31 January 2021 - California Dreaming (during a pandemic) - USA

So the Holiday surge occurred and we all got locked down again. Some vaccines have been completed and are starting to be distributed. Life still goes on. I found a new place to live in Riverside County and moved. While I am now a little further from the Pacific Ocean, I have a few new lakes and mountain ranges to explore.

View of Lake Elsinore from Ortega Highway (SR74)

Skinner Reservoir

We recently took a day trip to Idyllwild, CA for some shopping. It was nice to see the snow.

Sunsets have still been a joyful occurrence. I think 2021 will be a dramatically better year and look forward to some Summer and Fall travel adventures.

4 November 2020 - Catalina Island, Avalon, California, USA

Five to six months ago I purchased a pair of shuttle tickets to visit Catalina Island. This month those tickets were set to expire so we decided to take a day trip to experience the trip. I've seen this island in the distance for many years when I would watch the sunset from the nearby beaches. The shuttle ferry boat left about 9am from Newport Beach and arrived around 10:30am at the town of Avalon. I am sometimes prone to seasickness and was a little worried about heading out on the open ocean. In the end, I had no episodes.

This was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision to go so we made no reservations for many of the activities such as off-roading tours or sea life viewing. For the most part, we walked around the town of Avalon shopping, reading historical markers, and enjoying some beach time. Lunch consisted of some fresh carne asada tacos at the Descanso Beach Club.

We did a short hike to the bell tower above the town. What a great view!

The boat ride home at sunset was a bittersweet end to a good day. At one point a pod of dolphins crossed the wake behind us. Next time we go, I think we will stay for a few days so we can go outside the town and explore the hills.

5 October 2020 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

For our last day of vacation and as a way to split up the long drive home, we stopped for a night in Las Vegas. Back in May, we took a drive through the city because I wanted to see the shut-down strip (from a historical perspective). With most of the hotels, casinos, and resorts open again and new procedures for masks/social distancing, we decided to take a risk and try it out.

We choose to stay at the Cosmopolitan because of a discount Conky had available to her. They also upgraded us to a tower balcony view which may be one of the best I have ever experienced.

We spent the evening walking around, enjoying food/drinks, and doing a little bit of gambling. Half the stores were still closed, but it was still fun. The Strip was still eerily empty compared to what I have seen in the past, but there were definitely more tourists than a few months ago. Most people were respecting the mask and social distancing rules so it seemed safer than other locations.

4 October 2020 - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA

Continuing the road trip we headed off on Route 66 to get our kicks. Ultimately, we arrived at Flagstaff where we stayed at a hotel as camping was getting a little old.

 We spent most of the next day hiking the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. I had a distance goal for the weekend of 10 kilometers and that was a perfect distance for an out and back from the Visitor Center to the Village. It was moderately crowded so we had to mask up. This came as no surprise because the park had recently reopened after being closed for a few months of pandemic lockdown.

We ended the day with a stopover in nearby Williams, AZ, and enjoyed a wine tasting and walking some of the historic Route 66.

2 October 2020 - Joshua Tree National Park - California, USA

This is not our first time at this national park. So what is different? We've always just made a day trip of traveling here. Camping here is our new experience. We spent two nights at the Indian Cove campground. I've never been in JTNP after dark but had heard how brilliant the star viewing experience is. Indeed it was in spite of the full moon. Have you ever watched the moon rise over the mountains? Overall it was a brilliant few days of hiking and camping.

30 September 2020 - Gaviota State Beach/Solvang/Los Olivos, Californa, USA

 Another Vacation week had arrived. While most of my original plans for this week have been canceled, we have been able to adapt and decided to head out for some socially distanced camping. For two days we spent our time on the West Coast at Gaviota State Beach and Campground. This spot might not be the quietest, but the location is still nice.

We took a day trip to nearby Solvang to visit Birkhoms Bakery. This small town is Dutch themed and proved a good spot to walk around. Thanks to everything that has been going on it was not crowded. We got our customary bin of sugar cookies from the bakery, had some lunch, and then headed north.

Conkey suggested that we visit Los Olivos, a small town in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. The weather started to get excessively hot, however. By 1pm it was nearly 107 deg F. We made the best of it, had a small wine tasting, and then headed back towards the cooler coast and our campsite.

Tomorrow we head for Joshua Tree National Park.

21 Aug 2020 - Irvine, California, USA - 5 years a Californian

 

As I get older, time seems to move faster. I am not sure how five years have passed since I said farewell to my father, jumped in my car, and drove from Ohio to California. At the time I was just chasing good weather and the opportunity to be outside more. I was also taking a massive financial risk with no guarantees that I would survive the expensive and competitive west coast tech market. 

Well, things seemed to have worked out so far. I was able to work with my employer to show my value to the company and gain a needed cost of living adjustment. My technologist skillset is in high demand and my willingness to learn new things has been a boon. I've managed to lose 20 lbs and keep it off (need to get rid of another 40 permanently too). I've found love and heartbreak.

I still cringe every time I pay my rent; moreover, it is something that is definitely not sustainable in the long run (10 years+). The politics here still make me uncomfortable. I love that there is more care for the environment. But I don't love the concept of big government bureaucracy and high taxes.

As I continue my life here, I need to constantly perform a cost/benefit analysis. Maybe someday I will end up leaving. For now, there is a balance that I can tolerate so I stay.

The good:

• Nature
• Beaches
• Mountains
• Forests
• Deserts
• Weather - Mediterranean Climate
• Active Lifestyle

The bad:

• Politics
• Immigration Fraud
• Supporting Undocumented Immigrants  
• Ignoring Homeless Citizens/Veterans
• Taxes
• High Cost of Living
• Government Debt
• Overcrowding