Birds, Boats, Benches...and more

Dear Diary, continuing where I left off yesterday, 

let's go for a walk in the sunshine...

...I've got my sunhat on, and my shades...

 The skies were blue, mostly.
There was a faint light brown smear of smog detectable
from certain vantage points, hovering on the horizon
but we'll ignore that for these photos.

 I spotted this bird at the top of a very tall pole

and tried to get a closer look.

I wonder what it feels like to be able to bend your neck

into an "S" curve like that.

 Come meander with me along the Rainbow Lagoon...
...they've provided this lazy boardwalk along the edge of the lagoon...

 The roof line of hotels, office buildings and condominiums

along Ocean Boulevard is softened by palm trees,

colorful boats, and shining water.

 An unusual bench, in keeping with the nautical theme.

 Another view of the bench...taken right into the sun.

 I couldn't help noticing this colorful bit of information.

Viewed straight on, I like the visual effect of the striations.

 From one angle, this is what we see...

...local rivers and streams as they would look if untouched by man.

And from the other side...those streams are channeled and directed 

along giant cement troughs for much of their path through the Los Angeles basin

and down to the sea.

Here is the bogus lighthouse...
....it does shine with light at night,

but it's only for show.
And a lovely show it is, too.

 Me and the birds are making tracks....

Excuse me...the birds and I are making tracks!

They seemed to be heading off into the sand...

 ...while I am heading back past the aquarium

and admiring the luxury high-rise condos looming up

over on Ocean Boulevard...

 Back over the bridge...I couldn't resist this collection of curves,
including the ferris wheel in the distance.

 We are at The Pike at Rainbow Harbor...

...a great place to walk and see the sights...

There is certainly plenty to see;
photo opportunities everywhere I looked.

...all this structure and line and shadow...

This is the west side of the Convention Center and I am headed way down there

as far as you can see, and even further...

This is the vantage point I'm looking for...

...and there is the ferris wheel from the opposite side...

casting its shadow most wonderfully

onto the wall of the Laugh Factory.

More curves everywhere I look.

I do adore a curvy line.

I think my walk yesterday, including all the steps inside the bookstore,

probably added up to about three miles, maybe four.

Last week I was on a "no meats, no sweets" fast...

...this week I'm trying to go for a good long walk every day.

 So far, so good!