Californian Visuals

The day after the flight the Cleddau crew were hit by an explosion of light and colour.

The graceful Coronado Bridge that soars over San Diego Harbor has to be photographed, as does the Downtown skyscraper skyline.

Harbor-side masts and palm trees signal a vertical world.

Inside the hotel items are fresh, large and vibrant…

By mid-morning the Cleddau crew were in a rental car, heading north up the Interstate 5.

Freeway traffic whizzes past the twin spires of the San Diego Mormon California Temple.

A turn off the freeway onto Highway 101 leads to the oasis of calm and chill at Pannikin. This favourite haunt is located in the old railroad station house, in Leucadia.

There is nothing that aids jet lag dislocation quite like Pannikin’s coffee, fresh orange juice and Greek eggs…

Onwards, to the next traditional pause point, South Carlsbad beach, to breathe in the ocean air – and inspect the sandy cliff bluffs for erosion and storm damage.

A beach ranger drove across the beach; was he checking for further post-rain problems …?

The car headed inland from Carlsbad, through a broad valley, to the outskirts of San Marcos. You know you’re there when you see the steep hillsides and canyons ahead.

This city, once a small farming community, has grown and modernised hugely in the last three decades. Now with a population of about 97,000 the Cal State University dominates an area below the hills in the south east sector of the city

and there’s a new housing development, perched (it seems) on a former hill top, the “top” removed and flattened.

Not all Californian eyecatchers are shots of scenery or built structures.

Do supermarkets display such an array of balloons and flowers throughout all seasons of the year?

And do we see flowering cactus at this time of year sporting pink blooms?

During the Fall and Thanksgiving season it’s common to see counters and displays swathed in garlands of autumn colours.

Then there are puzzling food items: what is Sloppy Joe Sauce?

Anyone tried Wasabi Poke?

Or Yellow Dragonfruit?

Tomatillos?

Seen Oysters in Asda / Sainsbury’s / Tesco or Lidl… ?

Or felt tempted by Protein on the Run…?

It’s very old hat these days to use a red pen to correct spelling mistakes, but twice Boatwif’s fingers have itched to make improvements…!

The shopping has been done for the Thanksgiving Feast, so perhaps from now on there’ll be fewer supermarket snaps. Anyway, A Grand Day Out needs a mention next time…