palm tree mishap

Sometimes while walking by the offices of the Santa Barbara News-Press you notice that the top of a large palm tree has fallen. Later you learn that no one was hurt except for a car.

Point Conception

Point Conception, the way it looked from the train.

acorn woodpecker

Acorn woodpeckers are not new, but we never had a proper encounter until one day in February. Strolling through Toro Park we noticed the trunks of sycamore trees, and in some cases oaks, thoroughly studded with acorns. These "granaries", as they are called, are a group effort by the woodpeckers to stockpile food. Perhaps they go overboard, but their work is impressive. It's also entertaining to see them in action - boring holes, flying acorns from tree to tree, and making an interesting array of sounds.

Marina Beach revisited

Marina State Beach, revisited yet again, colorful yet again.

Shoreline Park

The first thing we did back in California was go to Shoreline Park in Mountain View for lunch at the Lakeside Cafe and a stroll around Shoreline Lake. Being a sunny Sunday the place was buzzing with activity - understandably too as it is about as pleasant a waterfront experience as you will find in Silicon Valley. Not bad for a place that use to be a landfill. Not far are more trails along south San Francisco Bay.

 

leaving Las Vegas

 

Much as I don't care for flying, I would consider this experience of leaving Las Vegas at sunset a religious one. There is something awesome and terrifying about seeing the city from above and in particular Red Rock Canyon - a special place that will go down in history as giving Las Vegas what it lacked: a connection to nature.

Northlake Nature Center

I finally made it to the Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville... another beautiful cypress swamp.