John & Anne Wiley

2015/11/27

Appreciation

I like that we have a holiday dedicated to the powerful concept of Appreciation. Sure, the history of it has blemishes and many people these days focus on food, sports and shopping. But like many others, we tend to take time for appreciation of all our bounty. Having invested much of our life savings in Tripp we have even more to appreciate than most people on the planet, and to me it brings a responsibility to share. So here are a few recent faves.

5022 Carp Salt Marsh

5022 Carp Salt Marsh

Carpinteria Salt Marsh is a quiet and magical place amid our growing coastal sprawl, where migrating birds can rest and relax next to the humans who appreciate their presence.

4837 Bird Refuge

4837 Bird Refuge

On the edge of Montecito our Andree Clark Bird Refuge is a smaller version, popular with residents and visitors alike. During droughts like the present one it can be difficult for the city to maintain, but current work on the golf course upstream may help.

4722 Peaks

4722 Peaks

We love to watch constant change on the peaks above Santa Barbara. Seasonal variations, vegetation, clouds, and time of day combine with other factors to supply endless focus for observation and contemplation.

4889 Hope Ranch

4889 Hope Ranch

The southwestern part of Hope Ranch offers a nice view of our peaks, along with expensive views out to the islands. Luckily there’s a nice viewing area not far from here (above Hendry’s) where hikers, cyclists and drivers can pause to savor that mega-million dollar panorama.

4666 Goleta Sough

4666 Goleta Sough

Behind beautiful Goleta Beach, the slough boasts a small cave I’d like to visit in our kayak. Reflections of sandstone cliffs join the patient egrets here to transport us into serene reverie.

164046 Hendry's Stroll

164046 Hendry’s Stroll

Back on the ground we enjoyed a contemplative sunset stroll at the ever-popular Hendry’s (Arroyo Burro) beach. So much to be Thankful for! 🙂

2015/10/26

Funville

Santa Barbara isn’t just beautiful with great weather most days, it’s also Funville every day. People out enjoying Ledbetter Beach as usual on Saturday.

2600 Languorous Ledbetter

2600 Languorous Ledbetter

There’s always something fun going on around town too. Like this zombie Thriller dance on East Beach.

2538 Thriller

2538 Thriller

Actually on this day a long stretch of Cabrillo Blvd. along the beach was closed for a street fair (Open Streets as I recall), and not far from this gathering was another that was already winding down to make way for evening activities.

2541 Street Fair

2541 Street Fair

Just offshore people were gathering in sailboats of all sizes, adding to the similarly diverse power boats.

2588 Sailor Cluster

2588 Sailor Cluster

Heading out toward deeper water was the Ocean Institute’s beautiful 1770’s privateer replica Spirit of Dana Point (aka Pilgrim of Newport) tall ship with a deck load of fans (mostly out of view on the upwind side) enjoying the breeze, spectacular views in every direction, and some sort of buffet.

2519 Spirit of Dana Point

2519 Spirit of Dana Point

2015/10/04

Unknown

Some images convey to me a sense of the unknown. Some mysterious feeling of the space beyond words. Do you get any such experience from this?

1136 Shadows

1136 Shadows

2015/10/02

Homeward

We paused the drive from Big Sur back to Tripp in SLO many times, and this is one of the more colorful spots nearing San Simeon.

0891 Big Sur Colors

0891 Big Sur Colors

Before long we were flying across the arid rolling hills of Santa Maria Valley where dancing water had once carved now parched dry creeks.

0958 Moist Memories

0958 Moist Memories

Soon we crested the mountains near familiar Lizard’s Mouth where the little “Witch’s Hat” cave caught the shifting colors of a sun settling into drowsy stillness.

1027 Witch's Hat

1027 Witch’s Hat

We were back in the spell of our charming little city sprawled below as lights already began to twinkle where sun had already departed. Enchanting as every journey is, there’s no place like home.

2015/09/28

For Example

Now that I have a few moments, here are some pix from that Big Sur drive. Every time we’re there several new “discoveries” enchant us, and we have several “favorite” spots. Like the Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove, our first major stop going North. Looking up into the serene redwoods where water cascades over massive boulders and pauses in refreshing pools transports us instantly beyond.

0493 Owings Redwoods

0493 Owings Redwoods

Due to the drought, the water is completely gone except for a few puddles where little black flies bred, greeting our arrival by buzzing into ears, eyes, and noses. Our visit was much shorter than usual, with only brief pauses as we took in quiet memories at a fast walk with hands waving them away. Most of the coast belonged to the flies that day, so our next major stop was the waterfall walk at Julia Pfeiffer Burns where even at a brisk walk it was instantly transformative.

0552 McWay Falls

0552 McWay Falls

By the house ruins we lingered a moment among the flies to savor this bloom on the slope and pondered when they were planted, by whom, and what other hearts have and will be touched by them.

0584 Pink Slope

0584 Pink Slope

Another high priority stop for us is Nepenthe where we’ve enjoyed private romantic moments, meals with family and friends.

0608 Nepenthe

0608 Nepenthe

As with most stops there, we also ventured out through the gift shop to sound the gongs and chimes to honor those souls and the magic of that place. All along the coast of course are spectacular views, and for me especially the interplay of stillness and ceaseless motion. For example a stone standing alone amid the swirling splashing seas, resolute against countless storms yet destined to fall.

0511 Steadfast

0511 Steadfast

When we arrived at Asilomar the sunset had collected a scattered crowd, hushed in anticipation of transition toward dream time when we would each process wordless moments from this life in the sun.

0613 To Dream

0613 To Dream

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