The pier

There are two riverbeds bordering Downey: Rio Hondo, which we've been showing you for the last week, and Rio San Gabriel. Tonight, we followed the Rio San Gabriel riverbed to where it empties into the Pacific at Seal Beach. From the mouth of the river, you can see the Seal Beach pier in the distance.

When the going gets tough

When the going gets tough, the tough go to the beach. So when my daughter and I had a difficult and stressful day this week, we took advantage of our proximity to the southern California beaches and headed off for an afternoon at the Seal Beach pier.

Whether it is the waves pounding on the pilings over and over, or the peace of the empty pier stretching out to the horizon, the ocean makes even a hard day better.

And a little bit of play doesn't hurt, either.

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused. 
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

A quiet hideaway

Just 200 miles north of Downey on the California central coast, just past Moro Bay, is the town of Cayucos. Bonnie and I will be spending a few days here to celebrate our anniversary.

Cayucos was founded in 1867 by Capt. James Cass as a business venture. He built a pier, you can see it in the background, to export local goods and import necessary goods for the growing population of the central coast. It has long ago been replaced by other piers in larger towns so today it is used only by walkers, fishermen, and photographers. We come here for the miles of walking beaches and just to watch the ocean. Sometimes, we spot dolphins.

Where do you go for a retreat?

Avast, there be pirates! (Theme week: Looking down)

The Pirate Invasion is taking place this weekend at the Belmont Veteran's Memorial Pier, about 20 miles south of Downey.

From his high post, this pirate was in position to keep watch for other ships and to look down on the crew (and the rest of us).

The pirate invasion includes sword fights, treasure hunts, an imitation Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate encampment, and lots and lots of great food.

Sunset at the beach

One of the nice things about living in southern California is our nearness to the beach. Seal Beach, just 20 miles south of Downey, makes the perfect destination on a summer Friday evening.

You can sit on the beach and read while watching the sun set, or you can walk out to the end of the Seal Beach pier and have dinner at Ruby's Diner.