Barely Scratched the Surface...

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 27, 2015

 Balboa Park is ranked the nation's largest urban cultural park...a mere 1,200 acres. It is home to 15 major museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo.

 According to Google, it was envisioned by civic leaders in 1868, developed in 1892, and master-planned in 1903. It is named after Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean. 

 Many of the "highly ornamented, flamboyant" Spanish-Renaissance style buildings were constructed for a World's Fair called the "Panama-California Exposition" held there in 1915-16.











Our walk through Balboa took a few hours. It was a beautiful day so going inside museums was not on our agenda. 

Carol and I did, however wander through the Botanical Gardens... the view of the Botanical Building with the Lily Pad and Lagoon in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in the park. 


It was and remains today "one of the largest lath buildings in the world". 

In the few hours we spent walking around Balboa Park, we barely scratched the surface...but were totally awed by the beauty and appreciative of the insight a few folks had many years ago. 

Until next time, take care and

 happy trails!

Focus

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 22, 2015

Pearl has a new look these days!

If riding bicycles is your thing, San Diego offers alot of trails/paths. I have always loved riding a bike...but unfortunately, I have had my share of falls. It all started when I was 10 years old and trying to impress this really cute boy who lived down the street. I sure made an impression swerving back and forth until I hit a rock on the sidewalk and down I went. Thought I recovered OK until I realized my front tooth was broken and blood was dripping down my shirt. The boy on the front porch just laughed...and riding bicycles has never been quite the same for me! That's not to say Joe and I have not tried. Staying focused is a challenge for me. The bikes loaded on Pearl are the third pair we have had. 

That's me, Joe and Ronnie and Cooper

At my request, one more attempt...this time I have a beach cruiser with only 3 gears, front coasting brakes and back pedal brakes...very much like the bike I grew up riding. We have been on 2 rides and I am in childhood heaven. No spandex needed...just a helmet and a bell! Thanks for the picture Carol.

Speaking of focusing...I had a great exercise with my camera at the bark park the other day. I happened to notice a butterfly on the other side of the fence. When I looked closer, there was also a caterpillar. I have always taken pictures, but photography is a fairly new hobby for me. I have learned a lot...I have a long way to go. There are many blogs that "awe" me with the pictures that are posted and I have learned a so much from just studying them.  

It was fun trying to capture both of them through the fence...

And then I practiced on a South African Coral Tree in our park...

Dover doesn't like it if "stuff" is in the water at the park. She stayed very focused and worked very hard until she was satisfied it was clean enough for her and the other pups. She is such a good little mama...

Last week-end, our computer decided to go into a coma. What a bother! The Geek Squad did their magic and all is good, but not quite the same. Every time this happens, it seems like we have to adjust to all kinds of new looks and changes. Do you store pictures on the computer? I do...usually on a yearly basis. At the end of every year, I take the time to go through them all and save the good ones to an external hard drive. I had procrastinated doing this time consuming task this year. So Geek Squad called to tell Joe he had 90 GBs of pictures...several thousand...and could they put them on a drive to clear up space. Yeah! That job done!

Just a few pictures from the KOA...

Belle is on the left...parked next door to Ronnie, Carol and Cooper.

I'll bid good-bye for now. Until next time, take care and...

happy trails!