January 1-6 -- Last Days in Southern California...

I'm at my dad's condo right now, typing this while all of the Los Angeles basin is spread out before me, lit up by millions of lights. It's time to continue with Travels of Discovery -- or at least the "hiatus" portion of it, spending the winter in Overton, Nevada. First, though, I visit Lancaster, CA and the Lance factory, where the Lance campers and travel trailers are built. Tomorrow the 7th I'll be meeting with Bob Rogers, Lance's advertising director, and discussing possible ways to help promote Lance and its products while I'm on the road. After that, it's the factory tour, where you can see how your camper or travel trailer is constructed "from the ground up". My new trailer, Discovery II, is waiting for me at the Lance dealer in Mesquite, Nevada, but the earliest I'll have the opportunity to pick "her" up is January 19. After visiting the Lance factory, I'll head to Portal and "Faranuf", my newly-purchased house down there, to drop off furniture and things before heading back to Overton, and classes being held in Las Vegas to become a "certified wildlife technician" for the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Overton Wildlife Management Area. So lots to do just as the new year starts -- but before that, here are some last views taken during my remaining time in San Pedro, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula...

Lower Willow Springs Trail, "behind the gates" in Rolling Hills

Red-tailed Hawk, Purple Canyon, Rolling Hills

The "Secret Garden" of a Rolling Hills bridle trail

Townsend's Warbler, Rolling Hills

Cactus Wren, Ocean Trails

Red-breasted Nuthatch, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes

There's a story behind the above photo of the Red-breasted Nuthatch...That day I went to the botanic garden -- and I was hoping I'd see an "RBN", as I hadn't seen one there in over a year (they're at best hit-and-miss at the garden). A friend of mine, Bea Rasof, had passed away in 2013, and her son Henry and friends dedicated one of the garden's benches to her memory -- "she loved nature, peace, poetry and dance". I sat on that bench -- and this Red-breasted Nuthatch suddenly appeared on a pine tree opposite from where I was sitting. Coincidence? Who knows, but I thanked Bea all the same for the sighting...

Allen's Hummingbird, South Coast Botanic Garden

Ruby-crowned Kinglet at the water fountain, South Coast Botanic Garden

Ancient Murrelets, Marina del Rey main channel (thanks to my friend, birding "wunderkid" Jose Sandoval for spotting them WAY out there)

Mew Gull, Ballona Channel

Red-throated Loon, Marina del Rey main channel

Downtown Los Angeles skyline, sunset of January 6

Now back to life on the road...