Monday
Surprisingly, we left Bodega Bay on Sunday morning in bright sunshine and drove inland. We stopped in the middle of Santa Rosa for a cuppa at a Peets coffee house. Spent a nice couple of hours chatting to some locals. I like Santa Rosa.
We drove on through the hills, dropping down into Calistoga (which is a lovely name for a town, it has a song called Calistoga In The Rain, which is a great title, but it is a naff song), which is at the head of Napa Valley. We pulled into the Bothe-Napa State Park and found a nice shady campsite, nicely protected from the constant sunshine, of course there are mosquitoes here, but you can't have everything. (so it seems). In the evening we drove into Calistoga, which is a pleasant and pretty little town, and ate a burger at the Hydro Grill and sat and listened to 'Swing 7' a small jazz band (with a combined age of about 500 years), playing for a while.
Today, Monday, we (that is Sally, I just watch) caught up on our laundry.
This afternoon we confounded the mosquitoes by putting up our Gazebo with built in Mozzy nets. Ha!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
April 27th - Fishermans festival
Saturday Today in Bodega Bay there is a Fisherman's Festival. We went along to have a look, it was great fun, lots of craft stalls, as one would expect, live music and lots of seafood. The main event was a boat building competition. Four people, three hours to build it, two races, one winner. Using some plywood and soft wood, using only hand tools and an electric drill, (plus several rolls of duct tape). There were 18 teams and all seemed to be working from a plan. It was good fun to watch. The races themselves were over quite quickly, it was surprising how well constructed the boats were. The race was one by the local firemen, to everybodies delight. We really enjoyed our day out at the Fisherman's Festival.
Fishermans festival
Saturday Today in Bodega Bay there is a Fisherman's Festival. We went along to have a look, it was great fun, lots of craft stalls, as one would expect, live music and lots of seafood. The main event was a boat building competition. Four people, three hours to build it, two races, one winner. Using some plywood and soft wood, using only hand tools and an electric drill, (plus several rolls of duct tape). There were 18 teams and all seemed to be working from a plan. It was good fun to watch. The races themselves were over quite quickly, it was surprising how well constructed the boats were. The race was one by the local firemen, to everybodies delight. We really enjoyed our day out at the Fisherman's Festival.
Friday, April 26, 2013
April 26th Strictly for The Birds
Friday Today we drove the loop road: along the coast, inland along the Russian River, across to Bodega and back to Bodega bay. As usual the weather was overcast, misty and cold, so we did not waste much time on the coastal bit, as we had explored that on Thursday. We took the road inland and drove liesurely up the Russian River Valley, which was a very pretty run. We stopped in Guernville, but did not find it very attractive. Leaving the valley and heading south we passed through Occidental, which is a much prettier village. From there we continued south, stopping for lunch in the grounds of a country school, which is now a museum and park. Finally we arrived at Bodega and quickly found the main target of our day out - the school house used in The Birds. It is a very attractive building, made more so by its history. Right next to it is the Catholic Church which also can be seen in the film. The famous scene is when the children escape from the school house and run down the hill, past the church, to the safety of the houses on the sea front. The only problem is that the school house is about five miles from the sea! So all the shots of the children running taken from the side are from Bodega Town, but the shots taken behind the children showing them running down the hill were filmed in Bodega Bay. Then the different shots were edited together. By now the sun had come out in Bodega, however when we drove down the hill to Bodega Bay the sky was once more covered with cloud.
Strictly for The Birds
Friday Today we drove the loop road: along the coast, inland along the Russian River, across to Bodega and back to Bodega bay. As usual the weather was overcast, misty and cold, so we did not waste much time on the coastal bit, as we had explored that on Thursday. We took the road inland and drove liesurely up the Russian River Valley, which was a very pretty run. We stopped in Guernville, but did not find it very attractive. Leaving the valley and heading south we passed through Occidental, which is a much prettier village. From there we continued south, stopping for lunch in the grounds of a country school, which is now a museum and park. Finally we arrived at Bodega and quickly found the main target of our day out - the school house used in The Birds. It is a very attractive building, made more so by its history. Right next to it is the Catholic Church which also can be seen in the film. The famous scene is when the children escape from the school house and run down the hill, past the church, to the safety of the houses on the sea front. The only problem is that the school house is about five miles from the sea! So all the shots of the children running taken from the side are from Bodega Town, but the shots taken behind the children showing them running down the hill were filmed in Bodega Bay. Then the different shots were edited together. By now the sun had come out in Bodega, however when we drove down the hill to Bodega Bay the sky was once more covered with cloud.
April 25th - Goonies, Whales and Seals
Thursday Today started with the same weather pattern - overcast and misty. We determined to drive up the coast to one of our 'Bucket List' destinations - Goat Rock. This beautiful coastline is where the final scene of The Goonies was shot and we wanted to see it. The Goonies is a film that our family grew up with, as it was one of the few videos we had, so it was watched over and over again. So its familiarity added to the magic. Goat Rock is also the home of a seal nursery. We set off and as we passed through Bodega Bay (the town) we stopped off at another famous location - the gas station used in The Birds to depict a terrible fire. Though we knew we were on the very spot where they filmed it was completely unrecognisable, apart from the presence of the sea, which was a backdrop to the scene in the film. However we did see a little group of sea lions waiting for fish scraps from the fish packing station there. We continued up the coast, once past the town the road rises up along the cliff top and wonderful views of the coast can be seen. Highway 1 is quite narrow and windy here and getting a good view as a driver can imperil the passenger as taking your eyes off this road is not a good idea. The whole coast here is a State Park, so there are plenty of stopping places, which we used. The whole coastal area, roadside, fields and hills are covered with many beautiful spring flowers, making the scenery even more spectacular. We approached Goat Rock and dropped down to the car park where that final scene of The Goonies was filmed. It is all still the same as it was in 1985. The view along the beach and out to sea, the stony beach and the car park with its beach signs. I tried to get some pictures which reflect those of the scenes in the film. It was great fun and once again we felt the film come to life (though we did not see One Eyed Willie's Ghost Ship disappear over the horizon.
From the headland of Goat Rock we moved on a few hundred yards to the mouth of the Russian River, where there is a Harbor Seal Nursery, unfortunately the seals live several hundred yards out on the sand spit, which is at the mouth of the Russian River. The sand there is very soft and difficult to walk on. So we sat in the dunes and ate our picnic lunch, while we sat the clouds lifted and the sun came out, there was now a clear blue sky, what a contrast. Instead of going to see them from the sand spit we drove round the Russian River Estuary and parked in an overlook, where we could get a great view of the seals. We took out chairs and sat and watched for about an hour. There are probably up to one hundred seal mothers and pups spread along the sandy estuary. We watched them basking in the sun and swimming round in the little bay. We also saw an Osprey fishing out on the sea. As we could see across the sand spit to the bay we were also keeping an eye out for any whales. We expected them to pass by way out in the bay, so were completely thrilled and surprised to see two whales (we assume mother and pup) rising right at the mouth of the river, perhaps twenty yards from the shore. We did not see them arrive, they were just there! So we then stayed for another hour watching the whales, this pair stayed in the bay. However we say another pair transit the bay about a half mile out to sea, followed by yet another pair a little later. We really had a great time mammal watching this afternoon.
From the headland of Goat Rock we moved on a few hundred yards to the mouth of the Russian River, where there is a Harbor Seal Nursery, unfortunately the seals live several hundred yards out on the sand spit, which is at the mouth of the Russian River. The sand there is very soft and difficult to walk on. So we sat in the dunes and ate our picnic lunch, while we sat the clouds lifted and the sun came out, there was now a clear blue sky, what a contrast. Instead of going to see them from the sand spit we drove round the Russian River Estuary and parked in an overlook, where we could get a great view of the seals. We took out chairs and sat and watched for about an hour. There are probably up to one hundred seal mothers and pups spread along the sandy estuary. We watched them basking in the sun and swimming round in the little bay. We also saw an Osprey fishing out on the sea. As we could see across the sand spit to the bay we were also keeping an eye out for any whales. We expected them to pass by way out in the bay, so were completely thrilled and surprised to see two whales (we assume mother and pup) rising right at the mouth of the river, perhaps twenty yards from the shore. We did not see them arrive, they were just there! So we then stayed for another hour watching the whales, this pair stayed in the bay. However we say another pair transit the bay about a half mile out to sea, followed by yet another pair a little later. We really had a great time mammal watching this afternoon.
Goonies, Whales and Seals
Thursday Today started with the same weather pattern - overcast and misty. We determined to drive up the coast to one of our 'Bucket List' destinations - Goat Rock. This beautiful coastline is where the final scene of The Goonies was shot and we wanted to see it. The Goonies is a film that our family grew up with, as it was one of the few videos we had, so it was watched over and over again. So its familiarity added to the magic. Goat Rock is also the home of a seal nursery. We set off and as we passed through Bodega Bay (the town) we stopped off at another famous location - the gas station used in The Birds to depict a terrible fire. Though we knew we were on the very spot where they filmed it was completely unrecognisable, apart from the presence of the sea, which was a backdrop to the scene in the film. However we did see a little group of sea lions waiting for fish scraps from the fish packing station there. We continued up the coast, once past the town the road rises up along the cliff top and wonderful views of the coast can be seen. Highway 1 is quite narrow and windy here and getting a good view as a driver can imperil the passenger as taking your eyes off this road is not a good idea. The whole coast here is a State Park, so there are plenty of stopping places, which we used. The whole coastal area, roadside, fields and hills are covered with many beautiful spring flowers, making the scenery even more spectacular. We approached Goat Rock and dropped down to the car park where that final scene of The Goonies was filmed. It is all still the same as it was in 1985. The view along the beach and out to sea, the stony beach and the car park with its beach signs. I tried to get some pictures which reflect those of the scenes in the film. It was great fun and once again we felt the film come to life (though we did not see One Eyed Willie's Ghost Ship disappear over the horizon. From the headland of Goat Rock we moved on a few hundred yards to the mouth of the Russian River, where there is a Harbor Seal Nursery, unfortunately the seals live several hundred yards out on the sand spit, which is at the mouth of the Russian River. The sand there is very soft and difficult to walk on. So we sat in the dunes and ate our picnic lunch, while we sat the clouds lifted and the sun came out, there was now a clear blue sky, what a contrast. Instead of going to see them from the sand spit we drove round the Russian River Estuary and parked in an overlook, where we could get a great view of the seals. We took out chairs and sat and watched for about an hour. There are probably up to one hundred seal mothers and pups spread along the sandy estuary. We watched them basking in the sun and swimming round in the little bay. We also saw an Osprey fishing out on the sea. As we could see across the sand spit to the bay we were also keeping an eye out for any whales. We expected them to pass by way out in the bay, so were completely thrilled and surprised to see two whales (we assume mother and pup) rising right at the mouth of the river, perhaps twenty yards from the shore. We did not see them arrive, they were just there! So we then stayed for another hour watching the whales, this pair stayed in the bay. However we say another pair transit the bay about a half mile out to sea, followed by yet another pair a little later. We really had a great time mammal watching this afternoon.
April 24th - Bodega Bay
Wednesday We drove the 60 odd miles further west to arrive in Bodega Bay, we are camped on a large sand spit at the mouth of the Bay. It is cloudy and foggy, the temperature is down to about 60, however the Ranger's greeting included 'and the weather is real good here today'. This part of the coast is always shrouded in mist, if not downright foggy. Only a few miles inland it will probably be bright sunshine. It is so green after all the desert we have been in. Misty is one step away from myst'eri'ous, which includes eerie, leaning towards spooky. The houses are all dark brown or green (to reduce impact on the visual environment). All this goes to creating, or self fulfilling, the atmosphere for which this town is most famous. It is the setting for Hitchcock's 'The Birds'. We are here partly to see how much reality there is in the Hollywood creation. Having arrived by lunch time we took a ride out to Bodega Headland in the afternoon, where we could look back across the bay to the town. It is very pretty. In fact this is probably the most Yorkshire looking landscape we have seen this side of the Mississippi.
Bodega Bay
Wednesday We drove the 60 odd miles further west to arrive in Bodega Bay, we are camped on a large sand spit at the mouth of the Bay. It is cloudy and foggy, the temperature is down to about 60, however the Ranger's greeting included 'and the weather is real good here today'. This part of the coast is always shrouded in mist, if not downright foggy. Only a few miles inland it will probably be bright sunshine. It is so green after all the desert we have been in. Misty is one step away from myst'eri'ous, which includes eerie, leaning towards spooky. The houses are all dark brown or green (to reduce impact on the visual environment). All this goes to creating, or self fulfilling, the atmosphere for which this town is most famous. It is the setting for Hitchcock's 'The Birds'. We are here partly to see how much reality there is in the Hollywood creation. Having arrived by lunch time we took a ride out to Bodega Headland in the afternoon, where we could look back across the bay to the town. It is very pretty. In fact this is probably the most Yorkshire looking landscape we have seen this side of the Mississippi.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
April 23rd - California Delta
From Turlock we have driven North and West to a stretch of countryside between Central Valley, Napa Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, know as The Delta. It is the area where all the rivers that flow from the Sierra Nevada all come together to escape to the sea. It is a large area of marshes, lakes and waterways, very pleasant. It also has one of the largest windfarms I have ever seen, several hundred 80 metre turbines have been erected on the Montezuma Hills of the Delta region. We drove on through the Delta region to Valleja, a city on the north shore of the Bay Area, where we stopped to take in the view across the Bay, before setting up for the night in the local fairground.
California Delta
From Turlock we have driven North and West to a stretch of countryside between Central Valley, Napa Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, know as The Delta. It is the area where all the rivers that flow from the Sierra Nevada all come together to escape to the sea. It is a large area of marshes, lakes and waterways, very pleasant. It also has one of the largest windfarms I have ever seen, several hundred 80 metre turbines have been erected on the Montezuma Hills of the Delta region. We drove on through the Delta region to Valleja, a city on the north shore of the Bay Area, where we stopped to take in the view across the Bay, before setting up for the night in the local fairground.
April 22nd - Doc and Clara Ride the train in Railtown
Monday 22nd
Our weekend of Bluegrass fun is now over, we had a great time, renewed some old friendships and made some new ones.
We have stayed on at Turlock so that we could take a side trip back to Jamestown. We first visited here in October of 2011, but did not have the time to visit Railtown. This is a railway museum way up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in Gold Country. Not only is it a working railway museum it is also the location of many films that used railways in them. High Noon being one of list of 106 films shot here.
The most famous one for us was Back To The Future 3, released in 1990. All the real life train sequences were filmed here. However that is not all, the train used in the film was the Sierra No 3 Loco, which is still here. We opted to take the tour, which we found fascinating, John our tour guide was happy to tell us all sorts of things about the railway and we were happy to ask questions. There were four of us on the tour, which usually lasts an hour. We started at 12.20 and finished at 4.25.
The highlight for us was to not only see the Sierra No 3, but to be able to climb up into the cab and stand where Doc and Clara had been. We also saw some of the props, the different chimney stacks they used (complete and after the little explosion on the train).
We had a wonderful time and learned a lot about american railways of the last century.
We drove back down to Turlock in the evening, stopping in Oakdale, which as we all know is the Cowboy Capital Of The World (so they tell us), to eat in a very nice Chinese Restaurant where they serve dishes of gigantic proportion, such that we had to take half of our meal home with us.
Our weekend of Bluegrass fun is now over, we had a great time, renewed some old friendships and made some new ones.
We have stayed on at Turlock so that we could take a side trip back to Jamestown. We first visited here in October of 2011, but did not have the time to visit Railtown. This is a railway museum way up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in Gold Country. Not only is it a working railway museum it is also the location of many films that used railways in them. High Noon being one of list of 106 films shot here.
The most famous one for us was Back To The Future 3, released in 1990. All the real life train sequences were filmed here. However that is not all, the train used in the film was the Sierra No 3 Loco, which is still here. We opted to take the tour, which we found fascinating, John our tour guide was happy to tell us all sorts of things about the railway and we were happy to ask questions. There were four of us on the tour, which usually lasts an hour. We started at 12.20 and finished at 4.25.
The highlight for us was to not only see the Sierra No 3, but to be able to climb up into the cab and stand where Doc and Clara had been. We also saw some of the props, the different chimney stacks they used (complete and after the little explosion on the train).
We had a wonderful time and learned a lot about american railways of the last century.
We drove back down to Turlock in the evening, stopping in Oakdale, which as we all know is the Cowboy Capital Of The World (so they tell us), to eat in a very nice Chinese Restaurant where they serve dishes of gigantic proportion, such that we had to take half of our meal home with us.
Doc and Clara Ride the train in Railtown
Monday 22nd
Our weekend of Bluegrass fun is now over, we had a great time, renewed some old friendships and made some new ones.
We have stayed on at Turlock so that we could take a side trip back to Jamestown. We first visited here in October of 2011, but did not have the time to visit Railtown. This is a railway museum way up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in Gold Country. Not only is it a working railway museum it is also the location of many films that used railways in them. High Noon being one of list of 106 films shot here.
The most famous one for us was Back To The Future 3, released in 1990. All the real life train sequences were filmed here. However that is not all, the train used in the film was the Sierra No 3 Loco, which is still here. We opted to take the tour, which we found fascinating, John our tour guide was happy to tell us all sorts of things about the railway and we were happy to ask questions. There were four of us on the tour, which usually lasts an hour. We started at 12.20 and finished at 4.25.
The highlight for us was to not only see the Sierra No 3, but to be able to climb up into the cab and stand where Doc and Clara had been. We also saw some of the props, the different chimney stacks they used (complete and after the little explosion on the train).
We had a wonderful time and learned a lot about american railways of the last century.
We drove back down to Turlock in the evening, stopping in Oakdale, which as we all know is the Cowboy Capital Of The World (so they tell us), to eat in a very nice Chinese Restaurant where they serve dishes of gigantic proportion, such that we had to take half of our meal home with us.
Our weekend of Bluegrass fun is now over, we had a great time, renewed some old friendships and made some new ones.
We have stayed on at Turlock so that we could take a side trip back to Jamestown. We first visited here in October of 2011, but did not have the time to visit Railtown. This is a railway museum way up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in Gold Country. Not only is it a working railway museum it is also the location of many films that used railways in them. High Noon being one of list of 106 films shot here.
The most famous one for us was Back To The Future 3, released in 1990. All the real life train sequences were filmed here. However that is not all, the train used in the film was the Sierra No 3 Loco, which is still here. We opted to take the tour, which we found fascinating, John our tour guide was happy to tell us all sorts of things about the railway and we were happy to ask questions. There were four of us on the tour, which usually lasts an hour. We started at 12.20 and finished at 4.25.
The highlight for us was to not only see the Sierra No 3, but to be able to climb up into the cab and stand where Doc and Clara had been. We also saw some of the props, the different chimney stacks they used (complete and after the little explosion on the train).
We had a wonderful time and learned a lot about american railways of the last century.
We drove back down to Turlock in the evening, stopping in Oakdale, which as we all know is the Cowboy Capital Of The World (so they tell us), to eat in a very nice Chinese Restaurant where they serve dishes of gigantic proportion, such that we had to take half of our meal home with us.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
April 15tth - Bluegrass Campout at Turlock
Thursday 18th
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
 |
| Set up at Turlock |
 |
| Sally at a jam on Wed. Afternoon |
 |
| Friends Minnie Winnie (Winnebego) |
 |
| Dave and Emmy |
Bluegrass Campout at Turlock
Thursday 18th
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
|
| Set up at Turlock |
|
| Sally at a jam on Wed. Afternoon |
|
| Friends Minnie Winnie (Winnebego) |
|
| Dave and Emmy |
Saturday, April 13, 2013
April 12th - Places and Home
Yesterday we modified our plans a bit, we had planned to stay two nights in Fresno, however an email from our friends including an invite to a Jam the next night tempted us to push on up to Pete and Jan's in Atwood.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of music and talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before in September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of music and talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before in September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
Places and Home
Yesterday we modified our plans a bit, we had planned to stay two nights in Fresno, however an email from our friends including an invite to a Jam the next night tempted us to push on up to Pete and Jan's in Atwood.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of music and talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before in September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of music and talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before in September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
Places and Home
Yesterday we modified our plans a bit, we had planned to stay two nights in Fresno, however an email from our friends including an invite to a Jam the next night tempted us to push on up to Pete and Jan's in Atwood.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before i n September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before i n September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.
Friday, April 12, 2013
April 11th - Fresno
We left the very nice fairground in Bakersfield and drove north on 99 to Fresno fairground ($20 p .n., full hook up very quiet). Fresno is the site of a Harvey House Newstand, but is no longer there. Once installed there I took the opportunity to visit the California Gratitude Train ,Merci Boxcar. Although a little out of the way this boxcar is proudly looked after by the American Legion Fresno Federal Post #509, in Fresno, particularly the 40 & 8's. While I was there taking pics of the boxcar one of the 40 &8's members came out and we had a very interesting chat about the boxcar.
 |
| Boxcar and Chevy |
 |
| The plaque near the boxcar |
 |
| Up close showing the 40 and 8 sign |
 |
| Me and the Boxcar |
Fresno
We left the very nice fairground in Bakersfield and drove north on 99 to Fresno fairground ($20 p .n., full hook up very quiet). Fresno is the site of a Harvey House Newstand, but is no longer there. Once installed there I took the opportunity to visit the California Gratitude Train ,Merci Boxcar. Although a little out of the way this boxcar is proudly looked after by the American Legion Fresno Federal Post #509, in Fresno, particularly the 40 & 8's. While I was there taking pics of the boxcar one of the 40 &8's members came out and we had a very interesting chat about the boxcar.
|
| Boxcar and Chevy |
|
| The plaque near the boxcar |
|
| Up close showing the 40 and 8 sign |
|
| Me and the Boxcar |
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 9th - Bakersfield and Highway 99
From Barstow we followed the Highway 58 to Mojave, to Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield, where we stopped at the Fairground.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
 |
| Yep, this is Bakersfield |
 |
| Buck Owens Crystal Palace |
Bakersfield and Highway 99
From Barstow we followed the Highway 58 to Mojave, to Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield, where we stopped at the Fairground.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
|
| Yep, this is Bakersfield |
|
| Buck Owens Crystal Palace |
April 9th - Farewell To The Mother Road
Calico is just on the outskirts of Barstow.
As we passed through Barstow we stopped at the Chamber Of Commerce, which was the Harvey House Hotel, called the Casa De Desertia. It has been restored and looks a very grand building. Built beside the railway, it now houses a railway museum.
As we drove on through Barstow we said farewell to Route 66, probably for the last time, taking Highway 58 across the Mojave Desert to Tehachapi and north to the Central Valley
As we passed through Barstow we stopped at the Chamber Of Commerce, which was the Harvey House Hotel, called the Casa De Desertia. It has been restored and looks a very grand building. Built beside the railway, it now houses a railway museum.
As we drove on through Barstow we said farewell to Route 66, probably for the last time, taking Highway 58 across the Mojave Desert to Tehachapi and north to the Central Valley
Farewell To The Mother Road
Calico is just on the outskirts of Barstow.
As we passed through Barstow we stopped at the Chamber Of Commerce, which was the Harvey House Hotel, called the Casa De Desertia. It has been restored and looks a very grand building. Built beside the railway, it now houses a railway museum.
As we drove on through Barstow we said farewell to Route 66, probably for the last time, taking Highway 58 across the Mojave Desert to Tehachapi and north to the Central Valley
As we passed through Barstow we stopped at the Chamber Of Commerce, which was the Harvey House Hotel, called the Casa De Desertia. It has been restored and looks a very grand building. Built beside the railway, it now houses a railway museum.
As we drove on through Barstow we said farewell to Route 66, probably for the last time, taking Highway 58 across the Mojave Desert to Tehachapi and north to the Central Valley
April 7th - Calico
Calico Ghost Town.
We were indeed camped right next to the Ghost Town, however the weather now interfered with our plans. A storm was blowing in. Only wind, but expected to be up to 60 m.p.h gusts. Looking at the weather charts it seemed that the Jet Stream had taken an unexpectedly Southern route, down the west coast, crossing the Mojave Desert and New Mexico and swinging back North up the Great Plains. This meant havoc for the North and West of USA. The west coast got cold. The Southern states (thats us) got gales, the Rockies Mid West and Northern states as far as the Great Lakes got snow. Warm wet air sucked in from the gulf, meeting the cold dry air sucked down from Canada met and dropping up to 30 inches of snow. It won’t last long, but it is big.
By Monday afternoon we were prepared to brave the wind and go up to visit the ghost town which had originally been a Sliver Mining Community. It was very twee, but poorly described. We then noticed that some of the buildings were not original 1880’s. We eventually found out that a guy called Walter Knott bought the town in 1950 and was determined to restore it to its original condition as ghost town, Walter Knott is well know for his amusement park in Anaheim, Knotts Berry Farm, right next to Disneyland. Which incidentally started as a farm in 1920, where Walter developed the Boysenberry. The wayside farm stall then opened a chicken restaurant, which developed entertainment bits, which then became what is claimed to be the first theme park in 1947m, complete with its own ghost town. Its history has some fascinating parallels with Calico and also many of the activities and places that we have seen on our travels in the West. Read about it here……. Knotts Berry Farm History
The county of San Bernardino was given the park and have kept it going ever since, so really it is only a pseudo ghost town with many buildings form the 1950’s, still a good bit of fun with the train, the mine, the main street, the sheriffs office etc. we then went down to Peggy Sue’s Diner for dinner.
Calico
Calico Ghost Town.
We were indeed camped right next to the Ghost Town, however the weather now interfered with our plans. A storm was blowing in. Only wind, but expected to be up to 60 m.p.h gusts. Looking at the weather charts it seemed that the Jet Stream had taken an unexpectedly Southern route, down the west coast, crossing the Mojave Desert and New Mexico and swinging back North up the Great Plains. This meant havoc for the North and West of USA. The west coast got cold. The Southern states (thats us) got gales, the Rockies Mid West and Northern states as far as the Great Lakes got snow. Warm wet air sucked in from the gulf, meeting the cold dry air sucked down from Canada met and dropping up to 30 inches of snow. It won’t last long, but it is big.
By Monday afternoon we were prepared to brave the wind and go up to visit the ghost town which had originally been a Sliver Mining Community. It was very twee, but poorly described. We then noticed that some of the buildings were not original 1880’s. We eventually found out that a guy called Wlater Knott bought the town in 1950 and was determined to restore it to its original condition as ghost town, Walter Knott is well know for his amusement park in Anaheim, Knotts Berry Farm, right next to Disneyland. Which incidentally started as a farm in 1920, where Walter developed the Boysenberry. The wayside farm stall then opened a chicken restaurant, which developed entertainment bits, which then became what is claimed to be the first theme park in 1947m, complete with its own ghost town. Its history has some fascinating parallels with Calico and also many of the activities and places that we have seen on our travels in the West. Read about it here……. Knotts Berry Farm History
The county of San Bernardino was given the park and have kept it going ever since, so really it is only a pseudo ghost town with many buildings form the 1950’s, still a good bit of fun with the train, the mine, the main street, the sheriffs office etc. we then went down to Peggy Sue’s Diner for dinner.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Calico
Calico Ghost Town.
We were indeed camped right next to the Ghost Town, however the weather now interfered with our plans. A storm was blowing in. Only wind, but expected to be up to 60 m.p.h gusts. Looking at the weather charts it seemed that the Jet Stream had taken an unexpectedly Southern route, down the west coast, crossing the Mojave Desert and New Mexico and swinging back North up the Great Plains. This meant havoc for the North and West of USA. The west coast got cold. The Southern states (thats us) got gales, the Rockies Mid West and Northern states as far as the Great Lakes got snow. Warm wet air sucked in from the gulf, meeting the cold dry air sucked down from Canada met and dropping up to 30 inches of snow. It won’t last long, but it is big.
By Monday afternoon we were prepared to brave the wind and go up to visit the ghost town which had originally been a Sliver Mining Community. It was very twee, but poorly described. We then noticed that some of the buildings were not original 1880’s. We eventually found out that a guy called Wlater Knott bought the town in 1950 and was determined to restore it to its original condition as ghost town, Walter Knott is well know for his amusement park in Anaheim, Knotts Berry Farm, right next to Disneyland. Which incidentally started as a farm in 1920, where Walter developed the Boysenberry. The wayside farm stall then opened a chicken restaurant, which developed entertainment bits, which then became what is claimed to be the first theme park in 1947m, complete with its own ghost town. Its history has some fascinating parallels with Calico and also many of the activities and places that we have seen on our travels in the West. Read about it here……. Knotts Berry Farm History
The county of San Bernardino was given the park and have kept it going ever since, so really it is only a pseudo ghost town with many buildings form the 1950’s, still a good bit of fun with the train, the mine, the main street, the sheriffs office etc. we then went down to Peggy Sue’s Diner for dinner.
April 6th - It's That Road Again
Having arrived in Needles we were once again on Route 66. As we drove through the quiet town it definitely had the air of having been bypassed by Interstate 40. We had planned to stay at North Shore RV, as it appeared to be reasonably priced, only to find that it is a privately owned club, which we clearly did not belong to. So we pulled into what looked like a very seedy motel and RV park next door, only to find that once past the rather rundown gate, that it was a very pretty little park which enabled us to camp right beside the Colorado River. Very pleasant. We spent some time in the evening just sitting by the river, which flows very fast at this point, which is about 30 miles south of Lake Mojave and 100 miles south of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.
Sunday morning we set out to cross the Mojave Desert to reach the more populated areas of California. Before leaving Needles we drove to the site of the Harvey House restaurant, which in 1909, when it was built, was called the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the Harvey Houses. How times change, Needles has been bypassed, the railway is used almost exclusively for freight and the town has died. ‘The Jewel in The Crown’ is now just an empty shell.
One thing that was becoming more apparent is that Route 66 substantially followed the East West Rail track. What was also apparent was that there is an enormous amount of freight transported by rail. Every few minutes we passed giant trains moving across the desert. We counted one train at 151 wagons long, being hauled by 4 locos. The bulk of the wagons had containers piled two high on them, taking freight from the giant cargo boats coming into Long Beach from China to the Eastern and Northern States. One could imagine the containers full of T-shirts, toys TVs and goods already for distribution to Wal-Mart’s, for us to buy them.
Rather than driving on the probably very bumpy I40 we followed the old Route 66 where possible. It was till desert, but had that historic feel to it. We stopped only in Amboy, which is a town built by a man named Roy, who in the 50’s saw great things for this part of the desert, that is until the I40 bypassed it. His legacy is the place known as Roys Motel and Café, which is now an iconic destination on Route 66. The 50’s Motel is still there complete with furniture, just locked up, the little motel ‘houses’ are still there and you can walk through them, though they are stripped bare. The café does not serve food and had nearly run out of gas ($4.99 p gal). The owners seemed content to let it return to the desert from which it started, in contrast to a lot of the places on Route 66 which are trying to develop the Route 66 industry. Driving on a few miles we stopped at Bagdad for our picnic lunch. We knew it was the town of Bagdad because the map said so, the town had been abandoned and all buildings had gone. All that was left was a couple of people looking for stuff with metal detectors. We couldn’t even find the sign for the town.
We rejoined I40 only to turn North at Daggett. We crossed Route 66, but could not find the border patrol point mentioned in Grapes Of Wrath, where to get into California they had to lie about Granny needing to get to see a doctor (she had died about an hour before). Driving up into the mountains we crossed the I15 at Peggy Sue’s Diner, continuing on to the Calico Ghost Town County Park and RV Park.
It's That Road Again
Having arrived in Needles we were once again on Route 66. As we drove through the quiet town it definitely had the air of having been bypassed by Interstate 40. We had planned to stay at North Shore RV, as it appeared to be reasonably priced, only to find that it is a privately owned club, which we clearly did not belong to. So we pulled into what looked like a very seedy motel and RV park next door, only to find that once past the rather rundown gate, that it was a very pretty little park which enabled us to camp right beside the Colorado River. Very pleasant. We spent some time in the evening just sitting by the river, which flows very fast at this point, which is about 30 miles south of Lake Mojave and 100 miles south of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.
Sunday morning we set out to cross the Mojave Desert to reach the more populated areas of California. Before leaving Needles we drove to the site of the Harvey House restaurant, which in 1909, when it was built, was called the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the Harvey Houses. How times change, Needles has been bypassed, the railway is used almost exclusively for freight and the town has died. ‘The Jewel in The Crown’ is now just an empty shell.
One thing that was becoming more apparent is that Route 66 substantially followed the East West Rail track. What was also apparent was that there is an enormous amount of freight transported by rail. Every few minutes we passed giant trains moving across the desert. We counted one train at 151 wagons long, being hauled by 4 locos. The bulk of the wagons had containers piled two high on them, taking freight from the giant cargo boats coming into Long Beach from China to the Eastern and Northern States. One could imagine the containers full of T-shirts, toys TVs and goods already for distribution to Wal-Mart’s, for us to buy them.
Rather than driving on the probably very bumpy I40 we followed the old Route 66 where possible. It was till desert, but had that historic feel to it. We stopped only in Amboy, which is a town built by a man named Roy, who in the 50’s saw great things for this part of the desert, that is until the I40 bypassed it. His legacy is the place known as Roys Motel and Café, which is now an iconic destination on Route 66. The 50’s Motel is still there complete with furniture, just locked up, the little motel ‘houses’ are still there and you can walk through them, though they are stripped bare. The café does not serve food and had nearly run out of gas ($4.99 p gal). The owners seemed content to let it return to the desert from which it started, in contrast to a lot of the places on Route 66 which are trying to develop the Route 66 industry. Driving on a few miles we stopped at Bagdad for our picnic lunch. We knew it was the town of Bagdad because the map said so, the town had been abandoned and all buildings had gone. All that was left was a couple of people looking for stuff with metal detectors. We couldn’t even find the sign for the town.
We rejoined I40 only to turn North at Daggett. We crossed Route 66, but could not find the border patrol point mentioned in Grapes Of Wrath, where to get into California they had to lie about Granny needing to get to see a doctor (she had died about an hour before). Driving up into the mountains we crossed the I15 at Peggy Sue’s Diner, continuing on to the Calico Ghost Town County Park and RV Park.
April 6th - Lily the illegal alien
Friday
After spending time at Lake Havasu we moved North to I40 and crossed the Colorado River into California with fear and trepidation as Sally’s Easter Lily (given by the First Christian Church in Pheonix), which has been such a wonderful plant, was now in danger! From the Federales! We had to pass through the dreaded Agriculltural Border Checkpoint, which clearly states that you may not bring soil into the state of California (unless it is used for plants that have been grown entirely indoors), so Lily may be confiscated as an illegal alien. We were fully prepare to argue that it was an indoor plant, but had no proof since it had been given to us in its mature state. We pulled up at the checkpoint, wound down the window, the officer asked if we had any firewood! To which we answered not and we were on our way with Lily still intact and seated on the back seat of the van. The first town you come to in California is called Needles. We planned to stay here for a night
After spending time at Lake Havasu we moved North to I40 and crossed the Colorado River into California with fear and trepidation as Sally’s Easter Lily (given by the First Christian Church in Pheonix), which has been such a wonderful plant, was now in danger! From the Federales! We had to pass through the dreaded Agriculltural Border Checkpoint, which clearly states that you may not bring soil into the state of California (unless it is used for plants that have been grown entirely indoors), so Lily may be confiscated as an illegal alien. We were fully prepare to argue that it was an indoor plant, but had no proof since it had been given to us in its mature state. We pulled up at the checkpoint, wound down the window, the officer asked if we had any firewood! To which we answered not and we were on our way with Lily still intact and seated on the back seat of the van. The first town you come to in California is called Needles. We planned to stay here for a night
Lily the illegal alien
After spending time at Lake Havasu we moved North to I40 and crossed the Colorado River into California with fear and trepidation as Sally’s Easter Lily (given by the First Christian Church in Pheonix), which has been such a wonderful plant, was now in danger! From the Federales! We had to pass through the dreaded Agriculltural Border Checkpoint, which clearly states that you may not bring soil into the state of California (unless it is used for plants that have been grown entirely indoors), so Lily may be confiscated as an illegal alien. We were fully prepare to argue that it was an indoor plant, but had no proof since it had been given to us in its mature state. We pulled up at the checkpoint, wound down the window, the officer asked if we had any firewood! To which we answered not and we were on our way with Lily still intact and seated on the back seat of the van. The first town you come to in California is called Needles. We planned to stay here for a night
April 4th - Buckskin Mountain and Lake Havasu
Thursday We are now heading North along the East side of the Colorado River to visit Lake Havasu. We took AZ Highway 95, which is long and very straight, cutting straight through the Yuma Army Proving Grounds to Quartzsite. (not to be confused with the CA Highway 95, which runs up the West side of the Colorado River, although at one point, in Needles they actually meet on a bridge cross the Colorado). WE now left the Sonoran Desert, seeing that last Saguaro somewhere south of Parker. We stopped just North of Parker at the very pretty AZ Buckskin Mountain state Park, right on the edge of the river. A beautiful park only marred by the enormous number of recreational boats moving up and down the river, jet skis, ski boats, pontoon boats, power boats. Good fun to watch, but a constant noise. We discovered that the river from Parker to Lake Havasu is one enormous water activity centre. Footnote. Interestingly the weather in Yuma was getting noticeably warmer, with the temp creeping above 100F, so the tourist season was winding down for the hot summer. Whereas in Parker, 150 miles North, the temperature was getting noticeably warmer, with the temperature creeping above 100F and yet the summer tourist season was just starting! Go figure. (as they say over here). Lake Havasu and its links to London On Saturday, after our two nights at Buckskin Mountain, which were very pleasant, we were ready to move on. We planned to take a very short drive to Needles, just 70 miles north, but to stop off in Lake Havasu to visit the Famous London Bridge. We found the bridge without any trouble. It was bought by a man named McCulloch in 1968 , dismantled, stone by stone, transported to the middle of the desert and rebuilt by 1971. (Now a theory exists that the guy must have been insane, can’t imagine why). Then they dug a channel beneath the bridge to connect two more bits of desert together. Then they waited until the tide came in (a bit like Noah), in the form of Lake Havasu, which is a reservoir about 50 miles long which has been made by damming the Colorado at the Parker Dam. Now the bridge sits happily spanning a beautiful blue expanse of water. A far cry from its dirty damp days in the middle of London.
Buckskin Mountain and Lake Havasu
Thursday We are now heading North along the East side of the Colorado River to visit Lake Havasu. We took AZ Highway 95, which is long and very straight, cutting straight through the Yuma Army Proving Grounds to Quartzsite. (not to be confused with the CA Highway 95, which runs up the West side of the Colorado River, although at one point, in Needles they actually meet on a bridge cross the Colorado). WE now left the Sonoran Desert, seeing that last Saguaro somewhere south of Parker. We stopped just North of Parker at the very pretty AZ Buckskin Mountain state Park, right on the edge of the river. A beautiful park only marred by the enormous number of recreational boats moving up and down the river, jet skis, ski boats, pontoon boats, power boats. Good fun to watch, but a constant noise. We discovered that the river from Parker to Lake Havasu is one enormous water activity centre. Footnote. Interestingly the weather in Yuma was getting noticeably warmer, with the temp creeping above 100F, so the tourist season was winding down for the hot summer. Whereas in Parker, 150 miles North, the temperature was getting noticeably warmer, with the temperature creeping above 100F and yet the summer tourist season was just starting! Go figure. (as they say over here). Lake Havasu and its links to London On Saturday, after our two nights at Buckskin Mountain, which were very pleasant, we were ready to move on. We planned to take a very short drive to Needles, just 70 miles north, but to stop off in Lake Havasu to visit the Famous London Bridge. We found the bridge without any trouble. It was bought by a man named McCulloch in 1968 , dismantled, stone by stone, transported to the middle of the desert and rebuilt by 1971. (Now a theory exists that the guy must have been insane, can’t imagine why). Then they dug a channel beneath the bridge to connect two more bits of desert together. Then they waited until the tide came in (a bit like Noah), in the form of Lake Havasu, which is a reservoir about 50 miles long which has been made by damming the Colorado at the Parker Dam. Now the bridge sits happily spanning a beautiful blue expanse of water. A far cry from its dirty damp days in the middle of London.
April 3rd - Playing In The Sand
Wednesday
Determined to have a quiet day we took a short ride to look at the local desert. This is the largest expanse of Sand Dunes in North America, known as the North American Sahara. We only got to the South East corner of this 30 mile stretch of sand dunes, but it was enough to see how amazing the landscape is. We sat for a bit, I went for a walk up a dune to see the view, with the temperature now over 100 degs F in the shade (oh! there is none) it was not a long walk. Then as we sat a guy came up and offered us a ride on his Dune Buggy, well that was a great idea (of course he wanted payment for it) so, Sally went first, donning the crash helmet and thoroughly enjoying herself, she went speeding off over the dunes with Dennis the Dune Buggy Driver. Only to return sometime later still with a big grin, having enjoyed it all the way. Now it was my turn and after putting on the helmet we sped off into the desert, like a modern day Lawrence of Arabia, nothing around us but sand, sand and more sand. Riding up impossible slopes, looking at the sky beneath us as we drove over crests, then hurtling down (what seemed) vertical cliff faces al made for a very enjoyable ride. At one point we stopped in the midst of …. Nowhere! Dennis pointed to a dune and told me that was the spot where they filmed scenes from Return of the Jedhi. There was actually a small gravel patch which had been imported for some reason for the film (to create a stable platform for filming from?). We then rolled over the dunes some more before returning to Sally, the van and safety. We both agreed that this was real serendipity – unexpected good things. We both really enjoyed our trip in the desert. Following this we drove back to Yuma and had our lunch at the small Gateway Park, which is a public beach next to the Colorado River and Yuma State Prison (now closed), right next to the place where trains first entered California in 18 something.
Playing In The Sand
Wednesday
Determined to have a quiet day we took a short ride to look at the local desert. This is the largest expanse of Sand Dunes in North America, known as the North American Sahara. We only got to the South East corner of this 30 mile stretch of sand dunes, but it was enough to see how amazing the landscape is. We sat for a bit, I went for a walk up a dune to see the view, with the temperature now over 100 degs F in the shade (oh! there is none) it was not a long walk. Then as we sat a guy came up and offered us a ride on his Dune Buggy, well that was a great idea (of course he wanted payment for it) so, Sally went first, donning the crash helmet and thoroughly enjoying herself, she went speeding off over the dunes with Dennis the Dune Buggy Driver. Only to return sometime later still with a big grin, having enjoyed it all the way. Now it was my turn and after putting on the helmet we sped off into the desert, like a modern day Lawrence of Arabia, nothing around us but sand, sand and more sand. Riding up impossible slopes, looking at the sky beneath us as we drove over crests, then hurtling down (what seemed) vertical cliff faces al made for a very enjoyable ride. At one point we stopped in the midst of …. Nowhere! Dennis pointed to a dune and told me that was the spot where they filmed scenes from Return of the Jedhi. There was actually a small gravel patch which had been imported for some reason for the film (to create a stable platform for filming from?). We then rolled over the dunes some more before returning to Sally, the van and safety. We both agreed that this was real serendipity – unexpected good things. We both really enjoyed our trip in the desert. Following this we drove back to Yuma and had our lunch at the small Gateway Park, which is a public beach next to the Colorado River and Yuma State Prison (now closed), right next to the place where trains first entered California in 18 something.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Yuma Crossing
Tuesday April 2nd
We arrived in Yuma and are staying at a very nice RV park, quite quiet as many of the Canadian Snowbirds have now left to return home for the summer.
Yuma is tucked right into the bottom left hand corner of Arizona. It is there because it is one of the few places where one could reliably cross the Colorado river. It is also the highest navigable point on the Colorado, so food and material could be shipped from the sea some 240 miles to here. These two factors meant that in the 19th Century it became the East West Route of choice to get to California. It also became the army supply depot for the whole South West, stuff was sent round the Horn and then distributed via mule train to the army forts. Once the railroad came the geographical reason for it went away, but it still remains a very important army base. It has the famous Yuma Proving Grounds, where military equipment of all sorts is tested. The original supply base, or Quartermaster Stores, is now a State Park, so we visited it in the morning, which is of course where we found out all this information. We were also fascinated to learn that Yuma is the place where the Colorado was first dammed to provide irrigation for the agriculture. The city proudly boasts that it grows 90% of the leaf salad in the U.S.A. It is the Lettuce Capital of the world!.
Today we had fixed up to visit with some British people we had met in the laundry at Whispering Palms in Tuscon. We arranged to meet in Applebee's, where we had a very pleasant lunch, talking over the travels we had been on. Talking away the day is very tiring so siesta time called.
We arrived in Yuma and are staying at a very nice RV park, quite quiet as many of the Canadian Snowbirds have now left to return home for the summer.
Yuma is tucked right into the bottom left hand corner of Arizona. It is there because it is one of the few places where one could reliably cross the Colorado river. It is also the highest navigable point on the Colorado, so food and material could be shipped from the sea some 240 miles to here. These two factors meant that in the 19th Century it became the East West Route of choice to get to California. It also became the army supply depot for the whole South West, stuff was sent round the Horn and then distributed via mule train to the army forts. Once the railroad came the geographical reason for it went away, but it still remains a very important army base. It has the famous Yuma Proving Grounds, where military equipment of all sorts is tested. The original supply base, or Quartermaster Stores, is now a State Park, so we visited it in the morning, which is of course where we found out all this information. We were also fascinated to learn that Yuma is the place where the Colorado was first dammed to provide irrigation for the agriculture. The city proudly boasts that it grows 90% of the leaf salad in the U.S.A. It is the Lettuce Capital of the world!.
Today we had fixed up to visit with some British people we had met in the laundry at Whispering Palms in Tuscon. We arranged to meet in Applebee's, where we had a very pleasant lunch, talking over the travels we had been on. Talking away the day is very tiring so siesta time called.
 |
| From Drop Box |
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Easter Sunday in Phoenix
We have enjoyed being in Phoenix and so stayed on for a few more days than we had planned. On the Saturday night our neighbours invited us to go eat with them at a Mexican restaurant, it was great fun, I had the Chimychanga, Sally a shrimp salad with rice, very nice. Lots of laughs at how three couples with such different backgrounds can have such similar ways of handling their relationship with each other.
View all
So we are staying here for Easter Sunday. I had spotted a very interesting looking church round the corner from our RV Park - The First Christian Church on 7th Ave. It is a very interesting building, Frank Lloyd Wright designed it for a Seminary somewhere else, but it was never used until this church came along and used the plans (in 1971) for their new church. The building itself is a wonderful piece of architecture, however on checking our their website it also seemed to be a good church community, so we decided to go there for their Easter Sunday Service. It was a really good service, very free, great music, with a good challenging sermon. Sally and I were both quite moved.Following the service, and lunch in Wildflower Bakery, I took Sally to a 'local' (13 miles away) park, called McCormick Railroad Park. It is a community park which has lots to do with trains, it is run by volunteers. It is also the place to go for Ester Sunday Picnic with the family, there seemed to be thousands of people there. It was great fun. We rode on the miniature train, which goes right round the park, we (being the train load in general, as well as us) waved at everyone, they waved at us. It was great to see so many families out in the sunshine with their picnic stuff BBQ's, coolers, toys, skateboards, kites. There is a small carousel, a whole load of train museum stuff, including the Presidential train from 1921. It is also the resting place for the Arizona Merci Boxcar, talked about in a previous blog, so we saw that. They also have a pavilion for Model Train Layouts. There are 4 layouts set up by local model train clubs. we were entranced by these toy trains, the level of detail and the sheer scale of them. What was to be a quick look turned into a couple of hours. We were even invited to go into the club members area to look in more detail at one train layout. Thank you to a guy named Paul, who showed us round. So once more we had a great day and returned to our trailer tired but happy.
Tomorrow we move on to Yuma.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)