Friday, June 14, 2013

June 13, 2013--The first lighthouse photos



June 13—166622 Odometer reading
  
         Got up this a.m. ready to rock and roll on the first lighthouse photos. Left Huntington Beach for the L.A.  area lighthouses around 12:00pm.  It was a beautiful sunny day around 78 degrees and although the wind was blowing, it was a great day for an adventure and excursion. We took Zach with us along with Guayo, and they have become good buddies.  Also figured it was a good chance for some interaction - so we can talk, gaze, and be together for awhile.  We gassed up the truck, left the Teardrop parked, and headed out for the Long Beach/Los Angeles harbor areas to find the lighthouses.  Taking the PCH into Long Beach, we go by the ocean beaches we love, and see the pelicans flying in their little straight lines…I love it.
         Well, this is not as easy as it sounds. Hwy 1, PCF, Pacific Coast Highway, to the Los Angeles Harbor, no brainer right?  WRONG!!!!  It’s a zoo down there. There is road construction, things are not labeled or labeled without streets signs or names, only pier letters; there are railroad tracks, stinky refineries that I’m sure are emitting volatile chemicals that are turning my hair green and melting my nasal passages along with lung and brain tissues; everyone drives about 95 mph and have no compunction in not running your butt over if you don’t get out of the way. OMG, I have been in Prescott too long, and I am now wondering how much fun it will be getting on the freeways out of this place with the Teardrop attached!
          But today, no Teardrop, so U turns and backing up work fine, and that’s a good 
thing as there is lots of it!  After driving around the L.A. and San Pedro harbor areas getting lost, making wrong turns, looking at maps, looking at directions on the lighthouse printouts, going through some really sketch and stinky areas, we stopped and asked directions and got to Cabrillo Beach for photos of the first one….the Los Angeles Harbor aka Angels Gate Lighthouse. Getting to the harbor, we went through a beautiful residential oceanside area, resplendent with flowers and trees and everything I think of when I think of living by the ocean. Reminded me of Pleasure Point are in Santa 
  


     
Jane's new VW Bus....I wish!!!!!
Gorgeous beach side house and plantings
Cruz, and made me wish it was possible to live in this paradise called Calfornia. But alas, not happening, so have to take photos and see what I can incorporate at home. 

Zach Roy and Guayo at pier
seagull on pier with lighthouse
 in background

          The Angels Gate Lighthouse was a bit of a photographic disappointment as was out on a 2 mile levy in the ocean, so we couldn't get very close, thus the photos are not up close and personal.  But it was a magnificent day, and the 4 of us…Roy, Zach, Guayo and I…walked out to the end of the pier and took some photos.





Peepaw Zach and Guayo at pier
Angel's Gate Lighthouse across pier
          What we did notice, was the beaches and picnic areas were filled with Hispanic families, celebrating, laughing, having fun with 2-3 generations together. We’ve noticed this before….when there are spectacular parks, beaches, camp areas, etc., we almost always see the family groups of Hispanics. They know how to be a family, have fun together, not spend a bunch of money, and take Gramma to the new baby along so everyone is included and has a great time.
Mr Mustard pants...nice
          So, once back on the beach from the walk out the pier, Roy and Zach were hungry. A quick stop at a hot dog stand with 2 dogs, 2 chips, and 2 sodas in hand, everyone ate vigorously. Roy was a little perturbed by the juiciness of the dogs and mustard….so now he’s Mr. Mustard Pants!  I’m sure Jenn will have 
some stain remover at home, but he’ll have to live with it the rest of the day!.
          Also at this time, the need to visit the loo...bathroom...was on Roy's mind.  I had previously given him the point and shoot Canon camera, so he could record other items along the way, some of which would e incorporated into his portion of this blog, the "Loos" along the roads and by-ways. Well, this first installment was a good one...one of the nastier ones he's encountered so far, so not only is this the first installment on lighthouse photos, but also the first of what we hope to be different and unusual loos along the way!
 

Roy and Jane in front of Pt Fermin Lighthouse
Zach tying his shoe
           Back in the truck, we are off to the Point Fermin Lighthouse. This one was easier to find and only took one small stop for directions and we found it right away. This is a beautiful lighthouse, more of a home that a big cylindrical monument, and the park surrounding it, and the gardens within it’s white picket fences were so beautiful I would have moved in in a  a heart beat.
Roy on North side of grounds
The Gardens...such inspiration--so wish I lived in CA so I could grow such beautiful flowers and plants.
Product placement??


 

          I so wish I could grow plants and flowers like California….but alas freezing winters and dry hot summers are not so conducive to the lushness of our surroundings at this place and time. But I am inspired and can’t wait to get home, start amending beds and figuring out things to plant to make my backyard look as lush and luscious.  First thing will be picket fences with chicken wire stapled to the inside to keep out javelina and other critters!
          While at the lighthouse, we were speaking to others who said not to miss the Korean Friendship Bell. So upon leaving we saw it up on the hill and proceeded to go on up. This magnificent bell was given to the U.S. for the bi-centennial in 1976 and is housed in a truly magnificent pagoda-type building upon the top of a hill rising above the ocean. Fantastic! Downside?  The ram used to ring the bell was tied down so we couldn't ring it and hear it.
Write up on gift of bell from Korea
                                           
Zach and Guayo at entry
temple overlooking the ocean

                  
Roy and Jane at temple
Roy in front of temple
Russian sage overlooking the ocean
Amazing carved bell
Fabulous lilies over the Pacific


     So up the coast we go to Point Vicente. What we are finding out is the scale on the maps is not so good….everything is much further than we anticipated, and thus taking us longer to get there. So this will be our last lighthouse today.  Along the road, we
encounter part of the roadway that is in horrible disrepair, and when approaching, this sign was posted. Doesn't that inspire confidence???   Between that and Tsunami warning signs along the coastal expanses, I’m just thrilled! 
            Pt Vicente is one of only three Atlantic-type lighthouses on the California coast…the tall cylindrical ones. It is a federal lighthouse area, so we could not go inside the fences/gate today, the tours were only on Saturday, but we were able to get awesome photos through the fence, and Zach was able to take one over the fence. Plus there was a viewpoint from the cliff side, so we were able to get some pretty effective photos.
           


          On the way back, we stopped at the Wayfarer’s Chapel, something I had seen on the way to Pt. Vicente, but wasn't able to turn into in time. Well, I made it a point to

tilted pine tree pointing to the ocean with steeple in background

do so on our way back and we were all so happy. It is a perfect retreat of a place, with a small chapel with so much architectural interest, and it reminds me of the Chapel of the Dove, just outside Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon.  
Rose Gardens 
waterfall to pond
pond at end of waterfall
  The gardens around the chapel are so beautiful, with waterfalls, roses, lilies, and all kinds of gorgeous and verdant flowers and plantings, including  expanses of green grass, and the trees pushed


            

Bricks were engraved with names and dates of weddings, parties, etc. and made into walkways surrounding parts of the gardens.  Lilies, Bird of Paradise, azaleas, corn flowers, Dianthus, roses, Russian Sage, and so many more.
   


to one side from the constant sea breeze.  So awe inspiring, so serene, and peaceful, I could have stayed for hours. But alas, the day was waning and it was time to head back to home base.  


Gail Martin----these flower photos were taken with you in mind and your trip to England and France--when I get back we'll conspire to make gardens worthy of these!!!

   

          While on the road home, Roy was putting the lighthouses we’d seen today in order from south to north, and low and behold he found one we had missed. So tomorrow, another trip into the Long Beach area to find the Long  Beach Lighthouse.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Jane! Now that I am finished with summer session at Yavapai (and on the edge of beginning Fall semester... one more day after today!), I have some time to catch up on your blog. Really enjoying it so far, and love the shots from this post. A personal note... I was in my best friend Lisa's wedding back in 1990 which was held at Wayfarer's Chapel. What a beautiful location for a wedding, as you well know! Looking forward to catching up through the blog, and hopefully we'll get together for coffee or lunch when you get back in October. P.S. Tim and I plan to buy a Little Guy in the next few years as well. :) Have always dreamt of the type of trip you three are taking! Smooches to Guayo! xoxox ~Bryn

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