Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Dinosaur Caves Park












This 11-acre blufftop park at the northernmost end of the town of Pismo Beach overlooks the ocean and offshore sea stacks, has benches and viewing platforms, a network of meandering accessible paths, grassy areas, picnic tables, a small amphitheater, and a playground with whale-shaped climbing structures. It is named for a one-time tourist attraction, Dinosaur Caves, which used to offer tours of sea caves carved by waves in the rocks below and featured a statue of a large, headless concrete dinosaur. The statue remained unfinished because neighbors objected, and was demolished in the 1960s. The sea caves collapsed in the 1970s and can now be reached only by kayak. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

RHS, Let's Go Scots!



R...To reach the top
H...We're hot so hot
S...Scots are the best

R...H...S!!

Friday, June 28, 2013

#20









My Daddy, My Hero!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Sun Setting in Angeles Crest





“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
― Jo Walton




Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Hummingbird's Delight





Hummingbirds are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 3–5 in. range. They hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings 12–80 times per second (depending on the species). They are known as hummingbirds because of the humming sound created by their beating wings, which sometimes sounds like bees or other insects. To conserve energy while they sleep or when food is scarce, they have the ability to go into a hibernation-like state (torpor) where their metabolic rate is slowed to 1/15th of its normal rate. When the nights get colder, their body temperature can drop significantly and thus slow down their heart and breathing rate, thus burning much less energy overnight. As the day heats back up, the hummingbird's body temperature will come back up and they resume their normal activity. They can fly at speeds exceeding 15 m/s (34 mph); they are also the only group of birds with the ability to fly backwards. Individuals from some species of hummingbirds weigh less than a penny.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Wild Fires to Wild Flowers













The Station Fire on State Route 2 (August 26 – October 16, 2009), 209 structures destroyed, including 89 homes) started in the Angeles National Forest near the U.S. Forest Service ranger station on the Angeles Crest Highway. Two firefighters were killed on August 30 while attempting to escape the flames when their fire truck plunged off a cliff. On September 3, officials announced that the Station Fire was caused by arson and that a homicide investigation had been initiated because of the death of the firefighters involved. Investigators discovered a substance at the fire's point of origin which they believe may have accelerated the flames. At 160,557 acres, the Station Fire is the 10th largest in modern California history, and the largest wildfire in the modern history of Los Angeles County, passing the 105,000-acre (164 sq mi) Clampitt Fire of September 1970.