With the kids scattered to the winds (Maya in Nantucket, Nico with cousins in Minneapolis, Kyle in Nicaragua on a service project) Jeanine and I had the day to ourselves. We decided to go kayaking on the Sudbury River launching from the South Bridge boat house where we rented a kayak for Jeanine. We headed upstream for a liesurely 9 mile paddle and encountered more Blue Heron than people on our voyage. We are very fortunate to live so close to so many great kayaking destinations. We are less than 5 minutes from the Concord, Sudbury and Assebet Rivers.

 
So many people on airplanes these days spend all their time watching the movie, working on their computers or glued to a book failing to appreciate the beauty below them. Forget about smelling roses; take a moment and look out the window.

 
On my return flight to Boston I enjoyed an unusually clean window and typically spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.

 
Santa Barbara has a lovely beach, warf and marina. I made the 15 minute walk here from my hotel after work. Suprisingly I found little photographic inspiration until I came across this reflection in the waning evening light.

 
As colorful as the produce was, none could compete with this street performer. I have seen him here on prior trips and hope to get a better portrait of him on my next visit. For me, he captures the spirit of Santa Barbara.

 
I travelled to Santa Barbara today for work, arriving at about 6pm. Around the corner from my hotel each Tuesday is the open air farmer’s market. Although things were winding down as I arrived I was able to purchase some delicious fruit and get a few pictures.

 
We thoroughly enjoyed the visit by Anita and Dave. Anita prepared dinner for the family last night while Dave, who is an excellent musician, jammed with the boys in the basement. Jeanine drove Kyle to the rendezvous point for his 3am departure to Nicaragua while the rest of us slept.

 
The blueberry pie masterpiece created by Jeanine from this mornings berry harvest. Delicious!!

 
A final remembrance from Camp Encore Coda.

 
It would have taken less time had a realized earlier that we were not suppose to eat the berries as we picked them.

 
…. Jeanine and Maya discover wild blueberries along the roadside which we harvested for almost an hour. When we returned home Jeanine turned our gatherings into an unbelievably yummy pie which we shared with my cousin Anita and her boyfriend Dave who called out of the blue and are visiting with us this evening as they travel through the area.

 
While I stopped the car for this photo of Bear Lake ….

 
This B&B is known for their collection of Nubian goats and the cheese they make from their milk. I wandered into the barn for a peek at a couple of the young Nubians. There is a good joke here, but I will pass it up in favor of maintaining a G rating for this blog.

 
We spent last night at the Fern Hill bed and breakfast just as we did last year. After their numerous performances on Saturday, campers unwind with an all camp dance that evening. Parents return on the following day to collect them necessitating the overnight stay. The proprietor is a veteran mountain climber and was a little skeptical last year when I told him that Nicolai and I intended to climb Kilimanjaro. This year having heard of our adventure on the radio was most congratulatory and thrilled to discuss the climb at length.