Oct 30 2008
Our last day in Monterey we went to the Carmel Mission where we learned we were not as smart as a 4th grader!! A fourth grade class from Sacramento was touring the mission and we tagged along with them to take advantage of their docent. We learned a lot about missions and had a great time trying to answer the docent’s questions (quietly) before the kids did and usually they had us beat. The mission was established in 1771 by a Franciscan friar, Father Junipero Serra, who had to be a really courageous explorer to come to a wilderness land and set up a community. He would walk back and forth to Mexico for needed supplies!
From there we traveled 340 miles southwest to Acton which was the location of the Thousand Trails preserve that we went to for their sales presentation. There we just took it easy and enjoyed their pool and hot tub and the 3 free nights of camping. By going there we received a months free camping at thousand trails so tomorrow we leave for the Palm Springs area for 2 weeks on Thousand trails. We just heard they had 3 small earthquakes near there, hope they are DONE.

The last 5 days we have been in Simi Valley exploring the LA area. Our first day was spent at the Ronald Regan Library which is on a beautiful setting where on a clear day you can see the ocean. He is buried there. They were featuring a special display of Nancy Reagan’s outfits. They also have a new display featuring Air Force One and a presidential motorcade. This Air Force One flew Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H W Bush, Clinton, and W Bush. Visiting the library was a very moving and worthwhile experience I hope all of you can sometime do. Their love story was truly special!
We had heard about the Petersen Auto Museum at our region 12 rally so we went to check out their RV display. They have motorhomes and trailers from the 1930s, including a1936 airstream clipper, the
earliest one known to have survived. The museum is located in downtown LA on Wilshire Blvd on the miracle mile so we walked down the street to check out the mile. We came upon the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits. The museum houses the bones that were taken from the natural tar pits located right along Wilshire Blvd. We toured the tar pits where they are still digging up prehistoric bones. It’s amazing what has been found and what probably lies beneath Wilshire Blvd. Since we were in the neighborhood we went to Rodeo Drive and went street walking.
We came back thru Topanga canyon, a curvy steep drive that rewarded us at the top with a magnificent view of the city at night.
Yesterday we decided we should see the canyon during the day so we took it to the ocean. We went to Venice beach ( I was hoping to see the muscle guys) they call it muscle beach. There were lots of surfers there but not much else, the fishing pier was occupied by older men who didn’t look too prosperous! From there we checked out the boats at Marina del Rye Harbor, now there’s a contrast!, Santa Monica was busy with people jogging and biking on the trail beside the sea, and we walked along 3rd St where the shopping and restaurants are located. It’s a beautiful area but very heavy traffic and the housing is expensive.
Halloween seems to be a big deal here. There are lots of Halloween stores and decorations at houses and today we ate out for lunch and most of the people in the restaurant were dressed up. I think they were office workers.
Well we have just moved to the Palm Desart area and it is hot here. We’re at a Panera bread to get WIFI I sure am glad we have to come here now and then! I must close and send this off. Hope things are beautiful in the east. Lois