13 The King on the Ocean Beach Pier

Santa, the mailman, and a skilled watchmaker brought me a "new" watch for Christmas; with more writing on the dial than some Rolexes! 

Presenting the Seiko Superior Chronometer Officially Certified King Seiko Hi-Beat.



Strapping on the 50-year old time machine, we headed out under cloudy skies. I wasn't expecting a sunrise, but we did catch one colorful (albeit slightly blurry) glimpse of downtown as we headed towards the ocean.



We decided to walk the pier today - no hills, no rocks, no snakes.



An aerial view from one of my many flights in years past. This is the longest concrete pier on the west coast, about 2000 feet from shore to tip.



The gulls provide sardonic/sarcastic looks at invading humanoids.



As always, the surfers were out before sunrise, forever hoping that one perfect wave will come ...



We found plenty of company on the pier - fishermen, drifters, dog walkers, ruffians, city workers, policemen and us.



No pictures of the ruffians. I'm not crazy.



Commercial fishermen are busy setting or checking their nets.



Not the same gull, but don't they all have this "look"? Perhaps it's the downturned tip of their bill, just slightly sour as when you ran into your beloved grandma's pristine kitchen with mud on your shoes and a frog in your hand ...



Looks like we are farther than a quarter mile from shore.



This long shot across the beach to the river shows a tug coming out, surfers, walkers, dog beach, etc. An awful lot of people out here at 6:45am!



My wife looks slightly chilly.



Friends knitted these hats for us, to keep myour heads warm on these early morning walks. They have been were pressed into their very first service, this morning.



It's time to start back up the pier and up the hill.



A good place for fish and chips, a catchy name too.



Twenty-five miles to the south, in Mexican waters, we see the Los Coronados islands.



A horde of hopefuls (mostly old geezers, I noticed)



Only a few were catching rides, but more were heading out as we left.



This gal wasn't certain; I can see the doubt in her face -- 

"Waves aren't that good, but I'm out here ready to go, but not wet yet, should I bother?" 



We do some vintage car spotting as we head back to dry land.



I want one! 



Yes, I am still a youth at heart.

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