Wednesday Characters and the Beach

We went slow in the morning with breakfast acquired by Deborah from Starbucks. I rose at about 7 with Deborah up earlier and making coffee. We had a 12:40 Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel. It was a hot day in Anaheim (much more comfortable, to our surprise, at Huntington Beach), and we decided to get an Uber to Goofy’s Character Breakfast (and I just learned that Uber dropped the Ü, ugh!).

We arrived early and were able to explore and shop again. I have not been at these hotels in years, and it was interesting to see how they have been renewed for a new group of guests. They did not seem faded anymore. Like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” they now seem like a historical item that you enjoy seeing preserved and still in use.

(Later at the beach)

We were not the only adult couple in line for the Character Breakfast and were joyfully received and treated well by the cast members. Goofy greeted us for a photo (complimentary), and then we were seated, and soon Chip and Dale visited us. Pluto was also there and was happy to stop by (the sous-chef we learned). Minni Mouse would stop by later with repeat visits from the others.

Deborah finally got her Micky Mouse waffles (only available on the kids’ menu so far). The spread was a mix of lunch and breakfast, with lots of sweet offerings for anyone who wanted chocolate cake for breakfast. The bread pudding was excellent. The food, although buffet-style, was well-prepared and served in smaller portions. I got lots of things on two smaller plates; it seemed to fit the theme. Deborah was enchanted, and we both found our inner kids were happy and jumped up to see the next character. Goofy’s Character Breakfast is recommended.

 

We got a taxi driven by an East African immigrant, Osmon, back to our hotel. He waited for us for no charge. Osmon was happy to drive us to Huntington Beach and regaled us about the area and the cost of houses. While his trip cost more than an Uber, the car was comfortable, and it felt safe. The distance is about the same as the airport, and so the price was what we paid for our first ride – not cheap, but not terrible.

(To my surprise, this is not a joke sign. Apparently, chumming near the beach is considered unwise for the swimmers and surfers)

We called to be dropped off at Huntington Beach, and Osmon got us there without issue. It was another perfect California day, but the breeze was cool near the Pacific, and we did not feel the sun strike us while on the pier or on the beach. We walked the pier to the end and sat inside at the Broad Street Oyster Company and had some cold Diet Cokes and shared a bowl of clam strips and watched the folks fishing.

I saw a splash and a flash of white. The beach was shut down a few days ago after a Great White was seen jumping out of the water. Soon, there were more splashes, and it was two pods of Dolphins, apparently fishing too. It was an absolute joy to see them. Not a shark.

We walked back down the pier with Deborah and I investing in a few more items at a shop. We then walked the long march to the sea after removing our shoes, and for me, my socks as well. The bag for all the items purchased soon held our footwear.

The waves were tall enough to be over the heads of folks standing on the sand. We stayed in the shallows, but a few times the water splashed us good. At first, it seemed cold, but soon it was a comfort. Not Oregon’s cold Pacific waters that hurt to stand in.

We walked on the beach, and some folks were catching mole crabs (I know them as sand fleas). Deborah got to touch one and then saw how they dig in and realized they are everywhere in the surf. It is one of my favorite things to watch in the surf (from a distance in the cold Pacific Northwest waters). It was a marvelous time in the light surf.

We tried Fred’s Mexican Food for lunch/dinner. We were in the sun and we both felt off. We are unsure whether it was the heat, the margaritas, or the food. The Uber back was not well air-conditioned, and that did not improve things.

I spent the rest of the early evening with my colon demonstrating how much it could hold (and release) and nearly reversing the mararita process (which would have been most unpleasant). I managed to recover without causing a mess. Deborah and I just read, napped, and finally slept.

Thanks for reading!