Category: Recreation

art, Culture, Drone, Recreation, technology, Travel

I had to fish my drone out of the LA River!

| be3n
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Filming the mural that is called, “The Great wall of Los Angeles.” i crashed my drone by being a terrible pilot (i need more practice in tight spaces}). I had to fish my DJI Mini 2 out of the LA River. good thing it crashed onto a dry patch and suffered minimal damage.

The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a mural on one wall of a one mile stretch of the LA River. If you don’t know that, it is the flood drainage system of Los Angeles.  There was a river at one point, but now it is a concrete riverbank accented with chain link.

At first i thought i just needed to flip it over and i could liftoff.  alas, i had to construct an elaborate fishing pole of entangling loops attached to a telescoping dusting pole i had.  Just out of reach, it took nearly 30 minutes and countless attempts to ensnare my little mini.

Drone Crash View Drone Crash Damage

The look on my face when i finally recovered my drone
The look on my face when i finally recovered my drone
art, Culture, Recreation, revolution, Travel

I Visited Niland, The Salton Sea, and Slab City.

| be3n

Niland CA - Beach Sunset

I traveled to The Salton Sea to meet some of the alternative communities and see the incredible artwork coming from the area.  Also it’s a great place to get in some drone flights.

Niland CA - flooded streets Niland CA - Art Niland CA - Beach Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art - Phone Booth of Love Niland CA - Beach Art - Bus Stop Niland CA - ArtworkNiland CA - Artwork and be3n credit: https://instagram.com/Christi.lugtu
Outside of the town of Niland sits the remains of a Camp Dunlap (commissioned in 1942).  All that remain are the concrete slabs that give Slab City its name.  Since the 1980s people have been camping there for free.  Now a few permanent encampments and even a few event venues exist.  There is no water or electricity or any other government services.  There is an eBike rental place, an internet cafe, a Hostel, a Library, and the East Jesus art exhibition.

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hardware, pointless, Travel

My final visit to the Encino Avenue bridge.

| be3n

Encino Avenue bridge demolition

After reading of its impending destruction, i was hoping to pay the Encino Avenue pedestrian overpass a final visit.  Unfortunately visits were discouraged. The messaging was a bit mixed, as the fence was literally tied up with string.  i took pictures without trespassing.  The 101 will shutdown between White Oak and Burbank over the weekend for the bridge’s demolition.

Encino Avenue bridge demolition - Do Not EnterEncino Avenue bridge demolition - Tied up with string

Recreation, technology, Travel

Camarillo Airshow 2022

| be3n

camarillo airshow 2022

A saw some great acrobatic flying including a helicopter doing loops and barrel rolls.  The sky was full of Jets, skydivers, simulated strafing runs, a water drop, and so much more.  On the ground i was able to check out a lot of incredible machines including a jetpack and aquatic aircraft called the ICON.  There was a STEM hanger where kids could operate basketball playing robots.

camarillo airshow 2022 - coordinated flightcamarillo airshow 2022 - autonomous helicopter
camarillo airshow 2022 - classic trucks and Corvettescamarillo Airshow 2022 - custom car

automation, gardening, Recreation, technology

My garden keeps growing!

| be3n

Home Assistant: Garden Panel

I’ve kept working on my garden. i have this sweet Home Assistant panel.  I am still working on automation, but integration is coming along nicely. I am using Home Assistant as my platform.  Most of my garden sensors are command line sensors.  I even figured out what i was doing wrong with command line switches (using capital letters).  Now that I have had my camera in place long enough, I have a pretty decent test time lapse.

**  warning flashing lights **

download time lapse

Live cam

Status update:

mama musubi 1

Mama Musubi  is something I’ve loved from my farmers market for years.  Unfortunately it was shuddered during the pandemic and still has not returned to my market.  They did open up in a shared kitchen of sorts in Pasadena called Kitchen United.  It was to this location that my desperation would bring me.  The spot is mostly for delivery drivers and doesn’t have much for customer service.  The menu is a little different from what was offered and entered by app or kiosk.  It was amazing to enjoy after the long absence, but not exactly the same thing i was craving.  Maybe i’ll try them at one of the other markets where they still operate.


mama musubi 5

mama musubi 3 mama musubi 2

EDIT 2024  (March 29):

It appears even this site is now gone.  ?