While we were in Southern California on Memorial weekend we were invited over to my nephew and his wife’s home in Newport Beach on Sunday morning before my pop’s birthday gathering in the afternoon. They are enjoying living on the waterway just across from Balboa Island. Living here gives them the benefit of being a stroll away and not having to deal with the constant traffic of those trying to cross the bridge/ Marine Ave. to get to the island.

This nephew of mine is my sister Vera’s son. He and our sons, Josh and Dan, grew up together and have a strong bond. Here we are setting out to walk the floating walkway/dockway to get to the bridge to Balboa Island.

The bridge was nicely decked out for Memorial Day. You can see the lineup of cars crossing the bridge.

I think walking across the bridge is a lot more pleasant.

The main drag on the island with all the clever shops and eateries.

There’s a museum where you can find out which of the frozen banana stands was really the first one, Dad’s or Sugar ‘N’ Spice.

We didn’t indulge in a frozen banana on this morning. Our niece informed us that Sugar ‘N’ Spice is in fact the original. She found that out at the museum.

I was using my little pocket camera this day and managed to cut off the name of this chapel, St. John Vianney Chapel. If and when I visit again I’ll pop in and see the interior. It’s on the main drag tucked between the two banana stands.

“It was about 77 years ago that the tiny church was established and began to see the first arrivals of the Mass-goers for whom it was built: vacationers. At the time, the only Catholic church in the Newport Harbor area was the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which sat–and still sits–about halfway down the Balboa Peninsula. For weekend and summer visitors to the island, getting to the peninsula church could be a bit of a stretch, particularly when gasoline rationing was instituted after the outbreak of World War II.”

We kept walking crossing the Grand Canal to Little Balboa Island.

We found another walker who was willing to take our photo. My sister, me, nephew, niece, son and daughter in law. We popped in to a local eatery, The Village Inn, for some appetizers before our walk back.

Balboa Island North Channel

It was low tide for our time walking about. On our way back we spotted these creatures.

The sailboats and yachts were very impressive but this next boat is more my speed…

After our little trek to the island we all piled into our cars and headed inland to La Habra for our Pop’s/Dzeda’s birthday gathering.

And just like that we come to the last day of May. We’ve been busy since I returned home. Yesterday was Spring cleaning day at this Old House. I’m determined to visit and see what I’ve missed on your blogs today.