A Day With Dad

My dad is 81 and curious. We spent the day together exploring the coastline. It all started when my husband and I found out we would not be able to go on vacation this summer. So I decided to take a "mini-vacation" --two days at my parent's home near the beach.

Normally when I visit, my mother and I spend quite a bit of "girl-time" together. But since her knee was out-of-sorts she elected to rest. "Go see what your dad is doing."

I found my dad in the garage installing a small countertop and sink. "Can you hand me the crecent wrench?"

Fast forward.....
I finally got my dad away from the garage and talked into a bike ride along the coast. Okay, he said, but first—could I warm him up for tomorrow's doubles tournament? As we whacked the ball back and forth, one of dad's younger friends walked by. "What age division are you playing in tomorrow, Don?"
"The 130's"
"The 'Oh My Gosh' division??"
(In the 130's division, he and his partners' ages must add up to 130 or over.)
It turned out Dad warmed ME up. "Keep your eye on the ball...all the way to the racket!"
"Ha! Ha! Try to get that one," he says.



After tennis, we latched the bikes to the back of the truck and headed across the bridge to Balboa Island to catch the ferry. Balboa island is full of little shops, small restaurants and ice cream stands. Dad wanted me to take a picture of the frozen banana sign.
We veered away from the shops and threaded along the tree-lined streets. Homes of all sizes sat elbow to elbow. Finding a spot to park was a miracle.

The ferry approaches the dock. Dad says, "C'mon!" I'm so excited. It's only about a 5 minute ride, but I always love it.

Rippling water slapped the boat. A cool wind blew the the clutter out of my head. I took a deep breath and relaxed.
We made it!

With the rolling sea to one side and colorful cottages on the other—there is so much to look at!
We stopped at a little cafe for lunch. I ordered fish and chips and Dad had a hamburger. We people-watched in front of a breezy window.
We rode on to a black top which stretched close to the water.
It belonged to a public school.
The school is in the background. I'm standing on the sand. What a fun place for recess!
To the side of us, a lifeguard watches summer visitors carefully.
We head back across the harbor.

I ran back to shore and captured the Balboa Penninsula ferris wheel spinning through the sky.


Thanks for coming along!

This ferris wheel reminds me that we need to keep looking up. I'm going to be posting about that soon.