Long Beach?

Spent the weekend in Long Beach, Ca. Medical conference for my wife Saturday and Sunday. All of us went to support her. She hates going to these things without the family and since it is a short 4 hour drive (and we go to the OC beaches or SD every three months or less) no reason not to go?

Well, unless it is in Long Beach. Long Beach certainly is no Jewel on the Pacific Coast. It is better than I thought, well at least till we spent time at the beach. They do have a very nice Aquarium which we spent a whopping 5 hours at. Something for all our kids there. The Otters (yes, these kids are mine) were the big hit. Have always had something for Sea Otters. Ray touching is always a hit. They even have a few not willing to bite human flesh small sharks to touch. Anyway, the Beaches of Long Beach - yuck - is good place to start. Maybe, Environmental Superfund site is were I end it. Well, maybe not that bad? However, Long Beach? why do you let all this garbage and debris sit there on the beaches? OTC empty medical bottles, plastic beverage bottles, Starbuck containers, bottle caps - just junk! Just yuck! Noticed parents raking up 4-5 foot areas clearing it all just to find clean sand for the kids to play. As they were doing this, they uncovered more garbage buried in the sand! Heard 3-4 verbal promptings at the Aquarium with regards to not littering and for recycling. Hey here is good idea - take all the people at the Aquarium down to the beach! Show them life aquatic in it's real life state in Long Beach. Then ask everyone to pick up just two debris/garbage items and toss them in the trash. The beach actually might be cleared in 15 minutes! Well, accept for the ones buried in the sand. Obviously a continual problem if you dig down and find more of it! Clean up your own freakin' backyard!

Off my soapbox now. Went further south to our favorite OC beaches. Pristine. Nothing but pure sand and no garbage. Great surf action. Wish I had my board along for the trip. Kinda hard to take care of my kids and surf. No matter how out going we try to be, I am not sure if my four year old is ready for surfing with his Dad? Maybe next year?

Not much in running over the weekend. I got in a minor 3.5 mile dreadmill run at the Residence Inn. I usually give most of there locations 3-4 stars. However, this one - workout room was a sauna. No AC, yes it was only 3.5 miles, but I think I sweated 13.5 miles worth. I usually try to get in one nice beach run on our two day weekend trips. However, with the wife in Conference 10 hours each day - it was hard to work out the time while keeping 4 kids entertained. It was a fun trip overall, despite the lack of a real run and of course being in Long Beach. I will say Long Beach has some life to it. Interesting collection of Architecture thru the decades along Ocean Blvd. Like seeing that perserved visual/design history from the 1920's (if not earlier) to the 1990's. The Port/Marina area draws a lot of people. Still, just not my SoCal Coastal town. More of a OC - San Diego kinda guy. However, Malibu area can be great as well.

I did scout out some new runs. Actually, old ideas I need to start doing when I am there. Crystal Cove State Park has a network of running/walking Mt. Biking trails. Must do them the next time we are there. Most are right along the beach area, however, they do have a Canyon loop trail as well. When do I get to move there? When do I get to live out my life in a place a I really love?

The aquamarine ocean, blue skies, the flowers, blossoms, palm trees and miles of great beaches (except for Long Beach). I guess all that is for another blog of mine. Great place to be a runner - B Who U B - Cheers!.