Tuesday, May 31, 2016
One Scoop of Motor Oil
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
The Music Academy of the West
The Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara has been the training ground for many fine classical musicians. Generously supported by the local art community only a few gifted students are chosen to participate in a series of Summer Master Classes led by Marilyn Horne. Ranked among the best, this world renowned program prepares young vocal and orchestra talent for an international career in music.
This is great news for me!!! I no longer need to travel to a major metropolitan city to hear quality musicians do what they love. And watching opera has never been easier with the NY Met HD live streaming performances in Hahn Hall featuring some of the worlds most accomplished divas.
Opera is full of drama and the tales told are fiery with unrequited love, betrayal, tragedy, and revenge. Now add a big budget, lavish costumes and beautiful set design, and you have a true musical masterpiece that would rival any Academy Award winning film. Today, projected translations makes singing in the original language more practical so one doesn't need to speak Italian to appreciate opera. Generally most operas are sung in Italian, but one can also hear French, German, and English scores. Female operatic roles fall under three major vocal categories: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, and Contralto. While the gents roles require voices of Tenor, Baritone, and Bass range. Operas are broken down into three spell binding acts that can last four hours or more. Ultimately the orchestra reaches the final crescendo where operatic drama is resolved and the prima donna ignites the stage in a flurry of coloratura. Jubilant the audience cries... Bravo!!!
TOP TEN OPERAS
The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Don Giovanni by Mozart
The Barber of Seville by Rossini
Rigoletto by Verdi
La Traviata by Verdi
Die Walkure by Wagner
Aida by Verdi
Carmen by Bizet
TOP TEN OPERAS
The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Don Giovanni by Mozart
The Barber of Seville by Rossini
Rigoletto by Verdi
La Traviata by Verdi
Die Walkure by Wagner
Aida by Verdi
Carmen by Bizet
La Boheme by Puccini
Madame Butterfly by Puccini
Don't miss this event...!!!
Music Academy of the West Calendar of Events
Don't miss this event...!!!
Best Montecito Rummage Sale
May Madness, the 40th annual treasure and estate sale benefiting the Music Academy of the West’s full-scholarship program, will take place this year from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, May 7, 2016 on the Music Academy campus, located at 1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara.
May Madness, the 40th annual treasure and estate sale benefiting the Music Academy of the West’s full-scholarship program, will take place this year from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, May 7, 2016 on the Music Academy campus, located at 1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara.
May Madness
Friday, March 25, 2016
Morro Rock
 |
| Mariner Park |
The air was moist and the ocean calm with sea otters drifting leisurely atop briny waves. Boats safely anchored floated serenely on liquid resembling crystal blue glass. Morro Rock sits solid and Buddha-like in this safe harbor. Long ago its seaward side was dynamite blasted to make the breakwater. Morro Rock was named by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo during his 16th Century voyage and the first glimpse will take your breath away. Wow!!! That is one massive ROCK!! Drive closer and you will get a true idea of the scale of Morro Rock, the last in a chain of extinct volcanoes, covering 50 acres at its base and towering 576 feet above the entrance to Morro Bay. See those little specs at the rock's base? Those are tourists campers and cars allowed to park, hike, and surf up close. Strong winds often make the beach area perfect for windsurfing and kite flying enthusiasts. Morro Bay's charming Embarcadero has many fine restaurants and shops with a mariner theme. For excellent fish and chips I recommend Giovanni's Fish Market with its casual outdoor atmosphere and view of the rock. And don't miss the Shell Shop, my personal favorite still drawing crowds after 61 years in business. If you love earthy succulent plants and elegant garden statuary the Garden Gallery is the shop for you. Wherever you wander you will find friendly fishermen and easy going locals who have time to chat in this cozy seaside paradise.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Day Dream Inside Tree
Crawling inside this monumental sycamore tree was a gift of immeasurable stillness. Just my size, its interior became my playhouse and offered a peaceful diversion from civilization. The sturdy hardwood trunk is now charred and blackened with ash from a fire set long ago. Hard to imagine, this ancient 40ft tall relic was once a vibrant sapling tree. Planted over 100 years ago along the canyon creek it was helpful in slowing soil erosion and provided a shady home to birds, squirrels and rabbits. Beautiful in its final stage of decomposition the tree stands as an ancient guidepost to a secret waterfall. Huge boulders of blue green serpentine rock provide the falls stunning backdrop. Energetically flowing with liquid emotion a cool creek runs lively after the El Niño rains. Today Mother Earth seems reborn and refreshed after many years of severe California drought. Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve is just off the 101 freeway in San Luis Obispo County. And the best thing is... Every time I hike this trail I find something new to explore. Every moment is the last moment. Its freshness is why it's wonderful. Its fleeting nature is why it's precious.
A Dream of Trees
by Mary Oliver
There is a thing in me that dreamed of trees,
A quiet house, some green and modest acres
A little way from every troubling town,
A little way from factories, schools, laments.
I would have time, I thought, and time to spare,
With only streams and birds for company.
To build out of my life a few wild stanzas.
And then it came to me, that so was death,
A little way away from everywhere.
There is a thing in me still dreams of trees,
But let it go. Homesick for moderation,
Half the world’s artists shrink or fall away.
If any find solution, let him tell it.
Meanwhile I bend my heart toward lamentation
Where, as the times implore our true involvement,
The blades of every crisis point the way.
I would it were not so, but so it is.
Who ever made music of a mild day?
Sunday, January 31, 2016
It's a Small World
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines man made as manufactured, created, or constructed by human beings; rather than by nature. This fits with the Disney business model of artificial amusement habitats for humans. Think hamster wheel only on a grander scale. Where family fun is presented in simulated environments and huge crowds interact with automated machines while wearing funny hats. After all.... It's a small, small, FastPass world.
Everybody sing along now!
It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
Friday, December 18, 2015
Hermitage
Alfred Tibor "FREE" 1993 Bronze
Beyond the bookish themed house lies a colorful off kilter world rarely seen by the public. An asymmetrical hermitage ruled by a crazy hermit genius with a unique angle on life. "Ted", who's gift for writing books (40 in number) is matched only by his whimsical lost wax sculptures and fanciful art collection. He sings the body electric... Or bronze in this case. Cleverly staging a bevy of cast metal nymphs joyfully dancing alongside busts of classical composers, great authors and U.S. presidents. They line the rough hewn paths and frolic in aqueous pools. Artfully juxtaposed within a clever fence of bicycles & VW Bugs, these creative sculptures will shock and surprise you. The guided tour meanders through a carefully tended 10 acre botanic garden of cycads, fruit trees, cactus, bamboo and tropical palms. When you find yourself chuckling over humorous quips etched on rocks, Congratulations! You are now happily under the creative spell of artist and founder Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II. A bona-fide hermit who graciously provided lemonade and dried fruit/nut snacks after our tour but was nowhere to be found.
Why did Ted build this secret wonderland? Where does he get his inspiration for new installs? What does it cost to tend a sculpture garden of this magnitude? Who will take over his legacy after he is gone? A poster in his museum gave the answer.
"Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction."
Indeed, Hermitage Santa Barbara is well on its way to becoming a tourist attraction. The lush garden rests mostly on a hill top over looking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Open two days a month, this rare collection can be seen free of charge but you will need a reservation.
To visit Hermitage Santa Barbara - A Whimsical Sculpture & Botanic Garden.
info@hermitagesb.org
www.hermitagesb.org
If you would like to read more about founder, Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II, or about Hermitage Santa Barbara you can find his books on Amazon, at your local bookstore, or the local library or visit http://www.knollpublishers.com/
Why did Ted build this secret wonderland? Where does he get his inspiration for new installs? What does it cost to tend a sculpture garden of this magnitude? Who will take over his legacy after he is gone? A poster in his museum gave the answer.
"Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction."
Indeed, Hermitage Santa Barbara is well on its way to becoming a tourist attraction. The lush garden rests mostly on a hill top over looking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Open two days a month, this rare collection can be seen free of charge but you will need a reservation.
To visit Hermitage Santa Barbara - A Whimsical Sculpture & Botanic Garden.
info@hermitagesb.org
www.hermitagesb.org
If you would like to read more about founder, Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II, or about Hermitage Santa Barbara you can find his books on Amazon, at your local bookstore, or the local library or visit http://www.knollpublishers.com/
Monday, November 30, 2015
When the Levee Breaks
Santa Maria Riverbed - Dry as a Bone
Mr El Niño
Hopefully you will arrive as predicted and fill this riverbed with water. Precious water. Much needed water. As much of a hoped for event, the perils remain to be seen. Can this levee and sandstone cliffs hold the expected deluge? Or will the levee break?
In January 1969 this humble riverbed in Santa Maria, CA was brimming over with water. Breached by a magnificent 100-year storm who's downfall lasted 10 days straight. One for the records books. Soon water was overflowing and threatening to expand its containment area. Mud and debris flowed bank to bank. Farm lands so desperately in need of rain were flooded and crops destroyed. Nearby houses normally high and dry were flooded. Families and businesses were displaced and daily life disrupted. The seasonal cleanup was huge and county resources were stretched to capacity.
Recent draft maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency showed that much of Santa Maria, including 20,000 parcels and 17,000 structures, would be designated as in the flood plain, triggering a flood-insurance requirement for many property owners. Fortunately mistakes were learned and infrastructure improved in a critical 2009 federal/Santa Barbara County project that rehabilitated approximately 6.3 miles of the 50-year-old structure. Five years and $47 million dollars later the old bridge that crosses the river has been retrofitted and the levee re-engineered. Now it stands ready to take on this Winter's expected heavy rain storm. Assuredly, one day, Mother Nature will test this levees structural ability to hold back water. So come on...My sandbags are ready. I dare you Mr El Niño! Give me all you've got! Let's end this drought!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Things That Go Boo!
I let the rattly skeleton
In my closet out
Once a year to go
Trick-or-treating and shout.
My skeleton is made of bones
Lots of them, I know
They're in my arms and legs
My ten fingers and my toes.
My skeleton holds me up
So I can dance and run
And do lots of other things
That are so very fun.
My skeleton keeps growing
Right along with me
I never want to lose it
Cause then where would I be?
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Rocky Nook Park
Just when you think the day is over and you've seen all there is to see in town, suddenly you spy Ethel. A six foot long, brightly colored, red mosaic alligator lizard staring back at you from the banks of Santa Barbara's Mission Creek. She's nestled in-between the natural river rocks giving you a wink and a whimsical grin. Upon closer inspection you notice more toothy creatures just past the footbridge at Rocky Nook Park. Shocking at first, a second blue tiled reptile named Harry comes into view. These beautifully crafted mosaic sculptures are the work of Dan Chrynko, a unique local artist known for his intricately embellished boulders. Perfect for climbing, children of all ages will adore exploring these fanciful tile works of art. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a day hike amidst ancient oaks and sycamores in soothing natural surroundings. This is what happy memories are made of.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
PCPA Theatre
Memorize for me the words of a playwright than speak them back to me with song and dance. Rehearse for me your character's personality and facial quirks. Show me that acting is craft. Give me your believable energy and make true actors come alive on stage. Quick costume change for me then stand on mark, mind your cue's, sing your heart out. Emote for me the plot of this PCPA creative collective. Translate for me raw emotions as I live on stage through you. Let me down gently after hours of make believe theatre. Now let me honor your efforts with my applause.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Alligator Pear
Zutano, Topa Topa, Hass, Mexicola, Rincon, Bacon, Spinks, Lamb, Fuerte, Pinkerton, Anaheim, Creamhart. These are not exotic travel locations or decadent libations, they are names of avocado cultivars. Pear shaped fruits who's pebbled, thin, blackish-green skin hides an edible buttery textured flesh around a single ovoid seed. Prized as natures super food, high in monosaturates, studies show avocados help to reduce blood cholesterol. You can accelerate the ripening of avocados by placing them in a brown paper bag along with a banana at room temperature. Avocado oil is a favorite among cooks who desire its health benefits as a salad dressing or for high-heat cooking. What do you call an avocado that's been blessed by Pope Francis? Holy Guacamole!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Whistler Mountain
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Jocko's Nipomo
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Secret Garden Oasis
I've found a pathway out! The plan to escape this maya has been woven into my life's story. A tranquil green oasis in the middle of ten acres. Long revered as the bounty of Mother Earth, organic vegetables, fruit trees and edible flowers are paramount to my existence. Their shade and lush foliage is a much needed supernatural sanctuary for man and beast. Songbirds and wind chimes ride the west winds with serenely sweet jargon. Duckweed and tadpoles float like clouds metamorphoses in Ovidian pools. I take refuge in my secret garden as part of my daily meditation routine. I love to sit and relax. With each measured suspiration I gain peace of mind in this lovely canopy of green toned heart chakra hues. Spacious, ever free, lovingly nurtured and nurturing, my plants give healing energy back in spades. Garden spades that is!!
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
SCOBY to the Rescue
My family knows me as having a special cabinet where the miracle of fermentation takes place. Mysterious, vinegar smelling, symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast floating in glass jars, swimming warmly in a still, dark, place. "SCOBYs" are kitchen science at its best! Silently growing they resembling human placentas, undisturbed, doing the backstroke, waiting expectantly for final bottling one day. Brew baby brew! When the time is right a glimmer of sunlight awakens the SCOBY to the will of the brew master. Skillfully it will be harvested, the medium blended, oh so carefully, with fresh picked, organic, blood orange, pomegranate, sapote, or guava juice. This additional step creates a second round of fermentation which gives rich character to the green tea elixir. Finally it will be refrigerated after 30-50 days of ferment magic, the mix now ready for tasting and deserving of the name Kombucha. A culture with roots in a two thousand year old Chinese tradition that claims long life and grand health benefits, like preventing and fighting cancer, arthritis, diabetes and other degenerative diseases. Today, it may be one of the world's most popular health beverages made simply from tea leaves, sugar, water and Kombucha culture. This probiotic brew is mighty good for what ails you!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Like prize fighters from the gloomy depths these elephant seals lumber onto the shore and drop in a heap as spectators silently do a countdown. Fleshy globules weighing in at over 2,000lbs these marine mammals have a face only a mother could love. Slow moving blobs of blubber cluster together and lazily dream of salty sea mermaids and swaying palms. Inertly waiting until the next meal, they flip ping pong sized flipper full's of sand onto their neighbors back. Sunbathing and frequent rough housing give onlookers a chance to document the rituals with cameras and videos. During mating season you can hear their loud threats and grunting retorts to other males. You can almost hear one seal bark to the other, "Hey meathead stop throwing that sand around and hitting on my female or else!" Bloody sores and gashes from bites makes this a real street fighting lesson for the kiddies. Colorful kiosks educate while a wooden boardwalk allows viewers of all ages the chance for a closer look. This coastline is subject to high winds, harsh sun and cold so don't forget your windbreaker, sunscreen and visor. Plenty of parking makes this Highway 1 coastal treasure, just north of San Simeon, a must see main event. Showtimes are....
January
Female elephant seals continue to arrive on the shoreline.
Peak of births usually are the last half of the month.
February
Elephant seal births continue.
The peak of mating is around Valentine's Day.
More females leave.
March
Last adult elephant seals leave.
April
Female and juvenile elephant seals return to molt.
May
Female and juvenile elephant seals molt.
June
Sub-adult male elephant seal return to molt.
July
Sub-adult and adult males molt.
August
Last adult elephant seals molt.
September
Young-of-the-year and juvenile elephant seals haul out to rest.
October
Young-of-the-year and juvenile elephant seals haul out to rest.
November
Sub-adult elephant seal males haul out.
Mature males begin arriving at the end of the month.
December
Elephant seal bulls continue to return.
Females arrive.
The first birth is usually mid-month.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Spooner's Cove
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Oso Flaco Lake
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Lost Lake
Have you ever heard of losing a lake? I know. Me neither. I can see losing a creek but never a lake. So it's was really special to be hiking to a lake in Whistler, British Columbia by that name. This isn't just any old lake. This lake, local lore reports was occupied for centuries by the Coastal Salish Indian Tribe. In 1877 this area was officially opened to trappers and prospectors seeking their fortunes amidst the snow laden mountains. The day we visited, the forest trees had an almost lite-brite, yellow green, fertile glow; a vibrant color pallet combo of wheat grass and asparagus green hues. The soil gave off a musky smell like soggy dinosaur remains, spruce, and cedar. Mother Natures healing energy and aroma therapy... just my style. We even spied a bald eagle sitting in a nearby tree waiting for an opportunity to catch a fresh Squamish River salmon. How fortunate we are to be able to hike these surroundings with family and friends and still remain in close proximity to modern comforts. Whistler/Blackcomb Mountain and Olympic Village make for memorable times. Offering year-round sports adventures, gondola lifts and a wide range of dining and lodging venues, this mountain is perfect for any age outdoor lover. Numerous trails meander around the lake and offer cross country skiing and snow shoeing during the winter and walking, rollerblading, and biking during the summer months. Experience life, step out in nature and make memories.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Change Color
Does the branding for paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams come to mind? This exhibit has all the paint perks and is dripping with Generation X wisdom. A brightly colored spiritual summary of the digitized 21st century condition. Pantone #199 has never looked so good! The Words Into Objects exhibit offers profound word nuggets that wake one from their perceived target market, a tweet of McWisdom packaged for an accelerated utopian culture. An enormous Lego built suburbia exhibit looks somehow comforting to my inner world nostalgia. My techno culture now a weapon and I, a statistical response sinking in an apathetical abyss oblivious to the delete button. I really like this artists first major museum solo exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. So!... Where has Canadian born author and artist Douglas Coupland been hiding himself? Inside, busily writing 14 novels, 2 short story collections, 7 non-fiction books and a number of screenplays for film and television, his books have been translated into 22 languages and published in 30 countries. Guess I should ask...Where have I been?
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Granville Island
In 12 hours this waterway will be the scene of a colorful fireworks display to celebrate Canada Day. Live music performances, parades and cake will make for a festive national bash. Granville Island a once derelict Canadian industrial area in the 1970's was transformed into the vibrant community destination you see today. A tourist magnet attracting over 10 million visitors every year, this hip seaside area boasts a very large farmers market, microbreweries and numerous art galleries. Modern high rise apartments and boats of all sizes make for great people watching and wondering. Fireworks barges in Coal Harbour and Dundarave will launch the fire in the sky extravaganza, easily seen from beautiful Stanley Park. Wear your red and white and come join the fun!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Luminescing Rain
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Cave Landing
Monday, May 26, 2014
Flag & BBQ
Memorial Day
by Steve Kowit
Because our sons adore their plastic missile launchers,
electronic space bazookas, neutron death-ray guns,
a decade down the pike it won't prove difficult
to trick them out in combat boots
& camouflage fatigues,
rouse them with a frenzy of parades, the heady
rhetoric of country, camaraderie & God,
the drum & bugle & the sudden
thunder of the cannon as they march
into Hell singing.
Which is the order of things.
Obedient to a fault, the people will do as they are told.
However dispirited by grief at the graves
of their fallen, the mother returns at last to her loom,
the father to his lathe,
& the inconsolable widow home to raise sons
ardent for the next imperial bloodbath;
Ilium. Thermopylae. Verdun.
Pork Chop Hill.
"Memorial Day" by Steve Kowit from The First Noble Truth.
© University of Tampa Press, 2007.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Bubblegum Alley
"Don't touch anything!!!" This is the usual command given by mothers as their children enter the alley. "Gross!!!" Is another common reaction to the most photographed landmark in downtown San Luis Obispo. Spanning over 70ft. this sticky walled gum world is a jaw dropping tourist site worth stepping into. For over fifty years people have participated in Bubblegum Alley on Higuera Street, where you can chew and stick your artistic self into existence. Bazooka Pink, Bubblicious Orange, Adams Black Jack Licorice, Wrigley's Doublemint, Chiclets, it's all here! The color of the chewing gum more important than ever before in this alleyway. Many times business owners have led the charge to scrape and even fire hose off the wads of chew, but to no avail. Offering a taste of SLO's kooky artistic charm, Bubblegum Alley's local flavor attracts families year round and is conveniently located near eating, shopping and parking areas.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Reservoir Creek Falls
This spot was a wilderness retreat for me. Today my chakras screamed for green energy and this hike supplied. Blue green serpentine rocks lined a lush riparian oasis under oak, bay, sycamore, and willow trees. Low water levels made for remembrance of years past when heavy rainfall filled the creeks many pools. A lush winding wooded trail led first to a 50ft waterfall that felt refreshing and peaceful. Then through a chartreuse painted landscape with an abundance of feathery horsetail ferns. This living fossil is the only surviving genus of an entire class of spore reproducing vascular plants over one hundred million years old. Beautiful and tranquil I sat awhile and enjoyed my stunning surroundings. Being careful when I left to not trample the precious "Equisetum" plants who beckon seekers to rest and recharge among its natural wonders.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Felt Summer Today!
Sonnet 18
by William Shakespeare
by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall Death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Charles Schulz Museum
Emblazoned on lunch pails, school notebooks, and T-shirts, the Peanuts gang of comic characters was my favorite as a child! Even today the sight of a Snoopy or Woodstock emblem makes me nostalgic for days gone bye when life was simpler and the biggest crises one faced was which home room teacher you were assigned for the year, the nice one or the old wicked witch one. It was a welcomed Sunday tradition to be the first among my family to read the funny paper comics with the Peanuts strip being at the top of the newspaper header in full color! Charlie Brown always had a way of being the ragged underdog, while Lucy became the know-it-all group psychiatrist, Schroeder a talented piano protégé and Snoopy the coolest dog, made for light hearted reading with a deep moral lesson. A recent trip to the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA reminded me what a great talent he was drawing and writing my generations collective world view in a profound yet childlike way. You can do it!..... Never give up....! Became familiar advise the characters gave to their imaginary life problems. Over Peanuts fifty-year history, some 65 characters later, the creative genius of Schulz tackled many childhood issues with amazing insight: school bulling, summer camp, loneliness, sibling rivalry, faith, hope, heartbreak, and love.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Bishop Peak
This is an UP and DOWN sort of hike. Narrow rocky footpaths and sunny switchbacks with boulders to scale. So be sure to wear your high traction tennis's and bring 2 bottles of water. Best to go on weekdays when less crowded. Don't be discouraged by the muscle bound who run up the oak incline path and skip their way down. Patience my dear, you'll get to the top eventually. Bishop Peak, one of nine inactive volcano cores, distinguish San Luis Obispo from the foggy seaside village of Morro Bay. Two sturdy benches on top of this ancient morro are a welcome site as we arrive alive and take in the 360 view. Surprise!... there are other brave Trekkers who have already reached the craggy goal. Looking down the mountain we bask in January's rare 90 degree weather glad to have worn wide brimmed hats and plenty of sunscreen. Noticing a large body of water, Laguna Lake Park, we make a note to check it out someday. "Wow!!" "Everything looks so dry!" We exclaim. After a short sit we start our descent passing other hikers whom we encourage with a cheerful, "You're almost there!"
Friday, January 3, 2014
Papallacta Volcanic Hot Springs
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Burning Effigies
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Quito's Churches
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Peguche Waterfall
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Ecuador's Capital City
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