Travels with haRVy

Panoramic of daily scene on Balboa Island. (please click on it to view larger)

Every December I am lucky enough to join my friend Janet for a week at her cousin’s beach house on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA. After more than fifteen years, it has become my primary and most cherished holiday tradition.

Houses, boats, docks, even light posts and bridge railings get decorated for the holidays.

View a brief video of the holiday boat parade here.

This sidewalk encircles the entire island. You can find folks walking or jogging here at any time of day or night.

Looking across the Grand Canal that runs through the middle of the island.

The street on which we get to live for a week.

We always have a couple of very high tides around the Solstice. The island sits very low to the water, so it does occasionally flood.

This yard may not look like much, but it is worth several million dollars. Bare land is extremely scarce on Balboa Island.

Watching the sunset is a daily activity.

At least one ferry ride over to the Newport Peninsula is mandatory.

We often take bikes over to ride along the oceanfront sidewalk. Al joined me for Christmas Eve and Day while Janet spent the holiday with her family.

The peninsula beach from the Balboa Pier.

Watching the sun set behind Catalina Island from the peninsula.

Before I saw this mural depicting Balboa Village in 1918, I took the photo below, which captures the same scene nearly 100 years later.

Just because.

Every year we also visit my favorite beach at Crystal Cove.

haRVy picking me up at the beach house. Always difficult to leave.