An Outing
Caesar's office decided to hold a picnic this coming Thursday as their office retreat so we spent some time this afternoon checking out Pt. Fermin Park in San Pedro. I thought we'd travel North on the 405 then have to circle back on the 110, but my unfamiliarity with Long Beach and its environs laughed at that thought. Instead we sped across the Terminal Island Bridge which cuts through the Port of Long Beach, with cruise ships and cargo ships and those massive cranes which hoist truck-sized containers from ship to shore lining either side, the across the Vincent Thomas Bridge into the heart of San Pedro. A mere 15 minutes had passed since leaving the apartment and already we were surveying the park and the craggy cliffs leading into the Pacific. A fantastic view, and I told Caesar that I may sneak back one weekend when he's at his folks to take pictures with a proper camera rather than my cell.
The other potential picnic area -- also in San Pedro -- was to be Angels Gate. Turning up the drive, we found ourselves in the parking lot of a Korean-sponsored youth hostel atop a cliff with yet another stunning view of the cliffs and the ocean. And right in the middle of the cliff stood a beautiful bell tower in which hung a Korean Friendship Bell. A granite marker near the path to the temple stated that the bell had been presented as a gift of friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea, dated in 1976. The underside of the roof was decorated with light blues, reds, greens, cinnabar reds, and on the bell itself, four versions of the Statue of Liberty holding a raised hand with a Korean woman. I don't think either us of were expecting to see that in San Pedro.
I can't wait to return for some better pictures. All I need to do is find some lithium batteries for the camera, and I'm on my way!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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4 comments:
I will be anxious to see the pictures. It all sounds very pretty.
I was just there Saturday, I took the scooter girls up there. I used to live in San Pedro so I know the area very well. I also know where the best deli is, so next time you go let me know and I will give you directions. You will be in heaven. I took 13 girls there and then we had a picnic at the korean bell. All 13 girls loved the deli.
You know, I've never been to the San Pedro harbor with the ships and all...but I've seen it many, many times from the air....I'd love to make a little trip around the area sometime.
Knowing your love of all things Disney and seeing this post about San Pedro, I wondered if you'd ever heard of Eli Hedley. He was the original Beachcomber and the owner of the original Island Trade Store inside Disney's Adventureland when DL first opened.
Eli and his family lived on a beach in San Pedro, below those rocky cliffs, in an area that is now called White's Point. Here's a little group of pics from a Tiki Central post:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=7667&forum=1&start=15
It's a fascinating story of a man who turned beach flotsam and jetsom into a living and supported his family in a creative way. They even built their house out of stuff they found on the beach. His grandson, Ben (Bamboo Ben), is a friend, and carries on his grandfather's legacy in pretty much the same way. He builds and creates "tiki" atmosphere for Trader Vic's, Don the Beachcomber, Pixar, etc.
I figured if anyone would appreciate this, it would be you! Maybe next time you're in SP, you can go stand on the foundation of Eli Hedley's luau cove and imagine what an empire he built out of driftwood. Great, not so well-known, California history!
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