Caroline’s Birthday

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Near Seacliff south of Santa Barbara we stopped at dawn along the Pacific coast for this gorgeous orange slice of sunrise sandwiched between a light blue sky and the still dark ocean

Attention: This post had a few extra images added to it in 2022 to offer a better overview of what was seen on this day.

Today is Caroline’s birthday. Our original plan was to go to Disneyland yesterday, as today is Monday, and Caroline should be at work, but family is a higher priority, so we tended to that.

Near Seacliff south of Santa Barbara we stopped at dawn along the Pacific coast for this gorgeous orange slice of sunrise sandwiched between a light blue sky and the still dark ocean

These moments on the coast are not about an early morning respite from Tata and Woody; I’m taking Caroline home today and turning around tomorrow to come back. With my uncle in the hospital, there’s not a lot to be done, and family friend Boyd has agreed to get Tata to and from the hospital to visit him, so these duties are covered.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in Ventura, California

So, as much as possible, we’ll take our time getting back to Phoenix, as after today, it looks like I’ll be away for about a week or so. This is the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in Ventura.

Sunrise at beach in Ventura, California

We spent about an hour along the ocean watching the sunrise.

General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit, California

Now it’s birthday time with a visit to the General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit because what’s better than sharing with Caroline some history of the guy who helped kick the Huns’ ass.

General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit, California

Where was this when I started dating Caroline?

General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit, California

It’s kind of strange that you can see more swastikas in America than in all of Germany.

General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit, California

…and this, Caroline, was the tank that blew Hitler’s head off. From Caroline, “John, just what kind of idiot are you?”

No time to linger as we are now trying to reach Phoenix before 6:30 when Caroline has a final in her Visual Basic class at Paradise Valley Community College.

Tula, the Golden Retriever

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Tula, the Golden Retriever, is the new puppy of a friend of our aunt and uncle in Santa Barbara, California

Attention: This post had a few extra images added to it in 2022 to offer a better overview of what was seen on this day.

After visiting Uncle Woody this morning, who was sitting up and ready to get walking, we took his German Shepherd Sophie to the park for a chance to run around and chase a tennis ball with a dog friend named Chester. Chester is a Retriever who hangs out with Gail, a friend of my aunt and uncle. Gail recently lost an older Retriever, and so last night, she and her husband picked up their new puppy, Tula – a Golden Retriever.

Hospital in Santa Barbara, California

Back to the hospital in the afternoon, but with my uncle exhausted and my aunt too, we got her home and made plans to head down to Los Angeles for a few hours.

Mark Shimer, Caroline Wise, and John Wise in Little Tokyo Los Angeles, California

Met up with Mark Shimer at Shabu Shabu in Little Tokyo before returning to Santa Barbara for another night.

Channel Islands, California

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Los Angeles Mountains in California

Attention: This post had a few extra images added to it in 2022 to offer a better overview of what was seen on this day.

Awake at daybreak to finish our drive to Santa Barbara, the weather is just perfect.

In the north of Ventura county just south of Santa Barbara on a beautiful Saturday morning we look west over the Pacific to the Channel Islands

We took a few minutes to stop here in the North of Ventura County.

In the north of Ventura county just south of Santa Barbara on a beautiful Saturday morning we look west over the Pacific to the Channel Islands

We are just south of Santa Barbara, using this crystal clear view to stare out over the blue waters to the Channel Islands.

Caroline Wise on Southern California Beach

By 11:30 a.m., my uncle was out of surgery and on his way to recovery, but too groggy and connected to a ton of external plumbing for us to meet with him. We will check in first thing tomorrow morning. Being here allows my Aunt Ann (Tata) to relax, knowing that she doesn’t have to cope with things alone and we’ll be on hand to take care of things she might need, such as driving her places because, like Caroline, Tata doesn’t like driving.

The California Inn

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Nearly morning at the California Inn when we check in for a few hours of sleep on our way to Santa Barbara, California

It is almost 3:00 in the morning when we arrive in Ontario, California, for a few hours of sleep at the California Inn on our way to Santa Barbara. We’ve stayed here more than a couple of dozen times during other visits and, over the years, have seen the price go from $45 a night to the current $65. Right next to the 10 freeway, this is a convenient stop for us after 340 miles (550km) of driving from Phoenix, Arizona. Our late departure is due to a family emergency; my Great Uncle Woody is having triple bypass heart surgery in four hours.

Orange

JWise Photo of the Day

December rolls around in Arizona and here come the fresh oranges

Ah, wintertime…cold wind, snow, rain, freezing……NO WAY – this is Phoenix, Arizona, and we’ve got oranges ready to pick. For the next two to three months, we have a near-endless supply of juice oranges that we will stock up on for breakfast. The lemons and grapefruits are also starting to drop from their branches – fresh winter citrus will definitely be missed should we one day move away.