Star Date 5 of Mission: Search for the Sun

Winding down our mission, we decided to explore a different kind of mission, Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first mission built in a state that is now famous for them.

We wandered the beautiful grounds and enjoyed the peacefulness of the mission set in the middle of a bustling neighborhood.

Romney enjoyed lighting a candle for our safe travels home the next day. I am not sure he was as concerned about our safety as he was excited to light a match from a matchbook and light a candle in a church.

After a lunch at a staple California vegan restaurant, we hunted down a beach so Romney could finally fulfill his mission wish of playing in the water. We lucked out and blindly ended up at Crystal Cove State Park, a beautifully scenic spot just south of Laguna and north of Newport Beach.

Arriving at the lowest point of the tide, the area was perfection for tide pool exploring as well as swimming (for explorers who don't mind the icy winter water), sand castle making as well as sunset viewing. For the first time in their lives these four explorers discovered starfish, purple and orange, in the tide pools- at least 30 of them, maybe more, and got to hold one in their hands before returning it to its salt water home.

Bringing our mission to a close on New Years Eve, we watched the sunset over the ocean for the last time in 2012 while wishing on the plentiful sea stars that the new year would bring us as many blessings as the old one had.

Star Date 4 of Mission: Search for the Sun

Agenda for Day 4 of mission: Search for the Sun:Harbor /Shelter Island; Old Town during daylight hours; La Jolla Cove and Shores; Cabrillo Tide Pools; Dinner with Anne and Mark. The view from our hotel was lovely, surrounded by the bay on all sides, there was not a bad sightline. We finally got around to looking around the little island we called home base the morning of the 4th day. With a lovely little fountain with some nice sculptures at the end, Shelter Island lived up to its name and gave us a wonderfully beautiful place to give us Shelter from the night.

Since the last exploration mission to Old Town took place after dark, the members of our expedition collectively decided to visit during daylight to see what the darkness of night had made invisible to us, the wandering travelers. The adobe buildings took on a new life with the sun. Bougainvillea bloomed bright pink against the whitewash of the adobe, clinging to the walls and roofs of the Spanish style shops. Our youngest crew members enjoyed searching the mineral shop for souvenirs, while the oldest enjoyed sitting in the center of the square warming their hands and bodies from the heat of the bonfires dotting the area.

Once Old Town had been rediscovered in daylight hours, we four explorers headed to La Jolla Cove and Shores to explore the tide pools and observe the seals that hang on the sun warmed rocks of Children's beach. Through the cave on the other side of the rocks the tide pools were teeming with life. The seals seemed to enjoy watching all the tourists stumble through the cave to explore their home base.

Through the cave on the other side of the rocks the tide pools were teeming with life. The seals seemed to enjoy watching all the tourists stumble through the cave to explore their home base. With barking laughter they mocked the few brave human souls who dared the chilly winter Pacific ocean in speedos to briskly swim out past the breaking waves. After La Jolla, our exploration mission lead us to more tide pools, which we explored in the wind and rain at the Cabrillo State Park for a few brief moments before they closed. Needing nourishment we headed to a nice dinner at Anne's boyfriend, Mark's home.

Star Date 3 of Mission: Search for the Sun

Agenda for day 3 of operation Search for the Sun: Utilize Coronado Ferry as means of water transportation to Coronado Island for further exploration off of the mainland. Retreat to hotel in the evening for a much needed rain-out break of movie and dinner on Shelter Island.

After a very long walk from one side of Coronado to the other in order to soak up sun and atmosphere of new locale, four hungry crew members arrive at the historic Coronado hotel to forage for food. Before food can be located several oddities are observed. Favorite oddity observed: Ice skating by the sea. Vegan pizza located, bellies filled and bus back to the ferry has been boarded. Total time for adventure 5 1/2 hours. Weather has turned from sun to sprinkles and two crew members beg for a break of a Redbox movie and relaxation time. Captains B and T agree.

Star Date 2 of Mission: Search for the Sun

Agenda day 2 of exploratory mission: Cabrillo State Park lighthouse at Point Loma; Midway aircraft carrier; Embarcadero; Seaport Village; Old Town dinner at Café Coyote. Espied a giant candle sitting alone at the western edge of the continent with of view of the entire cityscape. Looks as if there was life living here once, but deserted now except for the other explorers roaming the area. This giant candle sits bravely, but lonely, atop of a hill overlooking wet substance that rolls into the earth at regular intervals. Peaceful calm comes over entire crew as we stare, mesmerized at the loveliness of this new location. Contemplating relocating permanently to the candle on the edge of the sea from our home base in the frozen tundra to the shelter others who have come before seem to have foolishly abandoned.

Too many other explorers at candle, decide to not relocate there. Move on to area known as Em- barcadero. Ships of all shapes and sizes are docked where the earth meets the water.

One especially giant ship is detected and the crew decides 3 to 1 to embark.

Seems no end to this giant floating city. Another giant floating city spotted in the distance. Many stories tall, full of aircraft and other explorers. Fear we may loose a crew member to the crowd circling us on every side, decide after an hour to abort mission aboard the floating city to head south for some retail exploration. Souvenirs are unearthed in area full of cute boutique shops known to locals as Seaport Village. Crew hunger rages again. Must rush youngest crew members, who are becoming agitated, to hunt more food. Choose spot recommended as a must see on this exploratory journey- Cafe Coyote in area known to locals as Old Town. Dark on this visit, but hunger satisfied. All crew members require restful rejuvenation for continuation of mission.

Star Date 1 of Mission: Search for the Sun

Living with 3 men means picking up a certain amount of sci-fi geekiness. I really dislike Star Trek, but faced with the task of digitally documenting the family vacation, I feel like the best way to approach this overwhelming task is to record our adventures in the form of a captain's log. Just as Captain Kirk used this type of narrative to fill in the audience as to the events in progress, so shall I, as I report the voyages of the Subaru Starship Romber and its five-day mission: to explore strange new worlds (San Diego, CA), to seek out new life (Marine sea creatures) and new civilizations (Gaslamp District, Old Town, and the Embarcadero), to boldly go where the Barbers Four have never gone before.

Captain's Log Day 1: Agenda: Explore Balboa park; Air and Space Museum; Fleet Science Center ;Gaslamp District. Sun successfully located; first mission objective achieved. Home base has been found and is situated on the water with a view of the San Diego bay. May not want to leave safety and beauty of the base to explore, but explore we must. Balboa park seems like logical first venture.

Smallest crew member attempts to locate new life form hiding next to a confusing species of foliage that remains a mystery as it appears to be green and blooming in the month of December.

All crew members on deck to wonder at strange Christmas tree that looks as though it has been pulled from the pages of a favorite children's book. Expecting to Whos from Whoville to jump out and attack the female grinch of the party at any moment.

Detected smiling immobile creature sunning itself. Sun has obviously had same positive mood effect on creature as it has had on the crew of this enterprise. Two youngest crew members attempted to tame this beast by climbing upon its head. Appear to have been successful.

Science is an important aspect to any exploratory mission. Finding out the games, customs and traditions of the societies one visits is another. Both objectives successfully fulfilled. Bodily function understanding furthered: urine, snot and gas serve useful purposes to keeping crew member's bodies up and running to explore other realms on future missions as well as serving as themes for exciting video games.

Objective: Scout and investigate things that fly. Crew member, Bill takes this opportunity to pretend he is the captain of his own ship. Remains the captain of this crew member's heart.

Teenaged crew member, William, discovers strange pod that once carried species to the outer realms of space. Wonders if tin can is still operable and if so, how one could successfully hijack a ride. Crew members appetites roar with hunger and all vacate mission to Balboa Park to scout culinary options in the Gaslamp district. Our small crew of four is joined by a relative crew of two as Anne and her boyfriend join us for feast.