3/12/10-3/22/10 Last of Marina, Problems leaving

3/12-22/10 Friday-Monday

Photos:  www.silverserenity.shutterfly.com/1555

Most of the rest of this time in Marina with Mom and Dad was spent with them and just being here. A daily routine of breakfast, walking at the beach, lunch, nap, and supper became the norm. Lucky and Elaine came over every night for supper. Much of the time it was easier to go out and grab something at a restaurant or fix left overs at home. Several times I would cook for all of us, but Mom and Dad thought that was too much work. A couple of their favorite places to eat is Sarita’s Mexican Restaurant, Marina Village-which is their favorite haunt and always Saturday breakfast spot, Denny’s, and Mike’s Pizza.

In this group of photos I have included photos from the Marina Beach where Mom and Dad take their almost daily walk and their back yard. It is amazing what they can grow outside here. In addition to cactus, there are jade plants that have been planted into a hedge, bleeding hearts, spider plants and most things that we think of as house plants. There are a couple apple trees and an orange lime tree. Yes, that is limes that are orange in color and taste a little different than a lime and makes great lemonade.

Knowing we are leaving on Saturday we make one more trip to Fisherman’s Wharf. After sampling the chowders and deciding on the best place, we split a chowder bread bowl and some smoked salmon. Yummy.

With a full belly we watched the pelicans for a while. A couple were on the pier and I was able to get really close and take some really close up photos. There were whale watching charter boats going out to sea. They charge from $25-$40 for a 3 hour cruise to hopefully spot whales, dolphins and other sea life. From the pier we watched a sea otter playfully swimming about and eating. Then a seal appeared for a short time before diving down for food again. On one side of the pier is a special floating dock built just for the seals to sun themselves. Only one was taking advantage of the beautiful day. Among the many boats in dock, the one we liked the most (not counting the large gazillion dollar private ship) was a pirate ship. Too bad it was mostly covered and we couldn’t see all of her. Off to the side is another pier which is for commercial fishing and processing.

Leaving the Wharf we ventured back towards the older historic area. There are many people who ride their bikes here, some homeless. There are people playing music hoping for handouts. But the area remains beautiful and everyone seems to appreciate the quaint beauty and take care of it.

Several nights we went through old photo albums. There were ones of Mom and her family in Germany, Dad and his family in South Dakota, then ones of the kids and places they had been growing up. It was very interesting to see Germany and the building where Thomas was born and how they all grew up.

We ate breakfast on Saturday morning and got packed up to leave. Then came the time to back up the truck to hitch up and it just wouldn’t start. Seems like the truck doesn’t want to leave. We tried several things and then called Lucky. He came over and after checking decided it was the started. However, this was not to be a simple job since the starter was under the manifold. A thirty minute do-it-yourself job became a tow it in to a shop and get it fixed job. Here it is noon on Saturday and the shop we spoke to hoped to have it done on Monday.

On Monday, all was in running order now. Much lighter in the pocketbook but now able to head out, we departed Marina around 2:00pm following a tearful goodbye. On to other adventures…….good bye family, for now.