San Simeon and Hearst Castle

San Simeon and Hearst Castle, originally uploaded by TexasEd.

Indoor swim anyone? This gorgeous tile natatorium was hand tiled and is so large you could fit our entire house inside it!

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Aquarium 009, originally uploaded by TexasEd.

Some of the cardio equipment at GB3 in Fresno

Some of the cardio equipment, originally uploaded by TexasEd.

The Magic Kingdom

January 5 – Drive to Bakersfield was uneventful…..except for the fog.  Day dawned sunny and warm but when we got on the road (and over the hills) the fog rolled in and stayed.  Fog is expected to stay for the next week!!!!  So much cooler, dank, and not the best weather……….BUT when we get into our Bakersfield RV (Orange Grove RV park) the orange trees are loaded.  Orange Grove RV is built on the acreage of an orange grove and each site has at least one orange tree next to the rig.  We have three trees and right behind us is the dog run with two rows of loaded orange trees just waiting for someone to pick them.  There is nothing like tree ripened orange……..and they’re  FREE!!!  Tomorrow we get a Fantastic fan in the bathroom.  Our bathroom fan has developed a major fault – it doesn’t work and we need to replace it.

January 6 – Up early because someone Ross travels with someone who, while making the appointment with Camping World, said rather non-challantly: “Sure we can be there by 8:30”!!  Keep in mind that we had to get up, dressed, have something to eat, pack everything away, slides pulled in, car hitched and get the dogs walked……..all by sometime before dawn!!  But we did get things organized and we were off by 8:00.  Decided to have Ross drive the car and follow the motor home. BIG mistake!!  While going over some rough pavement the hitch arms fell down on the pavement.  Sparks flying all over so when we finally got stopped, the metal cords used as security cables were ruined, the end of both arms were slightly ground down, and the pins were gone.  We gathered what we could and were at Camping World by 8:27. 

So while the good people at Camping World worked on installing a new fan in the bathroom we took the dogs for a walk, shopped at Camping World, had a coffee at Starbucks, and filled the car with gas.  By 11:00 we were driving out of the CampingWorld parking lot…….with new pins, new safety cords, and a new bathroom fan that runs perfectly!!  Back at the RV park we set up camp again and then went out to explore Bakersfield.  This is an interesting town.  Mainly agricultural (oranges, nuts, other citrus, some vegetable markets), a railway hub, confluence of four highways, and that’s about all.  Took ourselves to Olive Garden for a late lunch and then explored the town.  Interesting neighbourhoods – some rich, beautiful homes, some run down areas, plenty of Mexican influence.  Then back home to watch a little TV, drink a little wine, and an early night.

January 7 – Today we are off to see the zoo, but before we do that, the dogs have got to be walked and there are oranges to be picked – the trees are loaded and we have picked our share.  Large, ripe, sweet, and full of Vitamin C.  And did we mention they’re free!!!  Left the dogs in the motor home (they would not be welcome at the zoo) and off to find this place – California Living Museum (CALM) – www.calmzoo.org.  CALM is California’s premier native zoo and botanic garden, focussing exculsively on California’s native animal exhibits and plants (this from their brochure). 

We found the place a little run-down, cages are small and some of the animals looked to be in some distress.  On the bright side all animals on display are not able to fend for themselves due to disability or their dependence on humans so they are in this zoo to be used for demonstration and educational purposes.  As we walked around the zoo there were an amazing amount of light displays.  HolidayLights runs from mid November to the end of December and has been going for the last 17 years.  Would love to see it sometime.

Back home and had some time with the pups then off to a restaurant that we discovered here two years ago – La Costa Seafood.  Great place for shrimp and other seafood – not as good as our favourite place in Fresno where we can walk in, pick up a beer, order whatever we want, and sit down to listen to a semi-good mariachi band……….but still good.  Ed had the shrimp diablo,  Ross had shrimp mi tierra and we both had a margarita followed by a great flan. 

Tomorrow we head over to Anaheim and the Magic Kingdom for a couple of days.

January 8 – Drive to Anaheim was rather uneventful except when we didn’t trust the GPS guy and took a right turn instead of staying in the left lane.  Saw a bit of LA that we hadn’t planned to see but very quickly found our way back to the highway and onto the RV park (Anaheim Resort RV park).  VERY nice and great office staff – exactly the type of people that need to be in the public’s eye.

By the way, and speaking of our delightful GPS, from the end of the Grapevine (mountain highway leading into LA on I-5) our navigator said: “Left turn ahead”, or “Stay in the left lane”, or “Keep left” a total of 46 times until we turned off into the RV park…………just thought you all might be interested in that little tidbit!!!

Got settled and watched the LAPD (or was it the Anaheim police) detain a couple of kids skateboarding on the school grounds – three cop cars, four cops, and a helicopter, Oh My!!  Dinner in tonight to rest up for the next couple of days.  About 9PM we heard fireworks and …. Lo and behold, we could see fireworks from the Matterhorn at Disneyland……..we are that close!!!  Impressive!

January 9 – First day at Disneyland and got to see all the usual haunts (except Haunted Mansion which is closed so they can remove the Christmas lights). This place is so much fun, so clean, so …….so…magical.  We are always amazed how nice the staff is, how clean and new all the attractions look (even after 55 years), and how some attractions have been updated (People Mover in
Tomorrowland is now Innoventions). Got to see a new section – Toontown. 

Now we have been told that Toon Town was built and used from 1955 until last year as office space. Now a great place for the younger set.  All buildings are out of whack, with garish colours, and cartoon characters all over.  Some great rides too.  However did have an interesting ride on the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin – it broke down just before we got to the end and we had to walk out of the ride - - - in harsh worklights - - - -destroyed the illusion. Home briefly to walk and feed the dogs so we can go back to the park for dinner (BBQ family style) and stayed for the fireworks display. 

Fireworks are incredible……Cinderella’s Castle is ablaze with spots, fireworks, laser, music, and even Tinkerbell flying between the Matterhorn and the Castle (lit up and with a great follow spot).  Simply amazing and narrated by none other than Julie Andrews.  And for about 30 minutes!!  We had enough time to ride the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster for the second time today – too cool!!

January 10 – Today we tackled California Adventures – a new park to us and we are excited to see what they have in store..  We get into the park (not as many people as we have seen so should be a good day) and Muppet Vison 3D is the first attraction (and no lineups) – great animation and incredible 3D.  Then through Hollywood Pictures Backlot and see the Hyperion Theatre is showing the musical “Aladdin” four times today (we will have to make time for that one).  On through Backlot (avoiding the Tower of Terror – too many screams coming from the place) and into “a bug’s land”. 

No lineups for “It’s Tough to be a Bug” so we had to see that (and it’s another 3D attraction).  Guess what………we get half way through and the house lights come up with the young man acting as host asking us to please leave the theatre immediately.  He has a note of urgency to his voice so we are off and out of there!!  Found out that the largest ‘bug’ sometimes has a little problem with hydraulic fluid leaking from one of his many limbs and theatre is shut down to keep from splattering the guests with hot hydraulic fluid!  (Also found out that originally they had the same trouble with the Mr Lincoln speaks animatron…..except the fluid used was red and it used to bleed out onto Mr. Lincoln’s shirt – not too great…….accurate maybe, but not the greatest way to portray a great President). 

Onto the Golden State section – saw a demonstration of making sourdough bread (real bakery making the bread with overhead TV segments with Rosie O’Donnell and Colin Mochrie),  The bakery is connected to a restaurant where they serve four kinds of soup in a bread bowl – will have to have one next time……..but for now we had a coffee and Mickey Mouse cookie while overlooking the bay, roller coaster, ferris wheel, etc.  Quick tour of tortilla factory (much like the bakery) and back to the Hyperion Theatre.  Lots of people waiting in line……let’s hope the theatre is large.  Finally doors open and we are led into a massive theatre – four or five  times the size of Cleland theatre……….lights everywhere……..real nice.  Did not know what to expect but were thrilled “Aladdin” is a musical…..with live actors and a whole bunch of flying.  Hey, we’re talking about Aladdin, and the magic lantern, and magic carpets, etc.  VERY, VE RY well done show.  After that we treated ourselves with a couple of glasses of port, some blue cheese, and some chocolate then some more port.

Back to the motor home to release the dogs, feed them, and get ready for another feast at the park.  Delightful dinner at Ariel’s Grotto – three course meal of an antipasto plate for appys, ciopinno (sausage, lobster, shrimp, redfish, scallops in a very zesty tomato sauce (almost too hot for Ross), and an incredible plate of desserts.  We could have taken a quick tour of Paradise Pier but we had reserved seating for the World of Color extravaganza.  So we waddle over to the reserved section only to find we actually don’t have “seating” but have to stand. 

To make sure we have a great view we decide to stay, ask the hosts/guides where a good place to stand and we stand there for about an hour.  The show is beyond description!!  Hundreds of water jets that can move in all directions - all with their own spotlights (with capability to change colors…the large lagoon seems to be filled with illuminated paint), lasers and holograms bring various Disney ‘starts’ to life  against a massive water spray, incredible music, fire,massive follow  spots….a techie’s dream!

There are times that there was so much water in the air that we thought the lagoon would be empty!

It left us breathless and totally wowed.  Those of you who know us well know that we can be a little jaded when it comes to theatrical productions.  This production (and the Aladdin show) were out of this world……….and only Disney could have put this together!!!!

Tomorrow we leave this magical place and we can only wait for the next time we can return.

Elephants (seals) Clams, and beaches!

Blog Jan 2

We left Monterey in the rain and headed south.  Rained all the way to Paso Robles.  The RV park (Wine Country RV park) is rated as one of the top 100 RV parks in North America and deservedly so.  Nice grounds – two tiers (both with clubhouses, pools, etc), 2 dog runs, nicely kept……..and we got upgraded!!

Arrived and got settled then off to see what Paso Robles has to offer.  Area is full of huge wineries and vineyards can be seen for miles in every direction.  The rains are starting to slow but we have showers throughout the night.  By morning the clouds are breaking up and we are promised good weather.

We travel over to Hwy 1 and onto Hearst Castle.  We were a little skeptical that this may be a tourist trap…….how wrong we are.  VERY impressive grounds, extremely informative guide, and the castle defies description.  William Randolph Hearst knew how to build some mighty impressive homes!!!  Suffice it to say, we will be back for some of the other tours (we had the general overview tour, now we want to get to know some of the sights in depth). 

Throughout the tour we had heard about the village of San Simeon so decided to take a gander – quiet, quaint, cute.  Off north on the road toward the old lighthouse ………… only open Tues, Thurs, and Sat.  BUT wait a minute, just down the road from the lighthouse entrance is an over flowing parking lot.  There is a sign – “Elephant Seal Viewpoint” and people are streaming into this lot.  So, why not……..we parked and walked along a boardwalk high above the beach.  We look down this sandy beach to see what seem to be huge logs littering the place……but they aren’t logs, they’re moving!!!  The beach is a elephant seal refuge and the place is crowded with these massive beasts for at least a couple of miles.  We watch as young pups cry out to their mothers to be fed, other females lie basking in the sun (yes, we have some sun finally), some young males are seen sparing with each other, and massive bulls raise their heads every once in awhile to see if their harem is still together.  They all heave their weight this way and that to get settled in the sand.  When they get a bit warm they plow into the sand or use their flippers to cover themselves with sand much like an elephant will use their trunks to cover themselves with dust.  And we are but 30 feet away (and 25 feet above) from all this.

Back on the road and heading south toward Morro Bay – cute city featuring a massive rock in their harbour (el morro).  It is a fishing and tourism town.  Find a couple of cute t-shirts and a great restaurant – Ed had fish and chips (with a bowl of clam chowder); Ross had shrimp skewer (and a bowl of clam chowder) all from the senior’s menu.  By now the sun (yes, we still have that burning orb in the sky and it is supposed to be with us for the next week or so) has gone to bed and we need to make tracks home………laundry night!!!

In the morning (Jan 4) we headed off to explore San Luis Obispo.  As we drive into the city Ross was a little confused why any business would actually name their place – SLO Bank, or SLO furniture…………..it took an embarrassingly long time to realize that SLO was San Luis Obispo!!  Found the info centre but no parking so Ross hopped out of the car and walked into the centre while Ed drove around the block.  First question was if they had a city map………”Right behind you sir….only $3.00”.  OK, so next question is how to find the mission……”Go out the door and walk up the street about ½ block – you’ll run right into it”.  Ed drove up to the centre at that time and Ross hopped in.  We found a place to park, and walked back to the info people…….where to find a Bank of America, etc.  Also were trying to find a cute little winery recommended to us by Sandra Oldfield (vintner and wine master for Tinhorn Creek in Oliver, BC – and a Facebook friend of Ed’s).  The winery is called A Pithy Little Winery and the storefront is right next door to the info centre……but they were closed for inventory.  Had a walk around the city – quaint, treed, sort of like Granville Island (BC) or Newport Beach (CA).  We want to explore more of this city next year. 

We then headed over to the beach……Pismo Beach.  Great little village that is tourist oriented ++ and found a great little café that has (according to them) the world’s BEST clam chowder…….and it was!!!  Then back to the motor home and a soak in the hot tub.  We leave tomorrow for Bakersfield and hope the weather holds for us.

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Port, Cigars and Quady....oh My!

Waaaay Tardy in posting this....there was just not time while we were in Fresno.  But while we were there I noticed that the wineries in Madera, just north of Fresno, were having one of their events. The wineries market themselves as the Madera Wine Trail.

Among the members of the group is Quady Winery maker of Quady Elysium and Quady Essencia and a host of other wonderful things!

For a very modest fee you were invited to each of the eight or so wineries to sample their wares. Several of them make most excellent ports and for the occasion were having premium cigars available to enjoy with their ports.....well....you don't have to ask twice!!

Quady had arranged huge sofas and big screen TVs in one of their warehouses....some fantabulous blue cheese and other munchies....an idyllic afternoon....one I will enjoy again next year!

Two Months Worth of Blog at Once!

Welcome back all you intrepid armchair travelers.  Did you think we had deserted you?  Fear not, we are still alive and well in the state of California.

The Santa gig at Fashion Fair is over and Ross has recuperated for the most part.  It has been in interesting year at the mall however each day Ross had at least one child that made him laugh or lighten his mood.  All in all, the children have been wonderful….some of the parents could do with a little talking to, but that is another story.

The requests were all over the map but some of the most asked for gifts were Barbie (and all her accessories), Dora (and her stuff), Wii controller and games, Xbox and games, Nintendo DS and games, clothes, Toy Story stuff, books, other electronic games, and animals (stuffed and real – puppies, cats, hamsters, snakes).  The requests that really got to Ross were the ones from little ones wanting a bed of their own, a room of their own, a home, a Christmas tree, their parents to get back together again, and one young girl who really wanted her sister to have lived until after Christmas instead of dying late November.  Teenagers wanted clothes, clothes, money, gift cards, clothes, musical stuff, clothes, and makeup.  Young adults were on Santa’s knee only to get a picture for Mom…….or Dad………or Grandma.  Some young couples were asking for money, a mortgage, a house, a job, and one young man only wanted his sweetheart to marry him….he proposed on one knee in front of Santa and the lucky young lady and she said YES (applause all around the mall).  A few women from an earlier generation only wanted a man (one woman – age 62 (she told me) wanted a man – 30 to 35, tall, blond, well built, and “able to keep me….. happy”……..and to live longer than the rest of her husbands!!  Santa also heard many requests from all ages of children that they just wanted their families to be happy and have a great Christmas.

Santa saw babies from 3 days old and up.  Some were sleeping so that gave him a good excuse to try for a sleeping Santa pose with Santa pretending to be asleep while holding the sleeping babe and an opened book that is dropping from his fingers.  The oldest person Santa saw was a 89 year young woman with her great, great grandson (3 years) sitting on her lap.  He also met with a woman being pushed around the mall in a wheelchair by family members.  Santa asked her if she was having fun.  She looked Santa right in the eye and said: “Son, I’m 85 years old.  I have raised 7 kids on my own, buried three husbands, broken my hip and am sitting in this wheelchair……….Hell, No, I’m not having fun!!”  Santa chortled for hours over that one.  He also saw a few twins, one set of triplets, and lots of families (largest one was 18 people).  There were groups/staff from the mall and the Fresno Women’s Chamber of Commerce (21 in all). 

Sure we had our problems, but in the end we had a successful year and the photo boss seems to be pleased.

While Ross was sitting on his duff at the mall Ed was merrily shopping for groceries, taking the dogs for their daily walks, making meals for everyone, and working out at the gym he joined when we got to Fresno. 

The gym was like nothing we’d ever seen before. More than fifty treadmills, about the same number of ellipticals and hundreds of other machines…the purpose of which wasn’t always completely clear!  There were free weights as well of course.

There was a sauna, a steam room, full size swimming pool and hot tub. Oh yes, and the one in NW Fresno is one of four…soon to be five owned by the same company.

Christmas Eve was spent resting, drinking, and nibbling appies from Trader Joe’s.  We had seen one neighbourhood that was lit up beautifully but did not get to see Christmas Tree Lane  the 2 mile long festival of lights where most all houses were incredibly decorated with  lights strung through the giant evergreens  over the street – quite festive.

Christmas Day was a quiet day where Ross got to sleep in.  We started with champagne and OJ, stollen, and coffee……then opened presents that Ed had bought (Ross was somewhat busy doing other things for some reason).  We took the dogs for a walk in Woodward Park and watched the geese and ducks beg for food from anyone passing by.  We had meant to go to Erna’s Elderberry House for Christmas dinner but thought that we could use the $500 elsewhere.  Ed found all the ingredients for a great turkey dinner at …….. you guessed it – Trader Joe’s (stuffed turkey breast, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans au gratin, Brussels sprouts, and our own plum pudding for dessert).

A few days later Ross became just another citizen of this planet Earth when he got his hair and beard trimmed.  The stylist took about 4 inches of hair off the head and about 2/3 of the beard.  And it feels soooo much better – cooler, but better.

We packed up all our belongings on Dec 30 and headed west to Monterey.  Found a RV park (of sorts) on the fairgrounds in Monterey.  This is where all the exhibitors park their rigs during the rodeo/horse and cattle shows/etc. during the summer.  But it has water, power, and sewer. Met with Brett (the big boss) and debriefed about the year then met up with his wife and two boys for dinner.  Great family and the kids are very well behaved.  Good dinner at Cannery Row Brewing Company where Brett ran into a group of friends he had graduated high school with.

Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Met up with Brett and the boys to go to the Monterey Aquarium.  Brett’s two – Andrew and Will – know this place backwards and forwards so we let them act as leaders.  Great time.  Weather has been rainy and cool but the boys wanted to go for ice cream so found their favourite place and ate ice cream while almost freezing our dookuses off!!  Back to the motor home and picked up the dogs and back to Fisherman’s Wharf for a couple of bowls of soup – Ed had clam chowder and Ross had butternut squash – anything to get warm again!!  Hit Trader Joe’s (what are we going to do when we get home?) Home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square (with a couple of power naps before the witching hour), then in bed for a great sleep.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Jan 1 – We were invited to Brett’s place for brunch and had a great time.  Molly and Brett are wonderful hosts and of course the two boys are great.  Back to the motor home to again pick up the dogs and head on to explore the area.  We saw a bit of Carmel and walked the dogs on the beach for a bit (lots of sand now in the car!) then down the road to Carmel Highlands.  Happened on the Mission there and had a look around because of course everything was closed.  When we got past Big Sur and the weather was getting wetter by the minute we turned around and headed back to Fisherman’s Wharf………..for more chowder!!!  The rains have started again and the place is WET!!!

In fact, while some of our friends in Canada have been having record snowfalls and frigid temps, we here in California have been having lots and LOTS of rain.  The deep depressions (about the size of a large football field) we see around the city (Fresno) are always fenced off with gates locked.  We now know that these “ponds” are like reservoirs – runoff from the streets is fed to these places.  They fill quickly and are slowly absorbed.  Impressive to drive by one of these ponds that is dry one day and filled to the brim the next. 

California  seems to be having a wetter winter than expected however the natives  are jumping for joy….they may not have as many fires this year as in the past.  However, with the rains there also comes flooding and there has been a lot of flooding here.  Floods always block highways, help to destabilize mountain cliffs so they come crashing down on homes and property, and sometimes even carry away homes.  There have been some minor washouts near us but thankfully the earth here is stable….for now!.