Santa Cruz

So I got a chance to go down to Santa Cruz this weekend. It sits right on the ocean and is apparently the place for surfing. I didn't do any of that though.

Phone Home

So I had been meaning to get to the Stanford Dish to take some pictures and I finally did it this morning. I even woke up before the sun did! The computer said it would be raining all day. But apparently computer's don't always tell the truth. This is all new to me. So I'm taking some time to let that fact sink in.

The Stanford Dish area is just off the Stanford campus in Palo Alto. There is a walking path that goes up along the ridge of a small mountain. It's always pretty full of people. It's also about half a mile from where I work. It's strange to be in the heart of Silicon Valley and still have spots like this. Of course, all of technology is not lost, as can be seen from the really large satellite dish.

The last two are actually from "vista points" off the interstate. They over look the San Andreas fault. They also seem to be hubs for talkative amateur photographers.

And let me know if the new layout style messes up your display. I'm just messing around with it, so it might change, but I'm sort of tired of just letting pictures roll down the screen. And I have to do SOMETHING to compete with a cute baby. I mean COME ON, have you been looking at the baby pictures lately?!?

Monterey

So last weekend I went down to Monterey with some friends. Its definitely pretty down there. Unfortunately I didn't get any time to see the seals that lounge on the beach. I saw a few on the rocks though.

We spent Saturday at the aquarium and at a place called Point Lobos, which is right on the beach. Lots of interesting sea life at both places. It was a little cloudy out, but definitely a fun time.

Remember: Click for biggie size.

Yosemite: Day Two

I'm pretty exhausted right now. I've spent the past few evenings in San Francisco hanging out with friends, and it's a 40 minute drive home every night. Then an early morning! Fun, but definitely tiring. This weekend I'm heading down to Monterey, which should be a lot of fun. I hear it's really pretty. And they have seals on the beach. They're not penguins, but what are you gonna do, right?

These are pictures from day two of the Yosemite Trip. We hiked about two-thirds the way up Yosemite Falls. Very tiring, but the views were amazing!

Remember: Clicking the pictures makes them more life size.

When you're stopped at red light, get out and look at the river! Everyone's doing it! California!

This is the river you follow into the park. To the left is a gas station. I decided not to take pictures of the gas station.

Another big rock. Otherwise known as a cliff.

This was looking out from halfway up the mountain.

Another shot. A different angle. Look! Snow!

Half Dome. Two-Thirds Sky. Full Excitement.

The river on the floor of the valley. Taken from a position that would have made Dad's hands sweat.

The culmination of a day of hiking. Yosemite Falls!

Okay. Bed!

Yosemite: Day One

Well, Yosemite managed to out live the expectations I had. And I'm quite okay with that. I only wish I had more time to spend there. I'm sure I'll be heading back sometime soon.

What I did get to see was amazing though. The valley is a something that really must be seen to be believed. So how about some pictures from day one of two. Expect day two pictures soon.

I'll probably be posting the text adventure soon. But I'm really tired right now.

I moved cubes again. I'm averaging a move every two months.

Hint: Click the the pictures and they get a little bigger.

Bridalveil Falls: Find The Rainbow

A Big Rock: It Probably Has A Better Name

We Stalked A Deer: The Women Watch

Here's The Deer!: Don't Feed The Animals

There Goes The Deer!: We Didn't Feed The Animals

Playing Games At The Lodge: I Came In Second

The Room At The Hostel: I Had The Top Bunk

New Camera

I got a new camera! I can take pictures with insane depth of field or even completely over-exposed.

Or I can take pictures of tonight's dinner and some books on my shelf. I'm good either way.



Also, I will spending most of Friday and Saturday in Yosemite National Park, so hopefully I'll have plenty of pictures to share.

Alcatraz

And now, a few pictures from my time spent on Alcatraz. Please enjoy!

We make our approach! What horrors live inside those walls!

Well that looks welcoming.

So this is home. All the essentials within rolling over distance.

The headphoned audio tour made everyone feel like they were living the prison life.

The windows could use a little cleaning, but the view was nice! I don't know how someone could have been unhappy at a resort like this one...

She was windy. She was rainy. She gave us all she had.

There were birds ALL OVER! These must be the bad birds that steal bread from the other birds.

Ah, life on the outside must be great.

I hope you have enjoyed the tour! Tip your waitresses!