Lovers Point Cypresses

Lovers Point,

in Pacific Grove, California,

is one of those places where,

on any given day,

one could stand in one spot

and take a hundred pictures or more

without taking exactly the same picture twice.

I honestly could just sit on a park bench

and look at these trees,

listening to the ocean

all day.

On the day I took these pictures,

I was at Lovers Point to officiate a wedding.

Taken 19 October 2016.

Bay Visitors

Spotted this cruise ship in Monterey Bay

when we had lunch on Cannery Row.

See more about Monterey Bay

Marine Sanctuary

HERE.

Taken 8 June 2017

Piedras Blancas: Young Bulls

Piedras Blancas, California

Pups are basking

while a couple of young bulls elephant seals

(Mirounga angustirostris)

spar playfully.

When these bulls get older,

they will be much,

MUCH

larger.

And they will engage in fierce-sounding combat

for the right to impregnate

their chosen cows.

Read more about Elephant Seals HERE.

Highway Rainbow

Somewhere along Highway 101,

just north of Paso Robles,

this rainbow appeared to 

encourage us

on a long drive home.

Not perhaps

the most stunning

or startling

photo of a rainbow

ever captured,

but still enough

to make one

smile,

and to wonder

what the light must be like

on that hill

that seems to be

at rainbow's end.

Taken 29 February 2012.

Seven Gables Inn

I'd say

with confidence

it is impossible

to overstate

the proverbial

"wow factor"

when it comes to

this bed & breakfast experience

in Pacific Grove, California.

Classic Victorian architecture,

pristine curb appeal,

impeccable decor and service,

ridiculous views.

Tough to match,

much less beat.

Taken 27 December 2010.

Union Hotel & Saloon

Here is the not-to-be-missed

UNION HOTEL & SALOON

in Los Alamos, California.

Check your guns at the door!

On the ceiling!

These shots taken on 29 February 2012.

Ripples

Often

we are able to

sustain an outward appearance

of serenity and calm -

or at least of

relatively unruffled

tolerance -

even when

our gut is

churning

with uncertainty and doubt

or

roiling

in reaction to external

disturbances.

But sometimes

the inner ripples

find their way

to the surface

and our demeanor

betrays our inner battles.

The top photo

was cropped from the one

immediately above,

which is a picture of the water

and part of a pier

at Fisherman's Wharf

in Monterey, CA.

Taken 30 December 2011.

Stunning 'Shroom!

Can't put a name to this amazing

hunk of mushroom,

but it is truly remarkable

and eye-catching.

Taken 30 September 2011.

Casa de Fruta Pick-up

This old red pick-up truck

makes for an appealing display

inside one of the shops

at Casa de Fruta,

a popular way-station

on the west side of Pacheco Pass

between I-5 and Hwy 101

along California's Central Coast.

What I didn't notice

when I took the picture

was that unknown lady's

bare leg

in the bottom left corner...

Taken 28 August 2011.

Outcropping

This is what is commonly called

a rock outcropping.

Funny word - outcropping.

This photo takes my imagination 

in many directions.

I can almost see some kind of primitive face on this rock;

or it is a huge petrified shark fin;

or a finger...

an index finger pointing to the sky -

the "One Way" sign;

or the upturned rudder of an ancient ship...

Whatever.

It is the central focus of this photo,

but there are many other elements

lending interest to this composition:

the seagull in flight,

the purple iceplant blooming on the far bank,

the stunning blue sky,

the congregation of stone around the central monolith,

the green iceplant in the foreground,

waves crashing on the distant shoreline.

Overall,

a scene that beckons

with an offering of serenity

and peace.

Like holding a conch shell to your ear,

you can hear the sound of the ocean waves.

Taken 13 May 2011,

Pacific Grove, California.

Ready for Spring

The official calendar start of spring

is still a couple of weeks away,

but I am sooooo ready

for it to be here 

right now.

!!!

!

Seriously.

This pic was taken along the recreational path

in Pacific Grove, California,

between Lover's Point

and Point Pinos

where Monterey Bay

meets the Pacific Ocean.

The botanicals

are iceplant in bloom.

Always stunning.

Taken 13 May 2011.

Cherry's #16

Taken 27 September 2009,

Cherry's Jubilee, Laguna Seca, California

Windless

A windless morning

at the Anaheim Convention Center

leaves the USA flag

and the California state flag

drooping

in the midst of

a pleasant field

of lines and patterns...

and

palm trees!!

Taken 13 October 2010.

Garden Grove Architecture

I decided

to make the Southern California architecture

posts

a threesome:

Within a stone's throw of Disneyland

is this eye-popping Glass House,

actually called "The Crystal Cathedral."

Note the "breezeway" in the pic above.

Sun setting behind the tower

surrounded by acolyte palms.

Tip of the tower -

very OZ-inspiring!

Sadly

The Crystal Cathedral

filed for bankruptcy

a week after I took these pictures.

Taken on 12 October 2010.

Cabazon Architecture

While I am on a Southern California architecture bent,

here is a snap of (part of)

the Morongo Casino

in Cabazon, California.

My wife actually snapped this

as we were zipping past it

on I-10.

I don't think

this cast iron, cast net canopy

is anything truly functional.

I think it is just art.

28 March 2011.

Palm Sky

Palm trees are one of my favorite subjects.

I should probably number palm tree related posts in series to keep track,

but I fear the number might climb too high.

This photo was taken in Garden Grove, California, October 2010.

Reflected Palms

Simply a stand of palm trees reflected in a car window.

Taken in Garden Grove, California; 14 October 2010.

Handy Canon PowerShot A590.

Stubby Pencils

Pull up a pencil and have a seat!

I spotted these great stools at a recent conference in Southern California.

The picture turned out to be more surprising than the real thing. 

I guess that happens a lot when we take pictures - the captured image reveals even more than we saw with the naked eye. 

I include the pic below showing actual seat-on-seat because the pic above is so surreal.

Taken in Anaheim, California, 14 October 2010.

Ever-faithful Canon PowerShot A590.