Reinga Redux

Alternate title: the Perfect Moment of 2025

We couldn't have asked for a better May morning to visit the tippiest tip-top of New Zealand. 

Despite there being several vehicles in the parking lot, we had the trail and lighthouse to ourselves  The chorus of chirping birds, a breath of a light breeze and the susurrus of waves breaking far below all magically came together in a way one can plan/hope for but is never guaranteed. 

TSG's Calvacade Of Christmas...Cheer? Curiousities? Consumer Crud?

All kinds of stuff seen on this year's seasonal photo rambles. Background slideshow images from the DOCA Festival Of Holiday Lights, which featured quite a menagerie of creatures presented to appeal to (according to the event spokesperson) our "inner-children" To that we say, mission accomplished. 

 

Santa Squares

The TSG Auto Portrait Gallery

1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 

1999 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab 4WD

2014 Mazda CX-5 Touring AWD

2008 Mazda 3i Touring

1989 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 4WD

1981 Mazda GLC

No Holds Bard

Alternate title: Things you might see at the Shakespeare Society of America in Moss Landing CA

Oh, Okay, Might As Well Post A Ridiculous AI Turkey Video

Because Turkey Memes This Week Are So Cliché...

Tiny Town And Other Fine Establishments

Here we have the latest additions to the TSG vintage lodging postcard collection. 

 Editor's note: The Tiny Town Motel and Restaurant is now the Pink Cadillac Diner/Budget Inn Natural Bridge complex.

 

Random Found Object #1479*

 

 X marks the approximate location near the edge of the lawn bowling green.

5x3 inch Laminated cartoon image, blank on opposite side. A google image search fails to turn up an exact match, so our theory is that it's a home-made game piece/scavenger hunt item of some sort. The item's location relatively close to the park's pickle ball courts (labeled PBC) is most likely a coincidence.  

 

*Number randomly generated

The Long & Tall Of The Mariposa Grove

The Annual Halloween Slideshow

A Little Fall Color / Fresno Flats Historic Park

Skelly & Friends

ICK

 Alternate title: Week-old guacamole tries to escape tupperware. 

Sort of a seaonally-appropriate homage to The Blob(or maybe Caltiki)

 

Come Ride The Little Train

Star attraction of Jamestown's Railtown 1897 State Park, Sierra No. 3

Known as the "movie star locomotive" it has appeared in over 100 films and TV shows including 

Petticoat Junction (as the Hooterville Cannonball).  

 

Unfortunately there was no guide available for roundhouse tours during our visit so we were unable to get better photo access. 

 

False Advertising?

Consumer Alert! This game does not contain any actual wigs.

Seen at Campbell's Vintage Store this afternoon. The $19 asking price seems a bit steep, considering it's just the dog-edged(is that a word?) top of the box and nothing else. 

Gibson Beach, After & Before

After

Before

 

Happy I.T.L.A.P.* Day!

*International Talk Like A Pirate

Helping with the festivities this year is our special guest celebrity pirate, Mr. Burt Lancaster 

Things You Might See @ The 17th Goombah's Classic Car Show

The yearly Willow Glen event started off with a few dozen cars in one parking lot. To say it has grown would be an understatement. Last weekend there were over 200 vehicles on display...the lots were overflowing with custom/classic cars and those that couldn't find a place to park were cruising up and down Lincoln Avenue.

Cavalcade Of AI Rock

Randomly cool/funny/weird compilation using Veo "image to video" generation tool and AI online music generator.

Wildfire Claims A Favorite CA 120 Stop (See Update)

We were saddened today to learn the Historic Gold Rush town Chinese Camp has fallen victim to the lightning-caused TCU wildfire. The Kiwi Tavern there was a regular stop when we wanted to pick up a drink or snack on the way to or from Yosemite.

September 2024 (TSG) / September 2025 (CNN)

 

 

 

 

 

Update: latest news reports indicate firefighters were able to save the property

 surrounding the store and the community is rallying in support of the owners. 

Not The Roly-Poly (Or Eat Them Up, Yum) Kind

 The piscatorial fence display across the street from the San Gregorio General Store has been around for awhile--there are mentions of it going back to 2009. No-one seems to know why the fish heads have been hanging around all these years (We probably should've asked the folks at the store...oh well, maybe next time) 

Have You Seen Me?

Whereabouts unknown

Giant Skeleton & Skinless Pup

Last seen in the vicinity of Westwood & Willow 

Could be in some boxes in a storage shed

  

Better Than The Turd

It's fair to say locals have mixed feelings about the
Quetzalcóatl (plumed serpent) sculpture that graces(?) the southern corner of Plaza de César Chávez in downtown San Jose. It is often referred to as "The Turd" and it's easy to see why.

The giant poop has recently acquired some artistic (but sadly only temporary) competition. For the next month or so visitors will be able to enjoy Alebrijes en San José, a collection of 20+ foot tall mythical creatures created by artists from Oaxaca Mexico. 

TSG realizes that beauty/art is in the eye of the beholder. Having said that, we think it's safe to say these imaginative, vibrantly-colored jumbo-sized folk art pieces are definitely better than "The Turd".