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Ah, Summer!

Views of Summer
Summer is upon us; officially, the summer solstice occurs today at 6:34 p.m. EDT.

 With a midwest twang severely off-key, I’m out the front door; earbuds plugged in, arms pumping, on my routine early morning walk. Of course, I must look ridiculous and sound even worse echoing the chorus of - Sunshine on my Shoulder, makes me happy . . . Thankfully, there’s no one else on the streets. 

According to Ker Than in an article for National Geographic, “The solstice is the result of Earth's north-south axis being tilted 23.4 degrees relative to the ecliptic. This tilt causes different amounts of sunlight to reach different regions of the planet during Earth's year-long orbit around the sun." Translation, daylight lasts until after 8:00 p.m. in Southern California.

This year, the first of many, I’m planning to spend my summer in California. Now, I can hear you say, “Ok, what’s the big deal, don’t you live in California?” Yes, but every June, for the past five years, I’ve found myself packing for work, to be away from home between four and five weeks.

My summers were spent in Las Vegas (it’s a dry heat), Kansas City (it’s just humid), and Illinois (it's just hot). Mercifully, I grew up in the Midwest and learned to adjust to an average high temperate of 88 degrees and humidity of 91 percent. In Carlsbad, a coastal community, we enjoy an average high of 67 degrees, with 57 percent humidity. Comparatively, there is no humidity. North County San Diego has been called the most temperate climate on earth.

Yes, we live in a vacation destination community; this lends itself to a flood of tourists from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The beaches are packed, shopping areas congested, the harbors overflowing, and the freeways become parking lots. The locals know this - well, most of them do - so they tend to stay home. Our preferred method of transportation during this (temporary) population explosion is our bicycles, with no parking problems or traffic congestion.

Being near the Pacific, we experience what the locals term June gloom (early morning fog till about 10 a.m.); however, we live far enough inland (six miles) that the cloud bank experienced on the coast forms a barrier that ends about one mile from our property. Our home is a cozy retreat; it’s always cool with a gentle cross-breeze that flows throughout our living space. We never turn on the central air; as a matter of fact, since moving into our home, we have had the air on as many times as I can count on one hand. The backyard is quiet and comfortable, with three large evergreen trees that shade our home. My favorite time of day is the early morning. Being an early riser, I enjoy the golden glow of an easterly sunrise on cool (61 degrees) summer mornings; it's simply ideal.

 Behind our house is a restricted nature reserve owned by the local University. This lends itself to various animals out daily to gather food; rabbits, squirrels, hawks, and occasionally you will see a coyote (one morning a bobcat). Recently, during a walk, as I’m briskly trudging along, out of the corner of my eye, I see a movement, must be a rabbit, I thought. But as I approached it, this so-called rabbit was black with a white stripe. My first thought, so cute; it’s a young skunk. I simply must get a picture. My path took me within a few feet of this critter. With an attentive, curious look on his face, this youngster turned his head and saw me. Then in a flash, he wheeled his hind-end around, tail straight-up, in a posture that said, don’t come to any closer bub or I’ll spray! Immediately - thinking I'm in trouble now- I lengthened my stride and left my friend behind, whew, that was a close one!

 Well, it's Saturday morning, and once again, I’m headed out the door. I’m in training for this year's High Sierra Adventure. With earbuds in, arms and legs pumping, let’s see what critters I will encounter today as I mangle a medley of John Denver tunes; Rocky Mountain High seems appropriate.

Ah, summer!
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