Through to Fan Blades

I flew into San Francisco this morning. It was one of those glorious crystal clear mornings with blue skies and a few white clouds. As we were making the approach, I looked out the window and saw the San Francisco skyline and a shining Bay Bridge. Even though it was against the rules, I took out my iPad and "snuck" a picture. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the propeller blades! So I took another picture and the blades showed up again. Who knew that the camera on an iPad could stop action? Needless to say, I could not see the individual blades.

Then and Now

It's time to leave the Lake. We arrived in winter and now it's early spring. The trees have already blossomed. The live oak trees are getting new leaves. The price of gas has increased. Life in the slow lane.

The Maiden Voyage of the Dennis Lowery

It started off by my staring at a very odd, very shiny, trailer. It was also very narrow--maybe less than 18 inches wide, about 18 inches high, and 35+ feet long. Since I'm living in an RV right now, and I'm pretty familiar with trailers, this was one trailer-type I'd never seen before. It was too narrow to hold a glider...and it certainly was not a camping unit! What was stored in such an odd trailer? Needless to say I followed it to the marina.

Two young fellows stepped out of the SUV pulling the trailer, and proceeded to unload 2 canvas "director chairs" only these chairs did not have a back, just a sling. Then 2 wedge like things were unloaded from the SUV. Then 4 oars were unloaded and placed on the ground. Finally, they opened the trailer and ever so carefully lifted a 2-man white racing shell. It's was not the usual 8 man shell I see on the Lake everyday, but a very very sleek racing shell. They placed it on the 2 canvas "slings" and bolted the two wedge shaped apparati to the shell...these became the oarlocks. The final product was a 33.5 foot racing shell made of carbon fiber. Total weight of shell, oarlocks and oars--under 60 pounds. I was watching the initial assembly of the "Dennis Lowery," a 2-man racing scull, that was being sailed for the first time today.

The two guys putting it together, Taylor and Daniel, were just a bit excited. When I asked where the champagne was, I was told that "she" was christened yesterday! After an inspection of working parts (including their custom Nike rowing shoes firmly attached in the "boat") they picked up their pride and joy and headed for the launch ramp.

I'm happy to report the "Dennis Lowery" floated on top of the water like a feather. First Taylor got in, then Daniel, and after a few more adjustments they were rowing away from the ramp. Their sleek carbon fiber "yacht" was on the way.

Greyhound Daze

Every year, Solvang has a greyhound extravaganza called--The Solvang Greyhound Fest. People bring their hounds to show them off, brag, race, eat and have a good time. There are a variety of events for the hounds, their people and visitors. At the "Streak" you can watch these retired racers as they run or walk or lope down the track. The dogs get blessed at the old Mission. There are Grethound Goodies to buy and friends to see. Or, if you are not a greyhound owner, you can do what I did...just talk to any one of the people being pulled by a hound and ask them about their wonderful critter.

I discovered they are a very easy to group to talk to. All I did was ask them about their beautiful dog. A smile crept on their faces and soon I was learning a lot about this ancient breed. According to the folks I talked to, the greyhound is mentioned in the Bible. Depictions of greyhound-type-dogs grace history from the Egyptians to the 16th century Celts. The hound has amazing eyesight, and belongs to a group called "sight hounds" so it has been used for hunting...but nowadays it's a racer.

I also learned that most of the dogs in Solvang are "retired" racers. Greyhounds can be raced from the time they are 18 months old until they are five...when they are retired. That's when they are put up for adoption. The folks I talked to were happy to tell me their hound's racing history. I even talked to two folks who had dogs that "failed" racing. I asked what that meant--both dogs just were not interested. Needless to say, these were put up for adoption as 18 month old pups.

I asked one owner if there were any Grey greyhounds and said "good luck in finding one...the name is not derived from the color grey but from being a light color." Then he told me that greyhounds come in about 30 different colors.

I had a grand time looking at the hounds. They have amazingly soft fur and even though the dog might not look friendly, the ones I was around were gentle and really liked to be petted and praised. It was fun to see so many similar dogs with their people having a good time. When was the last time you saw 200 or more greyhounds.

Blankets

I crochet blankets for Project Linus. I have no idea how many blankets I've made over the years as I stopped counting at 150--and that was a few years ago.

Crocheting is a great thing to do when looking at TV. So this "wintercamp" I've been cranking out blanket after blanket. I'm "hooked" on one pattern right now--the Ripple. I call it my zig-zag blanket. Here are the 5 I've made this year. I know the kids who will receive the blankets from Project Linus will love them.

Indian Visas

Guess what? I filled out the visa form correctly. The visas arrived. The 3-4 weeks turned out to be 18 days. Looks like we can land in India now.

The Modern Campground

The typical RV campground is filled with large vehicles. The 40 foot Class-A motor home is not uncommon. Nor are large 5th-wheel trailers or large conventional trailers. Once in a while a camper is brave enough to plant a tent amidst these behemoths.

Since this is a four day holiday a bunch of unusual campers are enjoying the park. The campground is just about full. (There are 120 sites and during the winter only a dozen or so are filled during the week.) There are people cooking outdoors, kids playing, dogs and cats too. Lots of activity and laughter. I like looking at the community that forms for a few days then disappears like Brigadoon into the mist of memories.

The newcomers have their toys too. One campsite has a toy hauler RV with 4 quads and 2 off road motorcycles. Another looks like a small bicycle shop. Others have small outdoor kitchens set up or outdoor "living rooms" with fire pit and marshmallows.

The one I like the best is a very shiny 15 foot 1950s trailer complete with flamingo. This little guy was the epitome of a weekend getaway. I'm guessing this 60 year old veteran RV has been on many such getaway weekends. It's proof that you don't need "big" to have fun.

Not Quite Spring

While "NEMO" is snowing away on the right coast, the left coast is starting to begin to get ready for warmer days. The Lake needs more water, yet we seem to be getting a lot of sun. I guess that's the reason we are here.

The Tech-Savvy Driver

We took a 3 day drive up the Coast of California ending in San Francisco. Needless to say, I took my iPhone and some handy travel apps. To plan the route I used the Apple Maps app. It has earned a bad reputation for being inaccurate, but I think the nice folks at Apple have fixed it. The app gave me a choice of 3 routes, I chose the best route for us, and "Gretel” (that's my name for the voice) told us when and where to turn. "She" told us a few unusual directions but in the end, she was right! At one point, "she" told us a better way to enter the freeway (and we've been driving that part of the road for way too many years). I also used the Google Maps app as a back up, and I like the display on the Apple Map app better!

When it was time to stop for lunch or take a break, I used iExit to get a heads up on what was located at the next several exits. IExit is a cute app but it only works on "freeways" or interstate highways. iExit locates you, and then displays the next 30 to 50 exits. Each exit is clearly marked with the exit number and street or city name. When you click on the next exit a list of services from restaurants to gas stations, as well as hotels, campgrounds, points of interest, and rest stops appears. It's a great app. It comes in two versions, the free version is "iExit lite" only displays the next 30 exits, whereas the full version of iExit (about $2) displays the next 50 exits and gives a bit more detail. Start out with the lite version and if you like it, then you can spring for the deluxe version.

Once we were at our location, I used Yelp! to find restaurants and shopping. Yelp! is a free app. It locates where you are and all you have to is tell Yelp! what you want to do next. I like the directions button as well as the call button. Both come in handy when you are a stranger in a strange land.

There is a downside to using an iPhone for navigation and roadside directions and that's power usage. These apps use a lot of juice, so it's best to have your iPhone plugged to a power source.

Three Days Away

We went for a brief sojourn up the coast. In that short time spring started at the Lake. We have a couple of fields of purply-pink where it was brown. But the real treat are the blossoms. The trees in the Park bloom early so it's not unexpected -- but 3 days ago there was not a sign that they would be blooming today! Mother Nature always has a few surprises up her sleeve.

Getting Ready For The Next Adventure

Right now we are doing preliminary work for the next adventure. In about 2 months we will sail from Singapore to Rome, by way of India (and several other countries). Part of the process is getting visas. The ship will "take care" of visas for 6 stops along the way, but the ship will not "take care" of India. For India we need to procure a visa before we enter the country. So far getting that visa has been a nightmare.

A normal visa application asks for your name and address, maybe 1 passport photo and some money. Not India! There were 21 questions that needed to be answered on the visa information form. I've attached them. Then we had to get 2 passport photos, proof of address, addresses in India where we will be, and maybe even a partridge and a pear tree were needed too. The application had to be completed online and guess what--the website was picky. I tried to get on the website from 3 different computers using Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer...none would work! Finally, in desperation I called the visa service and the nice people were able to fill the form for me! I don't think they do that often.

After completing the form, we had to complete a "cover letter" (which was provided) where a few more questions were asked. I hope we were able to parse it all out. The folks know it's very complicated as they have developed a step by step YouTube video to walk people thru the process. Even with that "help" it was difficult.

Yesterday, we mailed in the applications along with a hefty check and our passports to the Visa service in Santa Monica. If we followed the directions and the check is the right amount, we should have the visas in 3-4 weeks.

I have no idea why this is such a complicated visa procedure. They want to know where your parents were born as well as a list of all the countries you have visited in the last 10 years. BTW--that last question was really hard to answer because we've been to a lot of countries in the last 10 years. When I told the visa person that we had been to 104 countries but I had narrowed the list down to 65 in the last 10 years she squeaked "the space is not that long!" She said just give me 10 countries and that will be good.

Watch this space ... If we write about India the process was successful.

I hope we did it right!

Truck Toys

Some folks decorate their trucks with stickers and mudflaps and decals and stripes. There are taillight covers in the shapes of Dodge Rams or Chevy bowties. These toys customize your vehicle so you can always find it Today I saw the ultimate truck toy--Eyelashes! And these were not simple eyelashes they were huge long 5 inch eyelashes. In addition they sported diamonds for eyeliner. I've never seen this Truck toy before!

Before the Storm

A storm is just off the coast. We are hoping it will bring some much needed rain. However, right now, the temperature is 70 and while the skies are gray, it does not feel wintery. I wonder what that means?

Traffic Jam

It was a busy morning at the boat launch There was a big party barge, a small party barge, and two small boats all trying to go in the water at the same time. The parking lot was filled with trucks and their empty boat trailers. I don't know why. The holiday weekend was over on Monday. Of course the weather has been spectacular. I have a hard time imagining getting up early to go fishing while some folks have a hard time imagining getting up early to go for a walk.

The "North" Pole

Everything in the Park looks like it belongs. The cabins are log. The yurts are canvass. The signs are rustic. The buildings are painted in earth-tones. Nothing seems to "stick out" or says "I don't belong here." But for one thing. There is a bright blue pole. I call it the "North Pole" for lack of a better name. It is in the middle of the Park and I have no idea why it's there. From one side it looks like any other 4 foot pole made from culvert-type material. From another angle the pole reveals a secret. It has a hatch with a lock. When I walk by the pole I always wonder what is under the hatch. Why is it protected with a lock? Do you have any ideas!?

Pretty Morning

Rowing and Reflections

There are at least two things I look forward to seeing when I walk in the morning: reflections and rowers.

Reflections only happen when the water is dead-still. The sky does not have to be clear, but the reflections are better when the sky is bright blue. Reflections are magical and fleeting. They can be erased with just the slightest puff of a breeze. Yesterday was one of those days when all the conditions were perfect.

Then, there are the racing sculls plied by the UCSB rowing team. Every morning they practice on the cold water. The cry of the coxswain calling the beat--the synchronized splash of the oars--two very distinctive sounds. I rarely see the rowing team, as they are leaving by the time I start my walk, but they were running late. I have no idea when they "hit" the Lake, but it's before 6 AM.

Just two of the many treats that await me as I walk in the Park. There are many more too.

Meet Harvey

I've written about Harvey before. He's an old friend of mine at the Park. In case you don't remember, Harvey is a goose with a broken wing. He cannot fly but that does not stop him from wandering around the Park. He's a very good walker and of course he swims. I don't know how long he has been at the Park, but I've seen him for the last 10 years! Geese can live a long time.

I've been told, he was "married" when he first arrived...but some idiot shot his mate and he's been alone ever since. Geese mate for life, and he's being true to his lady. It also might be hard to find a partner if you cannot fly. He has a bit of an attitude, but I think he has earned it.

You can see Harvey most days walking in the marina followed by a flock of ducks. Every year he adopts the ducklings and shows them the ways of the "wild" Park. Many of the ducklings never leave the Park, so Harvey has a retinue of friends.

I like this old goose. He's a real survivor.

Frost on the "Pumpkin"

Yesterday morning it was so windy I only walked 1.3 miles. What a difference a day makes! This morning it was calm and clear and cold. The puddles were frozen. Tops of RVs were covered with ice. Leaves had sparkles on them from the ice. And I walked 2.86 miles -- much nicer weather for walking.

Ain't She Sweet?

Yesterday we saw this little beauty. I think she's a Model A Ford--I have no Idea how old she is, but I do know she's a sweet little thing. She was parked next to "new" cars and I was amazed at her diminutive size. I also liked the details like the yellow spokes, the black "belt," running boards and a rumble seat! The Ford logo has not changed as the one on my one-ton pickup looks the same.

I wonder if car-makers could make a modern day version of this little beauty? I think it would sell! It's definitely cuter than the Yaris we rent a few weeks ago!

P.S. My friend Earl says Model A Fords were made between 1928 and 1931. That car is between 82-85 years old. She's in excellent shape for an octogenarian.

Orange Trees too

Not all the trees are oaks. For some strange reason there are a few orange trees in the park ( it is Southern California afterall). The trees are not cared for, and the fruit is bitter. Nevertheless the fruit persists.

Trees

Take a walk among the trees.

Sign of the Times--Mark 2

I love finding unusual signs. The sign below is located by a handicapped parking place. It says if you do not have the appropriate permission to park in the spot, your car will be towed away. All of that makes sense. Then it tells you where to find your car after it has been towed away. It also is generous enough to give you a telephone number to call. Do you see the problem?

Clean Air

Tonight we saw The Lorax..a Dr. Seuss animated movie with a message. The message is a good one...save the trees. The movie however is only so-so. I don't recommend it.

On the other hand, we must be doing something right as the trees in the Park are covered with Spanish Moss or Old Man's Beard. That's a good thing. The moss only grows where the air is clean. Below is one of our mossy trees. They look like they have been decorated with a shaggy garland.

Sign of the Times

Here's a scary sign. That's the price of gasoline in the Park. On the outside its not so expensive.

At The Lake

We have made our annual migration to southern California. It's warmer and sunnier here than in the north (or in WY).

This year the park has a new "snowbird" rate. Our RV had to "pass" a physical inspection then we were allowed to fill out some paperwork (vehicle registration and driver's licenses were required) in order to become official snowbirds. I'm proud to say we qualified, so we will be staying at least 30 days. (That's the minimum length of stay required for snowbird rates.)

The park looks much as it did last year. I inspect it every morning as I walk the miles of trails and paths located within the park. I love walking the park about 7:30 AM. Not too many people are out and about. The air is crisp and clean. The trees seem greener. The birds are easy to see...but most of all, the lake is beautiful in the morning sunlight.

Woody sez---

Happy New Year! 2013!