Family time and beach renourishment

Our kids visits overlapped a bit so it was a good time for all, albeit a little tight now and then:-)  It allowed our son, Jason to see his nephew and niece as it doesn't happen too often.  They had a good time in the pool and hanging out before Jay had to head back to work.

Jason, Faith, and Christian taking a walk

Jason and Christian playing in the pool

Just chillin

We were happy to also have Christian's 8th birthday while they were here, so we went out to lunch at Sharky's for birthday lunch before his special dinner of Grandma's ribs that night.  

Walking out the pier at Sharky's

Looking back to shore

And up the beach

They played around on the beach.

Kelly and the kids stayed with us in the motorhome for 4 nights. Our friend Pat who just finished a two week visit from his daughter, son-in-law, and their two kids, warned us that the coach would get smaller and smaller while they were here, and it did:-)  But all in jest, it was great and we really enjoyed it!

So while we were at Sharky's, we had an opportunity to see the Venice beach renourishment up close and personal.  This is a $22 million dollar project to restore about 150' of sand to 3.3 miles of beach.  They use a dredge 12 miles offshore that digs up the sand which is transported to a pump or booster boat about 1 1/2 miles off the coast which pumps the sand through enormous pipes up onto the beach where bulldozers and excavators spread it around.  It is quite something to see.  They are operating 24 hours around the clock to get it done before turtle nesting season which starts April 15th.  About 791,000 cubic yards of sand!

This is the end of the pipe where the sand comes out

Looking up the beach, you can see the part of the pipe on land

Bulldozer spreading sand

They get right out in the surf!

Another angle

Another dozer smoothing the sand

So now peace has returned to the valley, sad to see everyone go, but have to admit we do have a little more room:-)  Half the park has gone, we've said good bye to lots of friends, Jason and I did get the rock guard fixed up and straightened out pretty well.  Working on just a few other little things which I'll tell you about later, so right now we are enjoying the awesome weather and our friends that are still here.  One more month and counting.