Tag: scary

Signs of Halloween in downtown San Diego.

Scarecrow and hay bales at pumpkin patch in San Diego's new waterfront park.
Scarecrow and hay bales at pumpkin patch in San Diego’s new waterfront park.

During my mid-afternoon walk around downtown San Diego today, I was watching for fun Halloween photo opportunities. It’s less than two weeks away!  I had a little bit of luck…

(The above pic was taken after all the pumpkins were snatched up, but lots of families were still about enjoying the pleasant day!)

Spiders on side of Little Italy building wrap a skeleton.
Spiders on side of Little Italy building wrap a skeleton.
Spooky shredded sails of haunted Star of India on Embarcadero.
Spooky shredded sails of haunted Star of India flutter in wind on the Embarcadero.
Gaslamp parties celebrate Halloween and Day of the Dead.
Gaslamp parties celebrate Halloween and Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
Alamo Flags at Seaport Village has a smelly witch foot!
Trick or treat?  Alamo Flags at Seaport Village has a smelly witch foot!
Just relaxing on a nice Autumn Sunday by the Seaport Village carousel.
Just relaxing on a nice cool Autumn Sunday by the Seaport Village carousel.
Kid checks out pumpkins and colorful display at Seaport Village.
Kid checks out pumpkins and colorful leafy display at Seaport Village.
Gaslamp banners advertise a monster bash block party.
Gaslamp banners advertise a monster bash block party.
Donut Bar window contains a scary skull-headed server!
Donut Bar window downtown contains a scary skull-headed server!

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Ghosts seen rising from graves on Haunted Trail.

One of several huge monsters awaiting visitors to the 2014 Haunted Trail.
One of several huge monsters awaiting visitors to the 2014 Haunted Trail.

Warning! Some of the upcoming pics are pretty darn scary! You’ve been warned!

Runner in Balboa Park passes behind a grinning ghoul!
Runner in Balboa Park passes behind a grinning ghoul!

This morning I was nearly frightened out of my wits. I was taking a nice brisk walk up the west side of Balboa Park, enjoying the fresh air and at peace with the world…when I found myself surrounded! I couldn’t escape from silent ghosts rising from the cold ground all around me!  A catastrophe!  The horror!  I had met my doom!

Oh, thank goodness, I realized at last. It’s just the Haunted Trail. You know, the yearly outdoor “haunted house” that’s extremely popular in San Diego around Halloween.

The spooky attraction, which brings in thousands of thrill-seekers on dark Autumn nights, is under construction once again. It’s larger than ever and looks super spooky. I walked around the perimeter and tried to get a bunch of cool daytime photos for you to enjoy. Here they are…

Black-robed ghosts and grim reapers are rising in the popular Halloween attraction.
Black-robed ghosts and grim reapers are rising in the popular Halloween attraction.
A ghost town in the mournful trees contains many grisly and horrible surprises!
A ghost town in the mournful trees contains many grisly and horrible surprises!
Welcome to Silent Hill, where nightmares rise from a well.
Welcome to Silent Hill, where nightmares rise from a well.
Props on ground behind a school bus filled with Halloween frights.
Props piled on ground behind a school bus filled with Halloween frights.
In late September, the Haunted Trail is a work in progress.
In late September, the Haunted Trail is a work in progress.
Mangled cloth mannequins lie lifeless on dead leaves.
Mangled cloth mannequins lie limp and lifeless on dead leaves.
Artists creating the scary park trail use gallons of paint each year.
Artists creating the scary park trail use gallons of paint each year.
Entrance to Haunted Trail rises again this year, as do many spooky old props.
Entrance to Haunted Trail rises again this year, as do many spooky old props.
Close look at skulls embedded in the castle-like entrance.
Close look at skulls embedded in the castle-like entrance.
Structure made of bones beside a Haunted Trail sign just inside entrance.
Structure made of skeleton bones beside a Haunted Trail sign just inside entrance.
Here's that huge bloody yeti I took a pic of last year, just as frightening as ever!
Here’s that huge bloody yeti I took a pic of last year, just as frightening as ever!
This poor guy has sat in that electric chair for so many years he must have a stiff back.
This poor guy has sat in that electric chair for so many years he must have a stiff back.
Surprise! Another zombie, ghoul or creature waiting to scare some nice visitor.
Surprise! Another zombie, ghoul or creature ready to scare a nice fun-seeking visitor.
This prop lying on the ground is quite eerie and realistic.
This prop lying on the ground is quite eerie and realistic.
A ravenous, hellish hound prowls the perimeter of a vast cemetery.
A ravenous, hellish hound prowls among tombstones in a dark cemetery.
I suppose all the undead have risen from this scary graveyard on the Haunted Trail!
I suppose all the undead have risen from this scary graveyard on the Haunted Trail!

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Microburst destroys trees along San Diego River.

Large trees by San Diego River snapped by sudden violent microburst winds.
Large trees by San Diego River snapped by sudden violent microburst winds.

Late yesterday, a few minutes after five o’clock, a violent microburst tore through Mission Valley, several miles north of downtown San Diego. Similar microbursts occurred elsewhere around the city and county, bringing thunder and lightning, torrential downpours and extremely violent winds. San Diegans saw on the news how many small airplanes parked at Montgomery Field in Kearny Mesa (a few miles farther north) were thrown through the air and overturned like mere toys.

I was fortunate. I left the place where I work in Mission Valley half an hour early. Many of my coworkers weren’t so fortunate. One, walking to the Hazard Center trolley station, took shelter in a grocery store while the wind, sounding like an oncoming tornado, knocked over sturdy steel shopping cart corrals in the parking lot with ease. He reported the fury of the storm only lasted a few minutes.

Early this morning I walked along the pathway that follows the north side of the San Diego River. For better than a mile, from Qualcomm Way west well past Mission Center Road, I photographed the aftermath of the terrifying microburst. The amount of damage to the river’s lush canopy of trees was indescribable. Hundreds of trees, large and small, were torn to pieces or uprooted by the brief microbust.

These pics aren’t so cool, but they are interesting…

Popular pathway through Mission Valley is covered with miles of fallen trees.
Popular pathway through Mission Valley is covered with miles of fallen trees.
Walking along the river required fancy footwork the morning after the freak storm.
Walking along the river required fancy footwork the morning after the freak storm.
One of many trees torn to pieces next to residential buildings.
One of many trees torn to pieces next to residential buildings.
The late summer microburst came on a very hot, humid San Diego day.
The late summer microburst came on a very hot, humid San Diego day.
San Diego River seen behind devastated trees near walking path.
San Diego River seen behind devastated trees near walking path.
This hurricane-like rainstorm ended so quickly no severe flooding occurred.
This hurricane-like rainstorm ended so quickly no severe flooding occurred.

This sign talks about the history of flooding in Mission Valley, and how nature occasionally flushes out accumulated debris and keeps the river healthy. Because the storm was so brief, nature didn’t create much flooding yesterday–but it certainly created quite a bit of debris!

Many trees around the developed parts of Mission Valley were also uprooted!
Many trees around the developed parts of Mission Valley were also uprooted!

Tree trimming businesses and city workers converged in full force on Mission Valley today! Many truckloads of branches were hauled off from all over!

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Photos of zombies attacking San Diego park.

a bride zombie approaches the city park

The San Diego Zombie Walk took place last evening. The spooky Halloween season event was staged at Childrens Park, across Harbor Drive from the Convention Center. I got some photos!

Zombies could be seen converging on the park from every direction. There seemed to be no stopping them.

Here comes an undead bride in her blood-splattered bridal gown. Pedestrians have fled every which way!

an executioner zombie examines his next victim

This towering, bloody butcher has nearly captured a helpless victim. Everyone in downtown San Diego surely heard the lady’s blood-curdling scream of terror!

miserable zombies seem quite decayed

The walking dead, some of them terribly decayed and disfigured, gathered in the park with a singular purpose. To feast on flesh!

nasty zombies out to eat your flesh

Some of these zombies might smile, but don’t let it fool you. The one in the cowboy hat is about to get a surprise!

zombie chefs want a kiss of fresh blood

It might be a good idea to NOT kiss these zombie chefs. Looks awfully unsanitary.

zombie family poses by fountain

What a nice zombie dad, zombie girl and zombie mom. The latter can’t seem to take her zombie fingers from her zombie phone.

zombies with a big chainsaw

This sweet, loving couple would like to meet new friends. And so would their chainsaw.