Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Where could Laureen be?

Way back in 1971 three people by the name of Jim Stauffer, John Cunningham and Dr. Rose Ekeberg came up with a wonderful plan on trying to save pinnipeds found stranded along the beaches near Laguna Beach.

A little assistance, please - we need you to help us.

What made saving the lives of sea lions, seals and walruses (though there aren't any walruses along the Pacific shore of Laguna - or none we've been told about) so appealing to the folks mentioned above? There wasn't much thought in it all at first but Jim being a lifeguard at Newport Beach just north of Laguna Beach happened upon an incident that would change the future of the beach communities from Long Beach to San Diego in a very short time.

Okay, not Jim's station but pretty!

A young girl came running up to Jim while he was duty and told him a young seal was in need of help lying on the sand not far from the lifeguard tower Jim was manning. He drove to the spot and sure enough a young pup was just stretched out in the sands almost lifeless. Jim carefully picked up the animal, to ensure it wouldn't decide to take a hunk out of him, and placed the sea creature into the rear of the lifeguard jeep. Instantly the animal leaped out and Jim thinking it was fine left it alone and returned to duty. But, being a conscience man, he drove back after duty and found the little seal still lying motionless on the sand. He drove to Dover Shores Animal Hospital and learned the pup had lung-worms - so with the right medicine and loving care Jim gave the pup it regained its health and soon was swimming back into the cold Pacific waters.

Pinnipedias

By the way, pinniped is the descriptor used for seals, sea lions, and walruses. Pinnipedia means fin or feather-footed. Just wanted to clear that up.

News of Jim the Lifeguard heroic work keeping a seal pup alive went up and down the coast and soon he was receiving dozens of calls per day about a seal here and a sea lion there in desperate need of love and care. Jim got his friend and fellow lifeguard, John Cunningham to assist him and then the recruited Dr. Rose Ekeberg of Laguna Canyon Animal Hospital to provide medicine and advice on how to help these animals - Dr. Ekeberb even temporarily would hold the animals in her clinic until they were well enough to return to sea.

Gorgeous but cold and dangerous sometimes

From barn to sea rescue facility - not bad at all

Quite a trio and this was before the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. They were ahead of the game and located a place to house and tend to the wounded or ill sea animals at a local barn owned by the city of Laguna Beach. It was renovated into a sea rescue facility and the ownership was offered to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center where it remains to this day as a fully functioning rescue and rehabilitation establishment.

Being helped on a daily basis.

J and L visited the non-profit business and were very impressed with not only the facility but the wonderful care the mostly volunteers take with each new 'patient' that is brought in on an almost daily basis. The cause of the stress on these beautiful creatures vary from undernourishment, dehydration and respiratory infections. Of course, there are also injuries from fishing accidents (human induced), shark bites, various diseases and even parasites.

Judy the volunteer of volunteers

We met a wonderful volunteer by the name of Judy who told us that during the busy season, late winter or early spring, the facility may get 5 or 6 calls per day of a stranded pinniped along the coast at which time the professionals race out in vehicles to the different beach locations and do what they do best - rescue and rehabilitate.

I'm ready to go home to the sea

As soon as the animals can feed themselves, pass a rigorous vet health screening they are allowed to return to the open sea - this can take a week or a month or more depending on the severity of the wounds or illness.

Water, sun, food and friends - where do we sign up?

By the looks of the swimming and yapping seals we witnessed in a large pool they didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. Free food, plenty of diving space, friends to play with, and the loving attention of volunteers like Judy - who would want to venture back into the dark and sometimes hostile waters off the coast of Southern California?

J even thought of moving in with the guys - he enjoys fish every once in awhile.

Who's that cuddly bear?

What a handsome seal!

Racing Like the Wind

But then again  it is fast!

When out and about the thought of getting into a fast little go cart seems the right thing to do – or perhaps not for everyone.

Well it was for J and L – perhaps there had been some pre-planning ahead of time by their daughters and son-in-laws but if they had been out and about they may just . . .

A very Patriotic sort of raceway - nice touch

A day at the tracks driving a Honda-powered 200cc cart trying to be careful while pursuing first place with no regards for safety, perhaps a bit, meant a lot of fun. It was just another place to explore locally and take advantage of what was in our own backyard – almost since it was only a short half hour drive to Fast Lap in Ontario.

Fast Lap with, at this writing, has an indoor facility in Ontario, California and Las Vegas, Nevada offering some pretty thrilling moments behind the wheel of these four stroke speedsters. Some of the ‘karts’ can go up to 50 mph but most have been throttled down to 25 to 30 mph for the safety of the customers.

These go-carts are not for the faint at heart

No, this is not an advertisement but just a blog about getting out and seeing what there is to do with friends and family nearby that is exciting and thrilling.

With some imagination the driver feels as though they are at the Indianapolis 500. Okay, perhaps not but there is something to be said about being strapped into a vehicle so  low to the ground it can be reached by simply dropping one’s hand to the cement track. Recommendation here – don’t do that while tooling around the track trying to get a head of the other drivers – good way to lose a finger.

Researching this indoor racing track brought a many things to light: no license is needed but children under 18 years old must have an adult supervisor, drivers must be 51 inches or taller and weigh no more than 350 pounds, no open toed shoes can be worn, helmets must be worn at all times, no intentionally running into other cars (duh – really but it has to be spelled out for some drivers), watch for flags on the track (yellow to slow, red to stop, white and black striped race over and green meaning ‘smash the gas pedal’).

Who is that Blur?

Whenever traveling even to a locale nearby research is important – as listed above simple things like wearing flip-flops (sandals, huaraches, or whatever isn’t allowed) would have ruined the days since the concept of racing would have been a no-no according to Fast Lap. Research isn’t only for faraway lands but those things that also happen near your abode.

With the green flag twelve drivers took off trying desperately to get ahead of each other with but with the curving twenty foot wide track lined with large rubber tires for protection obtaining first place on the first lap was with difficulty. Right, left, right, straight at speeds from zero to more than twenty-five tested each driver’s mettle as they concentrated not only on the track but those speeding around them. After a couple of laps it was easier to judge distances both in gassing the carts and braking allowing sophisticated driving to occur – okay, perhaps it was just trying not to bump into the carts and trying with all your might to pull ahead of the cart in front of you without ramming head on into the wall of tires.

L and J looking oh so sexy

Of course, attention must be paid for the slower drivers – those who are simply out for Sunday drive instead of understanding the competition of RACING! Carts are meant to be sped in not coast in – drive, pivot, fly in and out of traffic, snarl, growl, and get into first place.

There are individual timers on each cart so at the end of the race the driver could see their time but we all realize that a true champion only races against themselves. Not! You gotta beat the other drivers to the checkered flag.

Waiting for the Green and then gun it for all its worth

You just gotta!

You're next, and this time I mean it!

Three fifteen or so minute races went by way too quickly but luckily between each race there was a cooling down period for the drivers – Adrenalin was pumping through the veins and everyone needed a breather. One on and one off is the normal for Fast Lap unless there are no crowds which is hardly the case since the place seems to be always hopping.

Helmets and driving suits – yes just like the big adults in the racing world – then donning the gloves awaiting the next round of races only built the excitement that was to come.

Antici --- pa ---tion

The engines were started by the Fast Lap crew and then the flag was dropped again – smell of gasoline mixed with oil was in the air – refreshing to say the least considering the entire venue is enclosed in a mammoth building. Luckily these tracks have huge exhaust systems that change the air in the building every 4 or 5 minutes which is needed or they’d be having nothing but a bunch of coughing and hacking drivers making way toward the exits.

Two hours and three races later – it was crowded and sometimes the wait between races can be a half hour or more but it was worth it. A few sore ribs from bashing into a rubber wall left J in pain but smiling nonetheless.

Donning the racing gear

Who be the speed demon out there?

A day with family in a nearby entertainment facility is what is called for sometimes. 

Three Days and No Agenda

Iconic sight on the boardwalk

The sun rose over the eastern canyons of Laugna Beach with a brightness that promised well needed warmth.

Thank goodness for the rising sun

Warmth requested at a beach community in Southern California even during winter seemed a little farfetched but when J and L left their suite at the Laguna Canyon Resort for a day’s outing recently the thermometer in the car registered a dismal 32 degrees – yes, freezing!

May not look like it but it was cold!!

Uncalled for – undemocratic – unearthly – unwarm – and downright chilly.

The Resort was only a minute from the Coast Highway but in that short drive we gained the sight of the blue ocean and ten degrees. The day was looking promising for wandering the sights of the eclectic world of Laguna Beach with its myriad of enticing shops and delicious restaurants.

Chilly but a sweater did the trick.

What better place to have a breakfast while watching the glint of sun skid across the Pacific toward the outlying island of Catalina only twenty-six miles to the west? We found the Cliff and a marvelous breakfast while watching paddle boarders making their way southward over the clear blue waters.

Yes, the day was going to be fabulous with the clear skies, full stomach and nothing on the agenda – literally nothing.

Laguna Beach - a beautiful place to visit

Normally when on an outing J and L ensure there is no downtime with the belief that life is short and every second of traveling needs to be full of exploration but on this three day holiday to the coast no plans except relaxing and walking the crowded and welcoming streets of this idyllic beach town of nearly 23,000 souls.

Laguna Beach was founded in 1887 even though people had been living in the region far before that; the Native American tribe Tongva lived there centuries before the white settlers ventured down the canyons created millions by the San Diego Creek carving its way through the San Joaquin Hills. Then in 1944, the actual town of Laguna Beach was created and the rest is history.

New Orleans? No, Laguna Beach.

The storybook town has played host to many Hollywood movers and shakers including Betty Gable, Mickey Rooney, Charlie Chaplin and even today people like marine artist Robert Wyland, comedian Rita Rudner, tennis champion Rick Leach and Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker call the small water front community home.

It is a city rich in history and things to do – obviously the clear waters beckon surfers, paddle boarders, kayakers, divers, and just those who want to push bare toes into the white sand looking out over the calming effect of the Pacific Ocean. Just a few miles south of Newport Beach lies this almost villagesque locale which boasts over three million tourists per year making tourism its number one industry.

A view and a cold local brew - Paradise

In the afternoon visitors often grab cocktails or a bite from rooftop restaurants with only the horizon for their view. 

Sunsets are something to behold as the light slowly dissipates into the blue waters just over the curvature of the earth and sometimes – just sometimes that green flash can be seen when the sun says goodnight. J has been fortunate enough to see two of these extremely rare phenomena in Mexico but not on this trip to Laguna Beach though the sunsets were spectacular in themselves.

Unfortunately not our photograph

What exactly is a green flash? Isn't that just a myth? Only to those who never had the chance to see it for themselves. The green flash is a result of refraction most likely seen in clear, stable air when the light from the setting sun can reach the observer without being scattered. You might expect to see a blue flash since we know the sky is blue as blue light is refracted most of all in the spectrum, and thus the last of the light from the sun to reach us before it dips below the horizon. But in a blue sky, the blue is preferentially scattered and that last beam appears green.

Three days, actually two and a half when including drive time, with no plans was a perfect way to settle down after the holidays. Of course, there will be a couple more follow-up blogs about this trip and what was leaned about what is going on in Laguna Beach but for now it was just nice to write about doing nothing but enjoying the time together. Sure, we relaxed but the camera and notes were part of the mini-vacation as always.