I don’t know who creates these things, but a few days ago (January 21) was Squirrel Appreciation Day. A few days before that I took this photo on the Santa Clara University campus.

Posted on January 24th, 2015 under Other. Tags: california, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750. Comments Off on Squirrel Appreciation Day

Tonkotsu Orenchi Ramen (俺ん家らーめん) Santa Clara, California

We have no ramen shops in Southern Oregon. There are a few restaurants that sell ramen, but none of them are good. So when we get out of Southern Oregon we like to look for ramen. While in Santa Clara we decided to go to the #1-ranked ramen in the South Bay.

We had time to kill as the shop didn’t open until 5 p.m. We decided to find the place first and then browse shops nearby. However, when we got there at 4:20, there was already a line of about 30 people! I felt like I was at a popular ramen shop in Japan. We put our names on the list. By the time the shop opened 40 minutes later there were well over 100 people, and the place only holds about 50 or 60 people.

I’ve sampled dozens of bowls in Japan and about a dozen in the U.S., and this was the best ramen I have had outside of Japan. I had the tonkotsu (pork broth) bowl, pictured above, and Ellie had the shio (salt broth–photo coming soon).

The wait was well worth it. Word to the wise, if you are ever in the San Jose area, check this place out, but be sure to get there at least 20 minutes before they open. If you get there after that you probably won’t make the first seating which means you’ll likely be waiting an hour or more. Also, once they run out of soup they close so you may not get any (or your choice may be gone) if you show up after the first couple hundred people.

Posted on January 19th, 2015 under Other. Tags: california, food, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750, ramen. Comments Off on Best ramen in the USA

Levi’s Stadium – Inaugural Season (Santa Clara, California)

@LevisStadium

I’ve spent the last couple days watching volleyball at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Across the street is Levi’s Stadium. I wandered over this morning to watch the sunrise from behind the stadium.

Posted on January 18th, 2015 under Other. Tags: california, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, sunrise. Comments Off on Levi’s Stadium sunrise

One year ago today, this happened.

Posted on December 26th, 2014 under Other. Tags: california, carmel by the sea, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, pacific ocean. Comments Off on California dreaming

Surfing Carmel-by-the-Sea

Last December we headed south for our winter break. On our way back from Santa Barbara we watched the sun set in Carmel on an incredibly warm day-after-Christmas evening.

My 24-120mm f/4 Nikkor lens is a great travel lens, but on this evening I wished I had brought along something longer.

Posted on November 24th, 2014 under Other. Tags: beach, california, carmel by the sea, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, pacific ocean, surfing. Comments Off on Carmel surfer