A Whole Lotta Lickin' Going On

I saw so many friendly dogs at the contest; they were everywhere.
Here's Judy with her sixteen-month old Golden Retriever, Ricochet.

A Real Natural from the Land Down Under

Michael and his dog, Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie (dingo), love to surf together. Michael told me, "She never learned how to surf, she just jumped on my board and took off." Abbie Girl is a champion. She took first place in the Del Mar surfing dog contest last month and second in today's competition!

A Fellow Blogger

Kia and her owner, Rene, had lots to talk about. Kia has had her own blog for eight years. She's a big-time surfer winning other contests and taking third place at the Loew's competition today. The funny thing is, though, Kia wears a platinum wig during events sometimes. I wonder if that hair ever gets in her eyes?

...........the Reluctant Surfer and Friends

Well...........this is one way to get out to the waves!

Is that Ball Big Enough?

Dave and his daughter's dog, Marley, were enjoying the sights and had a little time to chat with me! I loved making so many new friends!

Dear Old Friends and Family

Jason and Lucia were part of "Team Surf Dog". They kept me company and made sure I was well taken care of all day long.
Did you notice the little "Mini Me Surf Dog"? Mom made it special for Lucia when she travels as she's a world famous photographer and my puppy had to be small enough to fit into her camera bag when she went through customs and security.

From All Over the World

This German t.v. reporter and her cameraman are in America to film unusual competitions. After the surfing dog contest, they are heading north to San Francisco and Sonomo Valley------there's an ugly duck contest up there and another surfing competition.

I Love Mellow Dogs

T.J. and I became fast friends. He had just competed and was recouping in his director's chair watching the world go by. He has an extra long tongue that always sticks out. T.J.'s owners love him lots and made sure all his needs were met, and more. Later on in the day, he was wearing sunglasses and looked like a celebrity!

Looking After the Crowd

Ryan is one of the many lifeguards who patrol Imperial Beach and makes sure everyone's safe. Yeah for us!

And Champions for Another Year

Scott, and his daughers, Tyler and Kai, came in first in the tandem competition. They were doing handstands and headstands, and Zoe, their Jack Russell, was riding the nose of their looooooooong board looking as pretty as you please!!
Check out Scott's surf website: http://www.chandlersurf.com
Bravo to all the competitors!
This was a really fun day at the beach and I'm sure I'll be back again.

Taking Off on the "Big Road Trip"

Okay, here I am at the Honolulu International Airport ready to fly to the Mainland. I always use a Skycap because it's so much faster and way less stress than waiting in a long, long line.
It's worth the few extra dollars!
So................up, up and away!

Flying the Friendly Skies of Hawaiian

Mike, on the left, and John flew me to Los Angles. It was a pretty smooth flight at 37,000 feet.
I landed and drove straight south to San Diego looking for adventure!

Looking for Breakfast

Well...........I ended up at the most fabulous pastry shop called "Extraordinary Desserts" in downtown San Diego. Look at those incredibly decorated cakes.
Wow!!!!! My little doggie mouth was watering.
Go to: http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com
But......being a sensible pooch, I decided to find a place that served a traditional breakfast of eggs and toast.
I'm coming back to the pastry shop later and I know that for sure!

Oh, My, What Huge Portions

I ended up having breakfast at "Hash House A Go Go" on Fifth Avenue near Mission Hills, a little neighborhood in San Diego. Interesting name, don't you think, Hash House A Go Go. Breakfast was so fresh and tasty.
Make sure if you ever go there, you share your meal. The plate was gigantic!

Asking for Advice

Nathan was teaching me about computer stuff at the Apple Store in Fashion Valley. I have to figure out how to download video and he was very patiently showing me how to delete old files on my computer so I'd have enough space to make a movie!! Yikes! That sounds serious!
Get ready for Surf Dog live!!

Down Home at the County Fair

Carol greeted me at the gate to the San Diego County Fair, formerly known as the Del Mar Fair. It's at the racetrack.
It was fun!! Look at the next few pictures to see what was going on.

Take a Whiff.........ummmmmm

I love roses and California is a place where they grow so well. They are everywhere. There was a lavendar one in the flower show at the fair named "Love Potion" that I'm going to buy and put in my garden in Hawaii. The scent was heavenly!

A Piece of Southern California History

The Alvarado House was built almost 130 years ago. It was saved and moved to the fairgrounds by the Del Mar Historical Society to show visitors what a summer beach cottage looked like long ago. Look at the next two photographs to see what was inside.

Hello, Hello, Can You Hear Me?

This is an old fashioned switchboard. It's how everyone used to be connected by telephones. There was an operator who worked the wires and plugs switching back and forth so you could make your calls.
We've come a long way in a short time if you ask me!

Did they Surf?

This was an old poster in the Alvarado House. It was one of many objects and artifacts from life in Southern California a hundred years ago. Drop by the fair, visit the house, take your time, and learn lots more. It was very interesting, in my little doggie opinion.

On the Road Again

Heading down the highway after the San Diego County Fair.

Just One Beachtown After Another

California's coast is long and there are charming beachtowns all along the way. This is just one I stopped in to see what was happening. I was also getting a bit hungry for dinner. Good to know there are lifeguards patrolling the beachs all along the way!

Familiar Faces in Faraway Places

There I was in Del Mar sitting on a bench, watching the waves and a fancy community event on a grassy knoll that slooped down to the sand, when someone walking by called out Mom's name.
And who was it? Heather Sandison, Carolyn's daughter, born and raised on the North Shore, with her cousin, Denby. Heather lives in Del Mar and Denby was visiting enroute to nursing school in Omaha. (Heather's in the front.)
We chatted for awhile and exchanged big, big hugs, which is typical of residents of Alohaland, and were on our ways!

Apple Pie for Breakfast?

Well..........I was a naughty dog, I ate apple pie ala mode for dessert for breakfast. I was pretending it was morning pastry. It was homemade and I just couldn't resist. I was at Clayton's, a diner in Coronado, a beautifully-quaint beachtown near San Diego.
The eatery was on Orange Street right in the heart of town. Missy and Louis kept me smiling with their friendly dispositions.

In the Heart of Downtown San Diego

I sniffed out the Children's Museum and spent time playing. There was lots to do. Find out more. Go to: http://www.thinkplaycreate.org

My Kind of Place

The San Diego Children's Museum is the only one in the world that concentrates just on art!
Being creative gets my happy juices flowing. Sit down right now and do something creative and feel better---color, paint, draw, write a poem, pick and arrange flowers, cut out paperdolls, the list goes on and on!

Taking a Spin Around the Museum

Sabrina was using a "Legway" and making her way around the entrance to the museum. Looks like fun and good exercise to me!

Paint a Car------Slop it On!

Albert's waiting for you to join him to paint this little "bug". Join him and Lauren, way in the back, for a day full of fun and creativity at the San Diego Children's Museum.

Hanging on for Dear Life

Bennett was spinning and spinning around this really cool piece of playground equipment in the Museum playground. It just keeps going round and round as you push off like you would on a scooter. It really moves fast! Mom could only stay on for a few turns before she started getting motion sickness. It didn't stop Bennett or me. We just kept going round and round.

Down on the Farm........Yum, Yum!

Oh boy, was I lucky. Lunch in a tomato patch in Waialua. I was at Jeanne Vana's Big Wave Tomato Farm. Heaven!!
That's Sam holding me and Chaum with a platter of roasted corn. All the food was locally grown and prepared on the spot---fish, asparagus, three different bean dishes, roasted tomato soup, heirloom tomatoes with Jeanne's homemade mozarella cheese, beef from North Shore Cattle Company, and tomato pie for dessert! What a feast!

Slow Food-----Prepared on the Spot

Jeanne, holding me, Bobbie, and Jessica were working hard. There were 35 members of the North Shore Outdoor Circle enjoying a special luncheon prepared just for them. Look at those platters of vine-ripened tomatoes, mozarella cheese, and fresh basil. Wow!

Taking Good Care of Us

Little eight-year old Hanna was helping her mom serve us lunch and she was doing a bang-up job!

We Were All Smiles

Mom, her friend, Pam Boyer, and I had full tummies. What a leisurely luncheon!!
Pam is the co-founder of the Haleiwa Farmers' Market where I spend my Sunday mornings doing arts and crafts with the keiki (children).

Rub-A-Dub-Dub-Where's My Rubber Ducky?

Yes, it's my very first bath! And just in time----Mom's getting me ready for my "Big Road Trip".
The French bubbles made it more fun and do I smell good now! So.......I'm ready to meet the world!

Keeping the Neighborhood Beautiful

Bobby (in the front), Bob, AKA Santa, Marilyn, and Roger of the North Shore Outdoor Circle manned their pitchforks for a morning "Mulch Party" at Weed Circle. It's the rotary as you enter my beach town of Haleiwa. See the pile around the tree behind Roger? The mulch will be spread around the tree to keep the weeds down and the moisture in, plus, it will keep the stringtrimmers away from the trunk. Bravo to these volunteers!!

My Newest Friend from the Mainland

Chef Noodle, from the Seattle area, and his puppeteer, Kianna, visited me at my Keiki Corner booth at the Haleiwa Farmers' Market. I'm there every Sunday morning from 9 to 1. Come meet me! We can have a conversation and get to know each other. You can also buy freshly-picked local produce and have breakfast. (I will be away until after July 20th as I'll be on my "Big Road Trip"!)

Is it a Goal? Is the Ball In? Is it Out?

Watching polo matches in Mokuleia made for a fun and exciting Sunday afternoon. That's Melani at the end of the field. She waves the flag up if the ball is in and down if it's outside the goalposts. Yikes-----now you see why she is wearing a helmet! That little, white ball in her hand is rock hard and flies down the field after being hit full tilt with a wooden mallet.
The polo schedule is posted on: http://www.hawaiipolo.com

A Polo Picnic in Paradise

Nancy and Rick are relaxing and watching the horses as they gallop up and down the field. They were thundering by and making me a touch nervous. That little, white ball could have easily come my way! Notice the beach in the backgroud. Many locals tailgate and swim and make a full day of it at the polo fields.

A Referee in the Saddle

Gordon was so kind to give me a short ride as he was coming down the field after officiating a match.
The game is divided into segments called, are you ready, "chuckers"! Isn't that a funny word?

Hail..........To Being a Good Sport!

I learned that polo matches can get pretty rough. Debi told me it's an old tradition that when the game is over, the victors and the vanquished get together and drink a toast out of that silver trophy. It's a custom passed down from England. All of the team members pass the cup to each other after taking a sip, and that promotes goodwill.

Son Followed in His Mother's Footsteps

That's Mike Dailey with his mom, Murph. She played polo for 17 years, Mike plays too. He's been at it for a long time, even in college.
Mike shared the history of this 2,000 year-old sport that started in Persia.
Some interesting facts are: Hawaii was the first state in the Union where polo was played. The first match was on the island of Maui. Matches were played in Kapiolani Park in the late 1800's. Prince Kuhio was an avid fan of the sport.
Polo is thriving on the North Shore!! Come out to the beach on Sunday afternoon and see for yourself!
Remember: check out the website for details.
Go to: http://www.hawaiipolo.com

And if You Want to Try Something NEW

Call the number on the board and have fun!!

Open! The Sunset Beach Recreation Center

Verta, with the City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department, was making sure the jugs were full for the dedication of the Sunset Beach Recreation Center. They were!
Hibiscus tea was a gift from the Haleiwa Farmers' Market.

There was a Big, Happy Crowd

Marilyn, with the name tag, and Patsy joined many neighborhood members for the Dedication.
There was a great turnout to listen to Mayor Hanneman, Rep. Magaoay, and Councilman Dela Cruz praise our community for being persistent and patient----it took 23 years to get this facility open!
Wow, we felt special having so many dignitaries present!

Playing Beautiful Music as Always!

Auntie Dorothy Awai (in the hat), Bill, and Makua entertained the crowd. There was so much love and goodwill in the air! Everyone was happy that our Recreation Center was opening up! I was too!
Now, with this great facility, we can have lots of classes-----art, cooking, Tai Chi, yoga, and so many more. This is one of the best things that's happened to our neighborhood since the Bike Path!

Ready to Do a Little Art Project?

Becca was in one of the Craft Rooms setting up to do yarn art after the Dedication! A Craft Room---how great! I love doing crafts! It gets my happy juice flowing and that's good for my body!

The Fire Company was There Too

The firemen from the Sunset Station and police officers from Wahiawa were on hand for the Dedication. We were so happy they could make it!
It's so special being part of this community. It's like a small town where everyone knows everyone!

Cutting the Maile Lei Opens the Door

Here we are-----Mom, Bob Leinau, Les Chang, Mayor Hanneman doing the cutting, Councilman Dela Cruz, and Rep. Magaoay.
And the new Sunset Beach Recreation Center is officially open!!

TV Cameras were Documenting the Event

Les Chang, the Director of Parks and Recreation, was being interviewed by Ashley. Channel 9 and 2 were there! We made the news! Now the island knows the Sunset Beach Recreation Center is up and running!