Lady twists balloon creations near the historic Balboa Park Carousel.
Whenever I walk through Balboa Park, I almost always point my feet in the direction of the carousel.
There’s something just so innocent and joyful about the old merry-go-round. For generations it has faithfully awaited children of all ages at the north end of the park, right next to the San Diego Zoo. The whirling playful animals and marching organ music put a smile on my face and a lift in my spirit.
While the 1910 Herschell-Spillman carousel has been moved a few times, for one hundred years it has been located in San Diego. Today it is only one of two carousels west of the Mississippi that feature the nostalgic brass ring game. Lucky riders who grab a brass ring win a free ride!
People gaze at the 1910 Herschell-Spillman carousel on a summer day.The merry-go-round features 27 horses and 25 menagerie animals.A brightly painted carved wooden horse awaits a passenger.The carousel, built in New York, has stood in Balboa Park since 1922! It was previously located at Tent City in Coronado.Old items in building include a rowboat.A fun brass ring game is still played today.Many generations have enjoyed this cheerful San Diego attraction.Another view past a ride for very young children.
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Dogs and their human pals arrive at the big surfing competition.
I’d never seen a dog surf in my entire life. Not until today.
Now I’ve seen a whole pack of dogs surfing.
Yes, I have to admit it. I couldn’t resist heading down to the big Surfdog event at Imperial Beach today. This year it was sponsored by Unleashed by Petco. In the past it was called Loews Coronado Bay Surf Dog Competition.
What? Some of you have never seen a dog athlete mount a surfboard and skillfully ride mighty ocean breakers?
Seeing is believing…
It’s the epic Surfdog summer event everyone has waited for!Finishing touches are put on a sand sculpture at Imperial Beach.This dog can hardly wait to watch the intense animal action!Information boards outline the various heats in the big surf contest.Announcer readies for some incredible pooch performances.The VIP section fills and so does the beach and pier.Dogs and non-dogs at water’s edge have a great place to watch.These guys want a great spot on the pier to view the action.Everyone is ready for the first exciting freestyle heat!This little fellow doesn’t seem to know what’s going on.Surfing contestants mount their surfboards waiting for the starting horn.The crowd favorite, a genuine superstar, poses for my camera.The horn blows and the first fifteen minute heat begins!The crowd converges on the ocean in disbelief.One four-legged athlete is already out near the breakers.Here come two canine athletes showing great form!Steady as she goes!Hot dogging it and hanging twenty!Wow, those incredible, amazing surfers are absolutely inhuman!Thousands enjoy Unleashed by Petco’s surf dog event!
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The 2014 San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is bigger, crazier and more exciting than ever. If you want to enjoy a really fun time, go check it out! But expect huge crowds!
The theme this year is the Fab Fair, a commemoration of the fifty year anniversary of the Beatles coming to America. Prepare to relive the 60’s in ways you’d never imagine!
On a lark I rode the Coaster from downtown up to Del Mar for the big Opening Day. I didn’t have any sort of plan; I just walked about the fairgrounds randomly the way I often do. But I did discover and photograph lots of cool stuff!
Would you like to see some pics? Let’s start at the West Gate and begin our walk through the enormous Fun Zone…
Make a pool shot and win a stuffed one-eyed Minion!Persuasive carny almost convinces me to throw a ring at a duck.Gazing up at ride in San Diego County Fair’s Fun Zone.The wacky Fun House lures fair-goers and one curious photo-taker.Now we’re near the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds Grandstand.Ms. Senior Nevada performs on the Plaza Stage.Lots of crafts at the Design in Wood exhibition.
Now we’ve headed inside a building adjacent to the Del Mar Racetrack’s big Grandstand. There is also a dazzling Gems, Minerals and Jewelry exhibition which is well worth checking out.
Master woodworker demonstrates planing skills.Student Showcase contains art by high school students.
Many of the fair’s exhibits were in the large Grandstand building. Displays of art, food, clothing, collectibles, and everything imaginable filled several floors. It all had been entered by creative San Diegans, with the hope of winning a blue ribbon.
Home and Hobby exhibition includes many Beatles collectibles.Big crowd outside enjoys fair beneath the Skyway.Demonstrating a fancy vegetable peeler inside Bing Crosby Hall.
The huge Bing Crosby hall is where all sorts of odd gadgets and unique products are touted by eager salespeople!
Psychedelic VW Beetle at the outside Garden Show.
The outdoor and indoor Garden Show is one of my favorite parts of the annual fair. There were many beautiful and creative landscape exhibits.
Cool little keyhole garden can be grown anywhere.Fab Four include Paul, John, George and Ringo.Fun, whimsical display at the popular Garden Show.Lots of hippie-themed stuff to buy everywhere.Here are the good old Footsie Wootsie machines!
I remember these crazy machines at the fair when I was a kid, and that was many years ago!
Just inside the San Diego County Fair’s O’Brien Gate main entrance.Man walks into the Fab Fair Experience.People pose to recreate old Beatles album cover.Lots of displays remember the British Invasion of the 60’s.Sign above the Livestock Barn.
Now let’s go check out some livestock. It’s the county fair, after all!
Judge scores llama in a ring near livestock barn.Young lady looks worried as she prepares to show her goat.Sheep were being sheered in a smaller nearby barn.I missed the Swifty Swine pig racing event!Rescue personnel perform demonstration in Del Mar Arena.Back outside we discover a giant Florida gator.Wall of the Wyland Center has a cool whale mural.
That whale and the underwater scene around it were painted by famed marine-life artist Wyland at the 2006 San Diego County Fair.
Cool photo of extremely popular 2014 San Diego County Fair.The giant Ferris wheel turns in the summer sky.
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Park ranger removing weeds near State Beach entrance.
The Silver Strand is a narrow strip of land that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach. The northern portion is used as a training ground for Navy Seals. Other areas contain housing, marinas and a hotel. Much of it remains in a natural state.
Halfway down the strand, sandwiched between San Diego Bay and the blue Pacific Ocean, you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach, a beautiful state park featuring a great beach, RV parking, a large picnic area, and a boating facility. Apart from the RV area, which is very popular, the place often seems half-deserted. Even during summer weekdays.
I rode my bike through the park on a perfectly sunny spring weekday and I saw half a dozen people.
Closed lifeguard lookout on Silver Strand State Beach.Except for RVs to the north, the beach is almost empty.Kelp on natural beaches is the home of tiny wildlife.Silver Strand Grill is closed and nobody is about.From one empty side of the strand to the other.
Here I’m passing through a tunnel under the highway from the Pacific side to the bay side.
Dozens of unused picnic tables on a sunny Spring weekday.
There are scores of picnic benches on the bay side and very few ever seem to be used.
One small figure sits at end of picnic table row.Colorful kayaks at Crown Cove Aquatic Center.
The boating center gets a little more activity on weekends. I’ve seen folks out rowing along the water.
Lots of unused boats on the bay side of Silver Strand.San Diego Bay beyond a group of beached sailboats.Trail leads from Silver Strand bikeway across natural habitat.
You’ll find this natural area in the north part of Silver Strand State Beach, on the east side of the highway.
The wood plank nature trail is in disrepair.
The endangered California least tern nests in clear, sandy areas along the Silver Strand. I wasn’t able to spot any during this visit.
Information sign rusted and unreadable.A rabbit among brittle coastal plants.
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Several large and dangerous wild animals have escaped the San Diego Zoo and are running loose in nearby Hillcrest!
Huh? You don’t believe me? I’ve got some photographic proof!
Okay, okay, I’m kidding. These super cool metal sculptures stand in front of a residence on First Avenue. They appear to be made of rusted steel, but I’m not sure. I spotted them during my walk to work this morning, so I whipped out my trusty old camera!
Animal sculptures in front of a residence in Hillcrest.Handsome metal horse looks out toward street.Funny gorilla poses in front of someone’s window.
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Mural of a rugged face seems tattered on modern building.Unique image of human face on a building in downtown San Diego.
Here are a few pics of interesting (and sometimes mysterious) faces found in downtown San Diego.
Face of Andre the Giant high on a building near America Plaza. By artist Shepard Fairey.Wide-eyed graffiti face on a downtown taco stand.Painting of female face by an artist near Seaport Village.Bearded face painted on a downtown San Diego building.Grinning monkey head on billboard in San Diego.
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Dogs and humans head toward the 2014 Bark in Balboa Park.
The Eighth Annual Bark in Balboa Park was a triumphant success this afternoon. Hundreds of furry, tail-wagging best friends got to join in the festivities, and nearly all become instantly famous. How does an ordinary, easy-going, everyday dog get 15 seconds of fame? You’re about to find out!
A few early arrivals at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.Friendly pooch near Spreckels Organ Society donation box.Some furry attendees await the free dog-themed organ concert.San Diego Humane Society has volunteers at the event.Lovable dogs await adoption at Bark in the Park.Great Dane takes a nap while a huge crowd gathers.People and pooches enjoy the organ concert from the colonnade.A baby stroller makes a prime seat for the big event.Activity is non-stop even during the fun concert.The unconditional love that dogs give.Spreckels Organ Society photographer hard at work.The eighth annual parade of dogs in front of the organ begins!Dr. Carol Williams plays a rousing Sousa march as pooches pass by.This funny beagle was a real crowd pleaser.A dainty dog in pink enjoys momentary fame on the big stage.
On Harbor Island, just east of the Hilton, several gates leading down to the marina have metalwork that is really beautiful. Check out these images…
Lively underwater scene on a marina entrance gate.Dolphins decorate a marina gate on Harbor Island.Beautiful approach to one gate at Harbor Island marina.
Front of the Seeley Stable Museum in Old Town San Diego.
Perhaps my favorite part of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the Seeley Stable Museum.
The huge old barn and surrounding area were once owned by Albert Seeley, who ran the San Diego-Los Angeles Stage Line from 1868 to 1877. His Concord stagecoaches left San Diego at 5 am, stopped overnight at San Juan Capistrano, and arrived in Los Angeles at 4 pm the next day. Eventually competition with the railroad put him out of business.
Sign on the Blacksmith Shop behind Seeley Stable.
Behind the Seeley Stable is a cool blacksmith shop, where tourists can watch skilled hobbyists demonstrate the shaping of red hot iron. The hammers ring loudly and the sparks fly! Unfortunately it wasn’t open the day I took these photos.
Covered wagon, anvils and relics of the Old West behind Seeley Stable.
Across from the blacksmith you’ll find this. Very cool!
Several unrestored wagons.Peering through old wagon wheels.Donkey awaits young visitors to historic Seeley Stable.
On the south side of the stable you’ll find a couple of donkeys, which are used by park rangers to teach children about life in the Old West.
Concord stagecoach from the Los Angeles to San Diego route.
Finally, we’re inside the museum! You can see many different wagons and stagecoaches inside the dark old barn, plus other artifacts from life one and a half centuries ago.
Museum display with horse and saddles recreates the old stable.Huge freight wagon on display at Seeley Stable.Old Wells Fargo wagon once used to transport the mail.Old Town San Diego State Historic Park ranger chats with friendly lady at the ticket window.
The Seeley Stable Museum is free!
UPDATE!
Here are a few more interesting and informative photos that I took inside the museum in August 2017…
Roscoe E. “Pappy” Hazard was a developer and rancher who collected stagecoaches, carriages and wagons from the Old West. Many are displayed today in Old Town’s Seeley Stable Museum.In 1869, Albert L. Seeley transformed the nearby Bandini adobe into the two-story Cosmopolitan Hotel, which became Old Town’s stage depot and social center.Photo of Seeley Stable’s barn and yard taken from Presidio Hill in 1872. The Cosmopolitan Hotel can be seen on the right.Map shows important stagecoach routes, including the Butterfield Overland, and the Birch’s Line from San Antonio to San Diego.Signs and old photos concerning freight wagons in the Old West, which often employed large teams of mules.Spaniards introduced mules to America along with the horse. Hardy pack mules were used by trappers to haul furs, and by gold miners to move supplies and equipment.This delivery wagon was brought to San Diego by Frank Kimball in 1868. It was used to show passengers land that he had for sale in National City.This old Park Wagon was used by cattle rancher Walter Vail. He owned a land in Arizona, Santa Rosa island off the coast of California, and Warner’s Ranch northeast of San Diego.How a corner of the stable might have once appeared. Stable hands had many chores, including feeding, watering and grooming animals, and cleaning stalls.
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I had taken a pic of an unusual poster about this event several weeks ago, so I decided to swing by during my Saturday morning walk. (Stay tuned for pictures of the San Diego Zombie Walk later today!)
I walked through Embarcadero Marina Park North about 10:30, half an hour after the animal rights protest had begun. It didn’t seem that many people had shown up yet. I’d estimate perhaps fifty scattered about the grassy areas and in the nearby gazebo and bay overlook.
This lady sat alone holding a poster indicating that cows are friends.
Here’s a photo of two men in the nearby parking lot being helped by a woman into animal costumes. One is a cow; it appears the other is a pig.
These tables seemed to be the central feature of the event. The attendees all were smiling. You can see haze in the distance–mostly overcast skies and very much like Autumn today.
Two more posters. One indicates that a rooster is someone, not something.
As I left the public park and returned through Seaport Village, I noticed a few more people trickling in for what seemed to be a very laid-back protest.
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