New Year's Day 2026
Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. - Charles Lamb
Let's Go See The "Old" Christmas Lights On Balboa!
Robin had a great idea; get tickets for a harbor tour of Balboa Island. Idea accepted and off we go!
We arrived an hour ahead of departure so we stopped at the Pavilion for a glass of wine before getting in line. This required us to walk through the "Fun Zone".
Yep!!!
The boat leaves from behind Davey's Locket which is located in the Pavilion. We checked in and walked around the corner to the Pavilion Bar and Grille ".
Did You Know? - Davey's Locker in Newport Beach offers year-round whale watching, famed for spotting Blue Whales in summer/fall, migrating Gray Whales in winter/spring, and various dolphins (Risso's, common, bottlenose), even occasional Orcas and Humpbacks. Key trivia includes its location in the historic Balboa Pavilion, daily departures, offering sportfishing and charters, and special events like the Fourth of July fireworks cruises.
There was an interesting shop inside!
The greeter offered to take our picture, we accepted.
We had a table for four right on the water.
The bay was not overly active but we got to see several nice boats go by!
Who is a happy girl?
Hang on, she is about to speak!
Oh bouy!
It was cloudy day and rain was threatening!
Our for a short cruise, no Catalina today!
We sat, laughed, and giggled for an hour!
Bob looked suspicious!
The sail boats had plenty of wind to move about the bay!
Mary leads the way!
Our boat pulled in just as we were leaving.
What a clever name, Harborside!
Moments later we were off and it was NOT a slow ride!
The moon was with us the entire trip!
The clouds looked like they were ready to pounce!
Yes, we are matching again!
The shopping center was visible in the background.
The windows on many homes reflected the suns rays right back at us; it looked like the houses were on fire!
We needed a telephoto lens!
Just breezing along with the breeze!
Did You Know? - from the classic song "Breezin' Along With the Breeze," often sung by Josephine Baker or Perry Como, which describes a carefree life of roaming, with lines like: "I'm just breezin' 'long with the breeze, Trailing the rails and roaming the seas" and "The sky is the only roof I have over my head, And when I'm weary, Mother Nature makes me a bed".
They were almost on land!
Time for a photo!
More reflections as the sun begins to set!
Robin and Mary like the front of the ship; I like to be adjacent to the bar!
Ahhhhhhhh!
Lookin' good!
Recreating an image from the past cruise to San Francisco!
Where is my fishing pole?
We are heading out of the harbor toward the entrance
People are walking out of the rocks.
Looking for dinner!
Skimming the water!
5:47 pm, the Sun is setting making for a magnificent sunset!
Turn around, we do NOT want to be outside the breakwater!
Bye bye Sun, see you tomorrow; God willin' and the creeks don't rise!
The sky turns gold!
Robin will catch the sunset!
The boat was also decorated!
The homes are beginning to turn on their lights!
The harbor is not small!
The Balboa Yacht Club
Did You Know? - The Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) trivia includes its 1922 founding as the Southland Sailing Club, motto "A pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck," hosting the prestigious Governor's Cup youth regatta, and its active racing scene with members in the Olympics and America's Cup, plus the popular Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival.
Most of the homes had decorations.
The darker it got, the prettier the homes appeared.
Mary and I used to dance here many moons ago with the Starlighter's
Someone likes green!
Their selection of coats kept them warm!
Overdone?
Amazing!
The moon was following us all night long!
Yes, YOU!!!!
Coming back down the channel
The channel is plenty wide even with boats in the center!
The Pavilion where we started but will will go up the harbor for a while!
Key Trivia & Facts:
Origins: Built in 1906 by the Newport Bay Investment Company to promote real estate, it was originally a boathouse and bathhouse.
Historic Status: It's California State Landmark #959 (1968) and a National Historic Landmark (1984), the highest honor for historic buildings.
Architecture: Features Victorian style and a recognizable cupola, lit at night as a beacon for boaters.
Past Tenants/Uses: Hosted big bands, a shell museum, a bowling alley (with hand-set pins), archery range, and the first Newport Harbor Art Museum.
Current Uses: Home to Davey's Locker (sportfishing/whale watching), Catalina Flyer, and waterfront dining.
Surrounding Area: Part of the Balboa Fun Zone, which offers classic treats like frozen bananas and the Balboa Bar.
Conservative lighting, after all, it is 120 years old!
The ferry crossed right in front of us!
Three cars and a lot of people.
Did You Know? - The Balboa Island Ferry, running since 1919, is a historic, family-owned service known for its short, 800-foot trip, cash-only fares (though evolving), iconic wooden boats like the Admiral and Commodore, and its crucial role connecting the island to the mainland, even facing potential modernization to electric power by 2026 to meet emission standards
Off and on ramps on either side of the channel.
Goodbye Sun!
It was an amazing ride!
Girls will be girls!
Becky, do you remember this???
Maybe this???
Cora the cow?
No, no pizza tonight!
Mary loved the label!
How can I take the bottle home?
Empty, of course!
Mary tried my after dinner drink!
Robin was more careful!
Just us!
Great dinner, great fun!
"We don't wanna go home!!"