the tree that got my attention

...while walking in Ojai Meadows with Mrs.

Singing Sun in a real mug

On our earliest visits they used paper cups; now it's a real mug.

Room Service Coffee at home

From their "Weekend Pop Up" menu. The pie was good too - apricot raspberry crumble.

topiary?

I couldn't help wondering if this tree or shrub seen in a downtown Ventura parking lot was some sort of topiary - so much does it resemble an animal.

new improved downtown

Of all the blocks in downtown Ventura this one - the one anchored by the mission on one end - has probably seen the most improvement and in my opinion would benefit the most from a permanent street closure. Just cover the street with some nice pavers or bricks.

Rori's revisted

Can't remember what flavor(s) this/these were but they got the job done.

fig salami

We first encountered this "fig salami" at a gourmet store in New Jersey. We have since seen it at multiple locations in California. I wouldn't mind trying it sometime to A. see what all the shouting is about and B. in theory it's a good concept.

Pinyon Ventura

The Ojai-based pizzaria now has a location in downtown Ventura. In my "O-Pinyon" the indoor-outdoor space is nice, if a bit small, and the food is decent but not the Holy Grail.

ladybug larva

It was a good sign to see these ladybug larva popping up all over the patio. They are eating machines and they feast on various plant pests. The one here is seen devouring some winged creature. Yet despite all the larval activity I didn't see very many mature ladybugs this summer. Either they were high up in the trees or they flew away somewhere else.

the finished ladybug

A day later one saw the finished ladybug emerge from the pupa. The cycle of life is complete!

ladybug stages

I've gotten to know the various stages of ladybugs. What we have above is a pupa. What we have below is a larva. At bottom, egg masses - both hatched and unhatched. From the pupa will emerge the finished ladybug.

Frontside Cafe breakfast

Something we discovered at some point was that Frontside Cafe works for breakfast. Those who want halloumi get their halloumi. Those who want banana bread get their banana bread. The coffee is good too.

The Good Rain

Last best book on the Pacific Northwest I ever read. 

Eastlake furniture

You learn something new every day, and that day it was Eastlake furniture, inspired by the English architect Charles Eastlake. It was very popular in the U.S. three or four generations ago.

Corazon Cocina Ventura

Same restaurant as the ones in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, now in Ventura. They did a wonderful job renovating the space. The food was also good - healthy Mexican is how I would describe it. Their website describes it as Guadalajara "street food" that is "traditional but also innovative".

Fullerton, CA station

 

final stretch of desert

That final stretch of desert when the train descends south from Barstow through the mountains to San Bernardino and Riverside. Not bad to behold in the morning light.

Casa Del Desierto

The famous Casa Del Desierto in Barstow, at one time a large Harvey House and today the Amtrak station. It was built in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and designed by Santa Barbara, CA-based architect Francis Wilson - who also designed other Harvey Houses (Needles), train stations (Grand Canyon, Santa Barbara) and notable buildings in Santa Barbara (library and post office).

Zendo revisited

My go-to espresso stop when the train sits in Albuquerque for about hour. It's also a nice little walk on the blazing hot pavement. I'm not sure Mrs. joined me this time - I'm thinking not.

random bits of New Mexico

Or is it southeast Colorado? Or both?

 

Lamar, CO

One of Amtrak's stops in southeast Colorado.

Old Fort Madison '25

I've passed through here enough times that it's now on my mental map of the U.S.

Fort Madison Bridge revisited

When you're on the Fort Madison Bridge, it is code for crossing the Mississippi.

Galesburg Amtrak Station

As mentioned earlier, I had seen this station numerous times from the train, but this was my first time using it from the inside. For the most part it was a decent and well managed station. There were a few  characters, but 99% of the many people present were respectable Amtrak customers. Below, a statue of Abraham Lincoln detailing his connections to Galesburg.

Innkeeper's Coffee

 

With time to kill in Galesburg we hung out at this beautiful and spacious coffee house.

Baked

We thought that Baked, the specialty pizza place downtown, looked interesting. What we didn't realize was that it was ranked number 1 in the whole state of Illinois! At least according to Yelp's Top 100 Pizza Places for 2023. We had the herb & goat cheese pie and it was fabulous. Despite the accolades the vibe was laid back and the staff couldn't be more humble, hardworking and friendly. This experience reinforced our positive impression of Galesburg as a worthy stop, actually the last stop of the whole monster trip.