House boat at Liberty Docks

Thirty years ago Fifth Gate was the dregs of free mooring houseboats in Sausalito. Rather nice now.

Zelzah station outside

With Kyle and Max on their way to Grampa's, I bring the model railroad out to play.

Not a real garden secret

Back in my student days I would join Kerze up in "the Glen", the faculty enclave behind UCLA, in odd jobs but mostly big gardening and yard work. Up off Chrysanthemum Lane, long time Head of UCLA Biology, Doc Janss and his colleague wife had us in for maintenance of their flourishing grounds in this leafiest of the leafiest LA canyon communities. Now if the head of biology of one of the world finest medical schools doesn't know what make things grow who would? They bought fish emulsion and B-1 by the case and we were instructed to apply liberally everywhere (DILUTE by instructions!).

Remembering this, one week ago I gave Neil's Club Patio the Janss treament and I see a spurt of growth in this cactus already! One week ago it was transplanted and there was some debris and fermiculite remaining stuck all over the spiny needles. It can be seen now where the new growth popped the junk off near the top.

Autumn Lynn Bethke is getting married!

On the day grown men with tears in eyes pull onto the campus unloading daughters bags that I learn my little niece is now not so little!

ALO at Manhattan Beach, 2009

Human tree found on boardwalk!

Laughing supermodel

Warm day at the beach

July 4th 2009

Alamitos Bay family beach, 2009

Judson Stained and Faceted Glass Studio

Near South Pasadena yesterday I stumbled on this place from 1897. Obviously built during Garvanza's Victorian days as a Los Angeles arts enclave it looks like it's open to the public although closed late Saturday afternoon. More images here.

On board Knot A Bus!

I recently crewed on the Newport 30 Knot A Bus out of Rainbow Marina in local waters. Here's the mystery barge, the yellow floating bar Rocket and Cap'n Erik at the helm. More pictures here.

Don't tax me bro!

Tax protest at Tom's Farms

Trying to get to the hot air balloon races in Temecula, I was recently delayed in a massive traffic jam near Corona. It turns out the pitchforks are out again. I did witness more than a few horse petunias.

Captain Max and the Newport 30

Our party was welcomed on board a few weeks ago by our skipper, the notorious dwarf scourge of Alamitos Bay, Captain Max!

Yucca Man 09

At the farmers market on Pico I loaded up on a 3-box of Chandler Oxnards s-berries, 2 qts of cherries and stopped to fill her up. It's gone up in the past few days!

$9.50 a gallon!

Then to the Valley for a biz meet and then a run for the coast.

Kerze & Bethke to Lead Return to BLUE GORGE this Sunday!

It’s been years since Mike & I have visited this remote area of the Santa Monicas and finally our schedules agree. The easiest way into this deep riparian canyon is from a fire road off Mulholland Drive and then exiting in the parking lot of Will Rogers Ranch in Pacific Palisades.

So this will be a shuttle hike. We’ll meet this Sunday Mar 15, 10:30am at Will Rogers Ranch in Pacific Palisades and then motor to the trailhead at Reseda Blvd and Mulholland in Tarzana leaving some cars behind. You’ll need sneakers and long pants as there will be some bush wacking and creek scrambling. Bring a slack pack and plenty of water – no Starbucks up there. Highlights will include the abandoned Huntington Hartford Arts Colony, the Nazi radio spy nest ruins and old native American villages.

Map will follow

Stayin' alive II

Here's another. I wonder who it was that thought Moreton Bay figs would be a good idea next to a street?

Stayin' alive

I've been struck with the hardiness of the living spirit.

The Violet Hour

Found near downtown Fullerton.

Tax protesters in Fullerton, California, Mar 2009

Skyboxes at the tax protest!

Patio dining overlooking the tax protest in Fullerton, California.

Buffets and tax protesting

Back in the Sixties I don't remember any restaurants catering the protests!

Oh boy that Slidebar Cafe had great food!

Tax protest 2009!

A pair of Los Angeles shock jocks took aim at Sacramento today leading a tax protest rally. Fifteen thousand crammed into a parking lot in historic downtown Fullerton, California, 6 Mar 2009.

LA Bike Summit

Yesterday Friday afternoon I received an email alerting me to a midnight pack run as a preliminary event before the big Bike Summit which begins tomorrow at LA Trade Tech. I was only told to meet at the Mulholland Fountain at 7:30pm. Organizer Joe gave me his map and soon we were off along the Great LA River Bike Trail.

Los Angelenos John Meis, Rick Egusquiza, Neil Bethke, Erik Steinert and Jeri Blender. Venice, California, 1987.

This is from a n 8x10 color print I've kept over the years. I just can't quite remember who the photographer would be... Maybe Tommie?

Flatcars at Zelzah Springs station

Finally got around to revisiting Zelzah during the recent rainstorm. After the sun came out I tried out this angle of the yard at Zelzah Springs.

Map of Ryukyu Islands

The Ryukyu Islanders must have always been sailors. With such an obvious dependence on trade it's easy to see how these islands are always contested.

16th century style Ryukyu sailboat

Here's a hand made Ryukyu sail I saw in MDR recently.

Hobie 14' Trimaran kayak!

Here's a possible candidate for lashing to Hyundai roof.

Big winter surf at Palos Verdes

I heard a swell was picking up this week and caught a few shots of Palos Verdes in late afternooon low-tide. Notice the locals are very territorial when Lunada Bay opens. In these images you can see the very narrow reef take-off boxes with everyone in line for their turn.

Palos Verdes winter surf 2009

This is a spot a little further north.