I had the pleasure Saturday to visit an oasis in the badlands of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego Foundation sponsored a tour for members of the ABF’s Century Circle, major donors to the foundation, and I was able to join the tour.
In a caravan of four-wheel-drive vehicles, the two dozen+ participants first visited 17 Palms Oasis, 15-20 miles east of “downtown” Borrego Springs, near the eastern edge of the park. This is a naturally occurring collection of California fan palms, the only palm tree native to the western United States. The name is based on the number of palm trees present, though that number has fluctuated through the years. At least a couple of people counted 18 palms. Other oases in the park are called 5 Palms and Una Palma.
The palms exist there because conditions permit it. They are close to a wash, so water from occasional and sometimes heavy rains can nourish them. Water as well exists in aquifers beneath them.
The “desert mailbox” at 17 Palms
These oases are the proverbial water holes that sustain animal life and, in years and millenia past, humans. Attracting travelers, the oasis also was a variant of a post office. A “desert mailbox” has been located at 17 Palms since the late 1800s. People could leave letters and messages in it, requesting that someone passing through carry it to its destination or to a closer “desert mailbox.” The current such mailbox, wedged between two palms, holds journals in which visitors to the oasis can leave comments and thoughts.
Later, we moved on to Vista del Malpais. “Mailpais” is Spanish for “badland.” From this vantage point, one can look out for miles over the badlands. Here are two such views.
Of course, even near the badlands, there can be vegetation. These ocotillos were at Vista del Malpais.
There are expectations for a great desert wildflower season in the spring. Crossing our fingers!
8 South from the green toward the tee. Goodyear blimp at upper left.
Last week, Wednesday-Sunday, I was a marshal at the Farmers Insurance Open, the PGA tournament at Torrey Pines Golf Course. This was my fifth year as marshal, and second as hole captain. Some of you may recall that last year’s tournament was a bit hellish, with a strong storm on Sunday requiring suspension of play and a Monday finish without spectators for safety reasons. As the photo above attests, the weather this year was much kinder. Indeed, it was Chamber of Commerce-quality — sunny and in the 70s on the weekend.
(I should point out that the title of this post has no relation to my play of golf. I might achieve par on a hole or two, but the closest I’ve ever come to “par for the course” was an 86 and that was long ago.)
I was assigned to the par-3 8th hole on the North Course, Wednesday-Friday. Last year, I was on #17 North, which is the same hole. ?? The North Course was redesigned last year by Tom Weiskopf and, in the process, the nines were switched. So hole #1 became hole #10, etc., thus #17 became #8. On the weekend, I served on #8 South, also a par 3.
Those of you who are golf fans likely know that this year’s tournament featured the return to the field of one Tiger Woods. He played in Wednesday’s pro-am, where amateurs pay big bucks to play alongside the professionals. Wednesday is also the day when cameras are permitted.
The photo above is of the green on 7 North. Tiger, center, is about to putt. Another feature of the pro-am is occasional opportunities for food. Par-3s are especially popular for those, because there is frequent backup of players, hence more time for food. We had a vendor who provided fish tacos. Many gave them praise, but we worker bees were not permitted to indulge. At right, Tiger gives an autograph to a young man, whose dad worked at the stand. The kid, named Isaiah, just about got every player’s autograph.
Jason Day was in the “super group” with Tiger and Dustin Johnson on Friday.
Golf fans also know that Tiger did not make the cut and didn’t play on the weekend, much to the chagrin of tournament sponsors. Tiger brings eyeballs to the broadcasts and feet to the course, all adding up to money. That might seem crass, but all profits from this tournament go to local charities, and his absence, as well as that of several other big-name players who failed to make the cut, hurt. He is far less a player than he once was, but he remains the most popular figure in the field.
The vast majority of players in the field attract a quite small number of fans who walk along the course with them. The two most common questions tournament marshals receive are “Where’s Tiger?” and “Where’s Phil (Mickelson)?” The answer always is “Look for the crowds.” Below was the scene as Tiger left the 8th tee during the pro-am, when attendance overall was the smallest.
For those who enjoy the scenery as much as, if not more than, the golf, 8 North was nice. This was the scene in late afternoon.
Hole captain is essentially an administrative position. You provide information to the marshals assigned to your hole, manage their individual assignments, call in lunch orders, request transportation when the round’s over, keep track of who shows up, etc. I lucked out this year with four gentlemen I had not met before, of whom three had not marshaled before. Each was different as a person, of course, but all were dependable, hard-working, and amiable.
In the obligatory, it seems, small-world department, one marshal, Steve Orenberg, had moved to La Jolla just last summer, from Boston’s North End. Even smaller world, he had grown up in Brookline, where younger daughter Julia and I lived 2000-08, and had gone to the Devotion School in Brookline, same primary school Julia attended.
Me, flanked by Steve Orenberg, left, and Gene Carswell. My “hole captain” uniform requires black pants and wide-brim hat (I would prefer the ball cap).The classic hole marker for 8 South
I mentioned the nice views from 8 North, the tee of which may be the highest point on the course. Spending the weekend on 8 South was equally nice in terms of view (photo at top of post), and better in terms of warmth. I had told my newbie marshals that the environment on the South Course, compared to the North, was not unlike the difference between Little Italy, the mecca for young professionals in San Diego, and Fallbrook, where I live, which is more “horse country.” The South Course has the corporate tents and “watering holes” and, as a consequence, the crowds.
8 South was adjacent to the 19th hole, sponsored by Grey Goose. Each morning, at 9:30, the doors of that facility would swing open and a crowd of viewers, with drinks in hand, would come out to the stands to watch the golfers. While somewhat raucous at times, the crowd was generally well-behaved. Often the most noise came when people betting on which color bib worn by the caddies stepped on the green first were encouraging their choices. “Come on, Red!” “Hurry up, Blue.” “Yay, White!” I could see handfuls of cash being exchanged. As you might guess, the noise increased as the day wore on.
Below is an aerial view of #8 South. It’s just a photo of what they showed on TV. Tee is at lower left.
The biggest name left in the tournament on the weekend was Phil Mickelson, who lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe. He ended up tied for 14th. Late in the final round, it appeared likely the tournament would require a playoff, as several players were tied for the lead and others one stroke back. But Jon Rahm, a 22-year-old graduate of Arizona State, from Spain, shot a 30 on the back nine, finishing with a 60-foot putt for an eagle on #18, to break it open and win by three strokes. It was his first title and he is the youngest to win the Farmers. I was driving home at the time, and watched it later on TV. Still pretty exciting.
Here’s a three-minute collection of final round highlights, and it includes scenes from #8 South.
Just so you know the players were not the only ones active on the course, the “Health” app on my phone tracked my movements. (I only learned about its presence on my phone a short time ago.) Over the five days, I walked a total of 41,957 steps over a distance of 16.7 miles and the equivalent of 42 stories. That is substantially above my normal pace of activity. Time for a rest!
For the first time in 45 years, I went out to sea on a Navy ship. This occasion was much different from my earlier “excursions.” For one thing, it was voluntary. 🙂
I had the privilege last Thursday (December 29) to participate in a “family and friends cruise” on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). This was an occasion for crew members to host family and friends onboard for a day, a week prior to the ship, air wing, and strike group deploying for several months.
The Vinson’s home port is San Diego . . . more correctly Naval Air Station, North Island, across the bay from the city and adjacent to Coronado. We arrived at the ship a little after 5 am, got underway around 8 am, and returned at about 4:30 pm. The ship went out 15-20 miles and spent a couple of hours on helicopter and F/A-18 demonstrations by their air component, Carrier Air Wing TWO.
The evolutions included helicopters hovering above the deck and troops rappeling to the surface, a supersonic flyby, arrested landing, and catapulted takeoff. I spent the remainder of the time checking out some static displays and being mesmerized by the Pacific moving by. Most of the others on the cruise spent time with their loved ones, just soaking up the moments together.
Here’s a video (just under 13 minutes) from the cruise. I had never seen San Diego from the ocean before. (I had sailed into San Diego once following a brief exercise at sea in 1971 with Naval Special Warfare Group, Pacific, but it had been at night and I had been asleep.) In addition to helicopters, jets, etc., the video has some great views of San Diego, Point Loma, Coronado, and the Pacific. We lucked out with great weather — sunny, in the 70s.
Hope you enjoy! (If you click on “USS Carl Vinson cruise” in upper left corner, you’ll view it on YouTube.)
Sleeping Beauty Castle was cropped out of this year’s family picture in the print version of this Christmas “letter,” but you can see it here in its full glory.
The Andersons and Julia visited end of February, beginning of March. On our local excursions, we saw a leafy seadragon at the Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in La Jolla, and a white peacock at the Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad (“Oh Pancho!” “Oh Cisco!”).
The trip to Disneyland, however, was the best. I wasn’t sure about it originally, considering Alice was then just seven months old. But Disney was offering three-day park-hopping passes that, with a military discount, cost only a little more than a single-day, one-park pass. Couldn’t pass that up.
We bounced between Disneyland andCalifornia Adventure. The evening parade and fireworks, special 60th anniversary editions, were extraordinary. You can get a sense of Adeline’s reaction in this screen shot. It’s from a video of the visit you can see below.
With the Disney photo nearly 10 months old, here’s a much more recent picture of the girls. Addy turns 5 in January, Alice 2 in July.
The year started off, literally on January 1, with a visit from cousin Kathy McManamy. Briefer than her visit the previous summer, we still packed in a number of excursions, including San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido and San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, as well as the Hotel del Coronado.
I also later hosted Cathedral High classmate Susan Hartley Mantoni on my “patented” San-Diego-County-in-a-Day tour.
Once again, I volunteered at the Farmers Insurance PGA tournament in late January, this time serving as a hole captain, overseeing marshals. My normal boasting about our wonderful winter weather took a beating when the Sunday round was delayed several times and then suspended, with the courseevacuated, because of a terrific storm. My attire Sunday, as seen in this video, was insufficient.
There was an amazing scene captured on Golf Channel of a player, after complaining about the conditions, putting his ball far past the hole and watching the wind push it back into the cup.
The San Diego BC alumni chapter is chugging along, with a couple of new and different activities. One was an excursion to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and a side trip to Eagle Rock, on the Pacific Crest Trail inWarner Springs, Cal. This natural rock formation looks unnaturally like an eagle. Here’s a video of that trip that includes our amusing encounter with a group of Western cattle.
I traveled to New England in September to join BC classmates at our annual football game get-together, and see friends and family, ofcourse. (More in earlier post.) Meredith and Winter joined us at the BC-UMass game in Gillette Stadium and we enjoyed the amenities of “professional” football, e.g., beer. Stayed with Marcy and Larry Kenah at my home-away-from-home, and visited family and several dear friends. There was the bonus of a Red Soxgame at Fenway Park. Great sights and sounds.
Just because, here’s another picture of the stylish girls.
Going out to the desert is nearly always a pleasure, even with the 140-mile round trip. One reason is seeing what Iconsider beautiful landscapes. Below is a shot of the meadow that surrounds Lake Henshaw, elevation about 2,800 feet, 30 miles east of Fallbrook. Taken shortly after sunrise, with mist above the lake.
It was a notable birthday for me this year, the proverbial three score and 10. Meredith, Winter, and Julia came out to join Dillon in helping me celebrate(?) the occasion, which made it actually fun. With the girls remaining home, it permitted “adult” excursions, whichfocused, happily, on craft beer and brew-pubs. (More in earlier post.) We also had a plaid parade!
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and that twenty-seventeen is way beyond compare.
Dillon, Julia (holding Baxter), Bill, Meredith, and Winter in the plaid parade!
This year, last Friday actually, I attained the status of septuagenarian. To “celebrate” that “achievement,” my daughters, son, and son-in-law joined me in SoCal. (Not so far a trip for Dillon, as he lives in Oceanside.)
(Thanks to sister Annie [Aunty to the rest] for underwriting most of the travel expenses.)
As the two granddaughters remained back in New Hampshire for the short (Wed-Sun) visit, this was an adult excursion. Instead of Disneyland, the Zoo, etc., we concentrated on what makes San Diego famous — craft beer.
Thursday, the beer drinkers (i.e., sans Julia) did a mini-brewpub crawl. We started at Bagby Beer in Oceanside, trying two rounds of four tasters. Here Meredith is savoring one.
We then moved on to Belching Beaver in Vista for the same. We finished up at Mother Earth in Vista, literally a thrown-beer-bottle distance from Belching Beaver.
Belching Beaver was the newest and most advanced, with the most beers — 66 on tap. We tried two rounds of tasters. I really liked Viva la Beaver, a chocolate stout using Mexican chocolate. Then again, while I liked the taste it was not as beer. I can’t imagine drinking a whole pint. Here are a couple of pictures from Belching Beaver.
Amazing the look you can get from water vapor and light.66 taps at Belching Beaver
Friday started with brunch at Beach Break Cafe in Oceanside, our favorite breakfast/brunch spot in North San Diego. Three of the four ordered the great corned beef hash and Julia had banana crunch french toast(!).
Hash, with real corned beef, over hash browns with poached eggs
Beach Break is right on the Pacific Coast Highway, a couple of blocks from the Pacific.
In addition to the beach location, the cafe is essentially decorated with surfboards, many hanging from ceiling, etc. And the mural in the men’s room is pretty cool.
High-and-tight
Hit the Marine Corps Exchange and Commissary at Camp Pendleton on the way home. Winter wanted the special high-and-tight haircut only trained Marine barbers can give and we needed some veggies.
After relaxing just a bit on the deck,
we cooked dinner — ham (also from Annie/Aunty)(spiced with Jack Daniels horseradish mustard), garlic mash, and asparagus, with great beer (Stone IPA in the green can) and Hafner “Next Red” wine.
I attended a meeting of the Anza-Borrego Foundation board via computer Saturday morning, and then we headed to Las Brisas, my favorite taqueria, for lunch — tacos, quesadillas, etc.
At Alpine Brewery
On our way down to San Diego for a BC hockey gamewatch in late afternoon, we headed a bit southeast to Alpine, Calif., home of Alpine Beer Co. I often enjoy Alpine Duet IPA at our gamewatches. I had Alpine Nelson on my only other visit to the brewery a couple of years ago and have been puzzled at how difficult it is to find, even around here. I learned at Alpine that it is only available for growlers and on tap. More reason to take new and returning visitors to Alpine.
We joined Brian and Lissa Tsu, and 5-year-old Margot at the gamewatch. Their company was certainly more enjoyable than the 4-3 BC loss to North Dakota.
It was a short, but very enjoyable visit, at least for me. I guess if I had to turn 70, this was one of the best ways to do it. 🙂
It’s Halloween time, which means it is also the time of Dia de los Muertos, “Day of the Dead.” This multi-day holiday is not the Mexican-American version of Halloween, though it coincides in time. It focuses on family and friends gathering to remember family members and friends who have died.
Dia de los Muertos at San Luis Rey Mission
The holiday is observed annually at the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside and I was among the thousands who attended the event on Sunday, October 30. The Southern California observance of the holiday mixes remembrance of the dead with classic car culture, in ways you’ll see in this short video (<10 mins), which also gives an overall view of the observance.
Sixty-four years ago, a Marine officer serving in Korea purchased a small mare to assist his recoilless rifle platoon. On Wednesday, October 26, the anniversary of that purchase, a monument was dedicated at Camp Pendleton to that horse, which had become America’s greatest war hero horse. This is a short video (<7 mins) I took of those ceremonies.
The Marines named the horse “Reckless,” a play on the name of the weapons they used. During one five-day battle, Reckless made 51 round-trips on a single day from the ammunition supply point to the firing sites, carrying several 24-pound shells and nearly always under fire. On the return trips, Reckless carried wounded Marines to safety. She was wounded twice that day.
Reckless was brought to California and was formally made a Sergeant in the Marines in 1954. She was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 1959 in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton that featured a 19-gun salute and a 1,700-man parade of Marines from her wartime unit.
A Life Magazine special issue included SSgt Reckless among America’s 100 greatest war heroes.
At Camp Pendleton, SSgt Reckless produced four foals before and after her “retirement” in 1960. SSGt Reckless died in 1968. A plaque honoring her is at Stepp Stables on base.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Boston for my annual, usual myriad of visits and experiences. Foremost among them seeing family and friends, but also a BC football game (a victory!) and Red Sox game.
First on the agenda, following a bumpy redeye, was a visit up north. Stopped first to see cousin Kathy Gagne McManamy on Plum Island. She joined me for a visit to Rye, N.H., where I saw Meredith, Winter, and Alice, the younger granddaughter. Adeline, Alice’s older sister, was in preschool. After brunch at Bubbie’s, a new spot in Portsmouth, we picked Adeline up at school. My arrival had apparently been announced beforehand, so I was the object of some attention. Especially because I came “from California”!
Stayed awake long enough to drive down to Acton, Mass., to my home-away-from-home, the residence of Marcy and Larry Kenah. Took a nap and then caught up on the latest with the Kenahs. Spent Thursday and Friday mostly on the BC campus, visiting Susan Callaghan, Mary Ellen Fulton, Maureen Raymond, and Bob Capalbo, and taking pictures of what seems an ever-changing campus. See photos below.
Stokes Hall, at right, blocks view of McElroy and takes up much of what had been the “Dustbowl.”New dorm on former site of More Hall.Edmond’s rubble is stark foreground for Gasson Tower. The old dorm will be replaced by a new Recreation Complex.Brookline, 15 Vernon St., first floor, home of Mike Reavey, Richard Sullivan, John McCarthy, and me, 1967-68.
Friday, I joined old bud Leo DeNatale for lunch and then spent some time driving around the various ‘hoods in which I had lived. Drove by our apartment senior year at BC and it does not look (right) as if it has improved in the 48(!) years since I left it.
Then went to Logan Airport to pick up Cathedral High and BC classmate Mike Reavey. He was in Boston briefly for a family wedding. We shared a couple of beers at The Abbey and The Publick House in Brookline. When I saw Mike in late 2011 in Fort Worth, where he lives, on my drive out to SoCal, it had been 42 since I had seen him before. This time, the gap was less than 5 years. Excellent trajectory.
Lousy photo, but here’s Mike and me.
Me and Mike Reavey at The Publick House, where the Tam used to be.Meredith and Winter at Gillette.
Saturday was game day! Ed Hattauer and Tom Sugrue came up to the Kenahs from Arlington to carpool, while Meredith and Winter joined us from north country. Attendance was so light at the game, we parked in the retail section around Gillette (no ticket check, no charge) and walked the short distance to the stadium.
BC cheerleaders surround Tom Sugrue
Joining us inside were Debbie and Ken Hamberg and Shelia and Dan Downey, who drove up from the Connecticut shore. We had seats in the Putnam Club level, which is the way to see a football game. Access to food, beer, and other liquids throughout, no bleacher seats, and cover when needed. (Also visiting BC cheerleaders.) We came back in during the brief rainfall in the first half, and watched the game on several TV screens. Back in at halftime when it was sunny (no sunscreen) and then out to the stands when we were in the shade. The Gillette experience was more interesting than the game, actually. While the Eagles played relatively well in a 26-7 win, it was against UMass.
Gillette during the game. Sparse attendance on UMass side. Only 25,000 total in a stadium that seats ~68,000.
Sunday meant a trip south, to the Cape. Met up in the afternoon with Susan and Reid Oslin in Falmouth at the Quarterdeck and spent a few minutes with Tierney Oslin and Tommy Leonard. The Oslins and I then joined Karen and Richard Sullivan for dinner at the Old Yarmouth Inn. Got a traditional New England dinner — fried clams.
Dinner with Reid Oslin, Richard Sullivan, Karen Sullivan, and Susan Oslin.
Being the equal opportunity moocher I am, I stayed with the Sullivans in Mashpee and caught the end of the Patriots game (even on Eastern Time!). Looks as if the Oslins and Sullivans are planning to make the Cape their year-round locale. Except, of course, for their frequent trips out to San Diego. 🙂
With friend Margaret Evans on the bank of the Charles at MIT.
Heading back north Monday, I got on the Southeast Expressway and then Memorial Drive to visit friend Margaret Evans, who works at MIT’s Media Lab, for lunch. It felt good to hone my driving-in-Boston-traffic skills. Then back up to Acton to join Larry on a combined auto-MBTA trip to Fenway for the BoSox game. We secured a spot near the ballpark to have a beer or two, to be joined there by Ed and Tom. The game was pretty much a laugher. The Red Sox scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and 1 run in each of the next 5 innings before finishing with 2 in the 8th to beat Baltimore 12-2. Had the spirit, the songs, the Big Papi homerun. Here’s a short video (3:29) from the evening.
Tuesday, day before departure, focused on the Andersons. Just spent time with Meredith and her girls and then Winter joined us for a late lunch at Petey’s Seafood in Rye. Another traditional New England treat for me — lobsta roll!
Here are some pics of me and the girls. Winter was the photog.
Adeline, Meredith, and Alice with the old man. Meredith points out the differences between the girls: in years, 3 1/2; in pounds, 8.With Adeline.Skies at Logan
The trip back started with some ominous skies, and it took quite a while for JetBlue to turn off the seatbelt sign after leaving Logan. Only downside to the trip was that the entertainment in my row was out. 🙁 Got back in San Diego around 8:30 at night (almost midnight on my body clock). I had made a reservation with Green Cab, because I know they know where Marine Corps Recruit Depot is (where I park my car) and they don’t get “lost” on the way. Same driver I had when I left the week before. :0
Credit to the Standells — “Aw, Boston, you’re my home!” . . . away from home.
BC alumni and friends at Eagle Rock, Warner Springs. L-R: Mike Ross ’09, Marissa Robles, Rebecca Scease Reid ’96, Lissa Herrick Tsu ’00, Brian Tsu ’00, Margot Tsu, Ray Berube ’78, Mary Farrell Berube ’80, Janet Rodriguez, Kevin Smosky ’00, Bill McDonald ’68.
There is a natural rock formation in Warner Springs, about 90 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, that looks a little like an eagle. Actually, as you can see above, the rather large natural rock formation looks like nothing else than a big eagle.
In early April (I’m way behind on posts), 10 alumni and friends (and a young daughter) made the trek to Eagle Rock, which is located on the Pacific Crest Trail. In a pretty weird connection, we accessed the area where Eagle Rock is located from Camino San Ignacio in Warner Springs. That’s “St. Ignatius Road.” !?
And a few miles down the road on State Route 79 is a street with another Jesuit-related name (see photo at right). Anyone know about any Jesuit presence in northeast San Diego County?
We also went further initially than Warner Springs, over the mountainsides to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Desert flowers are somewhat past peak (earlier and briefer than expected in this El Niño year), but there is still some color not seen the rest of the year.
Our flower guide was Christina St. John from the Anza-Borrego Foundation. About to pursue a master’s degree in botany, Christina was an invaluable guide to the desert flora, as well as a friendly companion. With her guidance, we visited Glorietta Canyon, one of the most accessible areas of the Park (though over a couple of miles of dirt road) and location of many flowering plants in the spring.
It was pretty much a day-long excursion, also including lunch in Borrego Springs, and a visit to a rather unusual piece of “public art.” Below is a short (<5 minutes) video of the day, including the desert flowers, etc. You’ll see that we were able to visit Eagle Rock and park our cars inside the gate that warns “No Trespassing.” That’s because we had received official permission from the Vista Irrigation District to do so, after filling out various waivers, and were on the property for only about a half-hour. We had some unexpected companions on our visit to Eagle Rock, examples of the “wildlife” in the area . . . but that’s for you to see. (Click on “BCSD @ Eagle Rock” at upper left of graphic below to watch on YouTube. Much better viewing.)
I spent five days last week (January 27-31) at Torrey Pines Golf Course, working as a hole captain and marshal at the PGA’s Farmers Insurance Open. Four days were rather uneventful, but the last day, Sunday, was special.
Conditions were so bad in terms of wind and rain that play was suspended a couple of times and finally ended before the final players were finished. Here’s a brief video of images from the tournament that gives just a flavor of changing conditions.
What a difference a week makes. It is sunny and mid-80s right now. 🙂
