All creatures great and small

When I left my hotel in Crescent City, CA this morning, I decided I couldn't leave town without doing something about my filthy ride. I found a self-serve car wash and spent $2 to wash off all the mud on my beloved groupie mobile. Feeling better afterward, I traveled north to Bandon, OR and the West Coast Game Park. If you've read my previous blogs, you will know this is my favorite zoo. This facility is devoted to breeding endangered animals to perpetuate species should they become extinct in the wild.

When I got to the zoo, the parking lot was pretty full...something I had not encountered in the past. I think part of the reason is because Oregon schools have their spring break this week. Thus, the presence of many families at the zoo today. It made it a little harder to enjoy the close encounters with the animals with so many people there. Still, I was able to pet Cadence, the caracal or African wild cat, and hold their old opossum and a ferret. There was a 10-month-old tiger cub named Sheriff, but because he was too big, we were only able to take photos of him...no petting! With West Coast Game Park, the animals available for petting or holding are all a matter of timing. I had some great experiences in my past visits...not a whole lot this time. But, that will not discourage me from future visits because it's such a cool place. And, I got a lot of nice photos of the other zoo animals, including the young ring-tailed lemur that you see above.

After a quick Thai lunch in Bandon, my only other destination of the day was Siuslaw Pioneer Museum in Florence. This small museum presents the history of the area in the form of photos and personal items donated by local families. Many objects reminded me of things I had seen in antique stores, but these told stories of the generations of people who settled in Florence and made their lives there. So, tomorrow I make the day long drive home. My road trip has been tiring, but fun. I'll be posting a wrap-up blog or two when I get settled back in my old routine and take a breather. I can't wait to see my cat!

Wapiti and wet boots

As I left Santa Rosa, CA this morning, I was expecting a nice day. I spent the entire morning driving north on US Hwy 101 in northern California...better known as The Redwood Highway. There are a lot of opportunities to see the redwood trees along this route, but that wasn't on my agenda. I only had time for one thing...visit Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. When I turned into the road leading to the canyon, I was immediately presented with an obstacle...one of many on this afternoon. Just off the highway, the road was flooded. As I debated driving through the water, I noted a couple of other vehicles parked on the opposite side. The people were observing and taking photos of a small herd of Roosevelt elk...also known as wapiti.

Just then, a small car drove toward me through the standing water. Well, if a car can do it, my Blazer certainly can, too! I slowly crossed the flooded road and made it to the other side. I joined the others admiring the elk, and took a few pics myself. I then continued on my way to Fern Canyon. The paved road soon turned to compacted dirt...then, compacted mud. My Blazer's tires are supposed to be mud and snow tires. They had seen snow, but never mud, so this was a good test. After about four miles of winding through the trees, I was suddenly presented with another challenge...driving through a stream! Now, there were no signs warning that it was not passable, so I held my breath and drove forward. My Blazer rolled down into the water, and I slowly accelerated to the opposite bank...I made it! My euphoria was short-lived because soon after celebrating my first successful stream fording...I came to ANOTHER stream! This one was almost identical to the previous one. With new found confidence, I negotiated the second stream without any problem. The remaining road to the Fern Canyon parking lot was filled with water-filled potholes, which I did my best to avoid.

When I got to the parking lot, there were a few cars there...and a California Department of Corrections vehicle. As I started walking the trail to Fern Canyon, I encountered a number of what I assumed was low risk inmates dressed in orange jumpsuits. They didn't seem to be closely supervised as they worked on trail repair. I found them to be rather pleasant and friendly, talking to them as I passed by. I soon found out my biggest challenge of the day was yet to come. It turned out the normally graveled and fairly dry Fern Canyon trail was currently a wide, gentle flowing stream! I took another trail to the opposite end of Fern Canyon, but discovered in order to see it...I had to walk in the water. I told myself, I wasn't about to drive through the mud, streams and potholes only to be defeated by a little water! I scanned the stream to pick out the best route...then, got my feet wet! My leather hiking boots immediately filled with water, and stayed that way for the length of my hike.

The Fern Canyon trail is about a half mile long, traveling through a canyon with fern-covered walls. It has a prehistoric feel to it, which is the reason it was used as a location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park. But, I'm pretty sure the canyon floor wasn't covered with water for the film like it was now. As I walked through the canyon, the trail would appear here and there. I would alternate slogging through the stream, and climbing over logs and branches. At one point, I miscalculated a branch and tripped over it. I banged my shin good on another branch as I fell down. I was lucky I didn't smash my face on something. With my leg smarting, I continued my ordeal until I reached the end of the trail...if you want to call it that. The canyon was a bit disappointing, not only because of the water, but because the ferns weren't at their peak yet. Still, I got some nice photos. Maybe someday I'll return when things are not quite so wet.

As I walked back to the parking lot, I encountered other people going the other way. At one point, I asked a family if they were planning to see Fern Canyon. They said they were, and I warned them about the water, which like me, they weren't expecting. When I got back to my Blazer, I removed my boots...pouring out the water...and my soaking wet socks. Thankfully, being on a road trip, I had spare dry socks AND more than one pair of extra shoes to wear. After I put my shoes on, I noticed a group of five Japanese girls exiting a mini-van, and looking ready to take a hike. I went up to them, and asked if they were going to Fern Canyon. Like the family I spoke to earlier, the girls were also unaware of the water-filled canyon. After talking among themselves, they asked if one person with rubber boots could walk in the water. When I inquired about the height of the boots...barely mid-calf...I told them that it wasn't high enough for the water. I think they decided just to walk to the nearby beach.

The journey back to the highway was uneventful, but still an adventure. I drove around the potholes, through the two streams, and on the muddy curves. Before going through the final flooded road, I took a few more pics of the elk, which were all leisurely sitting in a field. The bull elk were magnificent with their full racks of antlers. Tomorrow is my last full day of sightseeing. After 18 days on the road, I'm ready to head on home.

Happiness is...

After yesterday's disappointing day, I was looking for a ray of sunshine. And, I got it, literally and figuratively. I started things off with a sit-down breakfast...something I hadn't done so far on my road trip. For some strange reason, I got my times all screwed up and I went to bed earlier than usual. I think it was the TV station I was watching...they were broadcasting the Mountain time zone. So, when I got up this morning, instead of 7:00 am...it was 6:00 am! I didn't figure it out until I put on my watch and glanced at the time. But, it actually worked out better for me...it gave me more time for breakfast. I drove north for about an hour, and stopped at a diner in Jackson, CA. This eatery was pretty typical...it was full of men! Truck drivers and working guys. I ordered the chicken fried steak, but only ate half and got the rest to go for tomorrow's breakfast.

I only had two attractions on the day's agenda. The first was a short drive up the road in Sutter Creek...the Sutter Creek Gold Mine tour. This modern mine is currently not being worked, but is open for public tours. I went on the first tour of the day with a family of four, and the tour guide drove us down below the surface in a motorized mine car. The guide went over the history of the mine, and explained the gold mining process. It was pretty interesting, and really cool to be underground in the dark tunnels.

The day may have started out cloudy, but as I left Sutter Creek and traveled west, the sun came out. When I reached Sacramento, I saw the result of the several days of heavy rain in the region. Brown water as far as the eye can see on both sides of the interstate from overflowing waterways. Even San Pablo Bay near Vallejo was the color of chocolate milk. The bad thing is...more rain is on the way tomorrow! For now, though, it was pleasant and sunny.

My other destination of the day was the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. The creator of the world's most beloved comic strip, Peanuts, Schulz has left a lasting legacy for generations to come. This museum is a celebration of his life and his life's work. It was a thrill to see the actual original drawings that made their way into newspapers and books. Watching a video of Schulz drawing the Peanuts characters, I was mesmerized by his talent. There will never be another illustrator like him.

The weather looks favorable tomorrow for a bit of hiking. Only three more days of road trip left...

Rained out? More like SNOWED out!

When I left San Francisco this morning, the skies were clearing...a big change from last night. The winds were just howling, and with rain, rain and more rain. Little did I know, I was just following the storm that passed over. My plan for the day was to spend the afternoon at Yosemite National Park to see some winter scenery. As I traveled east, the rain started picking up. I stopped in Oakdale for a lunch and gas pit stop. I also checked out a Hi-Tec shoe outlet, hoping to get a new pair of boots for work. I found something that I liked, but the price wasn't right...so I passed.

As I continued on my way and after traveling through the town of Groveland, the rain turned to snow. The snow was soon accumulating on the road, and turned from slush to packed snow. I passed by some cars that appeared to be putting on chains, but with my 4WD, I was doing okay. The photo above is a capture from a video I took, so you know what I was up against. But, after driving about 7-8 miles, no end in sight for the snow, and another 45 miles to Yosemite, I started getting concerned. I would only be traveling higher to Tioga Pass, which would probably mean more snow. And, even if I made it over, the last thing I wanted to do was risk getting stuck on the other side should they decide to close the highway. Reluctantly, I turned around, and headed back the way I came. I think I made the right decision. I can always see Yosemite again on a future road trip.

With no alternate plan, my only recourse was to check into my hotel early. This wasn't exactly a bad thing. I had cable TV and free wi-fi. In addition, I could probably use the extra rest. Road tripping is tiring, especially when you're trying to fit in as many activities as possible everyday. Besides, tomorrow is a new day, which means more sightseeing adventures! Only four more days on the road. Oh, by the way, when I checked the Yosemite website, it said the highway to the west entrance...the route I had been traveling...was closed due to snow conditions. So, I WAS right to turn around when I did!

Cable cars, not trolleys

On this road trip, I couldn't leave San Francisco without riding the famous cable cars. The last time I had been on a cable car, I was about 14 years old. I remember being with the family and having a hard time getting on one in Chinatown. It was the height of rush hour...and tourist season...and every cable car was full. It would have been a long walk back to Fisherman's Wharf, especially with my 5-year-old sister in tow. Thankfully, we were able to find one with enough room for the five of us.

This morning, I met my friend Johnny at the Market and Powell cable car turnaround. Unfortunately, he had to catch a flight back to DC in the afternoon, so we said our goodbyes before I hopped on a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf. The San Francisco cable cars are the last manually operated cable cars in the world. Which is the reason why they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and are much loved by tourists visiting the city. And, it is wonderful to ride the old cars, traveling up and down the steep San Francisco streets. When I got down to the Wharf, I was ready for lunch. Since it was so rainy and chilly, I elected to eat at one of the restaurants on waterfront to get out from the weather. Turns out I selected one of the oldest eateries in San Francisco... Alioto's. I ordered the fried scallop basket...my favorite...which came with a cup of clam chowder. The soup was great, and I also enjoyed the accompanying sourdough bread...of course, you can't mention San Francisco without thinking sourdough, too!

After lunch, I walked to the nearby Musee Mecanique. This museum is also an arcade of sorts, filled with antique coin operated machines. Games, music makers, fortune tellers, and other entertainment devices...this place had it all. As I looked over the unusual machines, I noticed most of the patrons were adults...many of them older...and, they were having a lot of fun! I tried out a couple of the machines, choosing ones that had just had stuff moving around. Having enjoyed the sourdough bread I ate for lunch, I next went to Boudin Bakery. A San Francisco institution, this bakery has been making sourdough since 1849! Believe it or not, their bread contains the original mother dough (sourdough starter) in every loaf! Since I still had another 5 days of my road trip to go, unfortunately I couldn't buy very much bread. I decided to just get a small loaf for dinner, and a couple of fresh baked cookies.

After a brief visit to the San Francisco Maritime Historical Park visitor's center...it was too rainy to check out the ships...I took a cable car back the Market Street. The first time around, I rode inside the cable car. This time, I decided to stand on the back deck...it would allow me to take photos and video of our trip. I also discovered it gave me a great view of the brakeman operating the brake to help control the speed of the car as it traversed the steep streets. When the cable car reached its terminus, after buying some takeout dinner, I rode one of the old trolleys on my way back to the hotel. There is a difference between the cable cars and trolleys in San Francisco. Where the cable cars are actually propelled by underground cables, the trolleys or street cars are electric powered and travel routes with overhead power lines. But, they both share 19th century origins.

As I compose this blog post, it's very windy and rainy outside. And, it's supposed to be that way tomorrow. In fact, it might rain from now till the end of my road trip. That's a rather depressing thought. But, as I have up until now, I'll make the best of it. Oh, and by the way...the sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery was excellent!

A Bash for the record books

When I got back from my damp sightseeing day, I stopped by my hotel's office to inquire about calling for a taxi to take me to the Marriott hotel, location of the Bash for Augie's Quest. When I stepped in the door, I saw a familiar face. The guy behind the counter was the same guy I talked to a couple years ago when I was in town for a Five For Fighting show! Not only that, Brandon...that was his name...remembered me, but couldn't remember the singer of his favorite song, All I Know! He said that taxis normally don't make appointments on Friday evenings, but he would try for me. About an hour later, I got a phone call in my room...success! A cab would be coming to pick me up. Later, when I went back down to the office to wait for my ride, I tipped Brandon for helping me out. We then talked for about a half hour while I waited. Such a nice guy!

My friend Johnny was waiting for me when I arrived at the downtown Marriott Marquis. It wasn't hard to tell which people were there for the charity event...most everyone was dressed in the requested red and black cocktail. Yes, including me! We went to the registration table and got our table assignment, then proceeded to the silent auction area. Neither myself or Johnny saw anything worth bidding on, so we just talked and waited for the ballroom to open and for the Bash to begin. I was hoping John Ondrasik would be there, since he is a HUGE supporter of Augie Nieto and Augie's Quest. But, his recent Twitter post mentioned poison oak, so I was pretty sure he would be a no-show.

When we entered the ballroom, the dinner salads were already waiting for us. That was soon followed by the entree...baked fish, steak, roasted potatoes and vegetables. The Today Show's Natalie Morales was host for the evening, and she introduced Augie and his wife Lynne. They got a long standing ovation, which brought tears to their eyes. There was a lot of love and support present in that ballroom! Then, the current U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin presented Augie with the Surgeon General's Medallion. The medallion is the third highest award of the Public Health Service, and is given for exceptional achievement in the arena of public health and medicine. In this case, the incredible research work being done by Augie's charity organization, Augie's Quest. A tremendous honor for such an inspiring man!

As we were served dessert...chocolate cherry mousse...the live auction started, soon to be followed by an energetic performance by the band Sugar Ray. Then, the check presentation. Total contributions for the night...a record $1, 323,721! It's a great feeling knowing that the money donated will be going directly to ALS research. Afterwards, I bid Johnny good night, and grabbed a taxi at the Marriott taxi stand. Tomorrow, it looks like it's going to be a little less wet...I hope! One last day to see the sights of San Francisco, then the slow road back north...and home!

The calm before the Bash

Today was a pretty lousy weather day. Wind and rain put a damper on sightseeing. Things did not start out very well as I left my hotel on my way to catch a bus for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. For some reason, I got my bearings screwed up and walked...in the wrong direction! After walking a number of blocks, I figured something was wrong. I asked someone for directions and sure enough...I was a dozen blocks from where I wanted to be! I took my new route and found I was still not taking the road most taken. Finally, after nearly an hour of walking in circles, I managed to get on the bus and on my way to the museum. But, my ordeal was still not over. Not only did I fail to get off at the right stop...I missed the next one, too! I ended up spending an extra ten minutes backtracking. Fortunately, when I got to the art museum, my friends Johnny and Rick...who has arrived from Washington, DC the night before...were saving a place for me in the ticket line. Moral of the story: plan things better...and take a map with me!

The rest of the morning was a lot better as I got reacquainted with my friends and we enjoyed the museum's exhibits. I hadn't seen Johnny for a couple of years when he visited Seattle and we both went to a charity event together. Actually, Johnny is in San Francisco to attend the Bash for Augie's Quest with me. I'll be posting another blog after the Bash so you'll know what went on. I'm looking forward to a fun night! Stay tuned...

Redwoods and bridge views

Had a FANTASTIC day...and I wasn't even in San Francisco! I made the short drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County. After picking up a sandwich at a deli in Sausalito, I spent the morning at Muir Woods National Monument. Once again, I used my park pass...what a great deal at $80 a year...and took the paved main trail through the redwood forest. I wasn't the only one with the same idea. There were a couple of tour buses that had already disgorged their passengers, and a number of visitors who arrived via car. There were almost TOO many people there for my taste. It did help that the main trail split into two...I selected the one less traveled. In addition, about halfway down the trail, the Hillside Trail branched off from that. I decided to further distance myself from the crowd by taking that dirt trail. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt designated the Muir Woods as the nation's 7th national monument. The residents of the Bay Area are lucky to have such an awesome redwood park so close to home.

After spending about two hours walking through Muir Woods, I drove back south to Sausalito to do some more sightseeing in the Golden Gate Recreation Area. I took a LOT of photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay and coastlines from the many Marin Headlands view points. The sun was shining, and it was just beautiful. Such a perfect day! Besides the scenery, there were a couple of places of note that I visited in the vicinity. The SF-88 Nike Missile Site is a remnant of the Cold War, when the U.S. operated such missile sites around the country to guard against Soviet attack. I also checked out The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured and sick marine mammals, mostly seals and sea lions. You often hear about people who do that type of work, but it was nice to see their efforts first hand.

Well, the wait is almost over. The Bash for Augie's Quest is TOMORROW! Good eats, great music and a lot of inspiration. I'll be posting a blog when I get back from the Bash to tell you all about it! It's supposed to be rainy and windy tomorrow, but I won't let the weather put a damper on things!

Double double, road trouble

When I left Los Angeles this morning, the sun was shining. But, by the time I got to my lunch pit stop in Kettleman City, it started raining. I had a reason for stopping at this oasis off I-5... In N Out Burger! I had mentally prepared myself for the delectable double double burger the night before, so I was ready for it...really ready! After placing my order, I was standing in the near empty restaurant, sipping my soda when a guy sitting nearby made friendly talk. He was admiring my Nike basketball shoes and we soon got into a conversation on our Nike collections. The guy was really nice and we progressed our dialogue to our prospective college teams. I enjoyed the brief exchange with a total stranger.

I was in a good mood as I continued north on the interstate. The rain dissipated and the Pet Shop Boys was rockin' my Blazer. Just as one of my favorite songs of theirs started playing and I was just passing the town of Patterson, I almost got into an accident. Several cars were merging onto the freeway so I moved into the left lane. I watched as the cars moved into the right lane, including an old Mercedes pulling the rear. It was a good thing I kept my eye on it because...it kept moving to the left. Directly toward my me! I almost traded paint with the Mercedes as I laid on the horn, braked hard and moved slightly to the left to avoid the car. I was steamed! It was an old, balding man who realized belatedly that I was even there! Hey stupid, ever heard of head check? He looked in his rear mirror after hearing my horn, and sheepishly waved his hand. What an idiot! I had to follow the dummy until he passed the other cars and SLOWLY pulled back into the right lane. It was only my defensive driving skills that prevented me from damaging my beloved groupie mobile.

It took about 5 minutes for the adrenaline rush from my near catastrophe to disappear. By the time I got to my only sightseeing destination of the day, I had calmed down. At the Oakland Museum of California, I enjoyed a very impressive exhibit on The Story of California. I had seen bits and pieces of California history in a number of museums, but this one seemed to have everything...and then some! It took about two hours for me to see and read everything in the exhibit, it was that fascinating!

Tomorrow, it should be a nice day, albeit a bit cooler than Los Angeles. In other words, my kind of weather! I'll be doing some walking and historic sites. I'll try to make the best of my outdoor day because it's supposed to rain for the next two. That will put a damper on my plans, but I think I can find other things to do in San Francisco!

It's all happening at the zoo

Got back late from my evening activity so I'll make this quick. I started out my day at the zoo...the Los Angeles Zoo. I had never been to this one before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a lot of nice animals...I took a lot of nice pictures! Now, this zoo may not be the biggest, but it isn't that small either. From the whimsical meerkats to the magnificent gorillas, this zoo is great.

I had lunch with my friend Lynne. I had gone to a few Five For Fighting shows with her in the past, and it was a treat to touch bases with her again while I was in Los Angeles. Afterward, I rushed over to check out the Grammy Museum. As a music fan, I found it fascinating, especially the John Lennon exhibit, which included many handwritten song lyrics. I wished I had more time to spend at this museum, but I needed to get over to Sony Television Studios to attend a live taping of the CBS-TV situation comedy, Rules Of Engagement. I was concerned about getting caught in rush hour traffic, but I got lucky and it was smooth sailing to the studios.

This was not the first time I had gone to a live TV show taping. A couple years ago, I contributed to the laugh track for the series, Accidentally On Purpose (since canceled). I admit I'm not a fan of sitcoms, but it's a lot of fun participating in such live tapings. I joined a couple hundred other people as we sat in seats set up in the sound stage. As the actors were filmed performing their lines, we as the audience were expected to laugh when appropriate. It was cool watching the cast...Patrick Warburton, David Spade, Megyn Price, Adhir Kalyan, Oliver Hudson and Bianca Kajlich...doing their thing. By the way...Oliver Hudson is cute! Taping started at 6:00 pm, and after about 1 3/4 hours, they fed us! Like the Accidentally On Purpose setup, we were each given a slice of pizza and a bottle of water. Awesome! It took about 3 1/4 hours to tape what will be about 20 minutes on television. I'll be looking forward to watching the episode on TV and see if I can hear myself laughing...probably not!

Tomorrow, I leave L.A. for San Francisco and the main purpose of my road trip...attending the Bash For Augie's Quest on March 18. Looking forward to a night of fun and inspiration!

Food and art...what could be better?

I skipped any kind of breakfast this morning and opted instead to have brunch... Pink's Hot Dogs! I was SO ready for it! I had eaten Pink's famous chili dogs twice on previous road trips and I was craving it again. When I got there right after they opened at 9:30 am, I was the second customer of the day. I ordered 2 dogs and a side of onion rings, and took the food to a nearby park to enjoy. SO GOOD! I ate one chili dog and saved the other for a future meal...after I leave town! Yes, it's good microwaved!

I had four museums on my schedule for the day...not that I was actually thinking I could see them all. I like options and I plan ahead of time so I always have someplace to go. First on my list was the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Once I was in the vicinity, I realized I needed to find someplace to park. Every nearby lot seemed to be full. I went round and round in circles, then finally gave up in frustration. I went on to the next museum on the list...The Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo. Again, I had to move on...it was closed for renovation. I had already wasted an hour doing nothing! I drove a short distance to the main Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA...finally, success! I like modern or contemporary art as opposed to the older stuff...anything before the 1800s doesn't interest me much. Too many portraits, landscapes and still life, which simply bores me. With different mediums, styles and themes, contemporary art is just...more creative.

The MOCA had some nice pieces by well-known contemporary artists...Jackson Pollack, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. But, I wanted more. My last museum of the day was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This is THE main art museum in Los Angeles...and they had a LOT of modern art there. I was awed by the impressive collection of Picassos. And, like the MOCA, they also had their fair share of Warhols, as well as Henri Matisse and single works by Georgia O'Keefe and Winslow Homer. But, what really made my day was seeing two paintings by my favorite contemporary artist, Rene Magritte. The Treachery Of Images (Ceci n'est pas une pipe) and The Liberator (seen above) graced the walls of the museum. It was quite a thrill. Now, even though I prefer modern art, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the old masters. I was impressed by the collection of Renoirs, Monets, Gauguins, Rodins and Cezannes. Hey, I know a LITTLE about the older stuff!

After filling my day with art culture, I was ready for a good dinner. I drove to the nearby Los Angeles Original Farmer's Market for my Brazilian grill fix. I got takeout from their buffet and selected a couple of delectable meats. I made sure to get my favorite fried plantains! Driving back to my hotel, thankfully, I didn't stay too long on the dreaded Hwy 101. That freeway seems to be in a perpetual traffic jam!

One more day in Los Angeles, then it's off to San Francisco! Looking forward to one last day of fun...yes, it WILL be fun! No more disappointments allowed!

Ride to yesterday

When I left Yucca Valley, CA this morning, I was eager to get to Los Angeles. After visiting and spending the night in small towns, I was ready for the big city. My first destination of the day was the American Military Museum on El Monte. This place has a wonderful collection of old military vehicles, weapons and hardware. Some of the items were used in movies and TV shows. Afterward, I was ready for lunch. At this point, I was craving a nice bowl of ramen, and I got it from Ajisen Ramen in San Gabriel. The spicy beef ramen really hit the spot, and I elected to get a takeout of order of curry with fried chicken for dinner.

The most interesting place of the day was the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. I enjoyed looking at the old cars, but it was even better riding one! On Sundays, they select a few cars from the collection, and offer rides to museum visitors. I had the pleasure of taking a spin in a 1941 Packard convertible. This classic automobile had a surprising smooth ride, and I was told it could actually go fast enough to drive on the freeways. I must say, it's the oldest car I've ever ridden in...my family owned a '57 Chevy when I was little, but this one tops that. The Packard was definitely opposite of the NASCAR race car I rode in a couple days ago, but almost as exciting.

My last point of interest of the day was The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. This eclectic museum is certainly unlike any that I've seen before. A mix of the bizarre, the scientific and the cultural, it's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I found it fascinating. My favorite exhibit displayed old remedies and superstitions from times past. For instance, the cure for a child's bed wetting? A meal of toast with mice...with fur still intact!

Tomorrow, more fun in the Los Angeles sun. I'm getting kind of used to the rays, but I'll never get tired of the cool Pacific Northwest temps...and yes, the rain, too!

Beauty KNOWS pain!

I left Las Vegas this morning to sunny skies. I was hoping it would not be too hot today. As I drove west to California, I could practically feel my arms getting darker...I tan pretty easy. I won't be needing my Vitamin D supplements, that's for sure! I didn't have enough time to really see Mojave National Reserve, since my priority was Joshua Tree National Park, so I just drove through. At one junction, just as I was turning south for Joshua Tree, a sign caught my eye... Amboy Crater. Then, I SAW the crater. Hmm...interesting. I turned around and drove a mile to the viewpoint to take a look at it. Cool. It's described as a cinder cone volcanic crater, rising up from the ground. I took a few photos from afar, then continued on to Joshua Tree.

Initially, my plan was to see wildflowers at the park. But, it soon became evident there were no flowers in the areas of Joshua Tree that I selected to check out today. I guess I should have planned things better! But, all was not lost. I DID see the beautiful cholla cactus garden. This particular cactus might be beautiful, but it's also dangerous. The plant is known for its branches that can break off easy and attach to your clothing. The spines are particularly hazardous and can be difficult to remove from the skin. I walked along the dirt trail running through the grove and took care not to make contact with the cholla. I also took a lot of photos, including the one you see above.

I spent the rest of the afternoon admiring the numerous rock formations and stone covered hills. Joshua Tree is popular with rock climbers, and I saw quite a few of them enjoying their hobby. With no wildflowers to photograph, I concentrated my efforts on the rocks...and the Joshua trees. I ended my day at the park with a pleasant 1 mile nature trail to Barker Dam. Many people did the same thing, since this trail is particularly easy and picturesque.

Tomorrow, I make the drive to the big city...Los Angeles! Like my road trip has been so far, my sightseeing plans there are a mixed bag. It will be nice to stay in one area and not have to drive too much for awhile.

That's one off the bucket list

I had a mind-blowing day! I went on my long-awaited Richard Petty Ride-Along Experience, which took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A shuttle picked me up at Harrah's Hotel & Casino, along with a guy who would be doing one of the actual driving experiences. Already on the board the shuttle were a couple from Florida and four Australian gentlemen. None of us had done the ride-along before, so everyone was pretty excited. When we arrived at the speedway, our group was given a tour of the Race Shop, where they maintain and repair the NASCAR race cars used for the ride-along and driving experiences. Then, it was adrenaline rush time!

Everyone was issued a protective driving suit...which was worn over our street clothes...a head covering and a race helmet. The workers there did a good job eye-balling everyone's sizes...the suit and helmet selected for me fit perfectly! There was one more important item placed over my neck before my ride...the Hans device or head restraint. This is a piece of equipment developed for drivers to protect them from fractures to the back of the skull after crashes. Sadly, this was brought to the public's attention after NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt's untimely death in 2001. All decked out in my race gear, I was now ready for my thrill ride! I was led to the race car, and I climbed in through the window...no doors here! A worker strapped me in, and pointed out the emergency releases for my belts and head restraint. I was glued to the seat and I couldn't move my head much. The driver introduced himself...I think his name was Jim. At that point, a photographer took my photo, which would be available for purchase after the ride. In addition, there would be video cameras recording me in the car, as well as the car traveling around the track. This would be burned to a DVD as another memento of the day.

Then, the driver started the engine. It roared to life and I could feel the vibration throughout the vehicle. A pace car pulled out in front of us and we immediately gave chase. The race car quickly accelerated...and away we went! The speed was incredible...supposed around 160 mph...and the car literally hugged the banked track. The Las Vegas super speedway is 1.5 miles long with an incline or bank of 20%. As the car went around the track, I was rendered speechless. The ride was both exhilarating and scary. I found myself praying that we wouldn't crash, but I was also enjoying the experience. The car did three laps...and then, it was over. What an awesome ride! When I crawled out of the car, my legs felt a bit wobbly. It must have been the adrenaline wearing off.

After I got the gear off, I went to the merchandise trailer and found they mounted the photo of me in a nice plaque. I opted to buy it, and also ordered a copy of the DVD. After the ride, I decided once was enough, and I wanted to have something to remember the experience. I must say, now that I know what it's like to be in a NASCAR race car, I have a new found respect for the drivers who do it for a living. To go 200 or 400 laps around a track in a race car is a strenuous and stressful occupation, with a definite element of risk involved. Would I recommend the ride-along experience? Heck, yeah! It might be one of the most thrilling things you'll ever do in your life!

When I returned to the Strip on the shuttle, I enjoyed a buffet lunch at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino, then drove to the Tropicana for something less exhilarating, but no less entertaining. The hotel had a special exhibit called the Las Vegas Mob Experience...a audio/visual history of organized crime in Sin City. For a sawbuck...that's 10 bucks if you don't know...I found it to be amusing and informative. The first half of the exhibit featured live actors who brought to life the activities of The Mob. The interaction with them was fun, and made this experience well worth going to.

I ended my last day in Vegas with a trip to yet another museum...the Clark County Museum in Henderson. Tomorrow, I leave town and I'll spend the day doing some outdoor stuff. It will be nice enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. After walking through smoky casinos, I can use some cleansing out.

Pawn shopper

Left Cedar City, UT this morning with the sun shining brightly. All it did was accentuate the dirt on my Blazer. I did a previous internet search and found what looked like a good car wash in St. George, so that was my first stop of the day. Twenty minutes later, my ride looked great! If you want a first rate car wash, go to St. George Car Wash...they'll treat you right! A couple of hours later, I was in Vegas. After five days of eating out, I was craving healthier fare. One way to get that...a buffet! The one I picked for lunch wasn't the greatest, but at least I got my vegetables!

After lunch, I took a short drive to the most famous pawn shop in Las Vegas, the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. If you watch the History Channel television show, Pawn Stars, you know what I'm talking about. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the guys featured on the show, but they weren't around. Darn. I DID buy a T-shirt, though. I might stop by again tomorrow and maybe I'll be lucky enough to see them.

I only had a couple of museums on the agenda today. I went to the Nevada State Museum, which was pretty standard for its type. I appreciated their using artist's sculptures for most of their animal displays instead of the stuffed variety. I especially enjoyed The Atomic Testing Museum. This museum is about the development and testing of atomic weapons throughout history and around the world. While looking at the exhibits, I got to talking to one of the docents volunteering his time at the museum. He told me about his past experiences during the bomb tests in Nevada. I was especially impressed with a photo of President John F. Kennedy visiting the facility where he worked...and he pointed himself out in the photo! The gentleman was much younger back then, but it was unmistakably him!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! I'll doing the Richard Petty Ride Along Tour at Las Vegas Speedway. That means I'll be riding shotgun in a real NASCAR race car with a professional driver at the wheel. They say we'll hit 160 mph on the banked racetrack. I can't wait!

Mission accomplished!

I had the best night so far on my road trip...stayed at the Days Inn in Brigham City, UT. Sure makes one forget about the rough towels at "that other place." I left town and traveled south on an important mission...the quest for diet Code Red Mountain Dew. You laugh, but it's a serious matter. You see, the Pepsi Company stopped selling the stuff in Washington...and Oregon and Idaho, too. They said not enough people were buying it in those states. I like regular diet Mountain Dew, but I really missed my Code Red. While I'm on my road trip, I set some time aside to get some for myself and a friend...she also likes diet Code Red.

I stopped in Centerville, UT and the first store I checked only had one half case, which I bought. I was more successful at the second store...I bought FIVE more! That will be three for me, and three for my friend. Mission accomplished! I skipped breakfast to prepare myself for something I had been craving since last November's road trip... In N Out Burger! I lunched on a double double combo in Orem, UT...oh, yeah! It was worth the wait! I'll probably be doing In N Out at least one more time before my trip is over.

Back in my home state of Washington, the maximum speed limit is 70 mph. In Oregon, it appears to be 65. When I crossed the border into Idaho, it jumped to 75 mph. Now, this is plenty fast for me, but certainly not for a lot of other drivers...they were passing me. I found the same speed limit when I entered Utah, but I was in for a surprise. Apparently, they are testing out 80 mph in certain long, straight stretches of interstate. I encountered this today, but I did not feel compelled to increase my speed. I stuck to 75 mph, mainly because my Blazer just burns more gas the faster I go. I'm sure it's like this for other drivers, but they don't seem to care. You would think that with the higher gas prices it would affect their driving habits, but it doesn't seem to.

I only had one sightseeing destination today... Fremont Indian State Park. This park is known for its wonderful collection of pictographs and petroglyphs left by the Fremont Indians a thousand years ago. I had never seen rock drawings before, so it was especially fascinating for me. It was too bad most of the trails were too wet and muddy, so I wasn't able to see all of the drawings. But, I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile. I'll have to come back and see what I missed on a future road trip.

Are two heads better than one?

This morning, before leaving Boise, ID, I visited the Idaho Historical Museum. I had read that this was a great museum, and I wasn't disappointed. It IS a nice museum! Not the biggest, but it's filled with a lot of interesting things. There were informative exhibits on the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery, the Chinese during the Gold Rush, and the Peace Corps. The most unusual artifact there had to be the two-headed calf. The stuffed calf was donated to the museum by a farmer back in 1950, and it's been popular with visitors ever since.

I only had two other destinations for the day. Both of them were at out of the way places. The first was Minidoka National Historic Site in Jerome, ID. Unlike the more well-known Manzanar National Historic Site, this site only consisted of a few interpretive signs. Like Manzanar, Minidoka was also a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Americans of Japanese descent from Washington and Idaho were relocated here just because they...were Japanese. Minidoka has been listed as one of America's Most Endangered Historic Places. Now that's a shame. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

My other destination was Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah. This park commemorates the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. It features authentic replicas of the two locomotives that met at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869...the Central Pacific's Jupiter and the Union Pacific No. 119. The trains only run during the summer months, but I was still able to see the beautiful engines stored in their barn.

Tomorrow, if the weather and conditions cooperate, I'll be doing some more hiking. Museums are nice, but I like to mix things up. And, I'm looking forward to a bit of excitement when I get to Vegas. Stay tuned.

Walking in history's path

Before I left Pendleton, OR this morning, I decided to fill the gas tank. I had done some checking the night before and found one station had regular for $3.39...3 days ago. I thought it was still a good place to fill up, so I went there...and found the price hadn't changed! With gas prices spiraling up, I consider myself fortunate to get one last tank of relatively "cheap" gas.

I drove just out of town to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. This museum is devoted to the history and culture of the Umatilla Indian tribe. Having previously worked at Nez Perce National Historical Park back in the 80s, I found the two tribes had a lot in common. After an enlightening hour at the excellent museum, I continued on to my next history lesson of the day. In Baker City, OR is the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This facility provides an in-depth overview of the Western emigrant experience, in particular, their travels along the famous Oregon Trail. The high point of my visit was actually standing on a section of the original trail. The wagon ruts were still quite visible, even after 160 years! You can see what I mean in the above photo.

I had a pretty good day up to then, but things changed as I continued east on Interstate 84. As I neared the town of Ontario, a charter bus zoomed past me in the fast lane. I had passed this bus going slow about 15 minutes earlier, and here it was, exceeding the speed limit. Then, the bus started cutting in front of me, barely clearing my front bumper! I laid on the horn, and the driver moved back in the fast lane. As he put a little more distance between us and moved into the right lane in front of me...a rock came flying from under its wheels. It smacked into the left side of my windshield, leaving a dime-sized star on the glass. I cursed the stupid bus driver, not only for his erratic driving, but also for throwing up the rock. After the bus settled in the right lane...he slowed down to the speed limit! What an asshole! I passed the bus and left him behind, but it ruined my mood for the rest of the afternoon. What did I say about good luck yesterday? I take it back...I think I jinxed myself.

Waterfalls galore!

When I left Vancouver, WA this morning, it was foggy...but, at least it wasn't raining! I decided to grab some breakfast, so I headed over to Portland's Pine State Biscuits. I had been here once before on a previous road trip, having discovered it through Historic Columbia River Highway. This road is famous for its numerous waterfalls, and my plan for the day was to see as many as I had time for. That meant going to the waterfalls that would not require to much walking to see them. My first falls of the day was Latourell Falls. I ate my breakfast in the parking lot, then proceeded to check out the waterfall. I followed that with Sheppards Dell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Then, the biggie...Multnomah Falls.

I briefly visited this waterfall in 2007, but just long enough to take a few pictures. This time, I wanted to make the 2.2 mile to the TOP of the falls. I had been told by a friend that it was well worth the hike, so I decided to give it a go. I soon found out it was going to be quite a workout to reach the end of the trail. It was a steep climb from the get-go, and it continued as I negotiated the switchbacks. It didn't take long for my calves to protest, and I had to make frequent stops to rest my legs. On the way up, I passed a young couple with a STROLLER going down. Pretty gutsy of them. One hour, eleven switchbacks and 700 feet of elevation later, I made it to the top. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be doing this again in my lifetime. But, it WAS worth the hike. The photo you see was taken from the falls summit viewpoint. Going back down the steep trail was easier, but still hard on the body...my knees and feet can attest to that! At one point, I saw a family taking a breather at the 4th switchback. The parents asked me how much farther it was to the top. Trying to be encouraging, I told them it was downhill from switchback #9. When I got back to my car, I popped a couple of ibuprofen to help my aching legs and feet, then continued on with my waterfall tour.

Horsetail Falls, Starvation Creek Falls and Wah Gwin Gwin Falls finished things out for the day. The latter was located at the Columbia Gorge Hotel, a historic landmark located in the town of Hood River, OR. After checking into my hotel for the evening, I made a rather wonderful discovery. Last night, I had been lamenting my misfortune at leaving my flash card reader at home. Well, while going through my things, I discovered I had my camera's USB cable! I can download my photos into my computer after all! So, I added a pic to yesterday's blog, and I'll be posting photos in all my future blogs on my road trip. Hope this is a portent of things to come...good luck things!

Splish, splash, I was...making a phone call?

Day One of my 2011 road trip...I'll call it the Bash Road Trip after the charity event I'll be attending in a couple of weeks. I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night because my final road trip preparations took longer than expected. After I got the Blazer all loaded up this morning, I went to say Goodbye to my cat, Kimi...but she was nowhere in sight. Kimi was hiding because she thought SHE was going, too...she hates riding in the car. I reassured her that she was staying put, and gave her a hug...a friend will be tending to her in my absence.

As with my two previous road trips, the first CD I played in my car was Five For Fighting's Slice album. It just gets me in the mood, and sets the tone for the day. The drive south went smoothly, with periods of on and off rain showers. It was because of this uncertain weather that I canceled plans for a zoo visit. Instead, I headed directly to Vancouver, WA and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. In the 19th century, this fort was headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company and one of the most important settlements in the Pacific Northwest. When you think trappers and the fur trade, the Hudson's Bay Company at the center of it all. By the time I got to Vancouver, the rain was gone and the sun was peeking through the clouds. I used my National Park Service pass to access the fort...I bought it last April and would be using it for the last time on this trip before it expired. I found the historic site similar to another one I visited on my last road trip, Fort Sutter in Sacramento.

Afterward, I went to the adjacent Pearson Air Museum. This facility in Vancouver is one of the oldest operating airfields in the U.S. I found the interpretive exhibits on early aircraft and aviation during World War I extremely interesting. Wooden airplanes that can break under stress and flammable hydrogen balloons makes you appreciate the brave men who took to the air back then.

I finished my sightseeing early today, which gave me the opportunity to pick up something from the grocery store for lunch tomorrow. With a favorable weather forecast, it looks like my outdoor plans are a go. When I checked into my hotel for the night, I realized I forgot something rather important at home. I always transfer the photos I took during the day to my laptop, and I found out that I didn't have my flash card reader to do so. Alas, no pics to go along with my blogs, at least not until I get home. Don't worry, I'll add them later. Oh, one strange thing I found in my hotel bathroom...a phone installed on the wall! This is a first for me...never seen that before! So, someone can talk on the phone while they're sitting on the throne? I guess.