Last Days of Summer Vacation

From last Wednesday's trip to Catalina Island (a bit of it is shown on the second photo). My son and his friend got to experience parasailing for the first time.
We are still having extremely hot days and the fires in the hills northeast of LA are still raging. Karin, our foothills hiker, is giving updates and a personal perspective of coping so close to blaze in
Altadena Hiker.

Under the Vincent Thomas Bridge

The unusual view of the bridge presented itself as we were leaving LA Harbor on the way to Catalina Island last Wednesday, for a day-trip.

Burnt Hillside above Portuguese Bend

People came to look at the burned area of Forrestal Nature Preserve this afternoon from Del Cerro Park. Last April, I posted this photo from Eagle's Nest which is in the middle of the burned area in the second photo.
"In 'Los Angeles Against the Mountains,' a 1988 installment in the New Yorker series “The Control of Nature,” which was later published as a book, John McPhee described how Southern California’s dry chaparral produces devastating fires." New Yorker-Archive 1988/09/26. Knowing that the fires are part of the natural process does not make them any less frightening.

Aerial view of Portuguese Bend

I took the aerial photo last May, on an overcast day with the top of the peninsula covered in low clouds. Yesterday's Rancho Palos Verdes fire was in this vicinity (I think toward the right of the picture). Notice the dry grass that was the perfect fuel for the fire. We are all so thankful that the fire is contained with no injuries, but sadly six homes were damaged. Last night, I watched the news in awe of the firefighters on the ground and in the helicopters, battling the blaze. My hopes are now that the other fires still burning in LA County will be contained very soon.

Passing by Angel's Gate Lighthouse

Like most people, I think lighthouses are very special and especially photogenic. This is the same lighthouse I've previously posted here , but this time with Palos Verdes Peninsula and San Pedro in the background. The photo was taken from Catalina Express catamaran that goes from San Pedro to Avalon on Catalina Island, where we went for a last summer excursion (a day trip) yesterday.

While I've been preparing this post, a brush fire started in Rancho Palos Verdes heading up the hill side from the Trump Golf Course burning mostly in the Forrestal Nature Preserve. It is far away from where we live but it is still concerning and very sad as two homes have already burned in the area.

Window at the South Coast Botanic Gardens

Now back to Palos Verdes.

Cat Angel - Rye, NY

A cat lover's gravestone at the Greenwood Union Cemetary in Rye.
The original section of the cemetary, dating back to 1837, was named the Union Cemetery of Rye. For years it was run by one family, but currently the cemetery operates under a Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York.

Who is minding your door? - Rye Presbyterian Church, Rye, NY

I especially liked the smiling one.
The address for the church is on the 882 Boston Post Road. I loved driving bits of the old postal route from NYC to Boston.

Lazy Summer Day at Bethany Beach, Delaware

The summer homes along the numerous canals in South Bethany.
Everything at the Bethany Beach Farmer's Market looked scrumptuous - the cave aged cheddar cheese was great with a loaf of wheat bread and with fresh local peaches.

Cause/Effect on the East Coast (2 things challenge)

Cause: Many an all-American breakfast like the one at Poppy's Cafe, Rye, N.Y. ...
... Effect: Mighty deep footprints during the morning walk on the beach in South Bethany, Delaware. East coast sand is very soft ... really.

The photo is from last Sunday. Today, huge surf pounded most of this coast due to Hurricane Bill. The water covered the beach and reached some of the homes - reported by my son who is still there.

Join the 2 Things Photo Challenge.

Sunset in Reverse - South Bethany beach, Delaware

This is my very first East Coast sunrise at a beach - a thrilling experience to see the sun coming up from the ocean and not at all too early to see (6:13 am). I wonder if there is a green flash right before the sun comes up. I did have company.

Then & Now - Beach at Rye, New York

Summer 1925 at Oakland Beach, Rye, N.Y.

My mother-in-law was a little over a year old in the photo. Oakland Beach is now called Rye Park Beach.
The Rye Park Bathing Pavilion is in the background and a bit of it can be seen in the old picture too.
It was erected in 1908 (Upjohn & Conable, architects, William A. Ward, associate architect, and William J. Mertz, builder)

Come In to Poppy's Cafe - Rye, New York

"Since the place is OPEN, who is going to let me in??"
Poppy's Cafe on Purchase St. , the main business street in Rye, is where the locals like to eat. The name "Purchase" comes from the purchase of this land from a Mr. Harrison (who bought it from the native Americans) by the Members of the Society of Friends from Long Island in 1724.

Playland Light Tower - Rye, New York

Art Deco tower from 1928 with a bit of the 75-year-old wooden rollercoaster showing on the right.
"Playland has the distinction of being America's first totally planned amusement park and prototype for today's successful theme parks. Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Playland has provided family fun since 1928. Often referred to as 'Rye Playland', it is America's only government owned and operated amusement park." (Ref. http://www.ryeplayland.org/)
More on Wikipedia-Playland.
Click to enlarge to see the amazing detail on the light.

Playland Beach - Rye, New York

The beach is part of Playland Amusement Park which opened in 1928. Can you name the movie scene that was filmed here? (My friend TeeJ knew it without being prompted.)

Picnic Area, No Dogs - Rye, New York

Hmm, geese waste vs. dog waste.

Family Home in Rye, New York

56 Locust Avenue, Rye, NY


My husband's mother was from Rye, and this was her family home. I think it was built by her grandfather in the 1890's, and her mother lived there until she passed away in 1973.

The building is currently a business and we were very glad to see that it is being maintained so well.

Christ's Church in Rye, New York

Rye, NY on the coast of the Long Island Sound is the home of my mother-in-law and her family. My in-laws were married at this church in March of 1946. At the Rye library, I was able to find various announcements in the back copies of The Rye Chronicle.

Let's get Geophysical ... in Long Beach, CA

It was one of those "Say what?!?" signs near my work in L.B.


"The Survey will use state of the art technology to image and map the geological strata and potential earthquake faults of the Long Beach/Signal Hill area." from lbgeophysical.com

Rocky Cove (3) - A Denizen

The crab had his eyes on us.

Rocky Cove (2)

Finding sea critters was easy for A. to the amazement of two older boys.

Cove by Terranea Resort

The new resort at Long Point has a public parking area and an access to a very rocky cove. Our Swiss friends and their two daughters really liked the spot.

Moon's Doppelgänger

View thru our back window.

I'll be out of town again for 8 days, and will be autoposting. Have a great week!

Once in a Blue Moon...View of Portuguese Pt.

From Palos Verdes Dr. South.

Lavender Sky Reflected... (SkyWatch Friday)

... on 500 Silver Spur Road.

Manes and Tails

"Summertime and the living is easy" - along the bridal path by PV Drive North.

'C' is for Color - Jacaranda in the Park (abc Wednesday)

Morning Light

We are having days with unusual weather - it's warm, with lots of clouds, and very clear. This morning at about 6:30, the mountains were outlined all around the basin, and the rising sun lit up the clouds with numerous virgas (rain that does not reach the ground) on the horizon.
The 2nd photo is from our back window on Monday morning - at about 5:45 am. My husband, who walks the dog every morning, alerted me to this one. The photo is with Canon Rebel Xsi (and out of focus on manual focus) - who would of thunk that clouds are not in focus at the exterme setting of the focus dial.

Wayfarers Chapel - Night & Day

Another PV landmark is the glass chapel by Lloyd Wright (son of FLW). This was taken from Palos Verdes Dr. West. There is no place to park here, so I took a short walk along the (luckily) wide margin by the road to get to the night photo vantage point. The lower photo was taken from a trail paralleling the drive.
Wayfarers Chapel - Architecture

Combo of theme days past - Empty, Shadows, Lines

Ramp to the parking lot of the PV Main Library which empties after 5 pm on Sundays. Today, it felt like a real lazy Sunday afternoon.

Theme Day: Night (at Neptune Fountain)

"THIS REPLICA OF AN ANCIENT FOVNTAIN IN BOLOGNA ITALY WAS DONATED TO THIS COMMUNITY BY PALOS VERDES PROJECT"
First of the month is CITY DAILY PHOTO's Theme Day.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.