California dreamin' on such a winter's day

On my second road trip to California, the destination was Santa Barbara: the city of palm tree-lined boulevards, steep cliffs and 72 degree days in the dead of winter. Since I did every mile of driving I took almost no pictures before arriving in California, but really, things don't get interesting until you get to New Mexico, anyway.



A girl looks out on the Pacific Ocean, skim board in hand, on New Year's Day 2008.


The bridge. If you look closely, you can see the Tanner family driving across in a white convertible.


Rays of sunlight break through the clouds at Hoover Dam. A massive bridge is being built across the highest area of the valley the dam is in so that traffic will eventually be able to bypass the national landmark.


Visitors rush around Pier 31 in the rain on the San Francisco bay.


Lingering clouds from a series of major storms dissipate over the only beach in San Francisco, California.


In a garden devoted to the Virgin Mary at a Franciscan monastery near Solvang, California, a cactus is decorated with Christmas lights in celebration of the holiday season.

A man stands at the mouth of a small cave on the San Francisco bay near The Cliff House.