Rolls-Royce’s Yacht-Inspired Phantom Convertible

There it was parked on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, California. A Rolls-Royce Convertible with the top down. It was parked like any other car. I could see the entire car in the morning sun.

I was taking Freddy, my terrier, into the groomer for a trim and bath. After I parallel parked I realized that there was a Rolls-Royce in front of me. When you go to the car show they have these cars on display but you really can’t see the interior easily. This car could be seen by everyone walking or driving by. No one was around and I ran my hand over the wood not certain that it was really wood. No license plate on the back told me it was very new. The owner was definitely showing off.

Check out the luxurious teak wood decking on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Convertible. “The optional teak decking was inspired by classic racing yachts – hand-made from 30 separate pieces and cut from the same tree for consistent grain,” explained on the hogring.com web site. The teak wood decking is optional and comes at a hefty price of $9,875. Anyone willing to spend nearly $500,000 on the base model would not baulk at paying an extra $10K for such a gorgeous feature.

Here are the pictures all taken by me.

back of a new Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible

I Zoom in to confirm Rolls-Royce insignia

American Bison in Yellowstone National Park

The American bison was once nearly extinct in North America, but this iconic symbol of the American West has largely recovered through the efforts of various public and private agencies. Many herds thrive in national parks and preserves, like the one here making its way through a snowy Yellowstone National Park. The bison endure food shortages in winter only to gorge on spring and summer grass as they fatten up and prepare for another year.

If you have not visited Yellowstone National Park you have missed on of the most spectacular places in the world. The Buffalo (American Bison) are everywhere in the park. You may see them as you are waiting to see Old Faithful spew its water jet or you may see them walking along side of the road you are traveling. If you are planning a trip contact me. I have been there three times and would willingly go along for another trip.

Japanese Gardens in Los Angeles

I have visited these garden three times. The garden has creeks and large man-made lakes and ponds. The 6½ acre (2.6 ha) park uses the reclaimed water from the adjoining Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.

The water from the reclamation facility can only be used for irrigation and is not cycled into the general water supply. The facility purifies waste water, removing it from the sewer system. This reclaimed water from the West San Fernando Valley is also used to fill Lake Balboa in the adjoining park as well as providing year round water to the LA River.

The reclamation facility has also been used as a backdrop in films and TV, including Star Trek‘s Starfleet Academy and Soilent Green.

More photos of the garden at https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastcontact/

or click here

Pinnacles National Park

Volcanic slopes in Pinnacles National Park, California

Pinnacles was established as a national park in 2013. That makes it a relatively new national park in the United States, but its namesake features—these rock spires—were millions of years in the making. Roughly 23 million years ago, volcanos erupted to form a 30-mile-wide volcanic field, which was then split in two by a shift in the San Andreas fault. The western side of the field gradually moved nearly 200 miles north, all the while being eroded by water, ice, and wind.

The rock that’s left behind after this erosion is now shaped into these pinnacles. The towering spires attract rock climbers, to be sure, but they also provide homes for many species of animals, including the California condor. In fact, this is just one of four places where captive-bred condors are released into the wild.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, The Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Another spectacular photo when I start my computer.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India

We’re taking a slightly unconventional look at what many consider the most beautiful building in the world, the Taj Mahal. We won’t argue with that opinion—there aren’t enough superlatives in any language to capture the splendor of this white marble mausoleum in Agra, India.

But, back to the view: Most images capture the Taj Mahal from the front, at the end of a splendid line of formal gardens. Here, we’re looking at the rear of the structure from across the Yamuna River. There is likely no angle where the Taj Mahal doesn’t look magnificent, and its reflection in the waters of Yamuna only enhances the sublime display.

Laguna Colorada in the Altiplano region of Bolivia

My Lenovo desktop computer provides me with a variety of welcome photos that are from exotic places around the world. This is the latest of what seems a never ending collection.

In the southwestern corner of Bolivia, near its border with Chile, the 23-square-mile salt lake called Laguna Colorada stands out against the stark landscape. The shallow lake sits more than 2 miles above sea level on the Altiplano—the wide, high plain in the Andes Mountains that includes the Bolivian Plateau. While this image highlights the reflection of the surrounding mountains when they catch just the right kind of light, other perspectives cast the Laguna Colorada showing off its own vibrant color. The tomato hue is courtesy of salt water, sediments, and red algae, the latter a food source for flocks of the increasingly rare James’s flamingo, which wade in the lake feasting on the microorganisms.

Seeking Interesting Photo Sights

I was visiting my local AAA office (Auto club of Southern California) on a mission to renew my car license. While waiting my turn I looked at their table of close out travel books. There I found a book titled “10,000 STEPS A DAY IN L.A.” I am unlikely to walk 10,000 steps in a day but the book offered ideas of places to visit for my photography hobby. At $13.50 the book is a bargain.

Lots of places to see are on my list of known places to visit like Beverly Hills downtown, Hollywood Boulevard, and the Fairfax District. Still the book does identify buildings of historic significance in those areas.

My first tour was to the East San Fernando Valley near the border with Burbank. There I found an attractive location along Chandler Boulevard between Vineland Avenue and Burbank city border where murals are painted on the walls of buildings with their backs facing that boulevard and an interesting book store named Iliad. The cross street is Cahuenga Boulevard and that road is lined with industrial buildings and low rent apartment houses. Not an attractive street. However Chandler Boulevard is a walk in a park.

Iliad Book Store – Books in front stand 10 feet tall next to Chandler Boulevard

Mural along Chandler Boulevard with junk yard behind

Friends walking and talking along Chandler Boulevard

An industrial building along Chandler Boulevard across from the mural attempting to participate in the fun.

All photos taken with Lumix FZ200 camera.

Another Day in Hell?

Nope. It’s just winter in Los Angeles.

Summer weather, beautiful views, everyone out in shorts.

We are in the midst of one of the warmest summers, oops I mean winters, in history. Some parts of the metro area seeing 90°F temperatures. San Fernando Valley 87°F. This will continue for at least another week.

Entrance Road to Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles

Observatory seen from Griffith Park Entrance

Downtown Los Angeles tallest building is US Bank on the left, Wilshire Grand under construction will be the tallest in 2018. From the Observatory parking lot.

Hollywood Sign and Broadcast tower. From the Observatory parking lot.

The city and the sea 20 miles in the distance, look carefully and you will see the ocean on the horizon. From the Observatory parking lot.

All photos taken on February 8, 2016 with Panasonic FZ200.

Visiting Yosemite National Park

View of Yosemite Valley at tunnel entrance Highway 41

It’s time I spent more effort on some good times rather than focusing on the bad.

When my children were small we traveled to Yosemite National Park or Sequoia National Park for nine years in succession. The first time when our first child, a baby boy, was about 1½ years old. We may have skipped a year after our baby girl was born.

It was an opportunity to get away from the city. Camping with small children is work. Still we enjoyed the change of environment.

Our favorite camp site were the Housekeeping tents in Yosemite Valley. Housekeeping Camp units consist of three concrete walls, a concrete floor, double canvas roof and a fourth curtained wall. The curtain separates the sleeping area from a covered patio area with a privacy fence that’s furnished with picnic table and bear-proof food storage containers. Each unit also includes a campfire ring with grill grate. There are public restrooms with toilet stalls and sinks. Showers are available for a fee. Electric lighting is limited to a single box near the bed racks and there is limited access to phones. You must provide your own linens and so most people bring sleeping bags. The tents are an upgrade from a conventional tent. A nearby general does have basic food supplies.

The Merced River adjoined the Housekeeping Camp area and in 6 minutes and .2 of a mile you could walk to Curry Village. Besides stores and a restaurant that is the heart of daytime activities and nighttime campfire events provided by park rangers.

There are tram tours of Yosemite Valley, bikes for rent, horseback riding, and hiking trails that even your grandmother can handle.

There is always the possibility you will see a bear or some deer. You will never forget the scenery. As you enter the park from Los Angeles through Fresno there is a grove of Redwood trees. A tram ride through that grove is worth your time. The ride to Glacier Point overlooking Yosemite Valley is equally exciting with a view that is spectacular of the valley below and Half Dome.

Upper Yosemite Falls

A Balloon Art Exhibit

A little over a week ago the news media started publicizing a balloon art exhibit at McArthur Park in central Los Angeles. It’s not in downtown. It is just west of downtown. The area is poor and has a large immigrant population. The park is named for General Douglas McArthur of WWII fame. Previously the park was named Westlake and contains a modestly large lake for a city park.

The exhibit of the hand painted balloons was a delightful sight in an area populated by the poor and homeless. From both Wilshire Boulevard and 6^th Street you can see an outstanding view of the downtown skyline.

It was a cloudy day and a few drop of rain fell thanks to monsoonal clouds that drifted in from Arizona.

All photos taken with Panasonic FZ200 camera. A total of 18 photos were taken. 17 are useable. All will be displayed on my Flickr page in the Balloon Art Exhibit album.

1/640 sec; f/4.0; ISO 100

Balloon Photo #5_edited-1

1/800 sec; f/4.0; ISO 100

1/1000 sec; f/2.8; ISO 100