its a good day when you only lose one ball!

I stayed back at Beluga and did a bit of dog maintenance, prepped  dinner and took a few minutes to sit in the sun and read.  What a beautiful winter day - 67 or 68 degrees, clear sunny skies.  We're really enjoying this new site by the water.  Lots and lots of birds in the bay and in the trees and fence behind us.   When Dave opened the bedroom blind this morning, a kingfisher  was sitting right there, still wet from his breakfast dive.   Small pleasures.


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After lunch Dave and I went to pick up a few groceries and try to find a sturdy box for the "palm springs meets charlie brown" Christmas tree's shipment home.  After finding out how much it will cost to send it to Geneseo, we've decided to look real hard for a storage place in Beluga.   Originally I'd planned to donate it to Goodwill after the holidays, but I find I've become quite attached.

At the end of the day we picked up our chairs and walked down a few sites to Paul and Nina's for the much awaited Gloegg hour.  We were greeted by Nina's cousin Christina, bearing warm cups of the infamous beverage and a small group of fellow rv'ers already enjoying their Gloegg.     Mmmm, it certainly lived up to its promise.  It was delicious and one couldn't drink just one cup.   Nina has agreed to share the recipe so perhaps next Christmas I can recreate this Danish treat for you.  

We had such a pleasant time, sitting outside sharing travel plans and stories, continuing a lovely tradition.   Thanks Nina and Paul for adding another memorable moment to this year's adventure.

  

First Wednesday of the new year

 Today we packed up and moved Beluga to a new place.
A big move, about 300 feet from our last site.   Lewis thought that was far enough to ride.  A spot on the bay opened and we wiggled right into it.  Site 42 isn't any bigger than site 98 was, same blacktop with white lines, almost the same distance from the nice grassy dog walk along the water.  But this site lets us sit outside and watch the pelicans and ducks, and geese and grebes and brants, and various wading birds going about their business.  Its so nice to watch the light change on the water, the tides come and go, the smells of salt water, ah....This will be a good place for the next couple weeks.

Lewis is nervous, however, about the new sights.  No big surprise there.  Paul and Polly stopped by this afternoon while they were out riding bikes (Paul rode, Polly ran).  Lew was too unsettled to play...Polly picked up his favorite toy and slowly displayed it to Lewis, no dice....She shook it a bit and looked into his eyes with the purple toy hanging loosely in her mouth, no dice.   She licked his face coquettishly, no dice.  She gave up and lay down quietly next to him - what a good friend she is.

Drip, drip...
I was putting things away inside Beluga after the move and I felt a drip on my head.  I looked up and saw another drop poised to fall from the light fixture over the kitchen counter.   Hmmmmm.   Oh Daaaave....
He took the fixture off and didn't find anything awry, good.   Next he checked the roof.  The caulk around the microwave exhaust looked like it could use a good re-do, so he took care of that and we should be fine. As I've said before, no end to his talents.

Our new site - Dave checking out a little leak on the roof

Paul and Polly came back to share a glass of wine and watch the sunset with us.  As I was inside pouring, Nina arrived....perfect.  We'll really miss these impromptu visits and good conversations when we finally go our separate ways.    Ah well, enjoy the day, every day.

Paul and Dave will play golf in the morning and Nina will slave over the liquor cabinet, soaking raisins, and whatever else she does to prepare her traditional Gloegg  for a gathering at "the beast" tomorrow afternoon.

We can't wait to taste it....

first sunset in site 42

New Year's Day

The first day of this new year started a lot like most of the days of the past year - calm, quiet and pleasant.   Just the way we like it.

Dave and Lewis by the bay

Dave and Lewis on one of our walks along the bay

Nina with Polly and Lewis.   looks like the doggies are about to resume their romp!

  We talked on the phone with Jesse and Cindy K. as we sat outside in the warm sunshine.  Jesse is back home in Eugene after visiting with us here and and then with Erin's family in Wyoming.   The holidays are hectic and tiring, but in a very good way.    Cindy K spent lots and lots of time with family in the Buffalo area and is really looking forward to getting to their Venice, Florida house for some sunny r&r soon.

If you look at yesterday's blog again today,  you may notice that I seem to have moved the pictures around to make a bit more sense.  You'd be wrong - I didn't do it, wonderful Nina did!    She and Polly came round for a bit of holiday cheer and a gentle romp (the dogs romped, we "cheered").   She was able to interpret the HTML speak and showed me how to move pictures around after I inserted them in the blog. (Hmmm, I didn't have much success again tonight, but I'll keep trying)   Still haven't figured out the real problem, but at least I can try to do a better job in the interim.  Finger's crossed!

We drank our New Year's Eve bottle of champagne tonight with dinner.  Dropsy overcame both of us immediately after the Times Square ball dropped last night and the bottle stayed in the refrigerator.  At least we made it until midnight....