Just Some Sun Some Sand Some Water And A Good Book . . .

First full day on Oahu and I bathed myself in SPF 50, threw on my Chubbies (A San Francisco shorts Company started by a friend of mine) and headed out in search of Eggs N Things for breakfast.

Eggs N Things was on the list of "must eats" provided by one of my co-workers.  I ordered the Island Style Fried Rice and Eggs.  It was massive!  Honestly, I am not sure what all the ingredients were but it was quite tasty.

After Eggs N Things I took a drive up to the Pali Lookout.  

The Pali Lookout is at the 1,200 foot elevation and has an awesome panoramic view of the East side of the Island.  

That famous "Blue Book" I have written about in all my Hawaiian adventures said to bring your warmest clothes when visiting the Pali Lookout.  Man, that book was not kidding.  The winds at the top of the Pali were some of the strongest I have ever felt.  I am not sure if the Japanese tourists were screaming in fear or joy at the power of the wind.  The wind was so strong my cheeks were flapping! 

After leaving the Pali Lookout I went in search of a beach to sit on and read my book.  

I was looking for Lanikai Beach, which was also recommended by my co-worker, but apparently I pulled off the road too soon and ended up at Kailua Beach.

It was still beautiful and was exactly what I was looking for.

A place to swim...

And a place to read my book.

After spending a couple hours at the beach I decided to take the long way back to my hotel and drive around the South side of the Island.

By the time I got back to the hotel it was getting late and I was hungry.  I took a shower and went back out in search of food.  More importantly I knew that after dinner I was going to top it off with another recommendation, Leonard's Bakery's delicious Malasadas.

All in all a good day...except for the fact that even though I started the day bathed in SPF 50 and sat under a shade tree to read my book; somehow I got a little sun burned on my feet and head.

Such is life. 

On to the next day...

Just One More Time Around . . .

I am not one to arrive early for anything.  On time or a minute late; that is more my style.   So I knew things were too good to be true when my bag was already packed for my 9:20 am flight the night before my departure.

It should not have come as a surprise when I slowly awoke to my alarm 45 minutes after it started playing.  

Crap!

I wanted to be leaving for the airport in 15 minutes and I am just waking up now?  

"It's OK it's OK," I told myself; "You are already packed, You can still do this."

So I powered through my morning routine and called for the Black Car service with my smart phone App.

Technology has advanced to the point that I can "drop a pin" on the image of a map on my cell phone to indicate where and when I want to be picked up.  Despite the fact that I am fairly confident on where the door of my condo is located, for some reason the Black Car service always shows up a block away on the other side of the street. 

"Mr. Just Jon, your car service is here.  Where are you?" the driver said upon calling my cell phone.

"I am standing where I dropped the pin on the map.  Where are you?"

"Well Sir, the GPS told me to make a right turn."

"Is the pin at a right turn?"

"No."

"Turn around and cross the street.  I am standing outside...where the pin was dropped."

I have gotten quite used to having this same conversation with every driver that has come to pick me up.

Now let the record state that I live REALLY close to the airport.  I am talking super convenient.  So when the Black Car service driver asked what time my flight was (2 hours from the point of his arrival) his response was, " Oh you are going to get there way early.  Plenty of time!"

Let's just say I have made this trip enough times to know that early morning long distance flights for all airlines tend to all depart at similar times which makes checking in and getting through security a beast. 

"You think?"  I said.  "I don't know.  I have seen it pretty crowded at this time."

"No, you are good.  I mean, I guess it is good you are getting their early because there is some fog."

"Wouldn't that mean a delay if there is fog," I thought to myself.

The driver then proceeded to tell me repeatedly as he filled out paper work that the Black Car Services' yard is just five minutes from my condo.  

"I mean you are right there," he said.

"Well if you are only five minutes away why did it take you twelve minutes to get here?" was the question running through my head.  And what was with this paperwork?  The beauty of this service in the past is that everything is pre-arranged in the App.  No paperwork.  Let's cut the chit chat and get this car rolling dude, or my "early arrival" you seem so concerned with will be practically non-existent.

"Is this paperwork thing new?" I asked.

"Oh, we have been doing it a couple of months.  Ever since the airport started cracking down on the unlicensed ride share drivers," he said.

"Yes, I was just reading about that.  I thought your Company's "cheaper" service "X" is now not allowed to go to the airport," I asked.

"Oh, I don't know about that.  I don't drive an "X" car.  I mean that is what they start you out on.  The rookies.  Like a training car.  I haven't done that in over a year," he said in an almost bragging tone.

We finally got on the road and made it to the airport with no trouble.  As we entered the departure level I saw my airline listed on the first sign.  And then I saw my airline disappear as my driver kept going. 

"Ummm...I think you just passed my airline," I said.

"No, your airline is in Terminal 2."

"Uh, well, I am pretty sure we passed it.  But if you think it is in Terminal 2, we shall see."

As we cleared Terminal 1...2...and 3; I think it was time for my driver to admit defeat and circle back around.

"Oh man they are going to think I am crazy. It costs $3 every time we go around."

We started the loop back around to Terminal 1 when I thought to myself, "This fool just took the wrong ramp.  We are now on the Arrivals level!"

"Uh...I think we are on the wrong level," I said.

"Oh man, I am so sorry! I will get you there now.  I know exactly where it is.  This is going to cost me another $3, but I know it is the first Terminal.  Don't worry."

Frankly, I wasn't worried.  I wasn't even mad.  This was down right funny.

We looped back around for another $3 and as we approached the departures level I said, "As we come out of the tunnel; it will be the first stop on the right."  

My driver began reading the signs.  He read off every airline but the one I wanted.

I interjected, "Not that sign.  The smaller sign to the right.  Do you see it?"

"Oh yeah.  There it is," he said.

After pulling up to the curb and getting out of the vehicle; I thanked my driver and wished him a good day. I thought again about how he said only the "rookie" drivers operate "X" cars.  Three attempts at finding my airline seemed like a pretty rookie move to me.

"I don't know man, after this rough start?" he said.

"Dude, you just got to shake it off," I said as I turned and walked through the sliding glass doors of the terminal.  "You just got to shake it off."

I've got a flight to catch!

Just Washington DC . . .

Last month I went on vacation to Washington DC for the first time.  The City was incredible and I feel I only scratched the surface of everything that I would like to see and do.   Here is a slide show of my week in Washington with Just Mom and Dad.

And yes, I went to Georgetown Cupcakes on the first day we arrived in town.

Just Been Hibernating . . .

Six months since my last official Just Jon post...I thought I should come out of hibernation.  Just like Rover the Desert Tortoise - all winter sleeps must come to an end at some point.

Don't worry; I have been resting up on one of my favorite places in San Francisco - The Golden Gate Bridge.

Sure, napping in the bike lane was probably not the smartest choice, but I have never claimed to make the best decisions when I am tired.

And the reality is; it was actually quite relaxing laying there on the concrete.  The gentle vibrations of each passing car or bus was like a mini massage on my back.

What was not so relaxing?  The intense stares from the people walking by me on the bridge.

"What?"

"You've never seen someone lay down in the bike lane on the Golden Gate Bridge before?"

"This isn't a David Blaine Magic Special...Keep Walking!"

OK, I know; I looked like a crazy person.  But come on, aren't most people in San Francisco a little bit crazy?

In case you were wondering...the above photo is what the bridge looked like from down on the ground.

Quite lovely actually!

The following are a few more shots from today.

I love the shadow the bridge casts on the water in the above photo.

This next shot was taken at Baker Beach.  Baker Beach is one step removed from The Castro.  Translation - Expect to see naked people.

The next shot was taken at the new Golden Gate Bridge visitor center.  They have a new structure for an expanded store front and several new displays to look as shown in the below two photos.

I don't know when my next post will be, but keep checking back.  In the meantime you can also connect with me on www.94thday.com.  There you will find more photos, my music recommendations, and YouTube videos I think you will enjoy watching.

Just Remember . . .

On this anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy I share with you a brief video I took at the 9/11 Memorial in New York last year.  This is the South Pool.

Just Sutro Baths . . .

It's time to check another thing off the bucket list.

The Sutro Baths!

This past weekend my friends and I went on the Lands End trail hike down to the ruins of the Sutro Baths.

The Lands End trail starts near The Legion of Honor and winds along the Western coastline just south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I am sure if we climb to the top of this hill just off the trail we will be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

Or maybe we'll be able to just see fog...

lots and lots of fog!

According to Wikipedia; "the Sutro Baths were a large, privately owned swimming pool complex build in the late 19th century.  The building housing the baths burned down in 1966 and was abandoned."

Above is an exterior image of what the complex looked like in 1900.

Also from 1900, the above photo shows what the interior of the baths looked like.

And here is what is left of the baths.  Just some concrete foundation walls.

These hikers made it to their final destination in one piece even though there were signs like the one below along the trail.

Between these two columns would have once been a wall of French windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Should I take a dive in?

On second thought; NO WAY!   That water is a green cesspool of yuck!

Just 30,000 . . .

Last week, with little fanfare, this blog crossed another milestone.   It's 30,000 visitor!

Back in May of 2008, 18 people received an email from me that simply said,


"I have started to Blog!  

I haven't written in quite some time so I am a bit rusty.  I am sure there will be lots of grammar and spelling errors.  

If you are bored and have nothing to do, here is something to read and look at.  

=)

Jon"

Back then the blog had a different web address www.itsjustjon.blogspot.com.  The topics were all over the board and when I go back now and read some of those first posts I cringe.

When I first started Just Jon; being a blogger felt like I was part of a unique community of people connected by the Internet.

As the years have progressed, I find that now almost everyone I meet has their own web site.

When I look at other people's sites I sometimes like what they have done more than what I do.  Because of that, over time, I have altered the look and content of Just Jon.  That being said there are still moments in hindsight where I think I would do things very differently if I could start over.

When I first started Just Jon Twitter was still a fledgling little site and Instagram and Pinterest did not exist.

Those three entities I think altered the blogging world by creating the ability to micro-blog.  Short instantaneous outputs by would be journalists, photographers, and critics around the world; connecting and sharing their thoughts and visions.

I find that "Micro-blogging" is sometimes more satisfying and frankly easier than regular blogging.

So what does all this mean?

Just Jon was going through a "Mid-Blog" crisis whether you realized it or not.  

Did I still want to do this?

Was anyone other than Just Mom and Just Dad even reading this?

How many Facebook friends have blocked my status updates because they were annoyed by my self promotion?

Which then lead to the following questions:

Why can't I just start over and do things differently?  

What do I like most about the blog?

Just as I had made peace with crossing the 30,000 threshold and stopping "Just Jon" I get an email from Loyal Reader Mary wanting to know why I haven't been posting as much lately.

Mary shared some kind words of encouragement as she always has from day one.

In the end I will say that my favorite part about Just Jon is sharing my amateur photography. I know I want to channel my creativity in a new (or additional) direction that does not have my name and face plastered all over it.  I am in the process of figuring out what that looks like.  

If you click around "Just Some Other Blogs Worth Reading" listed to the left on this site you may just find the beginnings of what my next adventure will be.  (Hint - it's got a 9 and a 4 in the blog title.)

So thanks again for visiting Just Jon 30,000 times; and cheers to both continued and new endeavors.