Saturday, March 08, 2008

A Saturday Well Spent

This afternoon, friends from the Beach Cities in Los Angeles County came to visit us up in the quieter (read: less traffic) part of Southern California.


We asked them what they would like to see and they chose Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands National Park.




We went to the french bakery and purchased a healthy lunch of iced lattes, cookies, and almond croissants, and while we ate our delicacies, we enjoyed a stroll along the marina.

The Ventura Harbor marina has a dry dock where boats and yachts are renovated. This beauty looks like a luxury yacht right out of a James Bond movie.


I liked this boat but The Professor said it was just junk.


The marina is always a great spot to view the many different kinds of boats.

And of course there are always the sailboats gliding in and out of the harbor.




We walked the half mile to the Channel Islands National Park. After a quick look at the gift shop, we climbed the stairs to the observation tower that looked back over the marina and on the other side out to the harbor entrance and the Pacific Ocean.




I always enjoy visiting the marina and park. There are so many opportunities to study the colors of a marina life: turquoise, ocean and marine blues, weathered brown, steel grey and the deeper shades of navy blue.





Update: I am posting my weekly walking average here: For six days: 10,381 steps. If I add the 'day off on Sunday' to the total and divide by seven my total is lower: 9,276 steps.

18 comments:

Tracy said...

Marians are such exciting spot. Your photos here are wonderful, Willow! Sometimes I wish we had a boat...we live near the coast after all, but no boat! Happy weekend ((HUGS))

Mary said...

Willow,

That's a lot of steps. Enjoyed the photos of the marina. We have a small one about a half hour's drive from here and the boys love visiting there.

Thanks for referring my blog to the lady who has a grandson with autism. It's nice to talk to others that face the same challenges.

Blessings,
Mary

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

I always like your posts about the coastal life in So. California. There's nothing like it! I also like your comment about the color found at a marina. Isn't it interesting the conglomeration of colors you found are the same here at our marina so far away to the north?

Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

P.S. LOVE you comment you left about how much you love heavy work in the garden. Railroad ties definitely qualify!

ellen b. said...

Definately you get the Sabbath off! So your average should be the larger number!! Some walkers, Lovella included just figure on 5 days a week...
I decided not even to wear my pedometer one day a week :)
You'll really like that Sycamore hike.
Beautiful photos from the Marina. I think I had an apricot pastry from that French bakery there once. Yum...

roxie said...

What a lovely walk in the sunshine. Thank you for taking us along!

Ten thousand steps a day? Are you on a fitness program? Good on you!

kari and kijsa said...

Beautiful...looks like a wonderful day! Come on over and leave this post (or another filled with warm weather fun!) link to share a bit of spring and wash away those winter blues!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Knitting Linguist said...

There really is nothing half so much fun as simply messing about on (or very near) boats, is there? Love the photos! (And, congrats on the step count -- nice work!)

Beth Leintz said...

What a wonderful Saturday- you can't do anything like that in Kansas!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I love all those blues too....you did a great job of capturing them with your camera.

Anonymous said...

Your beach and boat photos are making me long for spring. we should be kayaking among the icebergs by the end of this month.As Ratty says "There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats!"

Flower said...

Awe, the many colors of blue!!
"When I see something really blue, I think of you!" :)
Good job with the walking!! It is a great way to see the community you live in and work at staying healthy!! You go!!

Unknown said...

hi willow, very nice pictures indeed, can i post you something, please hop over when free, cheers and happy week ahead :)

kari and kijsa said...

Beautiful photos...sounds like a wonderful day!

smiles, kari & kijsa

Bethany said...

Good for you!!! My daughter is counting her steps too and you have her beat!
I loved your photos! I LOVE boats and it just made me so desperate to be near the water again. I grew up right on the Ohio River and on surrounding lakes... always sailing in a tiny sailboat and later on my Dad's boat at Lake Cumberland, KY. There is nothing that comes close to the feel of the wind in your face and the water on your toes!!! Craig and I are going to San Francisco in September and I'll finally get to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time!!! I laughed at your James Bond boat too, because Craig is a huge 007 fan!!!

Bethany said...

I must be slow today because I didn't get the joke... were you referring to the 007 boat or the "DragonLady" boat?! The 007 boat doesn't look like it needs renovating! And yes... I think you must have influenced me a bit with my conch shell because I always think of your photos when I think of the Pacific Ocean and we were making our reservations a day ago!!

Unknown said...

Oh I love the Dragon Lady boat too, so intriguing, who might the Dragon Lady have been?

Willow said...

The style of the Dragon Lady boat is a JUNK--from China!

Barbara said...

Thanks for the Marina tour. I love the sea and the boats.