i climbed a mountain. almost.

ladyface mountain, view from the bottom. ladyface mountain climbladyface mountain climbladyface mountain peak
I have wanted to climb Ladyface for ages. The weather was perfect and my morning was free. As i drove over, there was some fog still suspended in the morning chill.  Flowers were blooming, bees buzzing, and bunnies taking care of buisness.  The view from the bottom was a bit daunting.  I spent too much time with my camera and drone, so i didn’t quite reach the summit.  i also allowed more time than required for the decent. I will return in part 2!

ladyface mountain climb

A Nightvale live show in LA!

Nightvale - The Attic

I am excited to attend my first live Nightvale event.  i have enjoyed many of their podcasts over the years.  i was originally introduced to Welcome to Nightvale while driving through the southwest. It was fun to see the actual humans behind the voices.  I was amazed at how small a cast put on this show.  It was also amazing to see Disparition in action live, a badass!

Nighvale - The Attic

My visit to Nike Missile Site LA-88

Nike Missile Site LA-88

The Nike Missile Site LA-88 is back in the mountains of Chatsworth, not far from Oat Mt.  It’s an impressive 450 foot gain from the parking, but it’s a pretty cool piece of Los Angeles’ Cold War history.  The site includes some great dilapidation if your like that kind of thing.  Ruins of two Buses and a car as well as a few buildings and some very sketchy entrances into dark underground places.

Nike Missile Site LA-88Nike Missile Site LA-88

Nike-Missile-LA-88 SiteNike-Missile-LA-88 SiteNike-Missile-LA-88 Site
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My visit to Super Nintendo Land!

Super Mario Land - Universal Studios CA
There is just no describing the awe and magistracy of exiting that pipe to see Super Nintendo Land in all it’s glory!  I was very impressed.  However, that impression was short lived after i learned there was only a single attraction.  Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge’ ride was fun and included some novel new interactive play.  However, the interactive elements of the land were few and behind long lines and the required $40 NFC wristband. (my flipper read it as a NTAG I2C Plus 1K ISO 14443-3 NFC-a)  It seems that there is only one quest to do involving the collection of four keys. There also appears to be some interaction with the Mario Kart ride, though the specifics were unclear.  As the primary draw to the the park this visit, it was in turn the biggest disappointment.  i hope this 3D Bowser makes it worth it.

Super Nintendo World - Bowser Anaglyph 3D

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

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

My final visit to the Encino Avenue bridge.

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