Newport to Ensenada - No Jokes

Just enough wind to get going.... but not much more. Some of these sailing ships will take up to 3 days to get south enough to get drunk.

Newport to Ensenada

Well, it is that time again for the annual Newport to Ensenada race. This always takes place just before Cinco de Mayo which means it is a practice run for getting drunk.... as you can tell from the pic below of one of the more serious competitors.

Like a Bird! The Secret...

I just read 'The Secret' and decided I would think about being a bird..... a seagull ... and hang around the beach.

The problem... as I soon realized.... was that while I was a bird, I kept thinking about what it would be like to be a human.

I crashed into the sand seconds later...

Looking South

I am finally getting back to doing some daily walks. One of my favorite strolls is to 'The Bluff' which is just south of the Ritz Carlton at Salt Creek. Decent surf brought out some of the locals.

This is what makes me smile big-time. Man!!! Am I lucky to be able to enjoy this.

Montage - Homicide in a small town!

I use to look at this great beach and think.... this is like the 'Stairway to Heaven'. Little did I know that at the top of this staircase.... (pretty darn close to it)... there would be an event that resulted in two deaths. That is the news I have gotten 3rd handed.

I was down at the "Coffee Nazi" this morning around 11:00 when my buddy Jack Toothless (actually he has all of his teeth).... rode up looking like the famous Tour de France rider Larry Armpit. He asked me if I knew what had happened at the Montage. It seems that any time something goes on in Laguna, people think I know everything that happens that involves the Police Dept.

"No... I had no idea"... I asked what happened. All Jack knew was that the Police came zooming in around the time he was biking thru the area and that the Montage security had directed him in a different direction to avoid the lower hotel grounds around the bungalows along the walking path. Jack took the advise and proceeded in the detoured direction when he heard about 15 to 20 gun shots. That is all he knew.

That was more than I knew. About 5 hours later, when I was gardening .... no one calls me any more on Police photography since I have not been feeling well.... I got a few calls from various people filling me in on what appears to be a shoot out between police and some guests.

I went out for dinner at La Serena Grille which is across from the Montage and there were several T.V. news vans.

I guess I will have to wait for the 10:00 news (KTLA) to get the scoop on what happened.

Running on Water

I was walking thru Heisler park the morning after the huge waves had made surfing history, when this surfer caught my eye. At first it looked like he was walking on water. Then I realized he was using stilts.

Life of a Squirrel

Squirrels can be really annoying at times. Especially when you are trying to get some sun...laying about the beach.

This little one seems to be really enjoying the day with some great surroundings.

Local Artists at Work

One thing about Laguna that is really neat (to use an old term), is that it is quite normal to see local and nonlocal artists doing what they enjoy most.

And what I enjoy most is catching them in the moment without them being aware I am doing so. It's like being an observer in the Matrix.

Crack House - No Dumping please

Okay.... so the wise pain in the asses that live in Laguna, decided that it is better to save 3 old crack houses as historic something or others, rather than destroy these beauties. At an approximate cost of 300,000 dollars... these 3 future transient motels (not) have been dropped on Laguna Canyon road at Big Bend.

The city made sure to make it absolutely clear, there is to be no dumping in this spot.

Sorry..... Too Late!