San Diego Old Town, 32nd St Naval Base, Miramar Marine Fighter Jets

At last, California Travel Videos reaches the United States while aboard the Recent Cruise Ship Mariner! As we pulled into the harbor we were treated by sorties of Miramar F-35 jets thrusting through the skyways, along with numerous helicopters – WOW! Ditto seeing 50 naval ships – cruisers and destroyer including the latest Zumwalt class stealth ship. On our City Tour we enjoyed spending time at Old Town, with numerous “drive-bys” of scenic highlights and historic locations. Getting back on board, Grace and I made our final tweaks to our homemade model ship, Minniehaha as we prepared for tomorrows competition in the cruise ship’s jacuzzi and swimming pool – so stay tuned…

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cTv Cabo San Lucas, Cruising Lands End – Glass Blowing, Mexico Education

Cabo San Lucas makes a wonderful getaway for tourists who love basking in the warm Pacific gulf waters at “Lands End.” And while cruise ships shuttle tender boats ashore, our day trip included a fascinating boat ride to the tip of Lands End with narration by Cousteau and a bus trip to see stunning studio art works as well as learn about Mexican customs, glass blowing and details of how public and private education works in Mexico.

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cTv Acapulco, Daredevil Sea Cliff Divers, Chapel of Peace, John Wayne House

Don’t miss the Acapulco daredevil sea cliff divers descent 100 feet into a narrow, shallow sea inlet!  This is our fourth stop heading north after cruising the Panama Canal.  On our 4 hour day trip, we also enjoyed seeing the Chapel of Peace, John Wayne’s hacienda, the nearby historic fortress and more. Three more cruise stops before returning to RV Life.

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cTv Auto Safari – Chapin, Guatemala,. Giraffes, Lions, Hippos, Alligators

While cruising up the Pacific Ocean, we stopped for a day trip at the Auto Safari in Chapin, Guatemala,. Most of the animals have free run in their individual domains while we watched from our tour bus. Lots to see including giraffes, lions, hippos, alligators, monkeys, reptiles (yeah, snakes, too), birds and more. cTv RV Life – no, but a fantastic respite to enjoy the good life!

Auto Safari Chapin
Auto Safari Chapin

The photo above is available for purchase in print sizes up to 40×60 here: Peacock Photo Continue reading “cTv Auto Safari – Chapin, Guatemala,. Giraffes, Lions, Hippos, Alligators”

cTv, Cruising to Nicaragua – Romantic Day Trip at Hacienda

Amayo Hacienda time at Lake Nicaragua – we had a romantic day with delightful hospitality, delicious local food, folkloric dances and music.  If you are tourista, be sure to make Nicaragua high up on your list – but we will pass on getting too close to their active volcanos~

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cTv, Costa Rica Rainforest – Crocodiles, Poison Dart Frogs, Monkeys

Nothing quite like the great outdoors INCLUDING the Costa Rica rainforest! Love the flora and fauna – seeing the crocodiles, poison dart frogs, monkeys, Scarlet Macaw and Toucans were a real plus.

Costa Rica Rainforest
Costa Rica Rainforest

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cTv Cruising Panama Canal locks – Cinema, History, Cool Statistics

cTv RV Life meets up with the mighty Panama Canal. We have lots of photos and cinematic video clips about how the canal and locks work, intriguing history factoids and most everything you’d want to know including the rain forest, the new third huge canal locks and more.

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Going through the Panama Canal

Next up: cTv, Costa Rica Rainforest – Crocodiles, Poison Dart Frogs, Monkeys

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cTv Cruise Life, a day in Cartagena, Columbia

Come with us as we enjoy a day in Cartagena, Columbia.  Take a tour through the walled city and see street performers dance, visit the Sanctuary of Saint Peter Claver and  many other of Cartagena’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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cTv, Miami tour of top highlights before Regent Mariner Panama cruise

Michael – Our 18 day cruise journey begin in Miami with a daytrip tour of the local cities.   Aside from the redeye and jet lag, the bus tour guide was fun, knowledgeable  and a cool dude.  Regardless, we couldn’t wait to jump aboard the Regent Mariner and start our Panama Canal cruise in contrast to our normal RV Life trips.

Grace – Grace – Our day started after a red eye from San Francisco to Miami Florida.  The Continue reading “cTv, Miami tour of top highlights before Regent Mariner Panama cruise”

The Kinetic Grand Championship Races of Humboldt County

Queen Kaleidoscope
Queen Kaleidoscope
THE 2017 KINETIC GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
(a spectators story – by Grace)
Michael and I had talked about going up to the Eureka area and watching the Kinetic Races for some time. We weren’t sure of when they took place and so on Thursday May 30th when I researched it I was surprised to find, THEY WERE IN 2 DAYS!!  On Friday morning we woke up and made a spontaneously decision, “LET’S DO IT!!!”  We quickly stocked the RV with food, water, diesel and other supplies that we would need and set out on a 4 hour, 200 mile plus journey to Humboldt County.  It’s always such beautiful scenery driving north on highway 101.  The hills still have some green left on them from all the heavy rains last winter.  The wildflowers are still blooming and showing off a splendor of color. Soon we would be under the dark canopy of glorious redwoods.  Along the way we learned about Hobart Brown (a sculpture artist) and how the Kinetic Races began in 1969. It seems one day he decided that his sons tricycle needed some revamping to a five-wheeled, decorated pentacyle.  The next thing you know he coined his mission statement, “Adults having fun so children will desire to grow older.”  to describe the Kinetic Races that have been taking place every Memorial Day for the last 48 years.  One never knows where their unique and original idea can lead them to.  The closer we got, the more excited we became.  It was good to get that one day jump start to find a place to hunker down and call home for the next few days.  Thankfully we found a spot at the Eureka Elks club for just 25.00 per night for members that included electricity, cable, wifi and a free drink at the bar to top it off.
Day 1 – On Saturday we headed to The Arcata Plaza where the racers would come in for brake check, pageantry judging and perhaps a bribe or two which we learned is also part of the overall game plan to taking home one of the many titles that would be awarded over the next several days.  After a parade around the plaza the racers would head through Manila Dunes to “Dead Mans Drop” near Samoa Cookhouse.  Unfortunately we didn’t read about the need to carry bug spray with us as we found out the area was thick with mosquitoes and ticks.   That didn’t stop the spectators and soon the dunes were crowed making it difficult to get a good view to see the races go down the actual drop.  Needless to say Michael had that covered with cautious help from his drone and his willingness to explore other vantage points.  Day 1 was full of adventures and good times for the trill seekers as well as those of us watching.
Day 2 – After a good night sleep (for us anyway) we headed for our first stop at the  Wharfinger buildings near the public marina where the Kinetic Racers would test their rigs for sea worthiness.  They could also pick up a prize for the “Biggest Splash” here.  Once again the docks were loaded with spectators which is wonderful for the event but difficult when your trying to set up for photos and video with an 80lb Siberian Husky in tow.  Kaliki and I found a place on a dock and enjoyed some great conversations and got some video and photos as well.   We all held our breath as the crafts hit the water and watched them struggling through the low tide mud areas.  There some would sink and some would capsize and some would swim.  Loud cheers could be heard as they broke free to sail their course.  As they made their way along the course we would meet them up the road a mile or two and watch them emerge from the water.  It was very impressive to see the team spirit and teamwork that went into each segment.  Pumping up their pontoons before entering the water and then letting out the air and disassembling their vessels to prepare them once again for the town streets was obvious to the most casual observer that a lot of time and practice went into each phase.  After another fun filled day Michael and I took the advice of many towns people and headed to the Samoa Cookhouse for a late lunch.  We were not disappointed by the family size meal complete with homemade bread, soup, salad, pot roast, beans, potatoes, cake and even coffee for a mere 15.00 all served by a cheerful waitress who had moved up to the area just a few months before to escape the central valley hot summers.
Day 3 Michael and I decided to split up for a few hours.  He dropped me off in the charming town of Arcata to scope out the finish line while he headed back down to Elks River to watch them cross the swift currents.  While in town I took advantage of walking the streets to see some of the beautiful Victorian homes and downtown storefronts.  I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in the middle of a Memorial Day Parade as well, so that was an extra bonus for me as well by getting there early.   As the streets filled up the many volunteers that had made this race possible began to prepared the Finish Line on Main and Brown Street.  KHUM radio set up with husband and wife DJ team Cliff & Amy Berkowitz and the Royal Kinetic Madness Band played while the children danced.  Even the Rutabaga reigning Queen Kaleidoscope was there to welcome home the 3 day weary racers from their 50 mile course over land, sand, water and mud.   Needless to say, (but I will) a grand time was had by all.  Be sure to watch the videos linked below to find out who brought home the Kinetic Grand Championship title for 2017.

Adults having fun so children will desire to grow older.” – Hobart Brown

TriloBike Test Kitchen takes home 2017 Kinetic Grand Champions
TriloBike Test Kitchen takes home 2017 Kinetic Grand Champions

cTv, 2017 Arcata Kinetic Grand Championship Race, #1 Contestant Qualifications

https://youtu.be/ufvwcVMHV3w

cTv, 2017 Arcata Kinetic Grand Championship Race, #2 The Pageantry Judging

https://youtu.be/4uEld7sIA-E

cTv RV Life, 2017 Kinetic Grand Championship Race, #3 Pre-race Laps 

https://youtu.be/n8er0XyieRg

cTv RV Life, 2017 Kinetic Grand Championship Race, #4 Dead Mans Drop 

https://youtu.be/q_R1JaiY4ho

cTv RV Life, 2017 Eureka Kinetic Race, Dead Man Drop Part 2, Grand Championship

https://youtu.be/JhTtti3WQKE

cTv RV Life, 2017 Eureka Kinetic Pre-Race Day 2, Sea Preparation 

https://youtu.be/1dvfSnKqUF0

2017 Eureka Kinetic Race & Drone sea water video, cTv RV Life 

https://youtu.be/33OLEt7FF5I

2017 Eureka/Ferndale Kinetic Race Day 3 drone video, Crossing Eel River, cTv RV Life

https://youtu.be/8klubyzD5r8

2017 Eureka Kinetic Sculpture Race Day 3, The Finish Line, cTv RV Life

https://youtu.be/9gomQcAx3ek

 PHOTO ALBUM: https://californiatravelvideos.smugmug.com/Kinetic-Grand-Championship-Race-2017/