Today I explored Long Beach. I started, however, in the small community of Signal Hill, which is completely surrounded by Long Beach. Signal Hill is famous for being where oil was discovered in 1921. In fact, the Signal Hill oil field is one of the most productive per acre ever. Right in the middle of Greater LA! It used to be called "Porcupine Hill" because of the hundreds of wells dotting the landscape. If you want to read more about it, there is an interesting article here. The field is still producing. This oil well is in a car dealership!




This is one heck of a bougainvillea, about ready to swallow that Bug!!!




Looking back on Signal Hill. And a gang of pigeons.




I passed by an elementary school that had some really cool art. This was next to their playground. It's a great use for an old shipping container. And old bicycles.




As I was heading towards the Port of Long Beach, I walked over this red and white curb. It struck me as a little odd. Then it hit me. It was Turn 4 of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. You can still see the tire marks, almost a month after the race.




Whenever I see the Queen Mary, I always think of my grandmother. She did a transatlantic crossing in the mid 50s as part of a European holiday. That is a Soviet era Foxtrot submarine in the foreground, part of the attraction.




Then I boldly went where few walkers walk. I explored the Port of Long Beach. This is really the domain of trucks NOT of walkers!




These are trailers that they use to transport the shipping containers. The trailers were stacked sometimes four high. And every one of them had a license plate.




There were a LOT of containers.




And in the midst of all this industry, I found this amazing bird. I don't have the gumption to try to figure out what kind of bird it is (in spite of coming from ornithological parents and grandparents) but I sure can appreciate its grace.




This is looking back towards downtown Long Beach. That mound between the two rightmost buildings, is Signal Hill where my car was parked. And that is the Carnival Pride getting ready to sail.




After being in the pedestrian unfriendly Port of Long Beach, I appreciated the pedestrian friendly beach path.




And while walking along the pedestrian friendly beach path, I passed what is perhaps the safest part of the beach, due to the high concentration of life guards. Or not...




There is a path that follows the top of the bluff (where I took this picture) as well as the beach path.




This couple were flying their kites in sync with their music. It felt choreographed. Is there such a thing as kite dancing?




Since I had visited the Venice canals on an earlier walk, I though it would be fitting to visit the Naples community and their canals. The boats here are significantly fancier than up in Venice, since these canals are connected to the ocean.




Along one of the canals, I passed what has to be the tallest and skinniest door EVER. I wonder how many hinges it needs.



I walked through a little bit of Seal Beach (my first and probably only foray into The OC) where I found this sea of masts.



I've been on the bike path near Griffith Park that is literally right next to the 5 Freeway. It isn't the most pleasant place to exercise. But how about this scene. I wish I could say that the white on the water is ice but it is foam. Nasty.





Today was my longest training walk yet, 28.5 miles according to my trusty Forerunner. I was out for almost 9 hours. And my feet were tired by the end. In fact, they still are tired.

As always, thanks for checking in. Next week will be my last training walk!!

Labels: Long Beach, Training Walk