Shearwaters

Sometimes while taking the boat to Anacapa Island, one encounters a group of birds called Shearwaters - lots of them.

oil rig

Sometimes while taking the boat to Anacapa Island, one passes an oil rig.

Chitalpa

The Chitalpa tree (X Chitalpa tashkentensis) that sadly fell victim to draught and Santa Ana winds. Chiltalpas are a cross between a desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) and a southern catalpa (Catalpa bignoniodes).

Mondo's Cove

The beach known as Mondo's Cove, and the bike path that runs between the ocean and the Ventura Freeway. The beach is swimmable and the bike bath is first rate.

Caffrodite Coffee

Caffrodite is another fine independent coffee shop within the Ventura city limits. The space is a bit small, but everything else is just right - especially this custom-made espresso I requested.

Hollywood Beach, Oxnard

It's not in Hollywood and it's not in Ventura, but just west of the harbor in Oxnard - also known as Channel Islands Harbor. It may be called Hollywood Beach because Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable and Carol Lombard all had homes there. As did the creature below - another guitarfish?

Palm Springs from the plane

Perhaps the best thing about flying is looking down at the desert and reading it like a topographic map. I recognized Palm Springs nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains and took this photo. If you look closely you can see the windmill farms between Route 111 and Interstate 10.