Disney day 3: Disneyland

On day three of our Disney adventure, we went back to Disneyland for the second time, on Jenn’s actual birthday.

A bridge soon after the entrance, with the train going over it:

Train

The entrance of Adventureland:

Adventureland

We did the Pirates of the Caribbean ride; quite a long line. We used Lightning Lanes for most rides, but that didn’t have one — but didn’t really need one, as the line moved quite quickly:

Pirates of the Caribbean line

Captain Jack Sparrow:

Captain Jack Sparrow

The Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Lunch:

Food

Raft and ducks:

Raft and ducks

We rode the train around the park:

Train

Train station

Train

Dinosaurs from the train in a tunnel:

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs

The park entrance from the train:

Entrance from train

The old classic, the jungle cruise:

Jungle cruise

Sleepy duck:

Duck

We really enjoyed the cheesy jokes of the jungle cruise:

Jungle cruise

David and Jenn

Jungle cruise

Jungle cruise

Sticking with the Adventureland theme, we did the Indiana Jones ride:

Indiana Jones ride

Indiana Jones ride

Indiana Jones ride

A fun thing is when some spontaneous entertainment turns up, like a marching band:

Marching band

Characters

A popular snack at Disneyland, pineapple Dole whip:

Dole whip

A very popular bar in the Star Wars area, Oga’s Cantina; we managed to snag a spot via a waitlist:

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

The droid DJ was playing some classic Star Wars cantina music:

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Star Wars Oga's Cantina

Rey:

Star Wars character

A quick visit to Toontown:

Toontown

Toontown

Toontown

Toontown

Toontown

Toontown

We did the Thunder Mountain ride, a rollercoaster, confirming that I don’t enjoy them:

Thunder Mountain ride

Thunder Mountain ride

Me having a rest near the castle:

David

While sitting there, we saw two marriage proposals (and a third later):

Castle

Castle

Main Street lights:

Main Street lights

Disney statue and the castle:

Disney and castle

Back to the Star Wars area:

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

We had dinner at Docking Bay 7:

Docking Bay 7 food

Docking Bay 7 food

Docking Bay 7 food

Star Wars shops:

Star Wars area

Jenn did a custom build of a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, as an extra special birthday treat:

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Savi's Workshop handbuilt lightsabers

Droids:

Droids

Droids

Stormtroopers:

Stormtroopers

Jenn got some photos of her new lightsaber:

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Chewie and Rey:

Characters

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Riverboat at night:

Riverboat

Popcorn cart:

Popcorn cart

Castle:

Castle

Waiting for the evening fireworks:

Jenn and David

Lights

Fireworks

Fireworks

Mountain lights

Lights and fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Some animated GIFs of fireworks:

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks

Heading down Main Street on the way out:

Main Street

Tomorrow, back to DCA.

Disney day 2: Disney California Adventure

On the second day of our Disney adventure, we went to Disney California Adventure. This newer park is just across from Disneyland, sharing the same entry plaza.

The entrance lines were much shorter than Disneyland:

Disney's California Adventure entrance

Waterfall photo op:

Waterfall photo op

Waterfall photo op

Digital magic:

Waterfall photo op

Avengers photo op:

Avengers photo op

Avengers photo op

Avengers photo op

The Avengers campus:

Avengers

Iron Man:

Iron Man

Grizzly Peak:

Grizzly Peak

Soarin’:

Soarin'

Grizzly:

Grizzly

The Grizzly Peak ride was being renovated:

Inactive ride

Eureka:

Eureka

Selfie:

Selfie

The park was celebrating lunar new year:

Lunar new year and Goofy's sky school

Jenn adding a wish on the wishing wall:

Wishing wall

Pixar Pal-a-Round:

Pixar Pal-a-Round

Pixar Pier:

Pixar Pier

Mr Potato Head:

Mr Potato Head

Jessie:

Jessie

Pacific Wharf:

Pacific Wharf

We had lunch at Wine Country Trattoria:

Wine Country Trattoria

Salad

Steak

Our favorite part of the park was Cars Land’s Radiator Springs:

Radiator Springs

Radiator Springs model:

Radiator Springs model

Tow Mater character:

Mater

Cones:

Cones

Radiator Springs:

Radiator Springs

Radiator Springs

Back over to the Pacific Wharf area:

Cafe

And Pixar Pier:

Pixar Pier

Disney and Jenn:

Disney and Jenn

We enjoyed the Soarin’ ride:

Soarin'

Soarin'

Soarin'

The Soarin’ seats rose up into a vertical arrangement to watch the big screen, showing scenes of flying over scenic areas around the world:

Soarin'

Donald Duck:

Donald Duck

Minnie and Mickey Mouse:

Minnie and Mickey Mouse

Goofy and Clarabelle:

Goofy etc

Donald Duck:

Donald Duck

Characters

Mickey ice cream bar:

Mickey ice cream bar

Jenn with Mickey ice cream bar

Spiderman:

Spiderman

We did the Web Slingers ride:

Web Slingers ride

Web Slingers ride

Web Slingers ride

It’s 3D, so photos of that part are doubled:

Web Slingers ride

A super(hero) store:

Store

Lunar new year parade:

Lunar new year parade

Lunar new year parade

Lunar new year parade

Lunar new year parade

Back to Radiator Springs:

Radiator Springs

Cars flowers:

Flowers

Cars Land photo op:

Cars Land photo op

Cars Land photo op

A fast cars ride, Radiator Springs Racers:

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Radiator Springs ride

Me and Jenn in the front (our car won the race):

Radiator Springs ride

After dark, Radiator Springs lights up in bright neon:

Radiator Springs neon

Radiator Springs neon

Radiator Springs neon

Radiator Springs neon

Mater driving off:

Radiator Springs neon

Mater

Back in the Avengers area, the glowing tesseract:

Tesseract

Doctor Strange and Thor:

Doctor Strange and Thor

Avengers

For dinner, Pym Test Kitchen food:

Pym Test Kitchen food

Macro-sized chicken patty:

Pym Test Kitchen food

Loki:

Loki

We saw Captain America a couple of times, but both times he was just leaving:

Captain America

Finishing the evening with some kiddie cheese, the Monsters, Inc ride:

Monsters, Inc ride

Monsters, Inc ride

Monsters, Inc ride

Monsters, Inc ride

Monsters, Inc ride

Heading out, Hollywood land neon:

Hollywood land neon

Tomorrow, back to Disneyland.

Disney day 1: Disneyland

To celebrate Jenn’s birthday, we spent five days at the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks in California, alternating between the two parks. This post includes pictures from the first day, at Disneyland.

Lines to get into Disneyland:

Lines to get into Disneyland

A selfie just inside the park:

Jenn and David

Minnie Mouse:

Minnie Mouse

Mickey Mouse:

Mickey Mouse

Music:

Music

Due to the pandemic, all of the characters are socially distanced from guests, behind barriers:

Characters

Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Walt Disney statue:

Castle and Disney

Horse-drawn main street transport:

Horse-drawn transport

We did the Haunted Mansion ride first (fairly randomly):

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

We then did the Enchanted Tiki Room, which was rather cringy cultural appropriation:

Enchanted Tiki Room

Enchanted Tiki Room

Enchanted Tiki Room

Enchanted Tiki Room

Hey look, some ducks! Oh, and a castle:

Castle and ducks

Ducks:

Ducks

We got the Genie+ option, which lets us use the Lightning Lanes (formerly fast passes) to skip lines. Another benefit is it includes photo ops, so we got some, including in front of the castle:

Jenn and David

Jenn and David

Photo magic:

Jenn and David

Heading through the castle:

Castle

Castle entrance

Shops

Shops etc

Carrousel:

Carrousel

We were keen to check out the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area:

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

We had lunch at the Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland, then afterwards decided to have a drive in Autopia:

Autopia

Autopia

Autopia

Autopia

Then enjoyed some cheesy goodness at It’s a Small World:

It's a Small World

It's a Small World

It's a Small World

Jenn and David at It's a Small World

It's a Small World

It's a Small World

New Zealand got a tiny representation:

It's a Small World

Back to the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area; we really liked the otherworldly feel of it:

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

A selfie:

Jenn and David

And photo op:

Jenn and David

Jenn and David

More socially distanced character stuff:

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

We did the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride, which was fun:

Star Wars area

Jenn

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Blue and green milk:

Blue and green milk

Jenn drinking blue milk:

Jenn drinking blue milk

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Jenn and David

Then the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride:

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

Star Wars area

After that point it’s a ride in a car, so I put my phone away. A pretty easy ride, with one big drop.

Heading for some shopping:

Star Wars area

And a snack:

Food

David

Jenn

Star Wars area

Back to Adventureland, and a sighting of Captain Jack Sparrow:

Captain Jack Sparrow

Jenn collected numerous smashed pennies:

Smashed penny machine

Smashed penny machine

Jenn's penny collection

Dinner:

Dinner

Shopping:

Shopping

Finally, the castle at sunset:

Castle at sunset

Tomorrow, we head to the neighboring Disney California Adventure park.

A hike in Joshua Tree National Park

We visited Joshua Tree National Park when last in the Palm Springs area back in December, but decided to visit it a second time in early February, specifically to go for a short hike.

We went in the south entrance (where we exited last time), and stopped at the visitor center there. There was a singing park ranger:

Singing park ranger

After exploring a campground (too small for our coach), a picnic lunch, and considering a hike near the visitor center, we continued on towards the joshua tree part of the park. Passing some interesting rocks on the way:

Rocks

Some joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

The parking areas were too full to do more popular hikes, so on a whim we turned down a dirt road:

Dirt road

Some interesting rocks by the road:

Rocks and dirt road

We stopped at an access point for rock climbers, and explored that area as an informal hike:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

If you look closely, you may spot several rock climbers:

Climbers

A selfie:

David

I’m valiantly holding up a rock:

David holding up a rock

Branch and rock

A wave-shaped rock:

Rocks

Young joshua tree:

Young joshua tree

Rocks:

Rocks

IMG 6246

Rocks

Me taking a photo:

David taking a photo

Of this:

Rocks

Jenn and me:

Jenn and David

Another rock climber:

Climber

More rocks:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

A small cactus:

Cactus

Joshua tree:

Joshua tree

Rocks and joshua trees:

Rocks and joshua trees

Rocks

A bird:

Bird

I like the glowing effect of the sun behind the tip of the rock:

Sun behind rocks

More lens flare with the sun touching the tip of the rock:

Sun and rocks

Joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Rocks

We’re liken the lichen:

Mossy rock

Three colors:

Three colors of lichen

Rocks and joshua trees:

Rocks and joshua trees

Jenn on a rock:

Jenn on a rock

Me joining her:

David

Jenn posing:

Jenn posing

Jenn posing

Me:

David

Shadows:

Shadows

More interesting rocks:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Exploring some things around Salton Sea, CA

Back in December we took a drive around the Salton Sea in California, stopping at Bombay Beach. While back in the Palm Springs area, we did another day trip to the Salton Sea, visiting other areas, including Salvation Mountain, Slab City, the Niland Mud Volcanos, and some campgrounds.

On the way towards the Salton Sea, we went over a rather bumpy road, that made Jenn feel a bit seasick (check out a clip of this tomorrow):

Bumpy road

Our first stop, Salvation Mountain — a religious monument started in 1984, and created by one person over 30 years:

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Selfie:

Salvation Mountain

Info:

Salvation Mountain

Just up the road is Slab City, an alternative art community:

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Slab City

Next stop, the Niland Mud Volcanos, some bubbling mud mounds:

Niland Mud Volcanos

Niland Mud Volcanos

Niland Mud Volcanos

Niland Mud Volcanos

Niland Mud Volcanos

Heading back north, we passed through the border patrol station:

Border patrol station

A rocket?

Rocket?

We explored some of the campgrounds next to the Salton Sea, with the idea that we might want to camp there someday, though many of them wouldn’t fit our coach. The first was the most basic, just dry camping, but the one we liked the most:

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Others:

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Visitor center:

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Salton Sea campgrounds

Tomorrow I’ll have a video with some highlights from these places.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

We took a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world.

Approaching Mount Jacinto in our truck:

Mount Jacinto

Mount Jacinto

The road up the foothills of Mount Jacinto:

Road up Mount Jacinto

The valley station, the base of the tramway:

Valley station

The boarding area, where we wait for our tram. We had booked tickets for that afternoon, but decided to go earlier. Being mid-week, they weren’t too busy, so we didn’t have to wait long:

Boarding

A tram arriving:

Tram arriving

Tram arriving

In the tram:

In the tram

Jenn taking photos:

Jenn taking photos

A feature of the tram is rotation, so everyone can get good views. The whole tram doesn’t rotate, just the floor, like a revolving restaurant like the Space Needle in Seattle or the Sky Tower in Auckland:

Rotating floor

Looking downhill on our way up:

Looking downhill

There are a few support towers; as the car passes each tower, it rocks a bit:

Tower

The second tram on its way down; they are always offset, so when one is at the top, the other is at the bottom:

Other tram

Other tram

Other tram

View:

View

View

View

View

There’s about a 30°F temperature difference between the valley floor and mountain top. We reached the snow level:

Snow

Inside the tram; masks required:

Tram

Arriving at the mountain station:

Arriving at mountain station

Arriving at mountain station

Arriving at mountain station

A nifty feature is water delivery; all the water for the mountain station is delivered via tanks under the tram cars, and dumped at the top on each trip:

Water delivery

The mountain arrival area:

Arrival area

Before boarding, they had everyone stop to take a couple of pictures in front of a green-screen. Something I’ve resisted in the past, but we’ve been embracing recently. So we stopped at the photos kiosk to check out our pics:

Photos

We bought digital copies of our green-screen photos; cheesy, but kinda fun:

Greenscreen photo

Greenscreen photo

Greenscreen photo

Greenscreen photo

We had a reservation at the Peaks Restaurant for lunch:

Restaurant

Jenn:

Jenn

A tasty lunch:

Lunch

After lunch, we went out onto the viewing balcony, and took some pictures of the mountain and valley views:

Tree

View

The viewing deck outside the restaurant:

Viewing deck

Snow:

Snow

Valley views of Palm Springs:

View

View

View

I was amused by the wet floor sign that had fallen onto the snow below the deck; yep, it was indeed a very wet floor:

Wet floor sign

Selfie:

Jenn and David

More views:

View

View

Jenn taking photos:

Jenn taking photos

The interesting architecture of the building exterior:

Building exterior

A glimpse of a tram arriving:

Tram

Another selfie:

Jenn and David

We were also amused by the Mount San Jacinto sign — “California State Parks, Mount San Jacinto State Park, a California State Park”. Obviously written by the Department of Redundancy Department:

Mount San Jacinto sign

Trees and snow in the park behind the mountain station:

Trees

They have a window into the counterweight mechanism; a large steel and concrete counterweight that goes up and down as the trams travel across towers (read the sign for more info):

Counterweight mechanism

Back into the tram for the return journey:

Back into tram

Views on the way down:

View

View

View

The center of the tram; on the way up was an informational recording, but on the way down the operator played loud music from his iPhone hooked into the PA system:

Tram

A nice view of one of the towers (with a small helipad on top for maintenance):

Tower

Another tower:

Tower

Tower

Approaching the valley station:

Valley station

Valley station

A small museum in the valley station:

Museum

Watching a tram depart:

Tram

Tram

That was a fun experience, and enjoyable lunch. Highly recommended for people visiting Palm Springs.

Downtown Palm Springs, CA

Some pictures from a quick drive through downtown Palm Springs, California. (We had planned to stop for lunch and a wander around, but didn’t feel like dealing with crowds; it doesn’t look very crowded in these pics, but the restaurants were all packed.)

Palm Springs Visitor Center

Palm Springs Visitor Center

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Tomorrow, a brief video of driving through here.