With friends Bo & Joyce Bohanon on last day of trip in IL
Bo & Joyce with their restored 36 Ford
Bo & Joyce with their restored 36 Ford
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Photos Days 21-30 "G"
With friends Bo & Joyce Bohanon on last day of trip in IL Bo & Joyce with their restored 36 Ford Bo & Joyce with their restored 36 Ford
Photos Days 21-30 "F"
Grandson Ethan Bussell on left with a friend, Ft Collins, CO
Grandson Jerad Bussell fielding, Ft. Collins, CO
Hitting. Up three times - three hits
On basePhotos Days 21-30 "E"
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle SquarePhotos Days 21-30 "D"
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle SquarePhotos Days 21-30 "C"
Hill behind State Capital Bldg. Overlooking Salt Lake City
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle Square
Views at Tabernacle SquarePhotos Days 21-30 "B"
Vistor Center Salt Lake City
Church next to Vistors Center
State House grounds
State House groundsPhotos Days 21-30 "A"
Headed to Nev.
Jean at vistors center in Salt Lake City
Utah state capital building
Utah state capital buildingDay Thirty - Sunday, May 31, 2009
Time to go home. Bo and Joyce drove their car and we drove our car to a restaurant along the route to home for breakfast. We enjoyed more good food and more friendly conversation and then had to start the final lap of our thirty-day odyssey.
Illinois eventually faded into Indiana and the eastern time zone so we lost another hour but knew that meant we were soon to be home. We stopped on the west side of Richmond IN to get a few food provisions to get us through the next couple of days, and then Indiana faded into Ohio and we were home.
There's no place like home. :)
Illinois eventually faded into Indiana and the eastern time zone so we lost another hour but knew that meant we were soon to be home. We stopped on the west side of Richmond IN to get a few food provisions to get us through the next couple of days, and then Indiana faded into Ohio and we were home.
There's no place like home. :)
Day Twenty-Nine - Saturday, May 30, 2009
Joyce fixed a delicious, big breakfast for us and then we spent the morning and early afternoon just talking - we visited the garage where Bo keeps his antique cars and extolled the virtues of his work on an old jeep station wagon that they have had for years, traveled all over the country, and restored to immaculate condition. We wandered around the garden and observed the changes since our last visit. And we gathered on the deck for iced tea and beer and talked and talked some more. Eventually we realized that we had to do something so we started a game of Trivial Pursuit Classic edition.
Before long it was time to go to our favorite pizza parlor in a nearby town. After indulging in more pizza than any one human being needs to consume in one sitting, we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and back into the van to return home to finish the Trivial Pursuit game. We lost but we had a lot of fun in the process! Night time had arrived and that was the day.
Before long it was time to go to our favorite pizza parlor in a nearby town. After indulging in more pizza than any one human being needs to consume in one sitting, we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and back into the van to return home to finish the Trivial Pursuit game. We lost but we had a lot of fun in the process! Night time had arrived and that was the day.
Day Twenty-Eight - Friday, May 29, 2009
We leave Omaha and enter into Iowa where we discover that all the rest areas on the interstate have wireless Internet - how cool is that? And progressive, too. But then we are talking about Iowa! We also encounter lots of wind turbine installations. And we find Harlan County! Wouldn't you know? After we just had been lamenting the lack of Kentucky names along the way!
At the Altoona IA McDonald's (and you have no reason now to understand why McDonald's is holding its own in the current economy!), a white Baby Grand player piano serenades us with songs from Mary Poppins. There is a fireplace with rocking chairs for our comfort, and the wall leading to the restrooms features a long in-wall aquarium. I'm not sure what is happening to the McDonald's decorating guidelines because when we reached Davenport IA and stopped at McDonald's, we found a mountain cabin motif complete with pine paneling, big wooden beams, rustic rocking chairs and a low table in front of a huge stone fireplace. Very interesting!
OK - we turned to James Lee Burke again to read "Cadillac Jukebox" - the last story.
And then we arrived in Marseilles IL at the home of our friends Richard and Joyce Bohannon. We met them on a train/bus tour of Mexico's Copper Canyon about five years ago. Since then we have visited them previously and they have visited us at the farm and we have met a third time in Springfield IL to tour the Lincoln Museum. We had a great visit with them! They are so conservative and we are so liberal and we respect each other's differences and have a great time together! We talked and talked, had a light and delicious dinner, and talked some more till we really had to sleep!
At the Altoona IA McDonald's (and you have no reason now to understand why McDonald's is holding its own in the current economy!), a white Baby Grand player piano serenades us with songs from Mary Poppins. There is a fireplace with rocking chairs for our comfort, and the wall leading to the restrooms features a long in-wall aquarium. I'm not sure what is happening to the McDonald's decorating guidelines because when we reached Davenport IA and stopped at McDonald's, we found a mountain cabin motif complete with pine paneling, big wooden beams, rustic rocking chairs and a low table in front of a huge stone fireplace. Very interesting!
OK - we turned to James Lee Burke again to read "Cadillac Jukebox" - the last story.
And then we arrived in Marseilles IL at the home of our friends Richard and Joyce Bohannon. We met them on a train/bus tour of Mexico's Copper Canyon about five years ago. Since then we have visited them previously and they have visited us at the farm and we have met a third time in Springfield IL to tour the Lincoln Museum. We had a great visit with them! They are so conservative and we are so liberal and we respect each other's differences and have a great time together! We talked and talked, had a light and delicious dinner, and talked some more till we really had to sleep!
Day Twenty-Seven - Thursday, May 28, 2009
Once again Mark is up first and not only gets himself ready for work but also gets pancakes and scrambled eggs (made from free range hens) ready for everyone for breakfast. Of course we eat serially as each of us is ready. It is the last two days of school for both grandsons and there are lots of festivities and graduation events scheduled. Of course we must get back on the road so we take a final photo and get out of the way! Departure is only a little bit sorrowful because we will be together again in Hilton Head in August.
I can't remember why, but this morning I am the first driver heading out and going north on I25 into Wyoming to about Cheyenne and then east on I80 where we definitely seem to be leaving the mountains behind us. Before long we are into Nebraska where the terrain is a bit more rolling with occasional bluffs as at Pine Bluff with pine trees and the occasional herd of cattle. The "State to State" story about Nebraska focuses on Omaha and is written by the writer of "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" who is a native and now owns a condo in Omaha.
Our first stop is in Sidney (my home town is Sidney, Ohio) where we both comment on the far greater number of "Sidney's" that we seem to find along the way compared to Harold's home town names of Harlan, Pineville, or Loyale (all in Kentucky). Before we reached Sidney, we crossed over Nebraska's highest point (5424 feet) at about the 71 mile marker.
Harold takes over the drive and we cross the South Platte River and see where it joins the North Platte River to form the Platte River. I80 seems to travel along the tree-lined river for about 200 miles. Together they create an interesting though long drive. Since our cell phone connection doesn't allow us to connect with the Organizing for America phone call when it tries to come into the cell, we turn one more time to James Lee Burke and his "Burning Angel" to entertain us along the way. The land here (as opposed to Louisiana where Burke obsesses over the latest crimes) is flat and green. Deep purple flocks line the roadside and break the monotony. At mile 149 we leave the mountain time zone and enter central time zone and lose an hour but that just brings us closer to our next destination - Omaha.
Lunch is at McDonald's in Gothenburg NB - we're trying to make time again. The community's claim to fame is that is still has the original cabin that was a stop on the Pony Express route. We enjoyed looking at a map of the Pony Express route and then moved along. We continued our book and our drive and arrived in Omaha with very bad directions but with Harold's natural sense of direction we eventually made the correction we needed - seeing some interesting sites probably not on the list provided by the convention and visitors' bureau in the process - and found the hotel.
Despite how tired we felt, we got directions to downtown Omaha and went off to find it easily. Omaha is undergoing quite a resurrection. It has enormous public facilities, parks, convention center, performance arenas, baseball park, and a restored historic downtown district which was alive with tourists and residents dining, shopping, and going to a concert. We found a wonderful place called Stokes Grill and Bar and enjoyed dinner followed by a short walk around the downtown and a driving tour of the area. We highly recommend a trip to Omaha - surprising but true - it's a lively place and did not disappoint us about the anticipation we felt while reading the "State to State" entry earlier in the day.
I can't remember why, but this morning I am the first driver heading out and going north on I25 into Wyoming to about Cheyenne and then east on I80 where we definitely seem to be leaving the mountains behind us. Before long we are into Nebraska where the terrain is a bit more rolling with occasional bluffs as at Pine Bluff with pine trees and the occasional herd of cattle. The "State to State" story about Nebraska focuses on Omaha and is written by the writer of "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" who is a native and now owns a condo in Omaha.
Our first stop is in Sidney (my home town is Sidney, Ohio) where we both comment on the far greater number of "Sidney's" that we seem to find along the way compared to Harold's home town names of Harlan, Pineville, or Loyale (all in Kentucky). Before we reached Sidney, we crossed over Nebraska's highest point (5424 feet) at about the 71 mile marker.
Harold takes over the drive and we cross the South Platte River and see where it joins the North Platte River to form the Platte River. I80 seems to travel along the tree-lined river for about 200 miles. Together they create an interesting though long drive. Since our cell phone connection doesn't allow us to connect with the Organizing for America phone call when it tries to come into the cell, we turn one more time to James Lee Burke and his "Burning Angel" to entertain us along the way. The land here (as opposed to Louisiana where Burke obsesses over the latest crimes) is flat and green. Deep purple flocks line the roadside and break the monotony. At mile 149 we leave the mountain time zone and enter central time zone and lose an hour but that just brings us closer to our next destination - Omaha.
Lunch is at McDonald's in Gothenburg NB - we're trying to make time again. The community's claim to fame is that is still has the original cabin that was a stop on the Pony Express route. We enjoyed looking at a map of the Pony Express route and then moved along. We continued our book and our drive and arrived in Omaha with very bad directions but with Harold's natural sense of direction we eventually made the correction we needed - seeing some interesting sites probably not on the list provided by the convention and visitors' bureau in the process - and found the hotel.
Despite how tired we felt, we got directions to downtown Omaha and went off to find it easily. Omaha is undergoing quite a resurrection. It has enormous public facilities, parks, convention center, performance arenas, baseball park, and a restored historic downtown district which was alive with tourists and residents dining, shopping, and going to a concert. We found a wonderful place called Stokes Grill and Bar and enjoyed dinner followed by a short walk around the downtown and a driving tour of the area. We highly recommend a trip to Omaha - surprising but true - it's a lively place and did not disappoint us about the anticipation we felt while reading the "State to State" entry earlier in the day.
Day Twenty-Six - Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Getting ready in a house with 2 1/2 bathrooms, 6 people, and staggered schedules requires a progressive schedule - which worked really well! Mark gets up early and makes coffee - and gets the reward for the morning's most valuable player! Ethan then Trisha then Jerad - showers and breakfast and conversations with DaddyDaddy and Grandma Jean - till all three of them are off to school and work. Mark is off work today so we have the great pleasure of hanging out with him all day!
We spend the first part of the morning touring the yard and gardens which Mark has created with his talent and his patience and his enthusiasm for nature. Coffee on the patio follows along with lots of great family and world conversation. We didn't quite solve the world's problems but we got close! But first we had to go shopping for the ingredients we need for Harold to create the magic trick he has promised he will create for Jerad. We cover all the usual suburban big box stores in search for the special ingredients we need and find them at last. Of course we can't record what they are or the trick might be stolen from one of our loyal readers! Not!
Lunch at home includes Trisha who is training for some new responsibilities at work and is glad for the break away from work - not to mention the opportunity for lunch with her in laws :). Leftover fajitas hit the spot, but far too soon it is time for Trisha to return to work.
Early afternoon is filled with tomato plant planting and creation of the magic trick. Jerad arrives home just in time to give the trick its final touches and to master the delivery. Ethan arrives home with his yearbook so we have lots of fun going through it and talking about his friends as we find their photos throughout the book. I'll just say that yearbooks have come a long way, baby, since the Class of 1965!
Off we go to Jerad's baseball scrimmage (see the photos as soon as Harold gets them uploaded) where he wows us with his hitting and fielding. Our team wins and gains valuable practice for the season ahead.
Back home we enjoy adult beverages and get ready for the most gigantic slabs of ribs I've ever seen. Of course we are up to the challenge and the six of us make quick work of devouring them along with salad and corn on the cob - Yum!
It's a beautiful evening and we enjoy everything about our family and their home and dogs and being. Life is good.
We spend the first part of the morning touring the yard and gardens which Mark has created with his talent and his patience and his enthusiasm for nature. Coffee on the patio follows along with lots of great family and world conversation. We didn't quite solve the world's problems but we got close! But first we had to go shopping for the ingredients we need for Harold to create the magic trick he has promised he will create for Jerad. We cover all the usual suburban big box stores in search for the special ingredients we need and find them at last. Of course we can't record what they are or the trick might be stolen from one of our loyal readers! Not!
Lunch at home includes Trisha who is training for some new responsibilities at work and is glad for the break away from work - not to mention the opportunity for lunch with her in laws :). Leftover fajitas hit the spot, but far too soon it is time for Trisha to return to work.
Early afternoon is filled with tomato plant planting and creation of the magic trick. Jerad arrives home just in time to give the trick its final touches and to master the delivery. Ethan arrives home with his yearbook so we have lots of fun going through it and talking about his friends as we find their photos throughout the book. I'll just say that yearbooks have come a long way, baby, since the Class of 1965!
Off we go to Jerad's baseball scrimmage (see the photos as soon as Harold gets them uploaded) where he wows us with his hitting and fielding. Our team wins and gains valuable practice for the season ahead.
Back home we enjoy adult beverages and get ready for the most gigantic slabs of ribs I've ever seen. Of course we are up to the challenge and the six of us make quick work of devouring them along with salad and corn on the cob - Yum!
It's a beautiful evening and we enjoy everything about our family and their home and dogs and being. Life is good.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Day Twenty-Five - Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Well, I'm back to finish the blog - I hope! Lots has happened since last I recorded the activities of the trip. We're home and I've spent three days in Delaware OH at Ohio Wesleyan University, and then Harold and I went to Louisville KY to find an apartment for Jennifer for her post-doc the the Center for Asian Democracy, and then I went to Naples FL for four days with 12 high school girlfriends from Sidney OH Class of 1965 , and then I went to Sidney with one of the friends. So the past week has been about catching up and enjoying the summer at the farm!
So ... back to Salt Lake City and whatever sense I can make of my blog notes to re-create the scene! We left SLC in morning traffic and soon found ourselves in the green mountains heading east and enjoying the flecks of yellow flowers along the way. Lambs Canyon was especially peaceful and green. Then the clouds came down to meet us (as Harold described the phenomenon) before we reached Park City where both sides of the road were covered with ski condos, businesses, and ski slopes for miles. The bridge underpass was adorned with the Olympic logo and visions of time share trade opportunities and the Sundance Film Festival filled our heads. All along the road were permanent snow fences - not those lightweight ones like we have in Ohio - real fully constructed and installed for the long haul - very interesting to us. ORV lanes filled the median of the highway - another first!
In the Rockport Utah area we found mountain plateaus that were broad and green and filled with horses, cattle, irrigation, ranches and farms. Further along the way the path through the mountains is wider and greener and the mountains themselves have turned to red sandstone and the railroad is back!
Reading along in the State by State book we get an interesting commentary on the Church of the Latter Day Saints and Promontory Point but today - nearly a month later - I cannot remember the point (!).
Our arrival in Wyoming is heralded at the 26 mile marker by miles and miles of wind turbines on the high plains. It feels as though we are next to the clouds - as though we can reach out and touch them as we roll through the hilly high terrain. On the Wyoming map we retrace our route from our trip in 2007 (see travelwithbussell.blogspot.com) and appreciate the memories of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks as well as the Theodore Roosevelt Parkway coming out of the east side of Yellowstone.
In Rock Springs we see what it's all about from an economic perspective - a huge mining town with a huge chemical plant that seems to go on for miles and miles and miles. Further along the way Rawlins WY presents a very similar picture. Of course what we appreciate is the rock, the altitude (6930 and 7000 feet in places), the colors of the rock as they change along the way. Just past Sinclair WY we cross the North Platte River, an historic river that figured distinctly in the area's settlement.
At mile 235 scenic roadway I80 starts and extends to Laramie for 75 miles with Medicine Bow National Forest to the south. Lots of cattle along the way with 11,156 foot snow capped Elk Mountain in the distance - beautiful and majestic - with clouds all day in layers of solid and fluffy marsh mellow designs and only hints of blue sky.
We're passing time by listening to another James Lee Burke novel "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead." We think we'll be finished with JLB long before we we're finished with JLB!
We are high enough that we see lots of snow on the mountains with splashes of green grass. At mile 270 we see another huge installation of wind turbines. It seems to be the perfect place.
At Laramie we decide to take US287 south to Ft. Collins CO (our destination for today) because it is a shorter and purportedly more scenic route. We are not disappointed. Broad mountain meadows with outcroppings of red rock (you know how I love red rock!) and pine trees and gorgeous houses. We are greeted by the "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign and it really is. Red Mountain Granite Canyon is especially beautiful - breath-taking, actually - and followed by spring displays of white wildflowers and blooming lilacs and a gas gauge that says we only have about 30 miles left on this tank of gas! Fortunately we are on the outskirts of Ft. Collins and a service station appears miraculously on the horizon to save us!
Ft. Collins is a city of 118,652 population and and elevation of 5,000 feet. It is home to our son Mark and our daughter-in-law Trisha and our grandsons Ethan (14) and Jerad (almost 12). We find our way through Ft. Collins and arrive at their home just after the boys get home from school to greet us. As always, it is amazing to see how much they both have grown in the ten months since we last saw them. It is also amazing how much they have matured and much more interesting the conversations are. Of course, Harold has had a long day of driving despite my taking my usual turn, so he naps and entertains the boys with his snoring. Jerad especially is amazed and hopes that he'll be able to sleep tonight since our room is next to his! I play video games and talk with Ethan while Jerad awaits his turn to show Harold (aka Daddy Daddy - for Daddy's Daddy) his latest magic tricks. And of course the dogs Rosie and Jessie entertain all of us.
Trisha arrives home and off we go to Jerad's baseball practice. Fortunately it is just down the street but unfortunately Jerad takes a bouncing ball right in the knee cap and our practice is done for the day. Lots of ice and rest and he's back to full strength by morning.
Mark arrives home and the toasts begin! It is so good to be together. It is rare that we have the opportunity to see three of the four children in such a short period of time. We're lovin' it! Yummy fajitas and lots of great conversation ends our day together.
So ... back to Salt Lake City and whatever sense I can make of my blog notes to re-create the scene! We left SLC in morning traffic and soon found ourselves in the green mountains heading east and enjoying the flecks of yellow flowers along the way. Lambs Canyon was especially peaceful and green. Then the clouds came down to meet us (as Harold described the phenomenon) before we reached Park City where both sides of the road were covered with ski condos, businesses, and ski slopes for miles. The bridge underpass was adorned with the Olympic logo and visions of time share trade opportunities and the Sundance Film Festival filled our heads. All along the road were permanent snow fences - not those lightweight ones like we have in Ohio - real fully constructed and installed for the long haul - very interesting to us. ORV lanes filled the median of the highway - another first!
In the Rockport Utah area we found mountain plateaus that were broad and green and filled with horses, cattle, irrigation, ranches and farms. Further along the way the path through the mountains is wider and greener and the mountains themselves have turned to red sandstone and the railroad is back!
Reading along in the State by State book we get an interesting commentary on the Church of the Latter Day Saints and Promontory Point but today - nearly a month later - I cannot remember the point (!).
Our arrival in Wyoming is heralded at the 26 mile marker by miles and miles of wind turbines on the high plains. It feels as though we are next to the clouds - as though we can reach out and touch them as we roll through the hilly high terrain. On the Wyoming map we retrace our route from our trip in 2007 (see travelwithbussell.blogspot.com) and appreciate the memories of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks as well as the Theodore Roosevelt Parkway coming out of the east side of Yellowstone.
In Rock Springs we see what it's all about from an economic perspective - a huge mining town with a huge chemical plant that seems to go on for miles and miles and miles. Further along the way Rawlins WY presents a very similar picture. Of course what we appreciate is the rock, the altitude (6930 and 7000 feet in places), the colors of the rock as they change along the way. Just past Sinclair WY we cross the North Platte River, an historic river that figured distinctly in the area's settlement.
At mile 235 scenic roadway I80 starts and extends to Laramie for 75 miles with Medicine Bow National Forest to the south. Lots of cattle along the way with 11,156 foot snow capped Elk Mountain in the distance - beautiful and majestic - with clouds all day in layers of solid and fluffy marsh mellow designs and only hints of blue sky.
We're passing time by listening to another James Lee Burke novel "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead." We think we'll be finished with JLB long before we we're finished with JLB!
We are high enough that we see lots of snow on the mountains with splashes of green grass. At mile 270 we see another huge installation of wind turbines. It seems to be the perfect place.
At Laramie we decide to take US287 south to Ft. Collins CO (our destination for today) because it is a shorter and purportedly more scenic route. We are not disappointed. Broad mountain meadows with outcroppings of red rock (you know how I love red rock!) and pine trees and gorgeous houses. We are greeted by the "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign and it really is. Red Mountain Granite Canyon is especially beautiful - breath-taking, actually - and followed by spring displays of white wildflowers and blooming lilacs and a gas gauge that says we only have about 30 miles left on this tank of gas! Fortunately we are on the outskirts of Ft. Collins and a service station appears miraculously on the horizon to save us!
Ft. Collins is a city of 118,652 population and and elevation of 5,000 feet. It is home to our son Mark and our daughter-in-law Trisha and our grandsons Ethan (14) and Jerad (almost 12). We find our way through Ft. Collins and arrive at their home just after the boys get home from school to greet us. As always, it is amazing to see how much they both have grown in the ten months since we last saw them. It is also amazing how much they have matured and much more interesting the conversations are. Of course, Harold has had a long day of driving despite my taking my usual turn, so he naps and entertains the boys with his snoring. Jerad especially is amazed and hopes that he'll be able to sleep tonight since our room is next to his! I play video games and talk with Ethan while Jerad awaits his turn to show Harold (aka Daddy Daddy - for Daddy's Daddy) his latest magic tricks. And of course the dogs Rosie and Jessie entertain all of us.
Trisha arrives home and off we go to Jerad's baseball practice. Fortunately it is just down the street but unfortunately Jerad takes a bouncing ball right in the knee cap and our practice is done for the day. Lots of ice and rest and he's back to full strength by morning.
Mark arrives home and the toasts begin! It is so good to be together. It is rare that we have the opportunity to see three of the four children in such a short period of time. We're lovin' it! Yummy fajitas and lots of great conversation ends our day together.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Day Twenty-Four - Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day!
The day dawned beautifully in Salt Lake City - sunny, blue skies, fluffy while clouds, a soft breeze, and predicted to have a high of 73. All of the above came to be!
We began our exploration of Salt Lake City with a drive from our hotel near the airport through a modern light industrial and warehouse area, and on through the Latino and African-American communities, and finally into the downtown area of the City. We sought out the state capitol building and found another extraordinary setting for the capitol. The building itself is similar to the United States Capitol, and the grounds are vast, green, well-manicured with flower gardens and several memorial statues. And of course, the beehive - symbol of industriousness of the people. Also near the capitol is the original refurbished city council building which now serves as a welcome and visitor center for the capitol building compound.
We took a short drive up into the hillside behind the capitol and enjoyed magnificent views of the city as well as an opportunity to appreciate interesting architecture - traditional and modern - in the area.
Then we headed to the Temple Square to visit the facilities of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Square contains the Temple which is not open to the public as well as several other facilities that are available for touring. We stopped at the North Visitor Center and got directions to the Family History Library. We found the volunteers at the Library to be most helpful. A volunteer is assigned to any first time visitor to provide an orientation to the resources available for genealogy research. We spent an hour looking for Harold's great, great, great grandfather on his father's side and his grandfather on his mother's side. We did not find either, but we got a great orientation to some of the resources that might help us find them on another, more lengthy search process. As we were leaving, another volunteer steered us to the directory of affiliated sites that are connected to the Library for follow up. Our own Preble County District Library is one, so you know where we are headed when we get home!
We walked over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (an old hotel refurbished for offices and other functions) for lunch. Alas the restaurant on the tenth floor was not open but the volunteer there invited us to look around and there we got tremendous views of the Temple Square, especially of the Temple itself. We found a restaurant at a downtown hotel and had lunch and then went back to Temple Square for a short tour conducted by two young women missionaries who found it very difficult to deal with us but who were very gracious and sincere. We visited the Assembly Hall which originally was built as a church but is now the site of concerts and meetings, and we stood outside the Temple for a bit of education about the Temple's purpose and use in the Mormon faith.
We attended the 2PM organ concert in the Tabernacle. We had missed an opportunity to attend a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir yesterday when we were traveling from Reno, but at least we got to be in the Tabernacle for a musical performance. I was surprised that the facility was not as large as I expected it to be, but the stunning organ and the choir seating both were easily recognizable from the many pictures we have seen of the Tabernacle.
After the concert we returned to the Visitor's Center for a short walk through and then we proceeded on with the rest of our own self-guided tour to the campus of the University of Utah. It is a large campus with a large medical center and associated school and clinics. Apparently school is out for the year because the campus seemed quite deserted even for a holiday.
We treated ourselves to another tour of some neighborhoods near downtown and saw evidence of urban renewal projects for housing and retail and entertainment. We saw the courthouse square including the old courthouse and the new courthouse. We saw several schools at all three levels of education. And eventually we returned to the hotel, had a cup of chai tea and rested - and blogged. We'll have dinner across the street at a local grill and spend the evening repacking our clean clothes into the suitcases, hoping they all will fit again!
We like Salt Lake City. It is a beautiful city with broad streets and beautiful vistas of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. We did not have time to spend any leisurely hours at the Salt Lake beaches or at any of the Olympic venues, though we did see the Olympic Square at one point today. Everyone we met was very friendly and most accommodating. We saw people from all over the world and heard missionary tour guides speaking to tourists in their native languages. And of course it was the perfect day for touring so that affects our enjoyment of the day. Tomorrow we are off to Ft. Collins CO via I80 northeast through Utah and into Wyoming to Cheyenne and then down to Ft. Collins. We are looking forward to seeing our family there!
The day dawned beautifully in Salt Lake City - sunny, blue skies, fluffy while clouds, a soft breeze, and predicted to have a high of 73. All of the above came to be!
We began our exploration of Salt Lake City with a drive from our hotel near the airport through a modern light industrial and warehouse area, and on through the Latino and African-American communities, and finally into the downtown area of the City. We sought out the state capitol building and found another extraordinary setting for the capitol. The building itself is similar to the United States Capitol, and the grounds are vast, green, well-manicured with flower gardens and several memorial statues. And of course, the beehive - symbol of industriousness of the people. Also near the capitol is the original refurbished city council building which now serves as a welcome and visitor center for the capitol building compound.
We took a short drive up into the hillside behind the capitol and enjoyed magnificent views of the city as well as an opportunity to appreciate interesting architecture - traditional and modern - in the area.
Then we headed to the Temple Square to visit the facilities of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Square contains the Temple which is not open to the public as well as several other facilities that are available for touring. We stopped at the North Visitor Center and got directions to the Family History Library. We found the volunteers at the Library to be most helpful. A volunteer is assigned to any first time visitor to provide an orientation to the resources available for genealogy research. We spent an hour looking for Harold's great, great, great grandfather on his father's side and his grandfather on his mother's side. We did not find either, but we got a great orientation to some of the resources that might help us find them on another, more lengthy search process. As we were leaving, another volunteer steered us to the directory of affiliated sites that are connected to the Library for follow up. Our own Preble County District Library is one, so you know where we are headed when we get home!
We walked over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (an old hotel refurbished for offices and other functions) for lunch. Alas the restaurant on the tenth floor was not open but the volunteer there invited us to look around and there we got tremendous views of the Temple Square, especially of the Temple itself. We found a restaurant at a downtown hotel and had lunch and then went back to Temple Square for a short tour conducted by two young women missionaries who found it very difficult to deal with us but who were very gracious and sincere. We visited the Assembly Hall which originally was built as a church but is now the site of concerts and meetings, and we stood outside the Temple for a bit of education about the Temple's purpose and use in the Mormon faith.
We attended the 2PM organ concert in the Tabernacle. We had missed an opportunity to attend a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir yesterday when we were traveling from Reno, but at least we got to be in the Tabernacle for a musical performance. I was surprised that the facility was not as large as I expected it to be, but the stunning organ and the choir seating both were easily recognizable from the many pictures we have seen of the Tabernacle.
After the concert we returned to the Visitor's Center for a short walk through and then we proceeded on with the rest of our own self-guided tour to the campus of the University of Utah. It is a large campus with a large medical center and associated school and clinics. Apparently school is out for the year because the campus seemed quite deserted even for a holiday.
We treated ourselves to another tour of some neighborhoods near downtown and saw evidence of urban renewal projects for housing and retail and entertainment. We saw the courthouse square including the old courthouse and the new courthouse. We saw several schools at all three levels of education. And eventually we returned to the hotel, had a cup of chai tea and rested - and blogged. We'll have dinner across the street at a local grill and spend the evening repacking our clean clothes into the suitcases, hoping they all will fit again!
We like Salt Lake City. It is a beautiful city with broad streets and beautiful vistas of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. We did not have time to spend any leisurely hours at the Salt Lake beaches or at any of the Olympic venues, though we did see the Olympic Square at one point today. Everyone we met was very friendly and most accommodating. We saw people from all over the world and heard missionary tour guides speaking to tourists in their native languages. And of course it was the perfect day for touring so that affects our enjoyment of the day. Tomorrow we are off to Ft. Collins CO via I80 northeast through Utah and into Wyoming to Cheyenne and then down to Ft. Collins. We are looking forward to seeing our family there!
Day Twenty-Three - Sunday, May 24, 2009
Well, I realize that my exhaustion yesterday caused me to fail to mention the extraordinary beauty of the Lake Tahoe region. The mountains were snow-capped and the pine trees stood straight and tall in the sunshine. The views around the northern coast of the Lake along I80 truly were memorable.
And then to Reno where we failed to take the cruising path that one of my high school friends had suggested because we never made it into Reno other than skirting it on the north on the I80 path. Perhaps there will be another time for such a "cruise."
Our drive through northeast Nevada revealed much more of the great American western landscapes! Though it was a long driving day requiring two driving shifts for each of us, it was a beautiful drive. In many places we followed the traditional western pattern of river, railroad, and road, each taking advantage of the canyons and valleys through the mountains. The rolling brown hills were dotted with sage, back grounded with mountains in the distance, and accented by ribbons of green along the riverbeds. And then there was the flat, flat land where the horizon promised mountains in the distance. At Mile 65 we passed Hot Springs where dozens of steamy columns rose from the earth providing hints of the geothermal activity below the surface. The AAA book promised geysers, but we saw nothing that looked so significant as to rival Old Faithful - or to even come close!
We passed the time by reading the "State by State" book entries on California - a bit bizarre and slightly depressing but I suppose that's California - and Nevada - a much more uplifting story about a family's life in Las Vegas in the last half of the 20th Century. Of course we also consulted the AAA book and the 1,000 Places to See book, but we found very little information about our travel day in these two sources.
From Mile 145 northeast to Winnemuca - what a great name! - the hills and mountains were green and the desert plain was green and the bushes in the desert were green and these all were natural - no irrigation here. It was a pleasant change from the dryness of the earlier desert scenes. We stopped at McDonald's in Winnemuca for our morning coffee and then drove on to another McDonald's in Elko for lunch. Elko is quite a large city for this area. It is famous for cattle and for cowboy poetry and is the location of the National Cowboy Poetry Conference. Very interesting.
Beyond Elko the terrain turned more rugged and mountainous and our climbing was nearly constant. The green continued into the mountains and flowers of all sorts and colors began to appear along the road and in the mountain meadows. Besides looking at the scenery we also decided we had to be entertained to help us stay awake - always a good idea on a road trip! We listened to a book by James Lee Burke - "A Stained White Radiance." It's tough to be a blogger and to listen to a professional writer's books and realize that the language you are using cannot possibly compare to that of a professional writer. Nevertheless, I will continue to blog so that I will remember my own story a bit better as the years go on.
A bit of a parenthetical observation here: It seems that the towns in this stretch of Nevada create landmarks for themselves by marking a nearby mountain with the first letter of the town's name. So in Winnemuca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wendover, and elsewhere, we saw large "W," "BM," "E," "W," etc. It's a bit of an eye sore on the mountain from our perspective, but it also creates a symbol of community pride and visibility, I suppose.
The higher we drove, the more beautiful the mountains. There actually were highland marshes along the way with pale lavender flowers and green fields and more snowcapped mountains in the distance. The skies were blue with fluffy cumulus clouds to the east and rain clouds in the southern sky. Trees were more scattered at this altitude. The Ruby Mountain Range was to the south and the East Humboldt Range was to the east and both provided vistas of power and grace to enjoy. At 6987 feet we crossed the Pequop Summit and at 5940 feet we crossed the Silver Zinc Summit. We began a long steady decline into a broad valley with salt white dirt and we knew we were approaching the Utah border.
After a short debate about the "tragedy" of not gambling on either visit to Nevada, we proceeded on into Utah and into a total change of environment. The natives were still speaking English, but the terrain could not be more different. We were right into the Bonneville Salt Flats and a broad flat valley of white salt for as far as we could see. We were in the Great Salt Lake Desert - broad - flat - white - broad - flat - white. Amazing!
It is a bit disconcerting in the desert to see a bright light coming toward the car. Of course, in Utah it could be a religious experience, but in this case, we eventually realized that it was an oncoming train - on its own path of tracks to the south of the road - and hauling an uncountable number of cars carrying coal. We watched rainstorms to the south and "floating" rocks to the north - rocks that appear to float above the desert floor based on the vast white expanses of salt and edges of the rock worn away by winds and other elements and time. Once again we talked about the magical results of Mother Nature and Father Time.
We continued traveling through the desert and eventually read that we also are traveling near the Newfoundland Mountains and through the Great Evaporation Basin. The Basin and the Desert are the remaining evidence of the size of the original salt lake known as Lake Bonneville. We passed within view of the Lake and some beaches and saw the enormity of the Lake that remains. It is an amazing work of nature, but no floating for us on this trip!
We found our hotel and had dinner at the local Perkins Restaurant - not our finest but it served the purpose. Early evening naps and two loads of laundry completed our day! Such is the life of a traveler.
And then to Reno where we failed to take the cruising path that one of my high school friends had suggested because we never made it into Reno other than skirting it on the north on the I80 path. Perhaps there will be another time for such a "cruise."
Our drive through northeast Nevada revealed much more of the great American western landscapes! Though it was a long driving day requiring two driving shifts for each of us, it was a beautiful drive. In many places we followed the traditional western pattern of river, railroad, and road, each taking advantage of the canyons and valleys through the mountains. The rolling brown hills were dotted with sage, back grounded with mountains in the distance, and accented by ribbons of green along the riverbeds. And then there was the flat, flat land where the horizon promised mountains in the distance. At Mile 65 we passed Hot Springs where dozens of steamy columns rose from the earth providing hints of the geothermal activity below the surface. The AAA book promised geysers, but we saw nothing that looked so significant as to rival Old Faithful - or to even come close!
We passed the time by reading the "State by State" book entries on California - a bit bizarre and slightly depressing but I suppose that's California - and Nevada - a much more uplifting story about a family's life in Las Vegas in the last half of the 20th Century. Of course we also consulted the AAA book and the 1,000 Places to See book, but we found very little information about our travel day in these two sources.
From Mile 145 northeast to Winnemuca - what a great name! - the hills and mountains were green and the desert plain was green and the bushes in the desert were green and these all were natural - no irrigation here. It was a pleasant change from the dryness of the earlier desert scenes. We stopped at McDonald's in Winnemuca for our morning coffee and then drove on to another McDonald's in Elko for lunch. Elko is quite a large city for this area. It is famous for cattle and for cowboy poetry and is the location of the National Cowboy Poetry Conference. Very interesting.
Beyond Elko the terrain turned more rugged and mountainous and our climbing was nearly constant. The green continued into the mountains and flowers of all sorts and colors began to appear along the road and in the mountain meadows. Besides looking at the scenery we also decided we had to be entertained to help us stay awake - always a good idea on a road trip! We listened to a book by James Lee Burke - "A Stained White Radiance." It's tough to be a blogger and to listen to a professional writer's books and realize that the language you are using cannot possibly compare to that of a professional writer. Nevertheless, I will continue to blog so that I will remember my own story a bit better as the years go on.
A bit of a parenthetical observation here: It seems that the towns in this stretch of Nevada create landmarks for themselves by marking a nearby mountain with the first letter of the town's name. So in Winnemuca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wendover, and elsewhere, we saw large "W," "BM," "E," "W," etc. It's a bit of an eye sore on the mountain from our perspective, but it also creates a symbol of community pride and visibility, I suppose.
The higher we drove, the more beautiful the mountains. There actually were highland marshes along the way with pale lavender flowers and green fields and more snowcapped mountains in the distance. The skies were blue with fluffy cumulus clouds to the east and rain clouds in the southern sky. Trees were more scattered at this altitude. The Ruby Mountain Range was to the south and the East Humboldt Range was to the east and both provided vistas of power and grace to enjoy. At 6987 feet we crossed the Pequop Summit and at 5940 feet we crossed the Silver Zinc Summit. We began a long steady decline into a broad valley with salt white dirt and we knew we were approaching the Utah border.
After a short debate about the "tragedy" of not gambling on either visit to Nevada, we proceeded on into Utah and into a total change of environment. The natives were still speaking English, but the terrain could not be more different. We were right into the Bonneville Salt Flats and a broad flat valley of white salt for as far as we could see. We were in the Great Salt Lake Desert - broad - flat - white - broad - flat - white. Amazing!
It is a bit disconcerting in the desert to see a bright light coming toward the car. Of course, in Utah it could be a religious experience, but in this case, we eventually realized that it was an oncoming train - on its own path of tracks to the south of the road - and hauling an uncountable number of cars carrying coal. We watched rainstorms to the south and "floating" rocks to the north - rocks that appear to float above the desert floor based on the vast white expanses of salt and edges of the rock worn away by winds and other elements and time. Once again we talked about the magical results of Mother Nature and Father Time.
We continued traveling through the desert and eventually read that we also are traveling near the Newfoundland Mountains and through the Great Evaporation Basin. The Basin and the Desert are the remaining evidence of the size of the original salt lake known as Lake Bonneville. We passed within view of the Lake and some beaches and saw the enormity of the Lake that remains. It is an amazing work of nature, but no floating for us on this trip!
We found our hotel and had dinner at the local Perkins Restaurant - not our finest but it served the purpose. Early evening naps and two loads of laundry completed our day! Such is the life of a traveler.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Day Twenty-Two - Saturday, May 23, 2009
Well, it is time to go, time to head east, time to leave Jennifer to her life, and time to get back to our lives. So after a breakfast of coffee and rolls at a neighborhood coffee shop with Jennifer, we bid her farewell and head out of San Francisco on I80. I80 will be our home for the next several days as we try to get home in a week rather than at the more leisurely two-week pace that we used on the way west to San Francisco.
It's Memorial Day weekend so the traffic heading out of San Francisco and through Oakland and Berkeley and beyond is very dense. We leave the Berkeley area hills and drive into the Sacramento Valley of flat land and marshes and irrigated fields. And then we get into the Sierra Nevada foothills and start our trek from 30 feet above sea level to 7,230 feet at the Donner Summit. We have a quick lunch at McDonald's in Colfax CA and drive through the Sierra Nevada's and past Lake Tahoe and into Truckee. It's fun to see the railroad tracks that we travelled at Thanksgiving 2007 when we took the Amtrak from Indianapolis to Emeryville CA for our first Thanksgiving in Berkeley with Jennifer.
Our destination for the day is Reno, Nevada. We planned a short day thinking that we would want to explore Reno a bit before moving on to Salt Lake City. But when we arrived in Reno - actually Sparks NV - we checked into the hotel and immediately took naps! At 5PM we woke up and decided that the day was meant for resting. Reno can wait till our next visit - or never, perhaps.
It's Memorial Day weekend so the traffic heading out of San Francisco and through Oakland and Berkeley and beyond is very dense. We leave the Berkeley area hills and drive into the Sacramento Valley of flat land and marshes and irrigated fields. And then we get into the Sierra Nevada foothills and start our trek from 30 feet above sea level to 7,230 feet at the Donner Summit. We have a quick lunch at McDonald's in Colfax CA and drive through the Sierra Nevada's and past Lake Tahoe and into Truckee. It's fun to see the railroad tracks that we travelled at Thanksgiving 2007 when we took the Amtrak from Indianapolis to Emeryville CA for our first Thanksgiving in Berkeley with Jennifer.
Our destination for the day is Reno, Nevada. We planned a short day thinking that we would want to explore Reno a bit before moving on to Salt Lake City. But when we arrived in Reno - actually Sparks NV - we checked into the hotel and immediately took naps! At 5PM we woke up and decided that the day was meant for resting. Reno can wait till our next visit - or never, perhaps.
Day Twenty-One - Friday, May 22, 2009
We decided that we needed one more celebratory luncheon with Jennifer so we went to the Armani Cafe in San Francisco and had a champagne (actually it was Sonoma bubbly) luncheon with lovely and delicious food. And then it was back to Berkeley to finish some errands for Jen - cleaning out her office on campus and taking boxes of books and memorabilia to her storage unit elsewhere in Berkeley. We did a little more browsing and then went to dinner at another friend's house in Oakland. We had a lovely evening of conversation and friendship and look forward to being with Jen's friends again some time in the future.
Day Twenty - Thursday, May 21, 2009
Well, what can I say? Today Jennifer and her friend Regine and I spent the day shopping in San Francisco and in Oakland. We also ran several errands that Jennifer needed to do prior to her departure from San Francisco for the summer. In early June she leaves for a conference in Thailand followed by a wedding of two friends and colleagues in India followed by some research time in South Africa followed by some vacation time in Ireland and France prior to starting her post-doctorate appointment at the University of Louisville Center for the Study of Asian Democracy. Of course we are very excited about this appointment since this means that Jennifer will be living closer to us starting in August than she has lived since she left for college in Chicago in 1993! And Harold's master's degree in social work is from the University of Louisville, so that's fun connection. And then there is the bourbon interest and the Kentucky Colonel association, and Harold's birth place in southeast Kentucky, and horse racing, etc.! All fun!
Harold took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from San Francisco to Oakland to meet us and we went to one of Jennifer's professor's home for a party for his doctoral students. The professor is Steve Vogel, a Japanese scholar and political economist whose father is an Ohio Wesleyan graduate who served on the OWU board of trustees in the early 1980's when I was appointed to the board. Yes, it's a small world! This was another enjoyable celebration for the graduates and near graduates and their families. There were additional students whom we had not met so that was fun, too. And of course Dr. Vogel continued his praise of Jennifer and her research and her contributions to the academic life at Berkeley! More pride!
Harold took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from San Francisco to Oakland to meet us and we went to one of Jennifer's professor's home for a party for his doctoral students. The professor is Steve Vogel, a Japanese scholar and political economist whose father is an Ohio Wesleyan graduate who served on the OWU board of trustees in the early 1980's when I was appointed to the board. Yes, it's a small world! This was another enjoyable celebration for the graduates and near graduates and their families. There were additional students whom we had not met so that was fun, too. And of course Dr. Vogel continued his praise of Jennifer and her research and her contributions to the academic life at Berkeley! More pride!
Day Nineteen - Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Our morning was filled with walking around in San Francisco from our hotel and Jen's apartment to Union Square. We wandered and looked and enjoyed the city that is San Francisco! Despite a chilly breeze, we walked under beautiful sunshine and blue skies. Lunch was at Chez PaPa near Union Square and was delicious. We returned to the hotel and rested, and then Jennifer and I were ready for a little more shopping! Late in the afternoon Harold met us at the Hilton near Union Square (I think) for dinner at the Urban Tavern. Then we walked to the Orpheum Theater for a performance of "Wicked." It is the musical story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her life from birth to just after Dorothy arrives in Oz. It was an excellent production - great voices and extraordinary costuming! It was another celebratory evening for all three of us!
Day Eighteen - Tuesday, May 19, 2009
And what do you do to follow up on such a glorious day as yesterday? You veg out, of course! We all slept in. Harold worked on posting photos. I blogged and paid bills. Jennifer slept.
Then we went to lunch at a neighborhood Thai restaurant. Here perhaps I should note that when in San Francisco, Jen lives in a friend's condo on O'Farrell. We were able to find a hotel/apartment about three blocks from her on Sutter. Ours was the Steinhart Hotel where the stay is a minimum of seven days. We had a deluxe one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. It was perfect for our stay, with plenty of room for Scott over the weekend as well.
The afternoon was filled with the three of us visiting at our apartment hotel, and dinner was at a Korean Restaurant near Jen's condo.
We all were very tired physically and emotionally, so we called it a day and turned in early!
Then we went to lunch at a neighborhood Thai restaurant. Here perhaps I should note that when in San Francisco, Jen lives in a friend's condo on O'Farrell. We were able to find a hotel/apartment about three blocks from her on Sutter. Ours was the Steinhart Hotel where the stay is a minimum of seven days. We had a deluxe one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. It was perfect for our stay, with plenty of room for Scott over the weekend as well.
The afternoon was filled with the three of us visiting at our apartment hotel, and dinner was at a Korean Restaurant near Jen's condo.
We all were very tired physically and emotionally, so we called it a day and turned in early!
Day Seventeen - Monday, May 18, 2009
Graduation Day!
Scott caught an early plane back to Los Angeles to get back to work, and Harold and I met up with Jennifer for the drive from San Francisco to Berkeley. The University of California Berkeley holds many different graduation ceremonies based on department. Today was the Department of Political Science Commencement. We started with a brunch in honor of the
Ph. D. graduates. During the socializing time, we met more of Jennifer's student colleagues as well as three of her five dissertation advisers. Then the department chairperson called the group to order and each doctoral graduate (all 19 of them) was introduced by his or her committee chairperson. In Jen's case, two advisers commented on her research and on her contributions to the field as a result and her contributions to the community of students and scholars at Berkeley. Parental pride was everywhere - bursting out of every pore, in fact. After seven years of study, research, and exploration, Jennifer and her student colleagues have succeeded! Hurray!
After the brunch we went to lunch at Adagia, a campus restaurant located in a beautiful old brick building with a lovely sun-lit patio where we had our meal. Then we headed up the hills walking to the Greek Theater where the commencement ceremony was held. Nineteen doctoral candidates received their diplomas and then 350+ undergraduates received their degrees - all under the hot sunny skies of Berkeley CA. After the commencement, there was a reception on the camponile - complete with locally grown ripe strawberries and brownies! Somehow I felt as though the whole thing had been planned especially for me even without the champagne! :)
Dinner was another celebration! Jennifer and seven or eight of her best friends from the political science student cohort reconvened in San Francisco for an evening of celebration that included family and friends and lots of food and drink! It was a perfect ending to a very special day.
Scott caught an early plane back to Los Angeles to get back to work, and Harold and I met up with Jennifer for the drive from San Francisco to Berkeley. The University of California Berkeley holds many different graduation ceremonies based on department. Today was the Department of Political Science Commencement. We started with a brunch in honor of the
Ph. D. graduates. During the socializing time, we met more of Jennifer's student colleagues as well as three of her five dissertation advisers. Then the department chairperson called the group to order and each doctoral graduate (all 19 of them) was introduced by his or her committee chairperson. In Jen's case, two advisers commented on her research and on her contributions to the field as a result and her contributions to the community of students and scholars at Berkeley. Parental pride was everywhere - bursting out of every pore, in fact. After seven years of study, research, and exploration, Jennifer and her student colleagues have succeeded! Hurray!
After the brunch we went to lunch at Adagia, a campus restaurant located in a beautiful old brick building with a lovely sun-lit patio where we had our meal. Then we headed up the hills walking to the Greek Theater where the commencement ceremony was held. Nineteen doctoral candidates received their diplomas and then 350+ undergraduates received their degrees - all under the hot sunny skies of Berkeley CA. After the commencement, there was a reception on the camponile - complete with locally grown ripe strawberries and brownies! Somehow I felt as though the whole thing had been planned especially for me even without the champagne! :)
Dinner was another celebration! Jennifer and seven or eight of her best friends from the political science student cohort reconvened in San Francisco for an evening of celebration that included family and friends and lots of food and drink! It was a perfect ending to a very special day.
Day Sixteen - Sunday, May 17, 2009
It's San Francisco and it's a beautiful day for the annual "Bay to Breakers" 12K race. Of course Jennifer and one of her friends decide to run the race! Harold and Scott and I have a lazy morning and then meet them at the Cliff House for brunch. The Cliff House is a beautiful restaurant with a great menu and an even greater view. It sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the California coastline. We had a lovely, leisurely luncheon, and then did some touring around San Francisco. After an afternoon break for more conversation, we joined some more of Jennifer's friends for a graduation celebration at a California fusion restaurant in Oakland. It was a lovely day in and of itself but also in anticipation of the next day - graduation day!
Day Fifteen - Saturday, May 16, 2009
7:18AM and we are on the road out of Ridgecrest CA and on to San Francisco - a long day's drive. We skirt around the China Lake Naval Installation on CA178 and then follow CA14 west toward Bakersfield. Mountains and the flat desert on both sides of the road comprise the Muir Wilderness Area. Red Rock Canyon State Park features trails for ORVs (Off Road Vehicles) as well as strips of red/rust/salmon in brown and gray rock. The rock is moundlike rather than jagged peaks but very large. In Jawbone Canyon we begin to see lots of yellow flowers again. As we turn onto CA58W to Bakersfield we see LOTS of wind turbines in the mountains. It's totally amazing to see so many in one area. We're at 4600 feet above sea level here and the fields are covered with purple clover and orange and yellow flowers. As we come down to lower altitudes the hills become brown grass needing rain to green them for spring but the trees are bigger and more substantial and dot the hills to create a polka dot pattern. A little further along we begin to see lots of yucca plants on the rocky hillsides with their tall stems blooming with rows of large white flowers. And then we are back into barren brown hills. Signs along the way advertise Murray's Family Farms and when we reach it we find an oasis and a big farm market. We've entered the irrigation belt and acres and acres of lush green fields surround us.
In Bakersfield the lushness continues - orange tree orchards, vineyards, floral bushes of white, pink, and rose blossoms. Harold's recalls that country western music is big in Bakersfield and sure enough we pass by Buck Owens Boulevard and then Merle Haggard Drive! As we turn north toward Sacramento, there are more fields of lush green vegetables and grape vines and fruit trees. On CA46 west to I5 we begin to see major irrigation canals and green fields and an occasion field with a sign that says "Congress Created Dust Bowl." Apparently the distribution of water for irrigation continues to be a political and economic challenge throughout the Southwest.
Near Wasco CA we encounter fields and fields of roses in full bloom. Wasco is the home of the Festival of Roses. Stunningly beautiful! We also saw bales of hay - or perhaps alfalfa since they had quite a green hue.
At last we arrive in San Francisco, find our hotel, and connect with Jennifer for the evening. As always it is so good to be with Jennifer. The interval between visits with her has been three months this time, so naturally we are excited to be with her. We spend the evening with some of her friends, celebrating one friend's fortieth birthday. Later in the evening our son Scott arrives from Los Angeles to spend the weekend with us. This was another great reunion since we have not seen Scott for over two years! Needless to say, we were off to a great weekend.
In Bakersfield the lushness continues - orange tree orchards, vineyards, floral bushes of white, pink, and rose blossoms. Harold's recalls that country western music is big in Bakersfield and sure enough we pass by Buck Owens Boulevard and then Merle Haggard Drive! As we turn north toward Sacramento, there are more fields of lush green vegetables and grape vines and fruit trees. On CA46 west to I5 we begin to see major irrigation canals and green fields and an occasion field with a sign that says "Congress Created Dust Bowl." Apparently the distribution of water for irrigation continues to be a political and economic challenge throughout the Southwest.
Near Wasco CA we encounter fields and fields of roses in full bloom. Wasco is the home of the Festival of Roses. Stunningly beautiful! We also saw bales of hay - or perhaps alfalfa since they had quite a green hue.
At last we arrive in San Francisco, find our hotel, and connect with Jennifer for the evening. As always it is so good to be with Jennifer. The interval between visits with her has been three months this time, so naturally we are excited to be with her. We spend the evening with some of her friends, celebrating one friend's fortieth birthday. Later in the evening our son Scott arrives from Los Angeles to spend the weekend with us. This was another great reunion since we have not seen Scott for over two years! Needless to say, we were off to a great weekend.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Days 15-21 photos "B"
Jen on stage at graduation
View from our seats
Jen being hooded
Oh The Places We'll Go. Party after graduationDays 15-21 photos "A"
Jen & Jean
Scott & Jean
Scott & Harold
Jen with two of her PhD advisors at brunch before graduation
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