Victorville on Veteran's Day

Sashimi. If you've kept up with my posts, you know that I like sushi and in particular, sashimi. It has been a few months since I had good sashimi, so i decided to spend my holiday by taking in a movie, the Immortals, which was mediocre at best, followed up by a little shopping, laundry, and then Sashimi here I come. I searched the internet for the best sushi in the Inland Empire and one name came up again and again, Samurai Sushi. The name alone scared me, but I figured I'd give it a day in court. I am glad I did. I ordered a sashimi plate, seaweed salad and some hot saki. As I sat checking out the interior of this mini-mall wonder, I noticed everyone had huge bowls and plates elaborately decorated with food art. I knew I was in for a treat. I was not disappointed. First was the salad and miso. Fine by any normal standards. Then the chef himself handed over a giant bowl, the seaweed salad. The bowl was probably half gallon size. It was huge. It was seaweed salad and fish eggs over a whole ginger salad. Then he handed over an 18" plate of giant super fresh cuts of sashimi. All of it was absolutely delicious. The white tuna had been marinated in an onion and vinegar base. The red tuna was clean and moist. The salmon was beautifully marbled. All of it was amazing. After dinner was done, out came a free apple dessert, with peanut butter, chocolate, whipped cream and nuts. A special treat. I think I've found my sashimi jones fixer for sure. 

So Cal Digs

I've been in town now for just at a week. The first 5 days were on post at the landmark Inn, pic below. Right now I find myself at the Tanger Outlets exit in a very nice Comfort Inn in a small suite with a heated pool and hot tub and HBO. Not too bad considering. I think the desert, at least now that it's not 116 degrees isn't too bad. Crazy vistas and nice sun. 

This is the city center of Irwin. It wasn't built too long ago. There's a pizza hut, Starbucks, subway, dentist, alterations, military clothing sales, and a brigade quartermaster. Kind of a nice area but since it is on a remote military base, it's not the same as a real downtown in a city. it gets a little busy but there aren't a bunch of college kids, or older retired couples or as many stay at home moms chilling outside as you'd think. The line at Starbucks is really short all day long. No complaints there.

Coolest grill/smoker ever!!

Originally our rugby match was to be a tournament, but one team didn't show and one had a team emergency. So it was just us and the home team They had planned on putting on a spread for 4 teams but there were only 2 of us. they held their shin dig at the VFW and when I pulled up this was outside. I thought what a cool sculpture. Then as I began talking to the lady sitting outside, I noticed it wasn't just a sculpture but a grill and a smoker. Different parts of the dragon's body opened up to reveal more grates in different places. Apparently, all the smoke comes out the mouth and nose when she's pumping.  I missed the process but the whole rig was amazing. Now I just have to find out how much a giant strutting rooster rig with spurs would cost!!!

This old Belson was used to hold all the meat. That's piles and piles of the tenderest chicken and pork imaginable. I could get used to this. We threw it on tortillas, really what else, with some tangy sauce and chased it down with cold beer while singing rugby tunes. Life doesn't get a whole lot better than that with your clothes on, now does it?!!

Rugby in Ridgecrest

I played my first match as a Dead Rabbit Rugger on Saturday in Ridgecrest, California. It was a blast. We had almost 30 guys show up. Half were from the U19  team including some solid high school kids. We played Indian Valley first, then the U19 team played the second half, then we played the third 40 minute period after loaning Indian Wells some bodies. The weather was perfect and even though we were in the middle of the Mojave the grass was no worse than a lot of fields on the east coast. The mountains in the distance had a recent snowfall and were spectacular. I had a few great runs, a couple decent  had set a great ruck, the guy that tackled me reached over and grabbed the ball in an effort to illegally steal it for his side, and I watched as my cleat struck him directly in the sternum and told him in not so polite terms to keep his sodding hands off the ball. The look on his face was priceless, a mix of hurt, anger and wild eyed confusion. I told him not to do it again or he's get more of the same. Uh, he didn't touch the ball on the ground again.

 

A Flanker. They call them "break" forwards. This kid fits the bill attitude wise. He ran sideways too much for my taste. 

Wiley Coyotes

In Pinnacles, it was all rabbits and quail. So far at Irwin, quail and coyotes. I have seen two coyotes in about as different levels of health and well being as they could get. The first one was healthy as a house pet. He came strolling out of the horse pen following a bunch of quail which are as fat as little crumb snatchers. He saw me but was pretty much unphased. I watched him for maybe ten minutes stalk a couple little groups. The second coyote I saw today. He was bone skinny, mangy and his right leg was hurting him something fierce. He also had some tag alongs giving his ears grief. He was shaking them every couple of seconds to try to rid himself of the nasty little parasites. I hate buggers. He walked gingerly by the post office, then the fire station, then past the px and burger king and finally caught something to nibble on near some rocks. I don't know if it was a mouse or someones half eaten burger tossed out the window. he looked rough and it made me sad for him, but he soldiered on, slowly making his way closer to where ever he was headed. 

You can see him eyeing a covey on this little berm.

Look at how shaggy and bright he looks, almost like someone gave him a bath and sent him out into the world. 

Quite a stark contrast. This poor fella looks like he's had his ass whooped something fierce. You can see his ribs, and his back end is hunched in and hurting. I don't know if it's age, disease, or just a plain whooping that got him here, but I felt for the poor guy. 

Deer, Turkeys and Pinnacles

Wind farm

The area around Pinnacles is beautiful. 

Vineyard

Turkeys on the run.

Rocks and Mullets

Sunday, I got to go rock climbing in Pinnacles. We went for about 4 hours. It was a gorgeous warm day. Gavin would lead the routes, then we would climb up on toprope afterwards. It was a lot of fun, I haven't been climbing outdoors in a long time. 

Gavin and Nate. Gavin and Alaysha left the next day for 3 weeks in Ecuador.

The dorm for National Park workers had these hilarious magnets on their fridge.