Blogs from Orange County, California, United States, North America

My son Will has wanted Linda and me to visit him in Laguna Beach CA ever since he moved there in September 2017. After a long winter in Colorado...cold but with little snow...I was ready! I found a low cost airfare from Denver to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana for the weekend of 4-7 May so the trip was on. I would drive to DIA and park there as Linda didn't think she could find her way home. Thusly, she would be without the car for the duration...Friday night to Monday night. I made sure she had enough food to last. 4 May 2018 Friday. I left home in Woodland Park midafternoon to catch a 7:20 PM United flight. It was good I gave myself extra time as the traffic through Denver to the airport ... read more

We’re a pair of Orange County, California-based retired seniors who still love traveling to places known and unknown. Top on the bucket list of husband Jovy, who will turn 80 come February, has been for as long as I can remember to take a road trip to Seattle, Washington and beyond. The problem was at 76 I still loved my work in drug prevention and would not think of retirement until I get a clear sign from God that it is about time. A bout of physical weakness after an official trip to Washington, DC in December proved to be the message I had been waiting for. Now retired, we could finally go and so the adventure continues. We figured that creeping old age, occasional bouts of morning weakness, our children’s apprehension about the wisdom of ... read more

The sun flooded the sand for miles from right to left. Looking headon at the horizon about a quarter of a mile out, massive waves broke onto the shore, foam swallowing small surfers and bubbling into the sand. A cool headwind pressed against my feet circling through pedals as I went along the bike path that ran parallel to Huntington Beach, California. I was headed north, towards the Huntington Beach Pier which looked like a sliver of an open sore jetting out from the shoreline into the water. There was a calmness that hung on the air and filled my lungs. I breathed in as deep as I could and welcomed the chills it brought up my spine. I would pass by walkers, runners and rollerblader, fellow bicyclers and skateboarders. The sand spread out like a ... read more

So I started packing. One tiny tiny bag down, and two to go. Evidently I've learned the error of my ways when it comes to shoes though. You (apparently, and so people tell me) don't need 10 pairs of shoes for a four week trip. Who knew? So, here you have it: packing for a month, multiple weather systems, and needing to be dressed up in 100 degree weather - you need a max of seven pairs of shoes. Also, dresses. Lots of sundresses of varying lengths. That's what works in the hotbox that is Southern Europe during the summer. The only problem with this: I'm going to Munich first. Where it's a solid 10-30 degrees cooler. Epic weather fail. I'll post a picture of the disaster that is my suitcase tomorrow, once it's successfully filled ... read more

After breakfast went to Bally's opposite Bellagio. Then continued into Paris and Planet Hollywood all in the same line. Crossed the road using the bridge and saw the Cosmopolitan to the right of Bellagio. Then went with Sri and Shanthi by car and they dropped us at Mandalay Bay further down the main strip. From Mandalay Bay went to Luxor using the free mono rail. Continued through walkway into Excalibur and then saw New York New York all in the same line. Across the road was MGM Grand where we joined Sri and Shanthi who had been playing there and returned to Bellagio. R went to Planet Hollywood for lunch. I had left over wrap in my room. Did blog entries, packed up and left Las Vegas by 4.45. Reached home by 8.30pm. Sri and family ... read more