by Madame Donna C.
Member since:
December 9, 2005

A Day at the Beach with Tonia

March 08, 2009 10:38 PM EDT
views: 106 | rating: 10/10 (10 votes) | comments: 28

As long as I can recall my feet have always had sparks beneath my heels.  I can't stay in one place for long periods of time.  The road, the sky and even the ocean beckon me from afar.

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When Tonia mentioned her layover on the first leg of her journey to Australia, my immediate impulse was to buy a ticket and join her.  My senses caught up with me soon thereafter, so I settled on meeting with Tonia in Los Angeles.

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Cooking is my forte while Tonia's is photography so I seized the opportunity to shoot with her.  We strolled down to the Manhattan Beach pier, after fortifying ourselves with a big lunch and a little refreshment.

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We shot several hundred photos while the ocean breeze blew our hair wild and the seagulls soared overhead.  Here are a few of my favorites.

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Now that Tonia has safely landed, I can admit that I'm jealous.  There's still time for me to buy a ticket and catch up to her but I think I'll just wait for the glorious photos she's bound to capture.  Honestly, I'm looking forward to our next visit even more than that.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d235/d561/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
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Comments: 28

J F. Mar 8, 2009, 10:41pm EDT
I loved your photos. Wish I was at the ocean right now.
Bart H. Mar 8, 2009, 10:43pm EDT
Superb. You californians have the good life!
Except maybe for those fires and drought. Earthquakes. Movie stars.
Marianne M. Mar 8, 2009, 10:44pm EDT
What a lovely post, Madame Donna ... and you took some wonderful shots! I'd love to see the ocean again ... living in the heartland, it's been years since I've seen it!
Sue * Mar 8, 2009, 10:49pm EDT
I've met Tonia too, and it was a very special day. I'm glad you had fun.
Marilee C. Mar 8, 2009, 10:55pm EDT
When we traveled to California last month, we listened to Bill Bryson's book on CD In a Sunburned Country. It's about Australia. Now I can't wait to go there.

Also, you have to be one of the luckiest people I know. You and your in-person-Gatherer rendezvous .

These are really great shots.
Debbie G. Mar 8, 2009, 10:55pm EDT
Donna, you have some great shots here! Wish I could have been there. :)
Debbie G. Mar 8, 2009, 10:58pm EDT
That little girl's windblown hair and pose made that one photo just priceless. What wouldn't I pay for it if I was her mom or dad.
Sonia M. Mar 8, 2009, 11:04pm EDT
Great shots Donna....I guess since both you and Tonia hide behind a frog and a camera we will not see pictures of either of you......!

Ah...but I do have some of you - but don't worry, I will never publish them....just wanted to make you worry a little bit because I couldn't be there to be with the two of you!!!!!
Marilee C. Mar 8, 2009, 11:08pm EDT
When we were in LA, we saw some wanna be actresses. Traffic prevented us from getting a good shot. One of the women in your shot looks like a wanna be. Next time we are in LA, we are wearing shades, a baggy sweatshirt, baseball caps, & ponytails. He, he.
Lou Anne L. Mar 8, 2009, 11:09pm EDT
WHAT FUN!
Thank you for sharing the fabulous pictures!
phil w. Mar 8, 2009, 11:31pm EDT
A fun photo essay, and i believe you all had a great time.
jessie voigts Mar 9, 2009, 12:07am EDT
i am so envious!! HOW very lovely. lucky you two!! thank you for sharing your great photos. i liked the one of the dad and little girl fishing the best!
Faith H. Mar 9, 2009, 5:59am EDT
I think you have two fortes: cooking AND photography. Looks like you and Tonia had a great day at the beach!
Vicky Duggins Mar 9, 2009, 8:17am EDT
M. Donna, no one has anything on you in the photo department! These photos are just gorgeous - magazine worthy, not unlike the best of the best photogs here.
Wilhelmine Estabrook Mar 9, 2009, 8:19am EDT
I sure enjoyed this tour with my morning coffee. Lots of snow and ice here in NB Canada.
Linda K. Mar 9, 2009, 8:44am EDT
What fun!
Doyle ( IS SOOO 7 for 7 soon... ) C. Mar 9, 2009, 9:12am EDT
Ok...both of you less than two miles away....you're both in my doghouse! :o)
David W. Mar 9, 2009, 11:58am EDT
Oh well, I guess I will have to settle for your GLORIUS phtos. Nicley done photo montage.
Katrina Hall Mar 9, 2009, 6:17pm EDT
Great photos, Mme D! I think I'm living on the wrong coast . Those people look happy, colorful, and warm - and that sky!
Victoria H. Mar 13, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
What great photos you got here!
Victoria H. Mar 13, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
Thanks so much for posting this to my group All Photo Essays Here !!
Elaine M. Mar 13, 2009, 9:37pm EDT
Wow--I can smell the ocean wind and feel it too while looking at your photos--wonderful!
Madame Donna C. Mar 20, 2009, 2:21pm EDT
Thank you, everyone. I'm sorry I didn't get back to this post sooner. The last several weeks have been a very busy time in my world. Hopefully I can get back to my regular participation here soon. Thanks again to all of you.
elizabeth e. Nov 12, 2009, 8:06am EST
Next time I go to Oz, I'm definitely stopping to visit with you!
Madame Donna C. Nov 16, 2009, 5:34pm EST
Haha, thanks, elizabeth! I'm looking forward to it.
elizabeth e. Nov 16, 2009, 5:43pm EST
Actually I might see you next summer. Right now we are kicking around several ideas when Magi comes next Spring. Rather then have him fly straight from Perth to Boston...that's a killer...we are thinking he might fly into SF and Jan H. will pick him up. Meanwhile, my sister Fran, who has never done a cross country trip and myself, would head out two weeks before and arrive at Jan's about the same time. Then Mag could see the West coast...Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, etc as we made our way back East. Just an idea.
Madame Donna C. Nov 16, 2009, 6:07pm EST
Sounds promising. Maybe I'll even do a few fly-aheads and meet up with you at some of those spots.
elizabeth e. Nov 16, 2009, 6:17pm EST
That would be wonderful.

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