Timelapse Bryce via Big Dude with a GoPro

Jumping in Joshua Tree …

A little climbing, a lotta jumping, some GoPro-ing … it’s what we do.

Big Dude created another genius short-film:



TBC, more shenanigans ...

Destination: Joshua Tree BBQ. Finally.

But first: Big Dude's GoPro compilation of our day hike, replete with rock climbing/jumping/throwing/& bowling. Some stick action, too. And selfies. Of course.  Oh, and Middle Dude danced a jig on a narrow ledge.  I kid you not.



Again, we arrive at twilight.  We drive past the Ocotillo Patch, where the plants are just on the cusp of blooming. Full moon…
We drive past the Chollo Garden … Two of us do a token rock climb.  Three of us wait in the car.  Because, COLD, WINDY, Brrrr. Ok.  BBQ pit bound.  Campgrounds are again heavily populated, but not full this time. And we find a pit.  And we start a fire. And we attempt to bbq bacon, hot dogs, and shmores.  But honestly, it was too difficult to keep the fire rip-roaring long enough to do any serious amount of cooking.  Because, COLD (low 40s), breezy, wimpy wood, high-altitude.  So, the dogs were luke-cool and the bacon was barely crispy (and we won’t talk about how long it took to attempt crispy!), but the shmores were just fine.  And we brought that fire smell back with us in the car and hours later into our home.  And days of airing out and laundry loads later, the smoke smell was but a distant memory.

Staycation: Breakfast Out + Pier

I’m glad we live in such a great place; it makes staycationing so not a drag.  Why are we staycationing, you may ask?  Health care insurance.  Doubled since 2010.  I just ran numbers.  It eats 25% of our after-tax income.  And decimates our vacation fund.  Thus, staycation.  In a totally not bad place.  Last day of spring break, we drove down to our favorite breakfast hole-in-wall cafe with yummy Kona coffee & equally delicious food, and followed up with a walk on the pier.  The water was the most amazingly, show-stopping shade of aqua.  Great morning.


Big Dude was experimenting with a new GoPro filming/editing technique (something to do with overlapping sequences and fading in and fading out).  Here’s his creation…



all pics: Samsung Galaxy 3

Two More …

from last Thursday’s evening at the beach.  Big Dude GoPro’d a time-lapse sequence.  15 minutes of gloriousness viewable in 30 seconds.



And I got all “street-photography” and snagged this surfer’s picture.  And then got all not-street-photography and slapped a texture on it.

Miramar Air Show 2014

This wasn’t our first trip to the proverbial “rodeo”; this was our sequel trip, grin.  (pictures from our 2012 visit can be seen here)  We learned a couple things from our first trip:  bring ear plugs and even-stronger-equipment for Little Dude, be prepared to walk FAR, expect to be amazed, and know where optimally to stand for the Blue Angels’ sneak attack …

Speaking of the sneak attack…. I described our experience with it in 2012, but here’s what else you need to know:  the Blue Angels are shockingly FAST.  And really REALLY LOUD.  They’re SO FAST that you’re not shocked by LOUD NOISE til *after* they pass you.  Thus, the sneak attack is amazingly awesome, as these pilots overwhelm your senses as they fly right over your head and you don’t hear them until you see them.   Even knowing it’s coming, it’s astounding.  This is but a tiny taste (real time. note: you see it before you hear it!).

We stopped at our favorite breakfast joint on our way to San Diego.  Knowing about the insane amount of walking and anticipating big heat (and it did end up being close to triple digit hot – oy!) I decided to lighten my load and left my big girl camera at home.  All grid pics below are from my phone and single pics are from Big Dude’s GoPro.


Evidence of the heat … every single bit of shade created by any plane, tank, copter … was occupied.

The River – Exercising our Boat

Perfect temperatures … where perfect = not triple digits.  Warm water.  Freakishly shallow depths thru my favorite ski stretches.  No donkey piles on the shores.  Totally pleasant weekend away.   Big Dude GoPro'd...

My big girl camera didn’t come along on this trip.  So these are all phone pics (Samsung Galaxy 3).  Phone pics from inside my new cheapie waterproof DandyCase.  Which worked just swimmingly.



Our fancy digs and the view from our room.  Dog Dude gets an overdue bath.
 
I wasn't exaggerating about the shallow depths ...

Long drive home and the weirdo sights along the way …