Saturday and Sunday on Vacation

Saturday began with a trip to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. The volcano erupted about 800 years ago. For lunch we had Thai food. Central Kentucky where my family lives has no Thai restaurants so it a first for my grandsons. After lunch we bought tickets for the newest Harry Potter movie. I had never seen an HP movie so it was a first for me.

Yesterday, Sunday, we walked the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon National Monument and learned about the Sinagua people who lived in the cliff dwellings. For lunch we ate burritos at a local restaurant. Dustin ordered hot sauce on his burrito. The waitress said "OK" in a questioning way as she raised her eyebrows. He ate most of it and drank more than one glass of his mother's water rather than his soda drink.

In the afternoon we walked the length of Lava River Cave, the lava tube north of Flagstaff. We had visited it before going to San Diego but went only a short distance into the opening of the cave. Both Dustin and Dalton wanted to go father so the three of us slipped, stumbled and bumped our heads through the entire three-quarters of a mile that the cave winds underground.


Dustin and Dalton in a low section of the lava tube. (Larger version)

After returning home I took Dustin and my daughter for a ride on the motorcycle. When Dawn and I returned Dustin asked "how was it?". Little did he know that his mother was riding her own motorcycle when she was 15, his age. We lived on a dead end street in the county where is was illegal but safe. I remember her riding hundreds of miles the first summer after we bought it.

Not surprising, the last two weeks have brought back lots of good memories.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

We are home. San Diego's pleasant temperatures in the upper seventies are behind us.

After nearing Flagstaff Julie phoned a friend who said the city has broken a record high for the day with 92 degrees. Our house is generally about 10 degrees warmer so we anticipate temperatures slightly above 100 for the next few days. No, we don't have air conditioning.

Yesterday, east of Yuma, the temperature peaked at 116 shortly after we passed a border patrol checkpoint. The employees were wearing long sleeved dark uniforms. I didn't feel for them because they were in control and could move to shade or get water as needed. It was the dogs that caught my attention.

I looked at the dogs' feet to see if they were wearing protection against the backtop road. Nothing! As we got closer I saw a water hose hooked to cistern. The hose had been placed on the blacktop so the water ran along an area beside vehicles stopped for inspection. This cooled the road surface for the dogs and gave them water to drink.

A pickup truck in front of us got the interest of the dog working our lane. The driver was instructed to pull the vehicle to the side of the road. As the vehicle moved forward the dog strained against the leash to follow the vehicle. In spite of the heat this dog was eager to stay on the scent. I'm always amazed by working dogs regardless of their speciality.


Gas gauge past empty.

I made a major blunder on the trip to San Diego. We stayed in Yuma, took our time having breakfast and left for the last leg of the trip. Several miles west of Yuma as we drove through the Algodones sand dunes I had a sudden horrifying thought. I had failed to get gas! I checked the gauge to find the warning light illuminated and the needle past empty. We came to another border patrol checkpoint and I asked for the closest filling station. We were half way so we chose to continue rather than turning back to Yuma. The temperature was 114. Interestingly, my grandsons lost interest in their electronic devices and began watching the gas gauge and the mileage posts.

We made it and everyone sighed with relief.

Thursday on the Beach

Thursday was Sea World day for Dawn, Dalton and Dustin. Julie and I had tea and a red bean cake at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa before going to Torry Pines State Preserve and walking about three miles of beach.

After meeting everyone late in the day we drove to Coronado.


Dalton on beach on Coronado. (Larger version)

Land and Sea

Wednesday morning we walked Balboa Park, took the free shuttle through the park and heard some history as told a a guide who seemed to enjoy her job, thrilled at the botanical gardens, quietly viewed the art in a museum and strolled around the rose and desert gardens.


Balboa Park Botanical Gardens. (Larger version)

During the afternoon we went snorkeling! We saw Leopard sharks five feet long, Manta Rays, large Shovel Nosed Guitar Fish as well as smaller fish.

Beach Adventures

We visited a beach and saw pelicans, crabs, seals and other wildlife.

Watching the seals was disappointing. They swam close to the small beach, watched people and circled waiting for the beach to empty. It was obvious they wanted to come out of the water but didn't feel safe. Most people gave them space but there were a few who wouldn't and they never came onto the beach.

This morning we are going to Balboa Park and in the afternoon -- snorkeling!


This wave was higher than expected. They are smiling so they must be enjoying the water. (Larger version)


Looking for wildlife. (Larger version)