WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2020, LONG BEACH, CA

 Wednesday, 9 September

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIK

It is still overcast and nice and cool in the morning.  

After coffee we gathered up all the laundry and walked to the other side of the RV park (naturally) to put it in the machines.  There were only two available and we needed three, so have to do it in shifts.  Rob helped me switch from wash to dry and start the third load and then he left.

Since he is on leave for two years he needed to turn in his weapon and badges to the FFDO office, so he headed off to do that and then he went to Costco and then to the store. The water in Gorman was awful, so we have a tray full of nasty tasting ice.  That was one of the things we needed from the store.

I did all the laundry.  Three trips back and forth to the laundry room and I was soaked from the humidity.  So, I had a nice long shower after putting everything away.  

I waited for Rob by playing on the computer.

He finally came back. We put away all the groceries and then he fixed himself some lunch.

After that we went for a bike ride.  We rode to Seal Beach.  We rode for the most part along the beach trail.  I love that, riding along the boardwalk through the beach. There are so many people out walking, riding bikes, jogging and skating.  All different sizes and shapes and outfits.  It is so fun.  We rode 10.5 miles.  We stopped in Seal Beach for a frozen yogurt and then turned around and rode back.

There is a horrible fire somewhere near by.  The sky above Long Beach is blue, but as you go toward Seal Beach you can see the smoke.  Its ugly.  You cannot smell the fire, but there is ask falling. I took this panoramic picture of the sky.  To the left is Long Beach. Isn’t it awful! 

We rode the 10 miles back to Long Beach.  It was a fun bike ride.  I really like hanging out in the area.  I loved it when we stayed at the Navel Weapons Station Seal Beach in the past as well.  I just really like being able to ride our bikes and check thing out at the beach.

When we got back it was still nice out so we plopped our chairs on the lawn next door and sat out for an adult beverage. That was nice as well.

Bella really likes hanging out with us in her bed.

We went back to our place and grilled up some dinner.  Then we watched a bit of TV before retiring.

About the Fires:

2 million acres have burned so far in California in the past two months.  There have been 45,000 lightning strikes with no rain associated with them.  There have been over 500 fires burning at one time.  I believe at the moment they are fighting 3 major fires.  One is up north of Fresno in the Shaver Lake area.  The National Guard had to air evacuate 300 camper who were surrounded by fire.  Now we are entering the windy season where the warm Santa Anna winds are going to pick up.  It is such a nightmare.

Most of the fires, this year, have been of natural causes, predominately lightning.  One of the fires they are battling right now was from a pyrotechnic.  A gender reveal party gone wrong. People just do not think.

And, the Coronavirus continues to spread.  2020 has been one heck of a year.