The weather we experienced while visiting California spoiled us. Now we
are back to hot, humid Tennessee. I don’t like it, but at least we
aren’t experiencing triple digit temps like many areas of the country
are getting right now.
Last Friday and Saturday Vicki, Jenna, and
I went to Trevecca University for their new student orientation. We
learned a lot of useful things to know ahead of Jenna’s transition to
college life in nine weeks. We all came away having enjoyed the weekend,
but I asked Jenna to write about it from her perspective.
Joe
—————
I
am so excited for college, but orientation made me even more so! We
(Dad, Mom, and I) started out early last Friday morning to check-in,
have my picture taken for my ID, and to attend a session about working
on campus. After eating lunch in their awesome cafeteria (It really is!
Dad even said it was like being on a cruise ship.), we went to their
welcoming session.
After the opening message of encouragement,
they sent us on over to another building to a carnival-like
informational gathering. While there, I was able to speak to my advisor
for Intercultural Studies and find out a little bit more about
activities that happen on campus. For example, they have several movie
nights throughout the year, off-campus service projects, and twice
weekly chapel services. All the students then left to go to their own
meeting.
Part of Trevecca’s goal is to create an environment that
produces long-lasting relationships between the students. To do this,
Trevecca has created a class, called a LINK group, where about a dozen
students gather twice a week during the first semester to learn more
about each other and to help individuals grow personally. So, on Friday,
when we split up with our groups, I was able to get to know several
students. I think I’m going to have a great time growing with this
group, and the leaders were really cool too! Something I am looking
forward to do with them is the Trevecca Field Day that occurs at the
beginning of the semester where we compete as a team. If I am
remembering correctly, our Team name is the Cranberries. At this point,
it was time for dinner. Our group tried to sit together, but since it
was so crowded, I only ended up sitting with two other girls. We had a
great conversation for the next hour and a half, and I am glad to say I
have officially made at least two friends. I can’t wait to meet many
more.
I met up with Mom and Dad at this point and we headed over
to the next session to learn about all the on-campus rules. It may have
been information overload, but it was interesting to hear all of it.
There was one last event Friday evening, but I had started to not feel
very well, so we headed on home. After knocking myself out with some
medicine, we were back to Trevecca early Saturday morning.
While
we first gathered as a group, we were soon dismissed to our separate
departments to be advised for classes. I went with the Religion
department, where we were introduced to our professors and advisors. We
learned about a couple of the activities we would be able to participate
in over the next few years, and I have to say I am really excited about
what I’ll be doing in the future, such as a 12-week mission trip/class!
Once registering for classes was complete, Mom, Dad, and I headed over
for lunch, which, once again, was amazing! Mom and Dad had planned to go
on a date for their 22nd anniversary after orientation was complete, so
we said our goodbyes while I was in line for my PO Box, and my first
experience as a freshman was now checked off the list. I am looking
forward to the experience God is about to take me on. I will never be
the same again!
Jenna
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Our California Adventure, Part 4
And finally the San Francisco leg of the trip from Monday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 8.
WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO
We left Oakhurst early Monday morning and headed back to the coast and the City by the Bay. As we got close to San Francisco we saw wind turbines up close for the first time. We don’t have enough steady wind for those here.
We crossed the Bay Bridge by 1:30 and after stopping at the visitor information center walked to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf to look around. This was our big mistake because we underestimated the distance from Union Square down Market Street and around the Embarcado to our destination. We did see a lot of the city up close and personal though. After supper we rode the bus back to our van and drove out to Vacaville where we had hotel reservations.
The next morning we had a better plan of attack for the day. We drove back into the city and parked in a more strategic location and then started with a bus tour through the Presidio, across the Golden Gate Bridge, to Sausalito and back. Going across the bridge the first time was foggy, cool, and windy. We rode on the open air top deck of the bus and I was glad I had my jacket. Visibility was a bit better on the trip back.
What was really interesting were the microclimates around the city. I think the bus driver said there were about three dozen and we got a small taste of that on the tour. By the time we got off the bridge and into Sausalito--a very short distance--I could have taken my jacket off.
When we got off the bus we did a little shopping as we headed back to Pier 39 for lunch and a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay. This was a neat stop as it features a 360-foot-long acrylic tunnel where the fish can swim around and over you. This and the playful otters at the end were fun to watch.
From there we did a bit more souvenir shopping and then enjoyed a bridge to bridge boat tour of the harbor. This had a very informative audio tour as the boat took us from Pier 43 under the Golden Gate Bridge, then around the north side of Alcatraz, under the Bay Bridge and back. Every bit as interesting as the bus tour.
All too soon our time was over and we were heading back to Vacaville.
HEADING HOME
Wednesday we headed to the airport where we caught a plane to Los Angeles for our connecting flight home. It was 11:00 pm CDT by the time we got to our van, stopped in White House for essential groceries, and got to our back door. No rest for the weary travelers, I had to get Ben to school by 7:30 for basketball practice which felt like 5:30 to us.
MAKING MEMORIES
One thing about making memories like this are the pictures and videos. With four smartphones among us we snapped a lot. I haven’t downloaded media from Jenna or Ben yet, but between Vicki and I we have 985 images filed away now and we really need to go through and cull those down a bit more. We also have 64 video clips which I’m guessing adds up to an hour of footage.
We learned early on that Nate needs some training. Given a phone to take a picture he left his finger on the button too long and snapped 403 pictures in 30 seconds. And Ben became our family photo-bomber. You have to watch out for him because he’s sneaky. Then when you want him for a picture he can’t be found.
I am trying to find an easy way to share photo albums privately, works with mobile devices and computers, and for reasonable a cost if not free. If anyone has a suggestion I’m all ears. So far everything I’ve found either doesn’t fit my budget, won’t work with all devices, or has terms of use I don’t agree with.
ANOTHER NATE STORY
Since I have told several stories on Nate in this series I’ll end with one final tale.
We were in line to board our final flight to Nashville when we heard the sound of paper ripping. Nate had purchased a snack and was absentmindedly ripping up what he thought was his receipt. Fortunately there was enough of the bar code left intact on the boarding pass for them to let him on the plane. Jenna videoed the poor boy sheepishly confessing his rookie move.
So there you have it, our California adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Joe
WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO
We left Oakhurst early Monday morning and headed back to the coast and the City by the Bay. As we got close to San Francisco we saw wind turbines up close for the first time. We don’t have enough steady wind for those here.
We crossed the Bay Bridge by 1:30 and after stopping at the visitor information center walked to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf to look around. This was our big mistake because we underestimated the distance from Union Square down Market Street and around the Embarcado to our destination. We did see a lot of the city up close and personal though. After supper we rode the bus back to our van and drove out to Vacaville where we had hotel reservations.
The next morning we had a better plan of attack for the day. We drove back into the city and parked in a more strategic location and then started with a bus tour through the Presidio, across the Golden Gate Bridge, to Sausalito and back. Going across the bridge the first time was foggy, cool, and windy. We rode on the open air top deck of the bus and I was glad I had my jacket. Visibility was a bit better on the trip back.
What was really interesting were the microclimates around the city. I think the bus driver said there were about three dozen and we got a small taste of that on the tour. By the time we got off the bridge and into Sausalito--a very short distance--I could have taken my jacket off.
When we got off the bus we did a little shopping as we headed back to Pier 39 for lunch and a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay. This was a neat stop as it features a 360-foot-long acrylic tunnel where the fish can swim around and over you. This and the playful otters at the end were fun to watch.
From there we did a bit more souvenir shopping and then enjoyed a bridge to bridge boat tour of the harbor. This had a very informative audio tour as the boat took us from Pier 43 under the Golden Gate Bridge, then around the north side of Alcatraz, under the Bay Bridge and back. Every bit as interesting as the bus tour.
All too soon our time was over and we were heading back to Vacaville.
HEADING HOME
Wednesday we headed to the airport where we caught a plane to Los Angeles for our connecting flight home. It was 11:00 pm CDT by the time we got to our van, stopped in White House for essential groceries, and got to our back door. No rest for the weary travelers, I had to get Ben to school by 7:30 for basketball practice which felt like 5:30 to us.
MAKING MEMORIES
One thing about making memories like this are the pictures and videos. With four smartphones among us we snapped a lot. I haven’t downloaded media from Jenna or Ben yet, but between Vicki and I we have 985 images filed away now and we really need to go through and cull those down a bit more. We also have 64 video clips which I’m guessing adds up to an hour of footage.
We learned early on that Nate needs some training. Given a phone to take a picture he left his finger on the button too long and snapped 403 pictures in 30 seconds. And Ben became our family photo-bomber. You have to watch out for him because he’s sneaky. Then when you want him for a picture he can’t be found.
I am trying to find an easy way to share photo albums privately, works with mobile devices and computers, and for reasonable a cost if not free. If anyone has a suggestion I’m all ears. So far everything I’ve found either doesn’t fit my budget, won’t work with all devices, or has terms of use I don’t agree with.
ANOTHER NATE STORY
Since I have told several stories on Nate in this series I’ll end with one final tale.
We were in line to board our final flight to Nashville when we heard the sound of paper ripping. Nate had purchased a snack and was absentmindedly ripping up what he thought was his receipt. Fortunately there was enough of the bar code left intact on the boarding pass for them to let him on the plane. Jenna videoed the poor boy sheepishly confessing his rookie move.
So there you have it, our California adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Joe
Monday, June 13, 2016
Our California Adventure, Part 3
Here’s the road trip leg of our vacation between Wednesday, June 1 and Sunday, June 5.
THE CALIFORNIA COAST
It was too late to do anything when we got to Monterey Wednesday evening, though we did go out for dessert after checking in to our hotel. I think Ben could have tackled another meal. That’s a teenage appetite for you!
Thursday we decided to check out the beach. We started by driving part of the 17 mile motor trail through Pebble Beach and ate near the lodge. After lunch we exited on the south side at Carmel where we spent some time walking in the sand and dipping our toes in the cold Pacific. Then we decided to drive Highway 1 along the coast down to Big Sur and back. This was one of the best things we did the whole trip as the scenery along that highway is phenomenal! I could go back and drive that again.
This was where I was dubbed “Secret Asian Man” by my family (we had recently heard the old Johnny Rivers song Secret Agent Man while in a restaurant). You see, in San Diego we had rented a red Hyundai Santa Fe, but in San Francisco we got a silver Dodge Grand Caravan. We pulled over at one of the turn outs to take pictures of the scenery along the highway to Big Sur. While there a Chinese family in a red Grand Caravan parked next to us. When we were done snapping pictures I headed for the wrong van. Vicki stopped me before I opened the driver’s door. I think she secretly wishes now she’d let me go because there was the nicest looking Chinese woman sitting in the front passenger’s seat. My family enjoyed teasing me and singing about my new identity.
HOTEL LIVING
While we were in Monetery we played musical beds to give Jenna a break from sleeping on a pullout couch for ten nights. Ben took the couch here and I paired up with Nate. Sleeping with Nate is like sharing a bed with a fish flopping around on a riverbank. Every half hour I woke up to a small earthquake next to me as he flipped and flopped and found a new position. Then I had to find the covers and pull them back over me. Vicki said she got up one time and saw his head at the foot end of the bed. I think I’d take Opie Taylor’s idea of adventure sleeping (an ironing board stretched between two chairs) over that. I’m sure Ben has some tales he could tell as well.
Of course, towels and wash cloths can be a precious commodity in a hotel because we always have to ask for a fifth set each night. That’s why it was such a big deal one evening when Nate took a shower and somehow he dropped not one, not two, but three wash cloths in the toilet.
THEM’S SOME BIG TREES!
On Friday we headed to the Sequoia National Park. We were on the road by 8:00 and got to Three Rivers, the small town just outside the park entrance in time for lunch. The landscape between the coast and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains was simply amazing. We passed through a lot of farmland with strawberry fields larger than entire farms here at home. We saw enough broccoli to send a kid into depression. There were orchards of trees we simply couldn’t identify, though we now know what pistachio trees look like, both male and female. We did recognize orange groves, walnut groves, and vineyards.
Incidentally, California is still experiencing drought conditions. Most grass is brown. Almost every farm has irrigation in place. And in the parks there are dead or dying trees scattered everywhere.
When we got to the park entrance we were already at an elevation of 1700 feet. It took another hour to drive up the General’s Highway and climb roughly 5400 more feet up to the sequoia grove where the General Sherman Tree grows. Our trees at home are pretty tall in their own right, and were were already driving in some tall trees on the way up when we rounded a corner and saw the first sequoia there mixed in with the rest. It’s like driving into another world.
The General Sherman Tree is neither the oldest (though it’s pretty old at an estimated 2000+ years) nor the tallest (though it is taller than a 26 story building), but it is the largest living organism by volume. The trunk, which is some 36 feet in diameter at the base, is huge. And with all the tree’s height above ground the roots never grow much deeper than three (3) feet into the soil. Yes, you read that right, 3 feet.
When we spent most of the afternoon among the sequoias we drove down and to our hotel in Visalia (pronounced with a long “i” sound, not like the credit card) which seems to be a neat little town. This marked the halfway point of our trip.
BEARS
We never saw any bears, but while at Sequoia National Park we watched a film about bear safety. This had Nate a bit concerned, especially when Ben said, “I don’t have to run fast, I just have to outrun you.” Those fears resurfaced a day or two later when we began to tease him after he spilled ketchup on his shirt. If Nate ever survives us to adulthood he may disown us. At least he knows we love him.
YOSEMITE
Saturday morning we were back on the road heading for Oakhurst and the Yosemite National Park. We arrived in Oakhurst around lunchtime and our hotel allowed us to check in early so we dropped off our luggage and then grabbed a quick lunch before heading to the park.
At the park entrance we learned we were too late to drive to the valley and expect to find a parking place and were advised to go to Glacier Point which overlooks the valley. Even then we had to park at a ski area and take a shuttle up there.
The drive in was pretty but did not compare to the vistas we were treated to at Sequoia. Yosemite made up for that when we got to the Glacier Point overlook where the iconic panorama of Half Dome and the surrounding landscape was truly a breathtaking spectacle to behold. The scene looked like a living painting. The falls were flowing at full force and their roar could be heard from across the valley. We took it all in as long as we could before boarding one of the last shuttles down the mountain.
Sunday we headed out at 7:30 am and went back to the park, this time heading to the valley floor. We stopped and hiked to Bridal Veil Fall and Mirror Lake. Between those stops the boys and I hiked to Vernal Fall. The boys got farther up than I did, but we all got at least half way up the side of the waterfall. I stopped before getting drenched. The boys were pretty wet when they got back to me. By the time we did all this it was pretty late in the day. I know we missed other sites but by then we were too tired to care. We called it a day and headed back.
I see now why Yosemite is the crown jewel of our national parks. I hope to get back there some day to see things I missed. Alas, the next morning we had to check out of our hotel and point our van toward San Francisco.
Joe
THE CALIFORNIA COAST
It was too late to do anything when we got to Monterey Wednesday evening, though we did go out for dessert after checking in to our hotel. I think Ben could have tackled another meal. That’s a teenage appetite for you!
Thursday we decided to check out the beach. We started by driving part of the 17 mile motor trail through Pebble Beach and ate near the lodge. After lunch we exited on the south side at Carmel where we spent some time walking in the sand and dipping our toes in the cold Pacific. Then we decided to drive Highway 1 along the coast down to Big Sur and back. This was one of the best things we did the whole trip as the scenery along that highway is phenomenal! I could go back and drive that again.
This was where I was dubbed “Secret Asian Man” by my family (we had recently heard the old Johnny Rivers song Secret Agent Man while in a restaurant). You see, in San Diego we had rented a red Hyundai Santa Fe, but in San Francisco we got a silver Dodge Grand Caravan. We pulled over at one of the turn outs to take pictures of the scenery along the highway to Big Sur. While there a Chinese family in a red Grand Caravan parked next to us. When we were done snapping pictures I headed for the wrong van. Vicki stopped me before I opened the driver’s door. I think she secretly wishes now she’d let me go because there was the nicest looking Chinese woman sitting in the front passenger’s seat. My family enjoyed teasing me and singing about my new identity.
HOTEL LIVING
While we were in Monetery we played musical beds to give Jenna a break from sleeping on a pullout couch for ten nights. Ben took the couch here and I paired up with Nate. Sleeping with Nate is like sharing a bed with a fish flopping around on a riverbank. Every half hour I woke up to a small earthquake next to me as he flipped and flopped and found a new position. Then I had to find the covers and pull them back over me. Vicki said she got up one time and saw his head at the foot end of the bed. I think I’d take Opie Taylor’s idea of adventure sleeping (an ironing board stretched between two chairs) over that. I’m sure Ben has some tales he could tell as well.
Of course, towels and wash cloths can be a precious commodity in a hotel because we always have to ask for a fifth set each night. That’s why it was such a big deal one evening when Nate took a shower and somehow he dropped not one, not two, but three wash cloths in the toilet.
THEM’S SOME BIG TREES!
On Friday we headed to the Sequoia National Park. We were on the road by 8:00 and got to Three Rivers, the small town just outside the park entrance in time for lunch. The landscape between the coast and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains was simply amazing. We passed through a lot of farmland with strawberry fields larger than entire farms here at home. We saw enough broccoli to send a kid into depression. There were orchards of trees we simply couldn’t identify, though we now know what pistachio trees look like, both male and female. We did recognize orange groves, walnut groves, and vineyards.
Incidentally, California is still experiencing drought conditions. Most grass is brown. Almost every farm has irrigation in place. And in the parks there are dead or dying trees scattered everywhere.
When we got to the park entrance we were already at an elevation of 1700 feet. It took another hour to drive up the General’s Highway and climb roughly 5400 more feet up to the sequoia grove where the General Sherman Tree grows. Our trees at home are pretty tall in their own right, and were were already driving in some tall trees on the way up when we rounded a corner and saw the first sequoia there mixed in with the rest. It’s like driving into another world.
The General Sherman Tree is neither the oldest (though it’s pretty old at an estimated 2000+ years) nor the tallest (though it is taller than a 26 story building), but it is the largest living organism by volume. The trunk, which is some 36 feet in diameter at the base, is huge. And with all the tree’s height above ground the roots never grow much deeper than three (3) feet into the soil. Yes, you read that right, 3 feet.
When we spent most of the afternoon among the sequoias we drove down and to our hotel in Visalia (pronounced with a long “i” sound, not like the credit card) which seems to be a neat little town. This marked the halfway point of our trip.
BEARS
We never saw any bears, but while at Sequoia National Park we watched a film about bear safety. This had Nate a bit concerned, especially when Ben said, “I don’t have to run fast, I just have to outrun you.” Those fears resurfaced a day or two later when we began to tease him after he spilled ketchup on his shirt. If Nate ever survives us to adulthood he may disown us. At least he knows we love him.
YOSEMITE
Saturday morning we were back on the road heading for Oakhurst and the Yosemite National Park. We arrived in Oakhurst around lunchtime and our hotel allowed us to check in early so we dropped off our luggage and then grabbed a quick lunch before heading to the park.
At the park entrance we learned we were too late to drive to the valley and expect to find a parking place and were advised to go to Glacier Point which overlooks the valley. Even then we had to park at a ski area and take a shuttle up there.
The drive in was pretty but did not compare to the vistas we were treated to at Sequoia. Yosemite made up for that when we got to the Glacier Point overlook where the iconic panorama of Half Dome and the surrounding landscape was truly a breathtaking spectacle to behold. The scene looked like a living painting. The falls were flowing at full force and their roar could be heard from across the valley. We took it all in as long as we could before boarding one of the last shuttles down the mountain.
Sunday we headed out at 7:30 am and went back to the park, this time heading to the valley floor. We stopped and hiked to Bridal Veil Fall and Mirror Lake. Between those stops the boys and I hiked to Vernal Fall. The boys got farther up than I did, but we all got at least half way up the side of the waterfall. I stopped before getting drenched. The boys were pretty wet when they got back to me. By the time we did all this it was pretty late in the day. I know we missed other sites but by then we were too tired to care. We called it a day and headed back.
I see now why Yosemite is the crown jewel of our national parks. I hope to get back there some day to see things I missed. Alas, the next morning we had to check out of our hotel and point our van toward San Francisco.
Joe
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Our California Adventure, Part 2
Here’s the San Diego leg of our trip through our arrival in San Francisco between Sunday, May 29, and Wednesday, June 1.
SAN DIEGO
We landed in San Diego around 6:40 PDT Sunday evening. I am not a night owl so by the time we had gotten our rental car and checked into our hotel I was feeling the two hour time difference. We needed to find some supper at this point so we headed over to Cafe Coyote in Old Town where we enjoyed some authentic Mexican cuisine. After supper we strolled around a bit before heading back to get some sleep.
The next morning we got up and made our way to the harbor where we toured the USS Midway. This aircraft carrier, named for the World War II naval battle, went into service in 1945 and was decommissioned in 1991. It was fascinating and a fitting way to celebrate Memorial Day. Midway through the tour (pun intended) we ate lunch aboard at the Fantail Cafe. When the tour was over we crossed the bridge over to Coronado and drove south down the coast just to enjoy the sights.
That evening we grabbed a bite to eat at In-N-Out Burger and went to the movies to see Jungle Book, the live action film adaptation of the animated Disney classic. You may be wondering why in the world would they fly to Southern California to do something they could do at home? Well, it was late (especially to us), we’d walked all over a huge aircraft carrier, and we wanted to see this flick while it was still on the big screen.
Tuesday was zoo day for us. We arrived at the world renowned San Diego Zoo when they opened and stayed almost all day. The zoo, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, certainly lives up to its reputation. We saw more animals than I can possibly name here. The giant pandas, penguins, monkeys, orangutans, gorillas, giraffes, and large cats were all favorites.
We went to Filippi’s Pizza grotto in the Little Italy neighborhood in Downtown San Diego for supper. Meals like this became one of the easily overlooked highlights of the trip because we simply enjoyed each other’s company around the table.
CALIFORNIA DRIVERS
Before leaving San Diego I will note here that they have the tightest parking spaces I’ve ever seen. It felt like the entire city is expected to drive a sub-compact car.
In general driving in California didn’t hold that many surprises. Sure, traffic was bad in the cities, but then traffic is bad in Nashville during rush hour and Atlanta most any time. What amazed me was that for California to be the third largest state in the Union the roads feel tighter. For example, I was surprised at how short the acceleration lanes are when entering the freeway or how little warning you get before a lane ends. Overall we thought Californians were less rude when behind the wheel than Tennesseans. Motorcycles would be the exception to this observation.
Motorcyclists regularly keep you on your toes. Whenever there was heavy traffic on the freeway we had to be extra vigilant. It was normal to have a motorcycle whiz past riding on the dashed line between lanes of traffic. Here that would probably generate a lot of 9-1-1 calls and a stiff fine for reckless driving. I see the occasional motorcycle weave dangerously in and out of traffic here, but they never create their own lane between lanes.
Smart phone navigation is a godsend, yet even with Siri giving us directions we made plenty of mistakes. One challenge for us is that we are used to all our interstates and major state highways having mile markers with the exits numbered according to the corresponding mile marker. This is why, for example, the Cross Plains exit on I-65 is exit 112 and the Orlinda exit, the next one to the north, is exit 121. Some quick mental math will tell you these exits are 9 miles apart. With this system we have learned to depend on exit numbers more than names. In California, without mile markers, the exits are numbered sequentially, and the numbers may not be marked on the signage until the last possible sign. So when Siri says something like, “In 2 miles take exit 17B to so-and-so,” we are listening for the exit number and it is very easy for us to miss the exit because its number is not on most signage for that exit. (To be fair, this was more prevalent around San Diego.)
TO SAN FRANCISCO
The next day we flew up to San Francisco. I gave everyone a heart attack before we boarded our flight. We were in line to board when I couldn’t find my boarding pass. Thinking quickly I retraced my steps to the restroom where I found it on the floor under the sink where I had washed my hands. You see, when I first went to the restroom I stuck my boarding pass under my arm rather than store it in my pocket. (Yep, stupid move on my part.) And when I washed my hands the pass fell from under my arm to under the sink. I was very fortunate it was still there.
It was on this flight that I decided to work on a crossword puzzle. I had gotten a pretty good start when I noticed my fingers felt wet. My pen didn’t handle the change in pressure too well. The flight attendant said it happened frequently with the type of pen I had. My hands looked like I had tangled with a squid.
LUNCH/SUPPER WITH DOUG
Upon arriving in the City by the Bay we enjoyed a late lunch with Doug, a friend I had met two years ago at the final 73rd Bomb Wing reunion. Doug and I had sat together at the table for several meals and on two bus tours: to Pratt, Kansas, and to see Doc, the B-29 that is being restored in Wichita.
Incidentally, someone shared a newspaper article with me that on Friday, May 17, Doc received it’s airworthiness certificate from the FAA. I’m sure there will be plenty of engine run-ups and taxi tests before she actually takes flight again. The article went on to report that it was 16 years to the day that the plane was shipped to Kansas in a series of large crates for the restoration to begin. Of the 3970 B-29s originally built, plus 370 B-50s which were simply redesignated B-29Ds, Doc will join Fifi as the only two flying Superforts today.
At any rate, Doug is a patient and long suffering friend. Our flight arrived on time but our experience with the rental car company was quite different. Due to a special promotion the company had run the office at the San Francisco Airport was slammed. We stood in line over 90 minutes to turn in our reservation and then waited an additional 80 minutes for our van to be delivered. This was the only bad hiccup on our trip.
Our late lunch became an early supper at the Elephant Bar Restaurant. The food and conversation were well worth the wait and after a fun two hour visit with Doug we were on our way to Monterey. This is a good stopping point so I’ll pick up the road trip leg of the trip next time.
Joe
SAN DIEGO
We landed in San Diego around 6:40 PDT Sunday evening. I am not a night owl so by the time we had gotten our rental car and checked into our hotel I was feeling the two hour time difference. We needed to find some supper at this point so we headed over to Cafe Coyote in Old Town where we enjoyed some authentic Mexican cuisine. After supper we strolled around a bit before heading back to get some sleep.
The next morning we got up and made our way to the harbor where we toured the USS Midway. This aircraft carrier, named for the World War II naval battle, went into service in 1945 and was decommissioned in 1991. It was fascinating and a fitting way to celebrate Memorial Day. Midway through the tour (pun intended) we ate lunch aboard at the Fantail Cafe. When the tour was over we crossed the bridge over to Coronado and drove south down the coast just to enjoy the sights.
That evening we grabbed a bite to eat at In-N-Out Burger and went to the movies to see Jungle Book, the live action film adaptation of the animated Disney classic. You may be wondering why in the world would they fly to Southern California to do something they could do at home? Well, it was late (especially to us), we’d walked all over a huge aircraft carrier, and we wanted to see this flick while it was still on the big screen.
Tuesday was zoo day for us. We arrived at the world renowned San Diego Zoo when they opened and stayed almost all day. The zoo, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, certainly lives up to its reputation. We saw more animals than I can possibly name here. The giant pandas, penguins, monkeys, orangutans, gorillas, giraffes, and large cats were all favorites.
We went to Filippi’s Pizza grotto in the Little Italy neighborhood in Downtown San Diego for supper. Meals like this became one of the easily overlooked highlights of the trip because we simply enjoyed each other’s company around the table.
CALIFORNIA DRIVERS
Before leaving San Diego I will note here that they have the tightest parking spaces I’ve ever seen. It felt like the entire city is expected to drive a sub-compact car.
In general driving in California didn’t hold that many surprises. Sure, traffic was bad in the cities, but then traffic is bad in Nashville during rush hour and Atlanta most any time. What amazed me was that for California to be the third largest state in the Union the roads feel tighter. For example, I was surprised at how short the acceleration lanes are when entering the freeway or how little warning you get before a lane ends. Overall we thought Californians were less rude when behind the wheel than Tennesseans. Motorcycles would be the exception to this observation.
Motorcyclists regularly keep you on your toes. Whenever there was heavy traffic on the freeway we had to be extra vigilant. It was normal to have a motorcycle whiz past riding on the dashed line between lanes of traffic. Here that would probably generate a lot of 9-1-1 calls and a stiff fine for reckless driving. I see the occasional motorcycle weave dangerously in and out of traffic here, but they never create their own lane between lanes.
Smart phone navigation is a godsend, yet even with Siri giving us directions we made plenty of mistakes. One challenge for us is that we are used to all our interstates and major state highways having mile markers with the exits numbered according to the corresponding mile marker. This is why, for example, the Cross Plains exit on I-65 is exit 112 and the Orlinda exit, the next one to the north, is exit 121. Some quick mental math will tell you these exits are 9 miles apart. With this system we have learned to depend on exit numbers more than names. In California, without mile markers, the exits are numbered sequentially, and the numbers may not be marked on the signage until the last possible sign. So when Siri says something like, “In 2 miles take exit 17B to so-and-so,” we are listening for the exit number and it is very easy for us to miss the exit because its number is not on most signage for that exit. (To be fair, this was more prevalent around San Diego.)
TO SAN FRANCISCO
The next day we flew up to San Francisco. I gave everyone a heart attack before we boarded our flight. We were in line to board when I couldn’t find my boarding pass. Thinking quickly I retraced my steps to the restroom where I found it on the floor under the sink where I had washed my hands. You see, when I first went to the restroom I stuck my boarding pass under my arm rather than store it in my pocket. (Yep, stupid move on my part.) And when I washed my hands the pass fell from under my arm to under the sink. I was very fortunate it was still there.
It was on this flight that I decided to work on a crossword puzzle. I had gotten a pretty good start when I noticed my fingers felt wet. My pen didn’t handle the change in pressure too well. The flight attendant said it happened frequently with the type of pen I had. My hands looked like I had tangled with a squid.
LUNCH/SUPPER WITH DOUG
Upon arriving in the City by the Bay we enjoyed a late lunch with Doug, a friend I had met two years ago at the final 73rd Bomb Wing reunion. Doug and I had sat together at the table for several meals and on two bus tours: to Pratt, Kansas, and to see Doc, the B-29 that is being restored in Wichita.
Incidentally, someone shared a newspaper article with me that on Friday, May 17, Doc received it’s airworthiness certificate from the FAA. I’m sure there will be plenty of engine run-ups and taxi tests before she actually takes flight again. The article went on to report that it was 16 years to the day that the plane was shipped to Kansas in a series of large crates for the restoration to begin. Of the 3970 B-29s originally built, plus 370 B-50s which were simply redesignated B-29Ds, Doc will join Fifi as the only two flying Superforts today.
At any rate, Doug is a patient and long suffering friend. Our flight arrived on time but our experience with the rental car company was quite different. Due to a special promotion the company had run the office at the San Francisco Airport was slammed. We stood in line over 90 minutes to turn in our reservation and then waited an additional 80 minutes for our van to be delivered. This was the only bad hiccup on our trip.
Our late lunch became an early supper at the Elephant Bar Restaurant. The food and conversation were well worth the wait and after a fun two hour visit with Doug we were on our way to Monterey. This is a good stopping point so I’ll pick up the road trip leg of the trip next time.
Joe
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Our California Adventure, Part 1
Our original plan was to go to the Smoky Mountains this past week.
Several weeks ago Vicki went to Bowling Green to spend the day with
Angi, an old high school and college friend who had moved there from
Sevierville several months ago. Vicki had a wonderful day with Angi
which was very evident when she came home that night.
One topic of discussion as these two high school chums reconnected was a vacation Angi and her family recently made to California. I could see the excitement in Vicki’s eyes as she related this part of their conversation to me. I finally interrupted and said, “We’re not going to the mountains in June, are we?” And that is how I found myself on a plane heading west the day after I wrote last.
I left it to Vicki to do all the planning and prep work for the trip. It is one of those things, like shopping for a car, that she does well. This trip is out of the ordinary for us. We’ve not done anything like this before: ten nights, five hotels, three flights (well, four because the flight home required us to change planes), and two rental cars. We traveled over 4300 miles by air and covered about 1000 miles on the road with an additional 300 or so miles of local driving around San Diego and San Francisco. We had a fantastic time!
I’m going to follow the pattern I’ve used before and tell about our vacation in several installments over the next few days. For now here’s an overview of our travels so that you can have the big picture.
Our adventures began two weeks ago on Sunday, May 29. We went to Sunday School and sat in the worship service long enough to see a friend baptized and then ducked out to get to the airport on time. We had a direct flight from Nashville to San Diego.
There are several firsts to note here. This was Nate’s first time to fly. (Well, he has been up in a Cessna 172 before, but he was four and we won’t count a small plane here.) This was the first time Vicki and I have ever flown together, and this is the first time we’ve ever flown anywhere as a family as well. This was the first time any of us had ever visited California. And this was the first time any of us had ever seen the Pacific Ocean. (I’m not counting seeing it from the air when I flew to Korea in 1992.)
San Diego was our longest stay anywhere. We spent three nights there. This beautiful city has a lot of fun things to do and we only scratched the surface. By Wednesday, June 1, we caught a short flight north to San Francisco.
Upon arriving in San Francisco we enjoyed lunch with Doug, a friend of mine, and then started the road trip part of our adventure. We drove down the coast to Monterey, then inland to the Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park, and finally looping back around to San Francisco by Monday, June 6. If anything, we didn’t do San Francisco justice as we only allowed a day and a half there.
Wednesday morning it was time to head to the airport and catch a flight home. This time we had to change planes in Los Angeles (so close to Disneyland, yet so far away!). We got home tired but full of memories of good times together and the fun places we had visited. The next day we jumped headlong into life as if we had never been gone.
The weather in California was great for us. Doug had warned us that the weather was cool, especially in San Francisco, so we packed accordingly. Those working in tourism there seem to be fond of quoting Mark Twain who once said, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” For the most part we enjoyed lows in the 50s and highs in the 60s and 70s. It was only in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains that we experienced heat approaching 100° and fortunately we weren’t in that too long. The only time I got a bit cool was riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in the open upper deck of a tour bus in the wind and fog. The rest of the time I wore my jacket simply because I didn’t want to carry it.
Unfortunately, we came back home to July-like temperatures and humidity. Our forecast shows the high 90s for the next several days. As a matter of fact, Nate is ready to move to California just for the weather alone. He said several times he, his future wife, and their two kids would be living out there when he grew up. Now he just needs to figure out how to make a living because California is expensive.
Another thing that has been different with this vacation has been eating out. That’s not to say we never eat out when we’re on vacation. You can’t avoid it when you’re on a cruise ship or in the Disney parks. On other vacations we are either renting a condo and have a small kitchen or we are staying with relatives and so eat in a lot. I’m going to mention our favorites simply because we want to remember them.
Joe
One topic of discussion as these two high school chums reconnected was a vacation Angi and her family recently made to California. I could see the excitement in Vicki’s eyes as she related this part of their conversation to me. I finally interrupted and said, “We’re not going to the mountains in June, are we?” And that is how I found myself on a plane heading west the day after I wrote last.
I left it to Vicki to do all the planning and prep work for the trip. It is one of those things, like shopping for a car, that she does well. This trip is out of the ordinary for us. We’ve not done anything like this before: ten nights, five hotels, three flights (well, four because the flight home required us to change planes), and two rental cars. We traveled over 4300 miles by air and covered about 1000 miles on the road with an additional 300 or so miles of local driving around San Diego and San Francisco. We had a fantastic time!
I’m going to follow the pattern I’ve used before and tell about our vacation in several installments over the next few days. For now here’s an overview of our travels so that you can have the big picture.
Our adventures began two weeks ago on Sunday, May 29. We went to Sunday School and sat in the worship service long enough to see a friend baptized and then ducked out to get to the airport on time. We had a direct flight from Nashville to San Diego.
There are several firsts to note here. This was Nate’s first time to fly. (Well, he has been up in a Cessna 172 before, but he was four and we won’t count a small plane here.) This was the first time Vicki and I have ever flown together, and this is the first time we’ve ever flown anywhere as a family as well. This was the first time any of us had ever visited California. And this was the first time any of us had ever seen the Pacific Ocean. (I’m not counting seeing it from the air when I flew to Korea in 1992.)
San Diego was our longest stay anywhere. We spent three nights there. This beautiful city has a lot of fun things to do and we only scratched the surface. By Wednesday, June 1, we caught a short flight north to San Francisco.
Upon arriving in San Francisco we enjoyed lunch with Doug, a friend of mine, and then started the road trip part of our adventure. We drove down the coast to Monterey, then inland to the Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park, and finally looping back around to San Francisco by Monday, June 6. If anything, we didn’t do San Francisco justice as we only allowed a day and a half there.
Wednesday morning it was time to head to the airport and catch a flight home. This time we had to change planes in Los Angeles (so close to Disneyland, yet so far away!). We got home tired but full of memories of good times together and the fun places we had visited. The next day we jumped headlong into life as if we had never been gone.
The weather in California was great for us. Doug had warned us that the weather was cool, especially in San Francisco, so we packed accordingly. Those working in tourism there seem to be fond of quoting Mark Twain who once said, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” For the most part we enjoyed lows in the 50s and highs in the 60s and 70s. It was only in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains that we experienced heat approaching 100° and fortunately we weren’t in that too long. The only time I got a bit cool was riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in the open upper deck of a tour bus in the wind and fog. The rest of the time I wore my jacket simply because I didn’t want to carry it.
Unfortunately, we came back home to July-like temperatures and humidity. Our forecast shows the high 90s for the next several days. As a matter of fact, Nate is ready to move to California just for the weather alone. He said several times he, his future wife, and their two kids would be living out there when he grew up. Now he just needs to figure out how to make a living because California is expensive.
Another thing that has been different with this vacation has been eating out. That’s not to say we never eat out when we’re on vacation. You can’t avoid it when you’re on a cruise ship or in the Disney parks. On other vacations we are either renting a condo and have a small kitchen or we are staying with relatives and so eat in a lot. I’m going to mention our favorites simply because we want to remember them.
- For fast food we ate at In-N-Out Burger several times because we enjoyed their burgers and we don’t have this chain here in Tennessee.
- In San Diego we enjoyed Cafe Coyote in the Old Town and Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Little Italy.
- Doug teated us to a delicious meal at the Elephant Bar Restaurant when we first arrived in San Francisco. That evening, still fairly full from lunch, we ended the day with desserts at the Black Bear Diner in Monterey.
- On the road we feasted at Colima Seafood and Mexican Restaurant in Visalia and Pete’s Place in Oakhurst.
- We enjoyed Wipeout Bar and Grill on Pier 39 in San Francisco so much that we ate there twice.
Joe
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