The architecturally interesting Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, sits on a stunning property with views over the ocean cliffs.
(Note: Salk is buttoned up these days due to their COVID- 19 research. They are working on vaccine development, viral imaging and immunity studies. Guards are patrolling and visitors are not allowed. Thank you Salk for what you do).
Next to Salk is the Torrey Pines Glider Port.
A couple steps and you are off the cliff,
soaring,
with the birds,
helicopters and planes,
over the ocean,
far below.
Sailing off into the sky,
seems so freeing, except for the cliffs and rocks below!
Cheers to you from my life on the ground~
What a wonderful way to look down on the earth below, soaring and dipping with the air currents.
I envy their courage in jumping off a cliff or mountain with nothing but a piece of cloth keeping them safe.
Hope you are well and keeping safe 🙂
It is pretty amazing to watch them. They run, skip a few steps, and pop off the cliff with a two foot jump. I remember watching them during senior seminar decades ago out of the windows of a conference room with a birds eye view at UCSD. They were a lot more interesting than the seminar, whose topic I can’t even remember. But I do remember the parasailers! 😉
Cool pics Cindy. I love them! I know the Torre Pines quite well. So beautiful.
Thank you Gary. Torrey Pines is beautiful and thankfully, much of it unchanged since I was a kid, since it is protected from development დ
Thank you for saying you were on the ground!
I thought you might have been flying in the air – yes, thanks to the Salk Institute for their work!
And you please stay on the ground, my friend!
Believe I do, except for all the planes I used to fly on in my pre-covid life! 😉
I love La Jolla! So beautiful.
I was born and raised here, my hometown. It’s quite crowded now, but my family still likes it დ
The art scene in the mid 90’s was great. I bought a big Howard Behrens at a gallery there.
Sounds like good memories. The further back in time you go the better La Jolla gets! დ
Fabulous photos of what must be a fabulous experience … but maybe not for me.
For you and I, it is an amazing thing to watch 😉
It’ll have to do me – and you, apparently 😉
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Makes me want to fly Cindy.
I hear you. If I had the skill of bird, I would be up there too! დ
Once upon a time, I wanted to go parachuting but I’m too chicken in my old age. Still, I fly a lot in my dreams and I love that sensation. I’ve always said that if I get to come back in a next life, I’d want to be an osprey: be a great flyer and eat fish all the time! 😀
I think it is neat that you fly a lot in your dreams and you enjoy it! Cool on you & keep on flying. Where we go in our minds are often the very best places დ
Very cool!
Grazie mille დ
🙂🌏🏞
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Cheers back from me on the ground too ☺️🤓🙋♀️ Sending you joy Cindy ~ smiles hedy
Smiles back to you Hedy, the ground here in Southern Cali may not be too stable, but I tend to want to keep my feet on it! 😉
One of the many things you’ll NEVER catch me doing, haha! 😀
How many accidentally end up in the water, I wonder?
I love the shot with the ravens – flying with the birds would be fun however. 🙂
I met a guy who flies his trained falcons with his parasail here. I think he wishes he was a bird! There are accidents here. The day I took these photographs, several fire engines and multiple paramedic vans roared in with sirens clanging. I didn’t hang around to see why. დ
Ooh, scary stuff. I’d have done the same.
Yes indeed. We don’t need anymore bad news in our lives these days.
My heart can bearly carry the load as it is… _/\_
I hear you and empathize დ
Stunning pictures – love the bright sails against the blue sky!
Thank you very much. A perfect day provides the contrast დ
Ahh…looks like things are soaring at the Salk Exchange. LOL! Awesome pics as always!
꒰ ๑ ˃̶ ᴗ ᵒ̴̶̷๑꒱و ̑̑♡♡♡
It is always an elevating experience coming here! 😉
I bet! ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡♡♡♡♡
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I love the glider port! We haven’t been recently (since February and, of course, Covid) so I’m glad to know that they are up (and UP) and running. We’ll often get a sandwich at that cafe and spend the afternoon just watching the ballet in the sky (do you know if the cafe is open?). I love the picture with the pilot and the birds!
Yes, the cafe is open, and it is crowded on the weekend. Weekdays are better in terms of crowds. So you and I are locals! Very cool. I am surprised by the number of bloggers who know the place დ
I feel much more safer on the ground with both legs.
Yes. So do I. Even though I know the ground is an illusion of safety დ
I was very excited to see these photos! I was at that very location in La Jolla the last time I visited my daughter and her husband in San Diego.
How cool is that and what a small world!! I was born and grew up in La Jolla. It’s my hometown. My mother and brother’s family still live there. Next time you visit, you need to give me a holler! 😉
Oh, for heaven’s sake! I certainly hope we’ll be able to get out there, but the current conditions seem to indicate that it won’t be any time soon, unfortunately.
That is certainly true. We are all sheltering in place for the foreseeable future დ
These are fantastic photos! I am a pilot but I haven’t ever done any gliding (not really that interested; I like airplanes 🙂 ). The colours are wonderful. 🙂
I like airplanes too. Especially small ones and float planes that take you into the bush and other remote areas. What do you fly? დ
Mostly twins but I have flown lots of Pipers and Cessnas. I did some flight training in Phoenix and flew lots in your country. 🙂
How awesome is that! Good on you. You must have such interesting memories and stories to tell. I would love to hear them all დ
Thank you. Oh yes, pilots love to yak about their experiences. Most non-pilots find them pretty boring. 😉
Why? It is far more interesting than life spent on the ground.
That’s what I think, too. 🙂
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Awesome! <3
Thanks much Bette & hope all is well with you my friend დ
It wasn’t the fall that killed her, it was the sudden stop at the end.
Yeah, it’s that sudden stopping you gotta worry about!
Looks like they are having a great time. I’ve flown glider aircraft but would have to work up the nerve to try this, 😄
They used to fly gliders near these cliffs when I was a kid. They were towed. I don’t know if they still do it დ
Looks wonderful from your point of view (on the ground).
Exactly! 😉
Amazing photos..adventurous!
Some people don’t feel safe on the ground დ
Agreed !
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Beautiful post Cindy, I especially enjoyed seeing the gliders in the sky near the ocean. Thank you!
Thank you more for your kind appreciation & cheers to you დ
Thank you!
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The ground is good, and I cheer on the institute for their endeavours against C-19!
Cindy, it is a very interesting looking place.
It is where I was born and grew up. It’s changed quite a bit, is crowded and over developed. Not the sleepy seaside village I so loved. Solid ground is good, even though in California, it is apt to shift rather dramatically under your feet 😉
Excellent, Cindy! Beautiful architecture, spectacular nature, and courageous people! Thanks you! Be well, my friend!
What an uplifting and thoughtful message Fabio. Thank you my friend დ
Thanks so much, Cindy! Take care, my friend! 🙂
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My dad and I used to go watch the World Glider Championships off those cliffs. I’ll be down there in a couple weeks.
I remember this! I remember the gliders being pulled into the air. And my mother was friends with one of the pilots. How serendipitous is this coincidence! დ
I feel much more safer on the ground with both legs.
Yes! So do I დ
I think I’d prefer to watch from the ground too. Fab photos.
Thank you Sheree for understanding დ
Thank you, Cindy. What a wonderful post. I could feel myself soaring along with them… were you among them? After reading the news, you raised my spirits. Thanks again. xxx
Reading the news here in the USA makes many people want to fly away. Love to you Lea დ
Oh Cindy – this reminds me of Leonardo da Vinci’s thought on flight. “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
He was so creative and I am sure you have seen his sketches of wings. Remarkable. დ
Looks great with the blue sky , but I rather stay on the ground with you! 🙂
We are both quite content to watch! დ
Here is the solution to leave the earth and relieve it of our too polluting presence … !!!
Fly away like a bird……
The Beatles – Free As A Bird – YouTube
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It strikes me that the Salk Insitutute looks very nice against the blue California, it maybe would not look so appealing with the overcast skies of Britain, lol!!
Well, those overcast skies would be most welcome over Southern California right now. Want to trade, our October heat wave for your rain? 😉
You are having an October heat wave? Well I guess it makes out door life a bit easier in a pandemic! Sunshine is always welcome but I am not so keen on cloudless skies. I like the variety of clouds to look at and paint.
Yes, our heatwaves used to be in September, now that last into early November. Not good! დ
Looks beautiful – sailing through the air!
I’m not able to “like” anything right now, due to technical difficulties – also not able to reblog anything. It may be a while. I think I need a new theme.
But I always enjoy your posts – all very beautiful and interesting too.
Aww, thank you Sharon for letting me know. I appreciate you and I am sorry to hear the wp gremlins are bothering you and hope they leave you soon. დდ
Excellent shots
Thank you sincerely Derrick დ
If it wasn’t for the heights, and the stepping off a cliff part, I would LOVE to do this. I am a little jealous of that ability!
Exactly. I could do it easily too, if we stayed about four feet off the ground! 😉
Well, if we can make that happen, I’m in!!!
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures from Cindy Knoke of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California near cliffs where people go soaring.
Hugs & thank you Patricia! Stay safe and well my friend დ
Flying nearly as free as a bird – wish I could do so…
I wish I could too! დ
Delightful photos and words Cindy to lift our spirits. I wish I had taken flying or gliding lessons. Thank you!
Well, it is probably not too late if you are serious, but there are benefits to keeping one’s feet on the ground 😉
Too late for flying with my eyes, but imagination helps. 🙂
To be honest, I bet we both fly better, to more amazing places than possible on this earth, once we close our eyes and imagine. Stay safe Brad
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LOL. It sounds like your imagination is a rock star! 😎
I knows yours is!! დ
A visual treat 🙂 Thank you.
You are most welcome and so pleased you enjoyed! დ
Wow! I love those colourful images of the human birds soaring through the air. If I was 50 years younger, I would be tempted to give it a try.
There are benefits to getting older!! 😉
That looks very fun but for me I just look from afar.
Exactly the same as me! დ
Lovely shots, Cindy. I love them. 🙂
Awww, so happy you do! დ
Mercy, not even a king’s fortune could pay me to soar off a cliff with the ocean below!! Just the though gives me the heebie-jeebies! Is this anywhere near Torrey Pines Golf Course?
Yes it is. The golf course is immediately to the north of the glider port. დ
The gliding looks like so much fun. Hows the landing? That would worry me.
Leslie xoxo
They land back up on top of the cliffs, if they do it right. The whole thing would worry me, but I like to watch them fly დ
Something very etherial about it….
Yes, the freedom and escape….
That just looks crazy to me. LOL
Some of us are just more comfortable closer to the ground! 😉
I’ve been there and done that! It was exhilarating to say the least, I recommend it to everyone!
How wonderful that you experienced this & enjoyed it! Good for you დ
Oh my! I saw some sailing between the mountains in Bavaria. I think over the ocean would be less scary, if no sharks showed up. As a teenager trying to water ski, I finally managed to stay up when I looked down and saw I was surrounded by cabbage head jelly fish!
Laughing…. big time! I think that is what they call motivation. Thank you for cracking me up Eileen. And stay well my friend დ
Flying with the birds! Must feel free…as a bird.
Agreed. But birds are better equipped for flying and changing their plans in mid air! 😉
I’ve done my share of HALO (high-altitude, low opening) jumps, but never was intrigued by the attraction of paragliding. If you want real thrill, that’s fast roping from a MH-53D Super Stallion with the rotor wash. 🙂
I am familiar with HALO jumpers and find the whole process incredible. The skill required boggles my mind, both the jumping and the swimming. Who did you jump for?
I was a SEAL in my previous life.
That makes sense. I basically worked as a civilian attached to the Navy as a psychotherapist for almost 20 years. I grew up near Seal Team 7, in the ocean all my young life, which is why halo jumpers impress the hell out of me. It’s not so much the jumping out of the planes at super high altitude that is the biggest deal, it is doing that, and then being able to swim, and do stuff, on purpose, in such hostile ocean conditions.
Stunning.
Due to my work, I got to know one of the founders of the early UDT pretty well. He explained the whole concept to me, how it developed, was employed to save all of us. So many amazing memories of such incredible people.
The training missions are always harder than the operational missions. It’s about being physically ready for what may be encountered during an operational mission. The hardest part about parachuting into water is removing the parachute rigging without becoming ensnared by the chute and harness. With HALO, it is also getting rid of the breathing apparatus. The other consideration about jumping into the ocean are conditions. Obviously, you don’t want to jump into rough seas, but if it’s part of the mission profile, it is part of the profile. Like in the Grenada operation, it was decided to go ahead with dropping a small unit SEAL team into rough seas – wave height 5-6 ft, winds at 25 knots, and an ocean swim of five miles. Even in combat, there are safety limits. Those limits were waived, the airdrop went ahead. Five of six drowned, the sixth was picked up. A lot of risk, but manageable.
I am impressed you were also a psychotherapist with the Navy for 20 years. I looked through my stuff to see if I had anything with your name. We collect a lot of business cards along the way; still have more to look through. Anyway, I’m one of those who doesn’t carry emotional and stress baggage, much like my dad. My first team leader said if you need to throw when you see ugly the first time, throw up. That’s what I said when I became a small unit team leader … just make sure we’re not in a shoot out.
I can tell you more, ideally in an email. It seems our paths could’ve crossed. Stay well. 🙂
I went by my maiden name all my working life, so the last name is different. I was a civilian who worked with, and often for, the Navy or DOD. I am still trying to get my head around 5 out of 6 drowned….. I am not succeeding. I was trying to remember the name of one of the UDT founders guy. I think he was the UDT CO during The War. He seemed quite old at the time to me… laughing now, but so physically fit and disciplined, and such a quietly impressive person. He talked about how and why the team was formed, the missions they did during the War, and about the rebreathers. I don’t remember all of it… but the history is incredible.
Thanks for the happy post. I definitely want to visit next time I’m in Cali!
I hope you do and tell me when you are coming! დ
The ‘chutes they have now. Very nice. Thank you. (Did you ever take the jump?)
I never did and am not tempted to do so. Did you? დ
Yep. About a dozen times, when I was young and foolish. Loved every second of it. I stopped when I got married and had kids.
Yes. You are a good parent, kids make you motivated to live. It is very nice to meet you.
There are crazy things you can do, when you have no responsibility to others. Afterwards? It’s a no-no.
Enchanté, Cindy. 🙏🏻
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Absolutely breathtaking and the contrast between the beauty of the Salk building and of nature is perfect!
Thank you Chris. The starkness of the architecture does blend well with the cliffs and pop of blue from the sea დ
Really great content !
Grazie mille დ
Nice! I’ve never seen the glider port. I’ve walked the cliffs and beach many times, though.
That just means you have to visit again!! დ
😉
Oh my God!, looks so crazy but adventures and beautiful at the same time.
Yes! Understand with your ambivalence completely! დ
Lovely colourful paraglider wings!
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Thank you Graham & happy you enjoyed! დ
Fantastic shots, Cindy! I love to watch parasailers but I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to just step off a cliff!
Thank very much Clare. I will hang out with you, on the ground 😉
Haha! 😀
I’m with you…on the ground!! Great pictures, as always, Cindy.
There are benefits to being on the ground. You might find diamonds 😉
I loved Lajolla years ago spent time there and now it’s a favorite to one of my daughters.. these are stunning.
You and your daughter being here makes it more special. Thank you very much Kerri.
Awe that was so much, thank you for sharing so many places and spaces and I’m so happy your having fun.
You make places and spaces better, so thank you Kerri დ
I follow ur blog it’s lovely to see how you bring clarity and thought with your photography. I admire your skills .
Honored. Sincerely. Thank you
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Love it, absolutely amazing
Love back to you Connie, and thank you დ
Stunning views! You captured this beautifully.
Awww, means so much to me. Thank you Jennie and stay well დ
You’re welcome, Cindy. You, too! 🥰
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Hi Cindy, thank you so much for these breathtaking photographs!
I hope all is well with you Charles დ
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are beautiful photographs from Cindy Knoke!
I think I would much rather thank you Charles, for the kindness that you do დ
Thank you for sharing the information about what they are doing at Salk for our health. A wonderful building too. Thel paragliding images are fantastic.Maybe sometimes i will try to do, by myself. Best wishes, and stay save,Cindy! Michael
Thank you so much Michael. You stay safe too my friend. I would like to keep talking with you დ
Me too, Cindy! In the country we have increasing infections, but here its nothing. God for sake!. Be well! Michael
Stay safe my friend დ
Thank you Cindy! You too! Enjoy your weekend!
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:-))
Thank you for the like Cindy. 🙂
I always like and admire you and what you do. It is true დ
I know those cliffs around La Jolla and Torey Pines!! Soaring off them must be an amazing and terrifying experience! Beautiful photos!
Amazing you know these cliffs and so happy you were here. დ
As a huge fan of modern architecture, which also makes great subjects for photography, I was very interested in that photo.
Is that you in the photos soaring though the skies with wild abandon?! Beautiful and inspiring photos 😃
Yes, it is me, and my cat Herbert, flying with wild abandon!
Only you would know დ
Could do with some wild abandon myself! A walk to the supermarket is about as close as I’m getting to that!😷😂
Same here, except the walk to the supermarket is too dangerous for me! My former fun life seems like a distant memory….
Wow…. flying with birds!!
I met a guy who parasails with his trained falcons! დ
Amazing pics as always! This sport is really cool :)! Bye. Kamila
Thanks so much for coming by and saying hi! დ
Wow.
Hi Charlotte. So happy you stopped by & hope all is well with you my friend დდ
The architecture is interesting indeed. It’s a great idea for a condo, protruding balconies to give more units a better view, just like the Salk Institute has with the ocean cliffs. Thanks for the photos Cindy which are stunning, as usual! 🙂
Yes. It would make optimal view condos wouldn’t it. Creative of you Halim, which is also usual დ დ