California Sights - Part Two

Hollywood.  That is what comes to mind when you hear California, right?  Well we are no different so off we go to check out Hollywood.  I visited once before back in the early ‘70s but my, oh my, it has changed since then.  It is very crowded on Hollywood Boulevard and looks more like Times Square in New York where there are street buskers and hustlers everywhere.  Of course, all the traditional landmarks are still intact such as the Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, etc.  Bibi’s main purpose to our visit was to see the iconic Hollywood sign.  So off we went to Griffith Observatory to get the “best” viewing advantage in Hollywood.

View down Hollywood Boulevard

Fake Minnie Mouse waiting to take some tourist's money for a picture.

There it is as viewed from Griffith Observatory

View of downtown LA from the observatory

Having satisfied our itch to see and view both Hollywood proper and the Hollywood sign, we headed back to Hemet for some breakfast at the local IHOP.  This was our second time there but the people remembered us and even sat us at the same booth as the first time we ate there.  How in the world did they remember us and where we were seated before?  Are we that much different or unique?  I certainly hope not.

You must see the Pacific Ocean if you visit California.  We had already seen water in San Diego but that was in a bay and is not the same as the ocean proper.  So off we trek to Oceanside and to the Oceanside Pier.  The Pier is one of the longest (1,942 feet) wooden piers on the West Coast.  Bibi has to at least get her feet wet whenever near water, no matter the temperature or water temperature.  This day it was cool if you were not moving but if you walked it felt warmer.

It is always windy at the beach, pier in background

We are on the beach, Bibi is in the water taking our picture.

Looking down the beach from the pier.

This is a loooonng pier.

A local resident enjoying the day.

These pelicans are not afraid of people and hanging around for fish

Having now seen the ocean we were determined to check off some more items on the bucket list.  One of which is to visit the Presidential Libraries.  Both Nixon and Reagan have libraries in the area.  We found out the Nixon Library was undergoing renovation and the interior is temporarily closed and only the outside grounds are open to the public.  However, the Reagan Library is open and off we went to explore.

Before visiting the library we stopped to eat at one of our recently discovered sandwich shops, Firehouse Subs.  It has jumped to number one on our list of sandwich shops due to the fresh bread and quality of the hot sandwiches served.  After satisfying our appetites, we pressed on to the library for our tour of the library.

Elephant topiary at the entrance to library.

Actual piece of Berlin wall that came down during Reagan's presidency.

Here I am making my inaugural address.

Hey!!!  Who is this interloper?

This must be my office

....and my car

....and my plane

....and my office on the plane.

Words of Reagan exemplifying his optimistic worldview.
"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually
triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life."

It is always interesting to me to explore the background and journey these people have on their road to the White House.  Including their time as the leader of the greatest nation on earth.  We always find such neat stuff about the person, their spouse and interactions with others.  For example, Ronald Reagan had a book of 3 x 5 index cards he developed over time (started back in his college days).  On these cards were quotes from historical figures, jokes and funny sayings as well as interesting anecdotes.  All were used in speeches and conversations throughout his life.

He actually wrote a lot of the speeches and letters while in the White House even though he had speechwriters and correspondence secretaries.  He was a stickler for how things should be worded to properly convey his feelings and message.  You could see that evidenced in the library by the marked out words and phrases, inserted words and phrases and emphasis marks when he edited his own writings.  We saw some very interesting and insightful information on this former actor turned President of the United States of America.

View of library grounds high above surrounding area

Some more beautiful California vistas from library grounds.

So ends our time in California.  One thing we learned about the Southern California area is to allow plenty of time to and from your destination.  It seems to us that no matter what time of day, the traffic is always heavy. The freeways are busy and slow down, not really stopping, but definitely moving slower than the posted speed limits when busy.  The areas in Southern California are very picturesque and we could not have wished for better weather.  We now return to Arizona to begin the next stage of this adventure.  More about that in the next post.

California Sights - Part One

One of the items on the “bucket list” is to visit Major League Baseball stadiums (mainly American League but National League too if time allows).  We were not very far from Anaheim and Angel Stadium where the Angels play so Bibi and I decided to attend a game.  What a pleasant surprise to find the Texas Rangers in town when we could go.

Here we are.  That's me in center with beige shirt.

Even Mickey got in the act.  Of course, he is the
next door neighbor in Anaheim.

We settled in for a nice game with some great seats next to third base and Adrian Beltre.  The highlight of the game for me was the major league debut of Nomar Mazara.  A twenty year old (about to turn 21 on April 26) that was signed by the Rangers at age 16.  It was amazing!  He singled his first two at bats then hit a 400+ foot home run in his third at bat against Jered Weaver; the Angel pitcher that had all other Texas batters swinging and missing everything.  Mazara ended up 3 out of 4 for the day.  A stellar performance and made for a very entertaining day at the ballpark.

Bibi has become quite the baseball connoisseur and aficionado.  So much so, she was able to impress the group of guys sitting beside her at the game.  One was an Angel fan and his friend, who was a Dodger fan that was cheering for the Rangers on this day to aggravate his buddy.  Bibi also noticed that unlike Arlington Stadium, she was definitely in the minority wearing her Ranger shirt in Angel Stadium.

At least the Rangers shirt was red and didn't stand out
like a sore thumb here.

We visited the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  You board a Tram Car at a station after driving up a steep road a few thousand feet in elevation from the desert floor at Palm Springs.  This Tram Car is 18 feet in diameter and 8 feet tall, holding about 80 passengers.  As you begin the ascent or descent, the floor of the Tram Car rotates slowly giving you a view from every vantage point on the compass.

Here is where we started from with parking lot right above
the concrete station in the picture.

We are headed somewhere up there.
Way up there.

Even further up now.  Yes those are yellow
landing pads for helicopters.

The cars travel about 12,000 feet of cable over five cable towers from the 3,000 feet at the station to the 10,800 foot level for the upper station.  Once you are at the top, there is a panoramic view of Palm Springs on the desert floor and further up the mountain you can see snow covered tops.  Of course the temperature at the top is considerably cooler than that at the bottom.  Those 'yellow' things on top of the Cable Towers in the pictures are landing platforms for helicopters.

That is Palm Springs behind me on the floor of the desert.

A better view of Palm Springs, notice airport upper left.

There are even walking trails, hiking trails and for the truly adventurous, camping.  No silly, not RVs but tents. After a brief lunch (complete with creme brulee), we scaled some of the observation decks and took some pictures.  Then made our way back down via the Tram Car.  A very pleasant and interesting stop that we thoroughly enjoyed.  Even those of us with a fear of heights.

That is snow and clouds.  Might even have been snowing.

Walking trails viewed from observation deck.

Think she is cold.  Yep, I think so!

They are cold too.

Another event we took in was a World of Outlaws race night at the speedway in nearby Perris, CA.  Or as Bibi remembers it, “that dirt track thingy we went to.”  In an attempt to broaden her racing knowledge and experience, we decided it was time to show her where a lot of drivers learn the art of racing as they graduate through various levels and styles of racing.  She got a glorious baptism upon arrival.  You see as we attempted to make our way to the pits and were walking along turn one, the first of the hot laps for warm-ups began.

Now for those of you that are uninformed, a dirt track is watered initially to keep dust down and make the track ready for racing.  The first tires to hit the track in this condition will grab this dirt, water, oily, rubbery mixture and throw it high in the air as the tires try to bite the track for traction.  Of course these race cars do not have silly things such as fenders as this would be unnecessary weight, etc.  This is also why you do NOT sit in turn one of a dirt track.  It was magnificent the amount of material that came flying through the air and the most perfect timing to splat us all with a substantial amount of it just as we passed alongside the track.  Welcome to the world of dirt track racing Bibi.

Top Finishers in one of the Sprint Car Races.

Traditional World of Outlaws salute to the fans,
four abreast drive by before lining up for the race.

The night was fantastic with only Sprint Cars and World of Outlaw Cars on the agenda.  There were many sprint mishaps fulfilling the need for wrecks with no injuries.  Towards the end of the evening, Bibi was wishing they would put some more water on the track.  As is usual during the race, the track dries out.  Add to that the wind and low humidity this evening and it was extremely dusty.   When we got home, we all had to shower the dirt off before retiring for the evening .

There's the checkered flag.

Top Finishers in the World of Outlaws Main Event.

We took one day and visited San Diego.  We stopped to view the Midway aircraft carrier on the bay.  It is a huge floating museum and one of my favorite ships to explore.  After 10,921 steps or 5.17 miles (we used a phone app to measure), we disembarked and made our way to a seaside restaurant.  We ate a wonderful meal right on the water overlooking the bay with a view of the naval station across the water.  Do not miss the Fish Market Restaurant adjacent to the Midway when you are in San Diego.

On the Hanger Deck

Sleeping quarters for enlisted folks.

But I did not mean to knock the Captain down.

Where we going now?

The Officers, eating accommodations.

On the Flight Deck.

Plenty of planes up here.

Look at the number and size of those bombs.

Ready for launch.

Active carriers at the Naval Air Station

Yep, standing at bow and over the water.

City of San Diego in the background.

After leaving the restaurant, we walked through Seaport Village.  This is a collection of little shops and snack food shops located in a small area right on the edge of the harbor opening.  If you are there on the weekend, you can also see a variety of street entertainers and buskers as they work for the public’s tips.  There were many other things to see and do but time and weather does not always provide the opportunity to fit the schedule.

Quite a sight to behold.

Fish Market with Seaport Village just beyond
sporting the orange clay rooftops.

We have a few more things and sights to report on and will do so in the next post.