BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

I have been quietly stalking Tom Visel's beard for the better part of a year now. Like a wildlife photographer I would lay out in the bush speaking in a hoarse whisper as lesser facial hair would file past, but Tom Visel is a wily and camera-shy specimen. Everytime I had my camera at the ready he was nowhere to be found, but then I would happen upon him sans camera in town or at the post office. It was like he was toying with me. That Tom Visel is such a tease! Today, my efforts were finally rewarded with rare photographic evidence of this fine hoary specimen- Beardus Idyllwildus. Gotcha!



BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

Most of the beards featured here at the BFZ are of the hoary, old-man variety but as I was cruising through town today I spied this specimen crossing Rt. 243 with his skateboard tucked under his arm, and accompanied by a pack of ne'er-do-wells and roustabouts. I was immediately struck by how his beard and hair lend the overall impression of a lion's mane to his visage. Aye, he is a noble beast. So I executed an immediate u-turn, and after explaining that I have a blog wherein I feature the beards of Idyllwild he immediately consented to have his hairy mug photographed. He was actually really cool about it. I must say though, as a long time studier of beards, that this particular specimen was a little odd in that it simply refused to have anything to do with the area around his mouth. It just kind of frames his face like a pink oval with a fuzzy, red border. This,  again, is very mane-like, but it does kind of make it look like it was possibly glued on- a fake- but I assure you it was not. He gave it a tug and ran his fingers through it as I prepared my camera. This ginger barba was the real McCoy.

BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

Casey Abrams, of American Idol fame, may hail from Long Beach, CA these days but he grew up right here in Idyllwild, and right now this little mountain town is pulling for her native son with every fiber of its being. American Idyllwild!!! Really the place is kind of nuts for Casey Abrams.

Now I don't follow American Idol myself, but ever since Mr. Abrams emerged onto the national stage, and the whole town started going bonkers for him, some have begun suggesting that there is some resemblance between Mr. Abrams and myself. I want to apologize to Mr. Abrams right off for the unflattering comparison. However, if it is true that Casey Abrams and Josh Tate bear a passing resemblance to each other then I am heartened because it has been reported to me that the lovely Jennifer Lopez (American Idol judge, sassy latina, and one-time pop sensation) has described Casey's looks as "The New Sexy."

So move over you traditionally good looking guys, you dinosaurs of a by-gone aesthetic era, me and Casey are here to stay, and we're rocking beards.

Vote Casey Abrams!!!

BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

This man claims to have been continuously bearded for "about thirty years," and he advised that his beard was even longer until recently when he accidentally caught it on fire with a cigarette.

BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

 I found this jolly old elf standing all by himself outside of the Idyllwild Water District building. Standing alone, as he was, way back in a dark unlit corner, poor old Santa looked more to me like a confused alzheimers patient who had wandered off than the merry Master of the North Pole. I asked him if he was alright, but he just stood there as silent as a mouse clutching that stocking full of toys and knick-knacks.

BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD- Special Halloween Edition

This past Sunday night, Halloween, Sarah and I took the kids into town for the annual Halloween shindig in the middle of town. There were some amazing beards on display, which, of course, I photographed. I want you to know though that there is one beard here in the San Jacinto Mountains that has so far eluded my camera. It has become my Moby Dick, and I will not rest until I have posted his bearded visage like a trophy in the paneled halls of the BFZ. It is the longest, fullest, most hillbilly looking thing you have ever seen. It's wild. I think it must have taken this man decades to grow, but everytime I have encountered him I did not have my camera handy. I will be patient like a good hunter. I will frequent his haunts- smokey diners, parking lots, and the town dump. I will bide my time until the mighty stag wanders into the sights of my camera.  "Click!" Gotcha!!!

 Having said that, here are some of the more famous bearded personalities from Idyllwild. "The parrot guy."

 The "hang outside of the Kettle guy."

 I don't know this guy, but I love the pipe, and I also like that the beard is well kept. A lot of the beards up here look like their owners simply don't care about appearances, but this sort of beard looks respectable. It's a fine specimen, no?

Chris Fourroux, owner of the Higher Grounds Coffee shop in town and all around good guy.

BEARDS OF IDYLLWILD

Last night my Lucy-Goose was very sick. It was a long night, with much wretching and splattering into bowls. So 7:00 pm found me driving across town to fairway market where I would eventually drop $3.29 on a quantity of purple gatorade, which we, in my family, believe contains medicinal properties.

But before I could purchase said gatorade I bumped into a man outside fairway market who possessed a hoary beard of the finest quality! I think you will agree that it simply had to be photographed. Although I did not ask him to do so he struck a pose that he insisted would make him look like a viking (above).

This is his attempt at Santa Clause, likewise unsolicited.

Viking looking off the starboard side. Before returning to my nursing duties, with a sufficient supply of purple gatorade, I gave the good man a ride home. He was a good sport. 

Here is another snowey beard for you to enjoy. There is something about a well-kept, white beard that looks dignified. Am I right? This man, who was here at Camp Maranatha this weekend, advised me that he might have shaved once or twice, but otherwise has been bearded for the past thirty-three years.