Huntington Beach California

(A-Z H post)
 A common sight at Huntington Beach, California.  People sleeping, eating, reading, and more along the beach walk area.  Places to sit both on the wall, and in the amphitheater area.  The beach walk area is filled with bikers, walkers, runners, roller bladders, and parents pushing strollers.  On the opposite side of the ocean you have the main drag with shops, bars and hotels doting the landscape.

Standing on one of many boardwalks you can see how wide the beach area is.  It's certainly not one of the prettier beach area's I've been to; but.......look at the space.  You can walk for miles.

There seemed to be plenty of places to rent bikes of all kinds, though not many were actually riding them.  It seems the sand isn't really packed hard enough to make riding on the beach fun or easy.  Notice one of the many piers and boardway areas in the background.

Life Guard Stations are prevalent throughout the walkway.  Being a life guard here is not like sitting in a chair along side a pool.  The stations are large, well equipped and a frequent site.

This is pehaps the most common site at Huntington Beach, surfers.  Click to enlarge so you can see the surfers.  Historically, the coast area was in inhabited by The Tongra people, or the Gabriellinois.  In 1909 after several name changes, Huntington Beach became incorporated.  It was named for Henry Huntington, a railroad magnet.  The area began to flourish due to the oil boom in 1920.  In 1925 Duke Kahanamoku brought the sport of surfing to area, and in 1953 the first surf shop opened.  Competitions, tv coverage and Huntington became a huge draw for surfers.  In 2005 the US Surf Team officially adopted it as their home base.

Though Huntington Beach was not the site where Beach Watch was filmed, it certainly looks the part with the volleyball, wide beach, beach walk area, surfers and life guard stations.

The water is cold, and everyone we saw that was in the water wore wet suits.

Strolling the piers be sure to dog down your hat, it's quite breezy.

The large sea birds seem to enjoy the attention they get while perched on the piers.

Huntington Beach seems like a happening place, a good day's outing from our condo at Marriott's Newport Beach.

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Beaufort National Cemetery

(A-Z Challenge G post)
Graveyards.  Yes, I almost always find a graveyard to visit when we travel.  Why?  I find them fascinating.  The history you see with dates, the beautiful artwork on stones, particularly the older stones, and because most graveyards are pretty, and so serene.

This was a quicker then normal visit, as it was getting late in the day, the sun was setting and it being January, even in South Carolina it gets nippy.  We still had to drive back to our condo in Hilton Head.  Look how perfect each row is.  I'm always impressed with the precision in National Cemeteries.

Precision, even with curves.  The wreaths are left from the National program Wreaths Across America. 
By mid January when we visited, most had been removed, as per protocol.  But laying the wreaths and removing them in a big job.  You pay your respect to those there and I believe you can learn a bit about the area while spending time in a graveyard.

A traditional stone, this one for Daniel Miller, United States Navy #334.    He was someone's son, someone's friend, perhaps someone's father or brother.

Many of The Natl. Cemeteries have a book where you look up your name or other family names.  The last 2 listed are Holladay's, spelled the same as my husband's family.

Carrying across the page, I need 2 photo's but have the plot info 17-0-30 and birth and death dates of Captain Frederick Owen Holladay and his wife who is listed as a Dependant June Hoban Holladay.  Since taking the photo, I've done minimal research and found Capt. Holladay served in both WWII and The Korean War.  He was born in Newton, Mississippi the son of Owen A. Holladay and Kate Hayes Holladay.  He was a ham operator, graduated from Milsaps College and attended George Washington University and Temple University.  We spotted the book and got the info on our way out so we didn't actually find his grave.  Next trip though we'll be ready.

This stone though really got my attention.  It's not the standard military issue.  It reads, Sacred to the memory of Lorenzo S. Snow, Ordinary Seaman of the US Steammer....and I can't make out the ship (will need to research to see if I can find it), who fell in action on Stone River, Dec 25, 1863.  Gallantly battling for his flag and his country.  Love is Eternal.  How sad, died on Christmas Day.  I will be doing some follow up to learn more of this man's story.

Yes, I almost always take time to tour a graveyard when I travel.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
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