how to spend 2 days off!

So in a bout of uncontrollable consumerism, i spent my birthday money on a new bike. if you refer to the photos of my other bike you may notice several differences. basically, this bike has multiple gears and skinny tires. i had a few days off and wanted to take my new lovely out and show her a good time, a nice weekend for two just up the coast. it was last minute and i had prepared myself to go hat in hand to every state campsite south of santa barbara, i left at 545 on thursday. my first choice was mcgrath state beach half way between oxnard and ventura, (i read some stuff about birdwatching) i got very lucky (and was the first one there when they opened) and got a campsite.

Its a decent place, the campsites were smallish, and the area around was more birdwatchy than beachy (snowy plover closed the direct beach access) there's a small estuary/large river that was very scenic, if you were willing to make the effort to get to it, and state law doesn't deter you. i was, and it doesn't, so that is where i spent my morning. it was peaceful and very well populated with seafaring and riparian birds. the fog was just lifting as i left for a bike ride.
On the road to ventura, which is a nice city, by the way. still overcast, the expected high for the day was 67. the sun did eventually come out. i wondered what one does in ventura, and remembered passing the fair on the train to portland, last year, i thought i'd give it a try. i basically followed a bike trail right along the beach most of the way, past the pier. no such luck on the fair, i was exactly a month early. i contemplated making the 20 mile trip to santa barbara, but decided against it for the sake of sunburn and dehydration. as i stopped to take a far less memorable picture, i happened to see a snake in the ice plant behind me, i grabbed him by the tail and lifted him to see his head, and it told me that he was safe. his name is Randall, and he is a california king snake, as i reached for his neck to get more control of him, he bit me between my index and middle fingers, once i got him loose, i took the following picture. he is beautiful, probably 2.5 feet.
That was it, i was tired, so i went back to camp and took a nap for several hours. i got up in the evening and went looking for something to do. i drove around and got familiar with the area, and began looking for a bowling alley meg and i saw on the trip to santa barbara, but never found it, and gave up at 2100. the following is the first thing you see when you wake up in a tent.
This is the river next to the campground, friday morning there was no fog so the shot came out better. after a little bike ride, it was time to break camp and head home.
I followed PCH all the way down, even when it was less convenient, and it was interesting. the following picture doesn't need a caption, but i believe i was in el segundo or culver city when i took it.
I had recently seen ads on tv for the manhattan beach open of beach volleyball, as an afficionado of tall women in swimsuits i though i should stop by and give my support. i wasn't sure if this was the weekend or not, but i was pleased to find out that it was. this is me on manhattan beach.
the match i watched was hyden/scott vs jensen/lane. it was in the main court, but behind the opposite side bleachers was 6more courts holding official matches. hyden is the no 1 player this year, and he was incredible. lane is the assistant coach at csulb. the level of play was incredible, but what amazed me most was the power that they could put into the ball, the serves alone you could almost feel the smack of their hand hitting the ball.

After the guys match, hyden/scott won, i went and watched the girls. i didn't know any of them, kerri walsh (gold medalist) was there, but not playing. the women don't have the sheer power of the men, but they are louder and communicate all the time. the woman in the photo had a killer serve, and her team dominated the match i saw.
I couldn't take anymore sun, my head was kinda burny, so i started back home. i stopped at my favorite tea place and took one to meg at work, before finally making it home. it was an awesome 2 days, so much fun. the bike did well, i may have to invest in a new saddle (something softer, i'm getting older).
have a good weekend!