Some time ago I was “tagged” by my friend Rich C, who writes a blog of his own about his life in Prescott AZ. I think that being tagged means I am supposed to write seven things about myself that are not commonly known (and then tag a few other bloggers to do the same).
My first feeling about the “7 things” tagging game was that it was silly, a sort of blog chain letter, far outside of the purpose of this blog. Then it occurred to me that since I have been blogging our daily life on the Internet for over two years, there remains very little left to tell other than things I have deliberately avoided discussing. Thus, perversely, the challenge of coming up with seven more things to say might be interesting, or at least a mild break from the musings of daily events that usually comprise the blog.
So here they are, seven things you didn’t know about me and probably don’t care to:
- I never wear a watch but I own two watches, an ultra-thin black Swatch and a vintage Hamilton Electric Ventura.
- My Airstream’s essential equipment includes a torque wrench, a laptop, and a collection of James Bond movies on DVD.
- All of my three pairs of glasses have scratched upper left corners from using my camera. This makes me consider Lasik or contact lenses.
- My favorite animal is a Maine Coon tabby cat, the bigger, the better.
- If I had my life to live over again, I would have cycled across the USA the first time somebody suggested it to me.
- I once lost my sense of smell for two months. (Steak tastes like cardboard if you can’t smell it.)
- The most common comment on my school report cards was that I’d do much better if I just applied myself. I always wished I could turn the tables by issuing a report card on my teachers.
Well, I feel better having gotten all that off my chest. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program …
The Airstream is parked on a sloping road in front of David and Ariadna’s house. It is so sloped in fact that even unhitching the trailer and dropping the front down to the ground, we still have a noticeable elevation gain when walking from back to front. I put both Rotochoks into the wheels and hoped they would hold. So far the Airstream hasn’t traveled as a result of gravitational attraction.
Either the city of Ventura or the county of Ventura would like our courtesy parking hosts to report that we are parked here on the street, if we are to stay more than two nights. Rather than force them to do that, we are moving on to a campground tomorrow, where we will stay through Thanksgiving if possible. We wanted to go to Point Mugu State Park’s beachfront camping area, but it has been foggy and cold lately along the coast. Not only would this make the beach much less fun, but we wouldn’t be able to make power with our solar panels, and the campground offers no electrical hookups.
So we are leaving, but Emma and her new friend 7-year-old William have been so happy together (yet another score on the kid front) that we may stay fairly local and come back for a few more play dates. They certainly managed to keep each other entertained today while we roamed around town. David took us to the secret location where he stores his highly polished 1964 Airstream Globe Trotter, and his slick vintage truck, and then we all went down the Pacific Coast Highway past Point Mugu to Neptune’s Net for seafood.
Neptune’s Net is a great spot for seafood, but in my opinion the best aspect is the people-watching. You can sit at big picnic tables with your fried seafood basket and see the most classic California personalities, from sun-bleached surfers to hawg riders to Sunday-best-suited churchgoers. There’s a dress code, though. A sign says clearly that if you are dripping wet (the beach is just across the highway), “No soup for you!”
Now, let me offer a version of the “7 things” challenge to you. If you can, write up 7 great places that we should visit in southern California or the American southwest that we might otherwise overlook, and post them to the blog as a comment. If you can’t come up with seven, just write as many as you can. Other blog readers will appreciate them, and I’ll see how many we can add to our itinerary.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Get out on the ocean and do some deep sea fishing.
Catalina Island…
Try doing a little surfing in the morning and some skiing in the afternoon.
Blow your family’s future on a sure thing in the 6th at Del Mar pretending to be Bing Crosby or Douglas Fairbanks. Or just shop for a couple of hours at La Jolla cove.
Take some hang gliding lessons at Torrey Pines and swoop down on the migrating whales.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
November 19th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
7 of my best Southern Cal Memories:
1. San Diego Wildlife Park & San Diego Zoo-We couldn’t see the whole zoo in one day. The butterfly exhibit stands out in my mind as the neatest thing I’ve seen at a zoo.
2. Ruby’s Diner out on Balboa pier-Memorable place to eat. If this doesn’t say southern Cali, what does? http://www.rubys.com/2-locations/locations.aspx
Woody’s Diner on Highway 1 also a fun spot on Sunset Beach http://search.cityguide.aol.com/orangecounty/restaurants/woodys-diner/v-100227838
3. Balboa Island-Neat to just walk and drive around. We stayed at a little bed and breakfast/old hotel. You’ll recognize the channels dividing the homes from several motion pictures. Great old architecture.
4. Catalina Island-Never been there but Gramps used to cull long horn sheep with bow and arrow there in the 50’s-60’s. They have an interesting theatre and more interesting “locals” according to the PBS show I saw.
5. Graumann’s Chinese Theater-L.A. You have to see it once, with hand and footprints in the cement. John Wayne had small feet as I recall. http://www.seeing-stars.com/Theatres/ChineseTheatre.shtml
6. The walk of stars running up and down the street in front of the theatre – L.A. Again, you just have to see it once, worth the drive.
7. Peterson’s Automotive Museum-Regularly changing exhibits and themes. More than just old cars. Some life-size dioramas. Maybe you could convince them to run an antique trailer review. The building, its location and the story of how it came to be a museum is almost as interesting as the exhibits. http://www.petersen.org/
*5, 6 & 7 are good to do in the DAYTIME. It was a little spooky at night 20 years ago. Although to see the theatre in lights was worth it. Try to hit Mulholland drive at sunset, see the “HOLLYWOOD” sign in lights or check out the Hollywood Bowl while you’re in the neighborhood. If your down in Long Beach, there are some great restaurants and of course, the Queen Mary. Too bad they moved the Spruce Goose.
Another thing I’ll always remember is having a friend’s family show us a dozen old missions in and around the coastal area/Torrance, CA. This family friend arranged weddings in the area and knew all the locations, including a small glass cathedral in the woods on the cliff. This might have been it: http://www.wedstar.com/WayfarersChapel/
Hey, here’s a link I found overrated activities in S. Cal and what to do instead. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/12411/6_overrated_southern_california_activities.html
And oh, don’t forget about the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. My list couldn’t be contained to just 7 favorites if I tried. Actually, my number one memory couldn’t be duplicated. It would be sitting in my grandfather’s backyard in Fullerton under the lemon tree looking at all the amazing plants he could grow that we couldn’t in Wisconsin and listening to his many stories and experiences. That really made me want to see more, do more and live more.
Travel safe, see you down the road. Dean
November 19th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Of course you realize that your entry #2 makes you my hero..
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:17 am
Gail and I thought it was tough to pick only seven favorites but here goes:
Mojave Desert Preserve with its Hole in the Wall Campground, the Kelso Depot Visitor’s Center and the Mojave Road is spectacular in the Spring, Fall and Winter months. Find it east fo Barstow and north of Route 66 (and I-40) at Essex, CA. Take your SUV or 4X4 and some good maps for the Mojave Road but leave the Airstream at Hole in the Wall.
Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert Preserve.
Oasis RV Park south of Interstate 8 in Dateland, AZ; a welcome alternative where you can rest and relax in solitude, especially when compared to those 1000+ space RV parks in Yuma, AZ.
The Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest and Grandview Campground, east of Big Pine, CA in the White Mountains.
Saline Valley with is Warm Springs and Salt Tram. Find it north of Panamint Valley on the west side of Death Valley National Park. As noted before, take the SUV or 4X4 here and leave the Airstream parked at one of the park’s many.
Death Valley Road and the towering dunes in Eureka Valley; find them in the north end of Death Valley east of Big Pine, CA. Again, leave the Airstream in the campground for this trip also.
Fort Bowie National historic Site southeast of Wilcox AZ
November 23rd, 2007 at 3:01 am
Places that come to mind:
1. Santa Cruz Island. Could be done as a day trip or overnight with tents on the island. Great place. Not sure about temps this time of year. Incredible sea kayaking and hiking. Likely to see dolphins on the way out. This is an undeveloped Channel Island.
2. Huntington Gardens and Library. One of the top botanical gardens and a cultural treasure with overtones of the last guilded age. Near Pasadena. http://www.huntington.org/
3. Nixon and Reagan Libraries. I’ve only been to Nixon’s. As an American history buff these are things I enjoy.
4. The Getty–at the top of my list for the area of things I haven’t seen yet.
5. Joshua Tree National Park–a wonderland in the desert, not far from Palm Springs, and not close to anything. Great hiking and rock climbing. It’s a magical place . . . be sure to have a copy of U2’s Joshua Tree album for background music.
6. Quartzsite . . . but that’s already on your list. We can check that scene out soon enough.
7. Kodak Theater and Walk of Stars (already mentioned) . . . it is Tinseltown after all.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Hey, where’s your admiration for the show, “Heroes” in all of this????
Good ones Rich. Oh, and I don’t usually do the tags either, but thought this one would be ok. 🙂
I’d cycle across the US too. Re-hike the AT, do the PCT, and find a way to fund a climb of K2.