California Dreaming

Happy New Year to you, 2016 has officially arrived. I found myself once again ringing in the New Year in southern California after visiting my sister and her family in Phoenix for Christmas. The trek to San Diego has become a yearly holiday tradition since my first west coast outing in 2000.

I spent the majority of my time with my dear friends, Renee and Dana Cavanaugh, on Coronado Island watching College football and doing all we could to ring in the New Year. I even made my world famous sausage balls and “wieners in a blanket” to continue a southern football tradition out on the west coast. I was extremely elated with the outcome of the Alabama – Michigan State playoff game. Now it is on to the Championship game with Clemson. I plan to watch that game in Sweet Home Alabama. Roll Tide!

One of the more majestic views that I’ve seen while driving around,

Is the view looking back over the bay to San Diego from the top of the Coronado Bridge. At the west end of the bridge, a collection of sailboats are moored in the harbor with the skyline of the city in the background. I have been wanting to capture the image since my very first visit and was finally able to talk Renee into driving in the right hand lane and slow down enough for me to lean out the window and capture the view. Given her fear of driving in that lane over the bridge I must say her “white knuckle” trip was very much appreciated and well worth it for me.

When talking about Coronado, there possibly is no greater treasure then the “HOTEL DEL” and no greater establishment to visit during the holidays. My best friend, Tom Pfingsten from my school days in Tampa and his wife Nancy choose to come over and join us for lunch at one of the restaurants and then go over to the Hotel Del. As you walk the grounds, you have the rare opportunity to view the magnificent holiday decorations, as well as, take in the rich history of a national treasure. We spent New Years day touring the grounds and as we were leaving came across a pack of Packard’s parked in the VIP parking area. Most likely an automobile club outing, it was quite simply an amazing collection of American Automobile history and worthy of a photo or two.

It is always a pleasure to visit the west coast around the holidays and an even greater pleasure to spend time with very dear friends. Visiting with Tom and Nancy and Dana and Rene has become a “holiday family tradition” for me. It is a tradition, as I have grown in age, that I value and look forward to each and every year. The time we share and their exceptional hospitality is something that is greatly appreciated and something that I dearly love. I am already looking forward to next year. Like a California setting sun, it is something that I will never get enough of. ENJOY!!!!!