Hello, rain...good to see you again!

It was pouring rain this morning as I left Newport, OR.  I was hoping to visit the nearby Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, but the wet stuff put a major damper on that plan.  I quickly made a last minute addition to the day's agenda, and headed north.  I arrived in Hillsboro hungry, so I had a nice lunch at an Indian buffet...I LIKE Indian food!  Afterward, I made the short drive to Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. Most of the rocks and minerals on display were donated items, and they had a really nice collection.  I was particularly impressed by their petrified wood gallery...dig the petrified pine cones!

The museum also had some pretty fossils...plant life, sea creatures, dinosaurs, and insects, too.  I thought the bot fly larvae fossil was interesting.  Some people have very unpleasant experiences with bot fly maggots...like when they get inside their bodies! 

Since it was raining in Portland, too...no big surprise...I did another museum to get out of the weather.  The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of those hands-on institutions that kids love.  I didn't much get into those exhibits, but I found a couple others that were informative. Race: Are We So Different explained how race is viewed in our country through culture, history and biology rather than appearance.  Then, there was Grossology: The Impolite Science of the Human Body.  This exhibit consisted of many hands-on models to explore the grossest aspects of the human body, but in a humorous way.  You'll never think about snot, poop, barf and farts in the same way after experiencing this one!

Well, all good things must come to an end.  Tomorrow, is the home stretch...literally.  I'm spending the night in Portland, and I'll make the 4 1/2 hour drive back home in the morning.  I think it actually may not be raining when I get back! 

A beary good day

When I left Arcata, CA this morning, it was overcast, but not raining.  I continued on my road trip, traveling on the scenic U.S. 101, hugging the Pacific Ocean to the west, and passing through redwood forests to the north.  My single destination of the day... West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR.  If you've read my previous blog posts, you'll know that this is not my first visit to this unique zoo.  I've had the pleasure of interacting with young tigers, lions, black panthers and a cougar kitten.  I was looking forward another rewarding experience.

I got to the game park just in time to see their six-month-old cougar kitten.  She was too big to get too close, but I was able to pet her. Such a sweetie! 

 

There were not very many visitors there, so we didn't have to wait long for the next animal one-on-one.  The animal handler brought out an adorable black bear cub.  The cub was making the strangest purring sound while she was sucking on the handler's wrist...it sounded like a rickety engine!

Finally, the handler brought out some smaller animals.  I got to hold a young opossum and a ferret, and petted a white skunk and a raccoon.  The opossum was so soft...the others, not so much so.  But, it was a joy to interact with them.  I love animals!

 

Afterward, I walked around and looked at the other animals at the zoo.  I'm always on the lookout for photo moments that are out of the ordinary.  I found a couple nice ones...a dozing goat who appeared to be smiling, and a red fox who found a sly way to eat his food.

Tomorrow is my last full day of my road trip.  All good things must come to an end, and this road trip was full of good things.  But, I miss my cat and my own bed.  I'm ready for the home stretch. 

The joys of Jelly Belly

I left San Francisco this morning, after briefly getting caught up in rush hour traffic.  I traveled east over the Oakland Bay Bridge to Fairfield, CA...home of the Jelly Belly factory!  Who hasn't heard of Jelly Belly?  It was president Ronald Reagan's candy of choice.  They make a bazillion flavors...everyone has a favorite.  I took advantage of their free factory tour, which showed how the special jelly beans are made.

As our tour guide explained the process of making Jelly Belly candy, there was a lot of activity on the factory floor.  From making the flavorful jelly center, putting the hard coating around it, polishing it up, and finally packaging the finished product.  It was all going on below us.  There was a pleasant odor of sweetness in the air, with the addition of lemon scent as we entered the room where they put the candy coating on the jelly center.  One part of the tour I REALLY liked...getting samples of jelly beans throughout the tour!  And, as we were leaving, everyone got a bag of Jelly Belly candy!  Of course, my visit was not complete without making some purchases in the Jelly Belly store!  The biggest problem was deciding what to buy!  If for some reason, you're not sure about a flavor, they even have a special counter where you can try samples of everything! If you ever get a chance, check out the Jelly Belly factory...you won't regret it! 

The rest of my day was spent driving.  At one point, I stopped for gas in Williams, CA.  I noticed the vehicle next to me had British Columbia license plates and belonged to a couple of senior citizens.  I asked the lady if they were traveling north, like myself, but she said they were going south...snowbirds seeking a warmer place to spend the winter.  She noticed the "I ♥ Barcelona" sticker in my back window, and stated she had a couple of friends who were just there.  I had to tell her that it wasn't Barcelona the city...rather, Barcelona the band.  Hey, whatever works!  

Tomorrow, I visit one of my most favorite places to see animals...West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR.  I'm hoping to have yet another unique experience...I do every time I go there.  

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

I thought it was going to rain this morning, so I nixed by planned ferry trip to Angel Island to wait for a better day.  Well, it ended up NOT raining, but I still enjoyed my alternate plan.  In the morning, I visited Fort Point National Historic Site, located at the mouth of San Francisco Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge. Fort Point was built around the time of the Civil War to protect California against naval attack.  When the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed, an arch was created in the bridge design to preserve the historic building.

I drove to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch and to do a little shopping at Boudin Bakery.  Then, I spent the rest of the afternoon at the San Francisco Zoo.  This zoo didn't have as many animals as a lot of other big city zoos, but those that were there had very large and spacious living quarters...a big plus in my book.  I got some great photos of the lions and tigers and bears...oh, my!

Of course, there were other animals besides those three species.  I was fortunate to be there for the afternoon feeding of the penguins.  And, who DOESN'T love koalas?  This one looks like a big, cuddly, adorable stuffed animal...don't you want to take it home?

 

At one point during my zoo visit, I was approaching the kangaroo exhibit when I came across an older woman and two young children.  I overheard her tell the boy, who appeared to be about 7 or 8 years old that "it" might kill him.  She called out to me and asked what it was that the boy had.  Turns out the "it" was a colorful hairy caterpillar, which was perched on a leaf he was holding.  I reassured the lady that it wouldn't hurt him...unless maybe if he tried to eat it!  Some caterpillars CAN be poisonous!  I was joking, of course, and I told the boy that the caterpillar would grow up to be a butterfly.  The lady felt better and continued to let the boy play with the caterpillar.  It was a lighthearted moment, made more fitting, considering we were at a facility that nurtures education and conservation of animals. 

Pebbles? No, more like Barney Rubble!

After a pleasant pit stop in Monterey, CA, I didn't want to leave without driving the famous 17-Mile Drive.  This road travels through a gated community at Pebble Beach, and non-residents pay a toll fee to drive through.  But, it's worth the price as visitors are treated to magnificent ocean views and many photo opportunities.

Pebbles?  More like rubble and boulders!  The Pebble Beach Resort is home to the world class golf courses, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay.  Picturesque scenery while you're playing the challenging holes.  Here's the 3rd hole at Spanish Bay.

While I was taking photos of the rocky shores, someone was trying to get my attention. This Brewer's Blackbird kept strutting back and forth on the fence rail, as if to tell me something.  Sorry, no feeding the animals!

No visit to Pebble Beach would be complete without seeing its biggest tourist attraction...The Lone Cypress.  This Monterey Cypress tree has been sitting on its precarious perch for over 250 years.  I think it would be hard to take a bad picture of this view!

Although not as well known, down the road from The Lone Cypress is what is known as The Ghost Tree.  The name comes from it's bleached white appearance.  I think it makes just as beautiful a photo.

In the afternoon, I drove to Salinas to visit the John Steinbeck Center.  This museum celebrates the work of this illustrious American author.  I think pretty much everyone has read a Steinbeck novel, or perhaps seen a movie based on his books.  The Grapes Of Wrath, The Pearl, Travels with Charley, and my personal favorite, Of Mice And Men.  Guess what book this exhibit is about?

If you said My Friend Flicka...wrong!  Actually, that would be The Red Pony, a story that didn't end well for young Jody.  But, it was an example of Steinbeck writing about life and the human condition. Not everyone lives happily ever after. 

So, now I'm in San Francisco for one day of fun...and sourdough bread. Only five more days left in my road trip!  I'm starting to miss my own bed...and my cat. 

Rainy days and Mondays

The rain held off overnight, choosing instead to make my morning miserable.  As I headed out of Morro Bay, CA the rain started coming down.  But, I was bound and determined to go through with at least some of my outdoor plans.  Near San Simeon, I turned off Hwy 1 at the sign that said "Elephant Seal Vista."  As I got out of my Blazer, I could hear the seals before I actually saw them.  A cross between gurgling, farting and deep snorting.  When they came into view, I was just blown away.

I had never seen wild elephant seals before and I especially didn't expect to see so many!  There were at least a few hundred on the beach and in the water.  A volunteer from Friends Of The Elephant Seal was present to explain what we were seeing.  Apparently, the seals were juveniles resting and fasting for their eventual journey north.

In addition, the seals were strengthening their bones by moving on land since they spend so much time in the water.  I observed many of them also play fighting.  Those skills would come in handy later when they battled other males during mating season.

As I took photos of the seals, my camera got a little wet.  Later, I noticed the automatic lens cover wasn't opening and closing properly...oh, great.  I continued north on Hwy 1, the rain kept coming down.  At Limekiln State Park, I dug out my umbrella to walk the trail to the lime kilns.  In the late 1880s, these kilns were used to heat limestone rocks dug from local quarries to be processed into lime for concrete. Afterward, I hiked another short trail to Limekiln Falls

  

When early afternoon rolling around, I was heartened to see blue sky and sun making an appearance.  As I pulled into Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the rain was gone, and I was looking forward to getting some nice ocean pics.  I walked along the Waterfall Overlook Trail, and admired the beautiful ocean scapes.  I got some nice shots, including McWin Falls spilling onto the beach.  

When I returned to my vehicle, I noticed the ants.  They were crawling along the bottom edge of the door frame, and disappeared behind the dashboard.  How did they get there, and when did it happen?  Possibly in Anaheim...I had my Blazer sitting in the hotel parking garage for three days without moving.  Well, I can't have ants in my groupie mobile!  I went to a hardware store in Carmel and picked up ant bait.  Hopefully, it does the trick.  Tomorrow, I travel to San Francisco for a couple of days.  I love San Francisco! 

Butterfly misses and cat kisses

It was raining lightly as I drove north out of Los Angeles, but it soon gave way to sunshine.  I traveled up U.S. 101, making my first stop just north of Santa Barbara.  I took a steep curvy road to see the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park.  Actually, it was just a short stone staircase to just one cave.  The cave drawings within were pretty impressive, though.  They had a steel fence covering the mouth of the cave to protect the paintings, which is a good thing.  Sometimes, people can be so destructive.

I continued north and made my second stop at Goleta, CA and the Coronado Butterfly Preserve.  This natural area is set aside to provide a wintering ground for monarch butterflies.  But, as I walked through the preserve, I saw only a few monarchs flitting above the eucalyptus trees.  They were too far away to get any photos, although I DID get one of a common buckeye resting among the ice plants.

As I was walking back, I spotted a black and white cat stalking something in a field.  A hawk was circling overhead, perhaps contemplating making the cat its next meal.  But, it flew off, and the cat soon lost interest in what it had seen.  I called out to it and the cat came over to me, meowing.  Such a friendly kitty, and it made me miss my own Kimi, who I left back at home.

I kept driving until I reached Morro Bay State Park.  I checked out their Museum of Natural History, but it was pretty small and didn't take long to see everything.  With extra time on my hands, I decided to walk the boardwalks of El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area in nearby Los Osos.  This preserve overlooks the Morro Bay estuary, and is within sight of the local landmark, Morro Rock.

As I walked along the boardwalks, I saw the trees that gave the preserve its name.  I'm not sure what kind they are and what the mossy-looking stuff is, but they DO give the trees a fairy-like appearance.

Tomorrow, it looks like rain.  That would put a damper on my plan to visit some state parks.  I'll be looking for some indoor alternatives should the weather turn soggy. 

Enlightenment at The Getty

I woke up to overcast skies and a light mist falling.  Not that impressive to this Northwesterner used to REAL rain.  I was in the mood for a nice hot bowl of ramen, so I drove to Westfield Century City Shopping Center, home to Ajisen Ramen.  I had eaten at the restaurant before, so I knew what to expect...a great bowl of ramen!

My tummy satisfied, I spent the afternoon at the J. Paul Getty Museum to get a little culture. The Getty collects and displays primarily European art...paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. 

When it comes to art, I'm pretty much a novice, although I AM familiar with some of the famous impressionists, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.  And, I was impressed to see some of those artists' paintings at the museum.  Here's Van Gogh's Irises and a Monet still life.

 

As for the rest of the early 1600s-1700s stuff, I was clueless.  I didn't spent too much time looking at those paintings, but some of the decorative arts was pretty amazing.  Talk about a fancy living room!

After my museum visit, I made a return trip to the Los Angeles Farmer's Market to get more tasty Brazilian food from the Pampas Grill. And, so, my time in southern California had come to an end.  Tomorrow, I make the slow drive north along the California and Oregon coasts, seeing some sights along the way. 

Behind the scenes at Paramount Studios

Braved rush hour traffic this morning to get to Paramount Studios.  It's always tricky driving the Los Angeles freeways because you never know where things may backup.  About five miles from the studio, I got caught up in one of those bumper to bumper headaches.  I consulted my GPS and exited to travel the rest of the way via city streets.  I love my GPS! 

When I got to Paramount, since I was taking their VIP tour, I got to park in the studio's visitors lot.  Made me feel a bit special getting to go through the same security gates at the actors!  I was met by my tour guide for the day, Caitlin.  I was joined by a group of six other people, which made for a much more intimate tour.  We entered the studio lot via the Bronson gate and proceeded to visit different workshops that provide materials needed for movie and television productions. 

From set construction, the sign department to props, the secrets were revealed to our attentive group.  Caitlin proved to be a very witty and informative guide, and we had a lot of fun.  Of particular interest was visiting the sets of the TV shows, Community, Happy Endings and Dr. Phil.  The only set we were allowed to take photos was the latter, but it's not like you would normally get to take photos in the studio anyway! 

We were provided lunch as part of the tour experience, which was nice. After our meal break, we were shown the studio archive, where all the movies and television shows filmed by Paramount Studios are stored.  They were filming one of my favorite shows, American Horror Story on the lot today, but sadly, I didn't see anything from that one. At the end of our tour, I was given a couple of mementos of my visit to the studio.  I received a photo of me standing in front of Bronson gate and a free movie poster...I picked Paranormal Activity 4. 

Afterward, I headed over to Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank to attend a live taping the the TV show Two And A Half Men.  Like my previous experiences going to live tapings, I really enjoyed watching the process of filming a TV episode.  Of course, I wasn't there just to watch...I was expected to help provide a laugh track.  Even if a punchline isn't real funny, you still should laugh anyway.  It was wonderful seeing two actors familiar to me...John Cryer and Ashton Kutcher...doing their thing.  It took roughly 2 1/2 hours to film the half hour episode, and we got our slice of pizza snack, too.  Tomorrow, is my last day in southern California before I make the slow drive north along the coast.  And, it will be another easy day...two museums! 

Orangs, tigers...and Craig

Left Anaheim this morning, but not before getting a much needed wash for my Blazer.  It picked up some road grime and a little mud in northern California.  It looks MUCH better now!  It wasn't quite as hot today, but it was very muggy.  Thankfully, there was a heavy layer of clouds, which blocked out the sun and made my day bearable.  I spent it at the Los Angeles Zoo...I love looking at animals.  I also got a lot of awesome photos.  Here are a few of them...meerkats, chimpanzees and tigers.

The most amazing thing I saw at the zoo was a female orangutan using a tool to get a treat.  Along with other zoo visitors, we watched as she ripped a suitable branch from a shrub adjacent to the orangutan enclosure.  Stripping the branch of its leaves, the female ape proceeded to use it to pull a couple of pieces of banana on the ground outside the enclosure.  I managed to catch the meticulous action on video...check it out at this here!

It was interesting to watch how patient the orangutan was as she worked on pulling the pieces of banana toward her.  Just another wonderful example of how apes use intellect and tools to get the job done.

Later in the afternoon, I drove to CBS Television City in Los Angeles to attend a live taping of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.  The guests for the show were actors Kelsey Grammer and Casey Wilson, and comedian Ben Hague.  This was not the first time seeing Craig Ferguson, as I had gone to a couple of other tapings in the past.  One interesting moment was the revelation that a female audience member was not only nine months pregnant, but she was also two days overdue!  When Craig was told this, he asked the woman to join him on stage and he interviewed her.  I was only expecting to see one live show, and was surprised when they announced tomorrow's show would be taped, too.  The guests for that show are talk show host Chelsea Handler, comedian-ventriloquest Nina Conti, and singer-songwriter Allen Stone.  Craig decided to run with it, and invited the pregnant woman on stage again.  To make her look a little different, they outfitted her with a borrowed jacket.  It was another funny impromptu moment, and a fine example of what makes Craig Ferguson such a joy to watch.

I have a full agenda tomorrow.  During the day, I'll be doing a 4 1/2 hour Paramount Studios VIP Tour.  Then, in the evening, it will be Warner Brothers Studios for a live taping of the popular sitcom Two And A Half Men.  Hooray for Hollywood! 

It's a fine day when you wake up in Disneyland

Today was my last day of Disneyland magic.  My priorities were doing the rides I hadn't during my previous day at the Magic Kingdom.  Most desired...Splash Mountain.  But, when we first arrived, the ride was closed...mechanical issues.  In the meantime, I rode Star Tours, which initially had me a tad apprehensive.  I knew this was a motion ride, and with my problems with excessive motion, I was understandably concerned.  Well, it turned out to be a very exciting ride!  And, my stomach felt fine afterward.  Next, we did the Jungle Cruise, which hadn't changed since my childhood. 

We checked back at Splash Mountain...still closed!  Okay...Pirates of the Caribbean again.  My friend Amelia wanted to do Mad Tea Party...better known as The Teacups.  I politely abstained...no way I can take spinning cups!  By now, Splash Mountain was finally open, but there was a forty minute wait.  Rather than waste precious time in line, we got a Fast Pass...that gives you front of the line privileges at a later time...then headed over to Toon Town.  I had never gotten a photo with the most famous mouse in the world, so we visited Mickey's House.  He was home, and I was thrilled to meet him!

Since we had a couple of hours before our appointment with Splash Mountain, I did Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and rerode some other tame rides.  Finally, it was time for the grand finale of the day.  Boarding the Splash Mountain canoe car, we were worried about how wet we would get.  After the first waterfall, my right pant leg got soaked, and my shoe half full of water.  The last huge water drop was thrilling...it was really, really steep!  And, my pants also got a bit more wet.  But, it was a lot of fun, and the damp clothes actually felt good in the hot sun.  Here's a photo of what I experienced.

And, so ended my wonderful day...and wonderful time...at the Disney Parks.  I'll be leaving Anaheim tomorrow and spending a few more days in the Los Angeles area.  Looking forward to a couple of live TV show tapings and more.  Stay tuned...

California Screamin'...literally

Had computer issues last night so blogging yesterday's activities today.  I spent Tuesday at Disney's California Adventure...my first visit to this theme park.  While walking to Paradise Pier, we had the good fortune of encountering Donald Duck along the way.  I got my pic taken with the sometimes angry duck, although Donald seemed to be in a good mood this morning.

After an entertaining time on the Toy Story Midway Mania, we headed over to the highly anticipated Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  I had ridden this one back in 1991 during my only visit to Disney World.  I loved it!  The ride was one of the most exhilarating I had ever experienced, and I was looking forward to reprising that feeling.  And, I wasn't disappointed!  My companions and I ended up riding it two times in a row!  The feeling of utter weightlessness when the "elevator car" dropped took my breath away, and I couldn't help but scream my lungs out!

Psyched, I was next ready for my biggest challenge of the day...riding the California Screamin' roller coaster.  Now, I have ridden very few coasters in my lifetime and I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one.  I was told by my companion that it was smoother than say Space Mountain, but I wasn't sure how my stomach would handle it.  It didn't take me long to find out.  Blasting off from it's stationary position, the coaster started going up and down, twisting and turning through turns.  I felt queasy almost immediately, and it only got worse as the ride progressed.  It was a good thing I hadn't eaten anything yet...a necessary precaution when dealing with questionable amusement park rides.  After disembarking, I was just wiped out.  My stomach was turning flip flops and it literally took about three hours for me to recover.  I also swore I would never again ride a roller coaster...or any ride resembling one...for the rest of my life.

I managed to nibble at my lunch...I was still feeling a bit queasy...then took it easy with some tamer stuff, like Ariel's Undersea Adventure and Monsters, Inc.: Mike & Sulley To The Rescue.  We also watched a sneak preview of the upcoming Tim Burton film, Frankenweenie in 3D.  It was really good, and even better, there was a special exhibit of Tim Burton's drawings and the actual models used in the stop motion movie.

My day ended with a spectacular show called World Of Color.  The showcase consisted of music, video, water fountains, lights, lasers...even fire!  It was truly the best of its kind that I've ever seen!  I was tired but happy as I trudged on over to the shuttle bus station.  There were about 25 people in line ahead of me, and another 25 lining up behind me.  When the shuttle arrived, it parked a little further ahead than expected.  But, there was no rush to the door...everyone waited patiently for their turn, despite the fact it was evident everyone wouldn't be getting on.  No one complained as the driver had to take extra time to load a wheelchair passenger.  As we pulled out of the parking lot, the driver began to sing over the intercom, "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands," which put everyone is a good mood.  That positive feeling continued when the driver switched to "It's A Small World."  It was a fitting way to end the day.  Disneyland has that way of spreading happiness in everyone!