Birthday Month Finale...

It seemed appropriate, somehow, that I end my Birthday Month in the town where I began- San Diego!

Our first stop was at Cabrillo National Monument. "Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration."
We toured the grounds here in 2021 and I blogged about it pretty thoroughly. We were here today to purchase the Lifetime Senior Pass version of the America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Lands Pass. This monument happens to be the closest National Park to us.
The $80.00 Senior-Lifetime pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services. It is the reward for making it to 62 and I couldn't wait a day longer.
A little history followed. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo departed from the port of Navidad, Mexico on June 27, 1542. Three months later he arrived at "a very good enclosed port," which is known today as San Diego Bay. Historians believe he anchored his flagship, the San Salvador, on Point Loma's east shore near the land that becomes Cabrillo National Monument. Cabrillo later died during the expedition, but his crew continued on, possibly as far north as Oregon, before thrashing winter storms forced them back to Mexico.

Cabrillo was also known for his shipbuilding operations. Using a port on Guatemala's Pacific Coast, Cabrillo imported and exported goods in the developing trade between Guatemala, Spain, and other parts of the New World. The ships he used for this trade were constructed in Guatemala by skilled laborers from Spain and Indigenous Guatemalans forced into hard physical labor. Some of these ships were used for trade and others were used in Spain’s early exploration efforts.



Cabrillo National Monument, established in 1913, remembers Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's voyage of exploration. It was the first contact between the coastal California Indigenous tribes, like the Kumeyaay, and men from Europe. Though the San Salvador stayed only six days in San Diego harbor, this journey and future Spanish journeys to the area would shape southern California’s complex history.

This park is one we will return to when in San Diego. It has amazing hiking trails and tidepools which demand an explore. What fun!
Located at Naval Base Point Loma, there are surprising finds on the way to Cabrillo including this arch and an amazing collection of model boats. Our curiosity was piqued.
Turns out, the United States Navy constructs brass test models for each class of ship built to determine the best placement of the antenna and other electronic amays on the vessels. The models are constructed in 1/48 scale of the actual ship. Moving an antenna one quarter inch on the model is equivalent to moving it one foot on the ship. Obviously, it is less expensive to perform tests and make changes on the models than on the actual ship. How cool right?
The lower of these two ships is the model for the USS Midway. Oh man, so dang cool.
As for the arch, it supports a transmitting antenna which is positioned toward a brass model set on a turntable. The ground plane under the arch simulates the electrical characteristics of the ocean, which allows for research on the properties of shipboard antennas. Cables are attached from the antennas to the test control center A device on the arch transmits a signal from the test control center computer to the antenna, and as the model is rotated one degree at a time, the device is moved up the arch one degree at a time until testing is complete for a full 360 degrees of rotation and 90 degrees from horizon to directly overhead. This process provides a full spectrum of reception/transmission possibilities. Adjusting the various locations indicates the best achievable performance on the ship with the least amount of interference. Mind-blowing, right?


Dinner was in Old Town, a place I grew up visiting often as a child.

Such history and what fun!
What kept us in San Diego until after bedtime was Ride, the smash-hit London musical which made its U.S. premiere just the night prior to our seeing it. It had been forever since we saw a production at the Old Globe and Ride was totally worth the wait.
"It’s 1895, and Annie Londonderry wants to discover if a woman can ride a bicycle around the world. The problem? She’s only ridden one twice! As Annie and her unwitting secretary Martha share unbelievable adventures across four continents, they learn that no matter how far we ride, our past is always right behind us."
With a high-energy score and an incredibly talented cast of just two actresses, this fresh and funny show is what Theatre Weekly called “an amazing piece of theatre and a must-watch for everyone.”
We were thoroughly delighted with this production. The 1½ hours were filled with non-stop entertainment. Two thumbs up from us both. Wow.
This card from Jenny seems to sum up my birthday month and the giddiness I feel about birthdays. Thank you to all for your part of making it remarkable. I like what Babe Arish said, “Birthdays are inevitable, beautiful and very particular moments in our lives! Moments that bring precious memories back, celebrate the present times and give hope for the future.” I can't wait for next year!

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My Birthday, Tehachapi & Mileage!

My actual birthday began with Cyndi giving me a long overdue trim. She is my friend and my hairdresser... What a lovely combination.



We said our goodbyes and I headed down 395 for my next stop, Leslie's house in Tehachapi. I have not driven in snowy weather so traversing the Eastern Sierra had me a bit unnerved.
While the wind was intense at times, there wasn't any snow to worry about.
And much of the drive was breathtaking. I 💙 U.S. Route 395.
I have been visiting Tehachapi since Leslie moved there in 1996. Tradition has dictated, more years than not, that I spend some portion of my birthday month there.
Her mom, Barbara, has been in my life almost as long as Leslie (we met in a Sociology class at Cal State Fullerton in 1982).
The quietness of mornings is one of my favorite things about those visits.


Tehachapi has numerous treasures and we discovered many.
Though time, just at home, is the most special part of visiting Leslie... Oh and Scrabble.
This cool, hanging magnetic version of Scrabble was a gift from her son. We spent the time I was there playing on and off. When I went to bed, she formed her word, when I awoke before her, I took my turn. It was a delightfully unrushed way to play.
She even let me win, but barely (298 vs 281).
This just made me laugh.
After one week away from home, on my first solo road trip since breaking my neck in 2019, I was delightfully exhausted and proud of myself. I felt more like the old me and I embraced the sensation.
Wow! Over the course of four days of driving, I covered 1,238 miles of our amazing state. I made long overdue connections and created everlasting memories. I will have concluded my Birthday Month exhausted but content. This has been an exceptional celebration of my arrival into the world. I am very fortunate and so truly grateful.

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22 Hours in Tahoe...

The next stop on this road adventure was South Lake Tahoe to connect with friends there.

Janet and Karen took me to the new-to-me Three Pines Coffee Co and I am hooked.
This space has been many things (Rude Brother Bagels when we moved here 12 years ago). I like this current establishment. The vibe was a good one.



Based on Karen's recommendation, I devoured the Superfood Ube Waffle, made with purple sweet potato topped with thick Creamy Coconut Yogurt, Wild Berry Drizzle, Hemp Seed Hearts, Crushed Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, and Raw Honey. It lived up to the hyped.

My goal was to connect with as many Tahoe friends as possible, even if briefly. I got hugs from Jenny and Bob in the locksmith's parking lot. Then I had a quick cup of tea at Sharon's.
Not wanting to de-winterize our cabin, Cyndi provided me with a room for the night.
Dinner was at Thai on Ski Run and it was absolutely delicious.
We concluded the evening at Shedcat Distillery for a surprisingly wonderful presentation.
There was no way we were going to miss this: "In this wild ride through decades of bearing witness to sweeping change, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Nikon Ambassador, and Think Tank Photo co-founder Deanne Fitzmaurice will share the personal philosophy that helps her capture jaw-dropping images at the next Ski Run Presents on Wednesday, March 27." Thank you, Karen, for the awesome suggestion.
"Using the pivotal stories she covered as a staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle for 20 years and a wide range of personal and freelance projects, Deanne drills down into what makes a memorable photograph and shares tips on using the art of storytelling for maximum impact."
Over the course of the evening, Deanne shared her eyewitness accounts of the sweeping change which has happened across the Bay Area including documenting the worst Earthquake in nearly a century, pivotal Supreme Court rulings, significant wars involving the U.S., climate change, and sports. She is a storyteller who had us laughing and crying. She was mesmerizing.


She motivates by sharing her insights and reflections on life, creativity, business acumen, and cultivating a winning mindset. This was one of those event's whose impact grew as we thought more about what she shared. Wow.

Vikrmn said it best, “Birthday is just another day. It's loved ones who make it special.”

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