Linda could not negotiate the 199 steps down to the beach, but she did drive down to the public beach just a ways to the north and rolled up her pant legs and waded out into the surf. She loved it so much she was just about to dive in, clothes and all, when I took this picture.

The woman knows no fear!

This is the view of the Pacific Ocean from where Ann & Steve were staying. That is Catalina Island ("26 miles across the sea") in the distance.

Here is the delightful cottage that Stev and Ann rented during their one-week stay at Laguna Beach. It is just a half block off the Pacific Coast Highway, on a hill overlooking the ocean. To reach the beach, however, you must take a flight 199 stone steps from the street level down to the ocean.

We were with Ann, Steve and their three children, Beau, 8, Gracie, 7, and Josh, 2 yrs, Mon - Wed, Oct 18, 19, 20. Despite the rainy weather we enjoyed some great time with them.

Beside several hours at the beach nearby, we did some sightseeing around this beautiful seaside community of Laguna Beach.

I took this picture as we were leaving a Marine life saving station, where they care for injured sea lions and seals. What you are seeing behind them is the acutal rib bone of a giant whale.

On Monday, Oct 18, we drove up the Pacific Coast highway (101) from San Diego so we could meet up with Ann, Steve and family at Laguna Beach. Even, though it was still overcast and rainy it is always great to see the ocean.

A closer view, looking up into the face of this work by Edward Fraughton, which stands atop the hill above the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in an area called "The Presidio."

Photographs cannot do justice to the artistry and detail represented in bronze in this heroic size statue. We marvel at the attention to detail, the skill and committment of the artist in the creation of such a work. It must be viewed in person and walked about at all angles to begin to appreciate it in full.

We have a great admiration for Brother Fraughon.

Atop the hill to the east of the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center is where you find the bronze statue commissioned by the church in honor of the men of the Mormon Battalion. This beautiful piece of artistry has very special meaning to us because we know the sculptor, Edward Fraughton of South Jordan, Utah. Ed Fraughton's work is renown within and without the church. The 10-year project he just completed in downtown Omaha, Nebraska represents the largest Bronze statuary in the United States, if not the world. It is a pioneer wagon train, larger than life-size, including wagons, men, women children, horses and oxen, covering a full city-block.

You can view some pictures of this significant Omaha work in previous entries of our blog, taken as we a road trip across America after serving our first full-time mission, in the summer of 2008.

Brother Fraughton is the father of our dear daughter-in-law, Kristi, married to our oldest son Jeffery.