Run Fox Run

While out in California for the wedding, we had some time to take in some local sights. Whenever we go back to the west coast, I am invariably drawn back to my favorite places from my youth. This time we had a chance to go to the beach and visited Natural Bridges State beach. I can remember going here as a kid with my sister/mom/dad to look at the tidepools, with my friends in highschool for dawn patrol with CCMDs and DP and later at night to imbibe adult beverages, and then with Jenn when we were first dating. So now we’ve added Leda to that historical record. She loves the beach and usually heads straight for the surf (though I’m sure she was surprised the water temperature turned out to be much colder than the balmy Atlantic). We played on the beach and walked around the tidepools where we “petted” sea anemones and played with a wayward starfish. Leda was pretty darn impressed.

Second stop on the trip down memory lane was Oak Meadow park where I spent many an hour playing in my youth. The best part about this playground is that they have maintained a number of the original distinctive items from 30 years ago. These include the antique fire engine and the World War II era fighter plane. Of course before liability suits and cookie cutter playgrounds, the aluminum surface of this fighter jet would reach “burn your hand” temperatures in the summer months. Now it is safely coated with what appears to be several layers of Bondo and epoxy paint. Leda was game for these new play surfaces, but still will head for the swings at the beginning of any park visit. Photos of the trip are available here.