San Diego Sunshine!!!

While it was raining on Tuesday, the lyrics of the John Hammond song, It Never Rains In Southern California kept going through my head.  Thankfully, that lyric rang true yesterday as Max and I reveled in the sunshine of Del Mar and San Diego.  We began at the world famous San Diego Zoo and finished the day playing the North Course at Torrey Pines with Jim.  What a spectacular Day!!!

We are getting ready to head north and deliver the Jaguar today, but the pause here was blissful and nurturing. By the way, the San Diego Zoo pairs all of it's Cheetah with a dog from the time they are cub and puppy and they stay together for life.  Hum, wonder if I can convince Gail and Jim to let me pair Callie in my Jaguar and adopt her??  Not a chance!

I know Callie Girl, I know, you're gonna miss me.

We took the Zoo tour, visited the Pandas, road the sky ride, and saw as much as possible before jumping back in the car and racing for Torrey Pines to see if we were granted a twighlight, (after 1:00 pm), tee time from the wait list that Jim put us on early in the morning.

Pandas are cute, but I prefer Polar Bears more than any ordinary bear, I'm a citizens for Polar Bears with no cares fan...They are giants!

This Zoo really gets you close to the animals and tries to educate the public about wildlife and environmental issues.  They were instrumental in reviving the endangered California Condor.

We concluded our visit with a tour of the reptile house.  I liked the rattle snake and the Komodo Dragon!

We were anxious to see if we would have the opportunity to play Torrey Pines, site of the 2008 US Open, but everything worked out well, and we were teeing off at about 1:50 on the North Course.  While my play was sporadic to say the least, I'm proud to declare that I birdied number two par threes, number 6 and 12 and pared number 11!

That's hole number 6 in the background.  It was so sunny that it was difficult to get a good picture, poor Mark.

 

I know this picture of number 6 looks a great deal like the picture above, but it is slightly different because you can see a little more of the hole.  By the way, did I mention that I birdied this hole??

Cardiff Kook

Last night we discovered a surfing tradition, or should I say spoof.  It's the Cardiff Kook.  Surfers really don't like it because they say it is not posed and therefore does not look like a real surfer. So locals dress it in all sorts of creative ways on special occasions Cardiff Kook 

Jim and Gail took us to a great local restaurant, Rimel, and showed us some of the surfing sights, like Pipes , and the houses that look like ships, and Swami, and the doughnut shop.....surfers need lots of calories!

We had a great time hanging out,enjoying the food and laughing.  If you get to this area, be sure to try the pot stickers and the fish at Rimel's.  It's awesome dude!

Sedona to San Diego

Just drove in to San Diego last night!  it's been over 1000 miles since my last post.  The story of the last three days is really a theme of the kindness of friends, and friends of friends.  For example, I am staying at the Freddo's house in Del Mar, California today, waiting for Max Sands to arrive.  Jim and his wife Gail were so generous to put me up, or is it put up with me.  The same was true of Tom and Mary Beth Nowak, my Super Bowl stop in Sedona.  All of this really is a tale of two Sands's....

The Amarillo to Sedona run was a marathon day of  635 miles.  My only stop was a quick one to see the Cadillac Ranch in a frigid farm field 10 miles outside of Amarillo just off highway 40.

Then it was a day and evening with the remainder of the Texas Pan Handle and the indian lands of New Mexico streaming past my windows at speeds approaching, well let's just say I moved along.  Reached Sedona's Oak Creek Canyon after dark winding downward for several thousand feet to drop into downtown Sedona and find the Nowaks waiting for me with open arms.

Tom and Mary Beth were my friend, John Sands', neighbors for many years.  They bought this beautiful winter home in Arizona about four years ago.  I had a great time with them, hiking the hills with Mary Beth, and meditating,  while Tom finished a tennis match.

 Then we all drank pre-Super Bowl Margaritas and enjoyed Mexican food together at El Rincon, and concluded the day with Tom and me watching an amazing and wonderful victory by the NY Giants!!!

 I can't say enough for the warmth and generosity of the Nowaks.  I really hope we spend time together in the future.  Debby and I need to get to Sedona together soon!  She'll love it.

The next morning I was fired up with the belief that I was on my way to the summit of Humphrey's Peak, highest point in Arizona, but conversations with the Forest Service and local experts convinced me that it was not to be on this trip.

I was solo, the snow seemed to hold the promise of "post holing up to my waist and the conditions were potentially right for an avalanche.  Prudent risk management said, take some good pictures and head for the Freddo's in Del Mar, CA, just outside San Diego.  So, into the car for a joy ride through the Mojave Desert and 461 miles later I was into the welcoming arms of  Jim and Gail Freddo.

We had a lovely dinner last night, thank you Gail! We drank wine and talked about Dean Sands and other family topics.  Dean and Jim are great friends, I hope I am/will be too, thus my second tale of a Sands and my connection to Jim.  This morning we were up for a vigorous 4 mile loop around Del Mar, seeing the beach, canyon and town of Del Mar, while walking Cassie, the Freddo's two year old Golden.

She is now sleeping peacefully as I write this and anticipate the arrival of Max at the San Diego Airport.

Oxford To Amarillo

Early Thursday morning I sat in the Inn at Ole Miss eating biscuits and gravy, discussing the Mississippi wild dog situation with the waitress. Then I was determined to make Dallas by dinner, but when I saw the exit for Elvis Presley Blvd the urge to visit Graceland was irresistible.

 Turned out to be an hour well spent reliving my youth and learning all about Elvis. While I did it as a "goof", I exited Graceland with a new found respect for the "King".

Back in the car, no stopping except for gasoline and toilet breaks, I arrived in Dallas to met my friend Jon at a great bar/restaurant...The Katy Trail Ice House. We spent the evening chatting with his friends and business associates. Then back to our suite in the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. 

Jon was up and out at the crack of dawn for a flight to Houston. I lounged in the lap of luxury, enjoyed a delicious complimentary breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes followed by a drive to Chico to visit "Uncle" Ron.

Ron and I spent time catching up, took Shadow and Sugar to the Vet, had lunch at Ron's favorite Mexican restaurant and I was back in the car for the same drill as the day before. This time the target was the Hampton Inn in Amarillo. It's more humble than the Crescent, but it's home for tonight.

 

Woodall Mountain

Together with Alex Sands and his roommate Colby, we drove 100 miles to Oxford, Mississippi, braved the killer dogs of Luka to reach Mississippi the highpoint, Woodall Mountain.

 

Some may say why bother go to a highpoint like this, but I say why not.  One of the fun things about highpointing is it's quirkiness.  It ttakes me to places I would not ordinarily go and I meet great people along the way.  It was really fun to visit Alex at Ole Miss, meet some of his fraternity brothers and hear about some of the traditions there.  Alex and Colby together with a group of others is organizing a competitive cycling group.  I guess you ould say Alex is now in a 'cycling gang' in Mississippi.

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It's was also interesting to learn about the local history at Luka, the nearest town, and Woodall.

Mission accomplished in Mississippi, we left the view of Woodall Mountain in our rear view mirror and drove the two hours back to Oxford in a driving lightning storm.