SporkSports - San Diego, California, August 2002

(5-31-08)

One of my friends and his wife invited me to stay at their beach house rental with a few friends as a vacation at the end of summer. Not being one to turn down a good thing, I chipped in and joined them for 7 days in sunny Southern California. We didn't do a whole lot, but the best part was just hanging out with no worries with some friends. No work, no stress, just good food, good friends, and a good time.

Saturday, August 3rd, 2002, Dave makes some phone calls from the front porch of the house
Sunday, August 4th, The ocean, as seen about 200 feet from the front door of our house
Tuesday, August 6th, We watched some paraglider dudes cruise around

Tuesday, A multiple image view of the ocean and part of the city

Tuesday, A nice sunset
Wednesday, August 7th, Myself, Ben, Teresa, and Dave all go to Sea World. We start with the dolphin pool and get to pet the dolphins.
Wednesday, then it's on to the.. sea ray.. or something petting area. About now I realize it would have been a good idea to take a picture of the signs saying what area I was in since I have no idea whatsoever exactly what animals these were.

Sea World has a lot of eels.
A view of the rays as seen from below. They're like big underwater glider planes.
Another good sea ray picture.

Sea World uses the Archimedes water screw! This concept was invented by Archimedes back over 200 years BC as an efficient way to transport water uphill and is (obviously) a design still used today.
For a brief moment I picture myself in a Miami Vice episode.
We had the behind the scenes tour, so we got to see a dolphin trainer bringing one of the dolphins up on to their scale. This one weighed about 140 pounds.

Seals love to be fed. Not seen in this picture are the aggressive birds which try to snatch food out of people's hands.
Shamu! The world's oldest performing killer whale makes an appearance.
You can surf on anything in California, even whales.

Three of the whales waving goodbye at the end of the show.
A rediculously high jumping dolphin.
The polar bears were sleeping in.

Looking west from the Sea World tower.
Finally, we pet the dolphins again just before leaving.
Friday, August 9th, another good sunset over the water.

Saturday, August 10th, time to drive home. Outside Denny's, Ben spots a shopping cart perched atop the bus stop. I didn't put it there. Honest!
A nice little pond at Seaport Village.
Statue of an eagle, also at Seaport Village.

Downtown San Diego
A very sharp new Mercedes-Benz SL500.
Fast and Furious, baby... Toyota Tercel with Altezza's, unpainted combat wing, stickers, and bling bling rims.

Wow, this must be the Mecca for singles or something. Who'd have thunk it?
It's hot out there! Dave's car turns 60,000 miles in the middle of the desert. Also gotta love Arizona's 75mph limit highways.
Finally almost home we start to work through the mountains around Phoenix.

Page Created: 9-24-02

Saturday, August 3rd, 2002, Dave makes some phone calls from the front porch of the house	Sunday, August 4th, The ocean, as seen about 200 feet from the front door of our house	Tuesday, August 6th, We watched some paraglider dudes cruise around
Tuesday, A multiple image view of the ocean and part of the city
Tuesday, A nice sunset	Wednesday, August 7th, Myself, Ben, Teresa, and Dave all go to Sea World. We start with the dolphin pool and get to pet the dolphins.	Wednesday, then it's on to the.. sea ray.. or something petting area. About now I realize it would have been a good idea to take a picture of the signs saying what area I was in since I have no idea whatsoever exactly what animals these were.
Sea World has a lot of eels.	A view of the rays as seen from below. They're like big underwater glider planes.	Another good sea ray picture.
Sea World uses the Archimedes water screw! This concept was invented by Archimedes back over 200 years BC as an efficient way to transport water uphill and is (obviously) a design still used today.	For a brief moment I picture myself in a Miami Vice episode.	We had the behind the scenes tour, so we got to see a dolphin trainer bringing one of the dolphins up on to their scale. This one weighed about 140 pounds.
Seals love to be fed. Not seen in this picture are the aggressive birds which try to snatch food out of people's hands.	Shamu! The world's oldest performing killer whale makes an appearance.	You can surf on anything in California, even whales.
Three of the whales waving goodbye at the end of the show.	A rediculously high jumping dolphin.	The polar bears were sleeping in.
Looking west from the Sea World tower.	Finally, we pet the dolphins again just before leaving.	Friday, August 9th, another good sunset over the water.
Saturday, August 10th, time to drive home. Outside Denny's, Ben spots a shopping cart perched atop the bus stop. I didn't put it there. Honest!	A nice little pond at Seaport Village.	Statue of an eagle, also at Seaport Village.
Downtown San Diego	A very sharp new Mercedes-Benz SL500.	Fast and Furious, baby... Toyota Tercel with Altezza's, unpainted combat wing, stickers, and bling bling rims.
Wow, this must be the Mecca for singles or something. Who'd have thunk it?	It's hot out there! Dave's car turns 60,000 miles in the middle of the desert. Also gotta love Arizona's 75mph limit highways.	Finally almost home we start to work through the mountains around Phoenix.