Ventura and Lunch on the Beach

We spent the day close to "home" so that we could make sure we got to the dentist on time.
Port Heuneme is home to the Navy Construction Battalion on the West Coast. When WW-II broke out, civilian construction workers were prohibited by the Geneva conventions from participating in the fighting. The CB's or "SeaBee's" were created to allow combat engineering in support of the Navy & Marine Corps. The Bee holding a Tommy gun in his front feet and tools in his back ones, symbolizes the dual role of construction and combat.



We drove to Oxnard's beach and we stunned at the beauty!
Wonderful sandy beaches and a great view of the Channel Islands off shore (plus a few oil drilling rigs!)


The beach hosts a number of very nice looking residential neighborhoods and some condos.
We didn't ask how much!


A few miles up the coast, we visited Channel Island National Park. This boat is used by the Parks Department to shuttle visitors out to the islands - which form the Park! Unfortunately, time did not permit us to visit the Islands.


From the top deck of the National Park Visitor center, we could see next ultimate destination - Ventura.


Our first stop in Ventura was Surfer's Point, where some of the best surfing in California is said to be had. The surf seemed pretty modest but there were an abundance of surfers to enjoy what was to be had.


This dude used a paddle to propel his board back out into the open water to await the "right" wave. He then used the paddle to chase the wave when it came along. He never had to be in the water (unless he fell, of course). Since we have learned this is the new way of surfing.


We traveled to the center of Ventura (named after Saint Bonaventure) to the San Buenaventura Mission Church which still serves a large parish.


The church is kept in wonderful condition yet still reflects its heritage.


Father Junipero Serra established many of the Missions along the coast of California and is revered by the faithful.


After the mission, we walked to the Ortega Adobe.
If you have ever eaten any Ortega brand Mexican food, here is where it all started!
This small Adobe Hacienda is the original home of this family and is preserved by the City, proud of one of it's favorite sons. The house is well preserved and outfitted with typical items of the era.
The bicycle leaning against the wall gives you an idea of the modest nature of the home.


At day's end, we visited Dr Priest who applied an epoxy seal to Theresa's broken tooth. He warned it was fragile, but would probably last until we get home in March - if Theresa was careful not to use that side to chew!

We made it back to the Navy Lodge in time to listen to President Obama's state-of-the-union address.

Tomorrow - Hurst Castle & Solvang!

Ronald Reagan Library&Museum

Note: the date of these posts is not the date we visited the sites - several days have passed!
We had a great visit with Bob Jacobson, Bob's college roommate who is a senior scientist at Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena. The next day, we stopped at the Ronald Reagan Library & Museum in Simi Valley, California. The setting is beautiful in the rolling hills above Malibu!
The museum itself has a ranch-like appearance reflecting Reagan's love for the land.


We arrived a few minutes before the 10 AM opening time, so we poked around a little, including a beautiful patio with flowering trees that we might have missed otherwise!


A life-size statue of "Dutch" meets you at the door.


Inside, his career is laid out with some of the humorous devices he used to make his point about wasteful government being the problem, not the solution.


This beautiful replica of the Oval Office is completely authentic.



The museum includes the aircraft that served as Reagan's Air Force One. A walk-through tour was included and showed many details of life in the air for the President.


On the walkway surrounding Air Force One are displays that highlight Reagan's greatest accomplishment - the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the nuclear disarmament that accompanied. Having grown up in the era of fear of being bombed by the Soviets, I really appreciated the peace between the super-powers!


On the floor of the annex, below Air Force One stands Marine One, the presidential helicopter.


The museum sits high on a hill overlooking some of the most beautiful valleys in California.


Finally, the museum notes the role that President Reagan played in restoring the US Military to a position of strength - one that Pres Carter had done much to destroy! This F-14 represents Reagan's contribution. A plaque denotes the air-to-air encounter two F-14's had with Libyan fighters - one in which both Libyans were shot down.




After a wonderful morning at the Reagan Library, we drove the short 30 miles to Ventura County Naval Base, as it is now called, to check into the Navy Lodge, Port Heuneme. While eating lunch, Theresa broke a tooth! We went to the Base clinic but the best they could offer was to make an appointment with a local dentist the next afternoon!! More in the next entry.

Jimmy & Jeane + Joshua Tree National Park

Following Las Cruces, we drove to Phoenix and spent a wonderful weekend with Theresa's cousin Jimmy Fry. They rolled out the red carpet. For lunch Saturday, they took us to a little hole-in-the-wall-biker bar nearby for some fabulous hamburgers.
Sunday, we watched the Colt's victory over the Jets and the Saints defeat of Minnesota.


Phoenix had record rainfalls the previous week. Jimmy and Jeane live on a par five that now has a water hazard - where none had been previously!


After leaving Phoenix, we realized we would be passing right by the Joshua Tree National Park.
The southern entry is in the "lower" (Colorado) desert with sparse vegetation and rocky soil.



These cholla cactus have barbed spines that make them difficult and painful to remove.
Signs warn not to touch since the spines release and embed themselves very easily.


The Joshua Tree was so named by Mormon settlers who saw the trees after weeks in the desert and saw the Prophet Joshua with arms upstretched.


As you travel north, you climb steadily in altitude until you are in the "upper" (Mojave) desert.
In the upper desert, there is more moisture, plant life, and amazing rock formations.
This one is "Skull Rock" from its appearance.


The San Bernadino Mountains were full of snow from the recent precipitation that had inundated the area and formed a fantastic background for the desert.


From the Keys View, you can see the Salton Sea and beyond to Mexico!
The plateau just to the right of the Salton Sea is near the Mexican Border.


This panoramic shot shows the view includes Palm Springs to the West.


Keys View is high enough up that there was still a significant amount of snow on the ground.


This stand of Joshua Trees is just down the rise from Keys View.


Following the drive down, we drove about 25 miles to the shore of the Salton Sea, a salt sea about 200 feet below sea level.


This huge sea is nearly 35 miles long and 15 miles wide and teems with fish.


At day's end we drove into Pasadena for dinner with Bob Jacobson, Bob's roommate from Purdue.
Bob is a Senior Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

White Sands Really Are White!

Upon arriving in Las Cruces, we spoke by phone with our friend (formerly of Greenwood) who suggested we explore Mesilla and the Basilica of San Albino there. When we arrived, the Basilica was locked up so we explored the area. Lots of neat shops and people, including a couple of wineries!
When we returned to our car an hour later, we saw come women enter the Basilica, so we went in. They were musicians gathering to practice and said they had no problem with us poking around.



The Basilica is very pretty and small (about the size of Our Lady of the Greenwood's chapel.
We explored and listened to music before departing to meet our friend Yvonne for dinner.


She suggested Lorenzo's, an Italian restaurant in Mesilla. The architecture is reminiscent of the Alamo, but the food was authentic Italian. Their Mediterranean pizza was very good as a main course following a very nice caprese appetizer. Plus, there was a wine shop next door!


Next day, we stopped at a craft market on Main St and bought a few things, then proceeded North across the mountain to White Sands National Monument. the National Monument is right in the center of the valley, about 20 miles south of Holloman AFB and also about 25 miles South East of Trinity Site where the first nuclear bomb was detonated.


The sand blows and continuously tries to bury everything, so the National Park Service has to plow the roads regularly! The paved road only goes a mile or so, then you drive on "hard pack!" Actually, it is gypsum from the surrounding mountains, not sand. Next time you look at a piece of drywall, look at the gypsum and imagine it in big piles!


We climbed one of the dunes. You can see a long way from the top but it was very windy (but normal for White Sands) - 25+ mph winds whipping the sand around.
You can also run into some cute girls on these dunes!


This shot is taken from the car. Theresa is still on top of the dune - this gives you an idea of the size of the dunes!


At the north end of the valley floor is the White Sands Missile Range main complex.
The guard said we could take photos in the museum and missile display but that the mountains must be in the photo backgrounds - we could not shoot toward the valley floor. I assume because they may have been setting up classified tests.


After WW-II, our German rocket ship guys worked feverishly to stay ahead of Russia's German rocket ship guys! We used captured V-2's such as this one to conduct many experiments.


Finally, back in Las Cruces, we tried to drive cross campus at University of New Mexico only to discover that most of the "roads" on Micro Soft Streets and Trips are limited to pedestrian only!
We finally discovered a through street and this shot of the campus.


Tomorrow Phoenix!

Fort Davis Texas

After a nice overnight in Fort Stockton, Texas, we headed out Tuesday morning for Fort Davis. This was one of many Army posts established to bring stability to the expanding west. Two companies of Cavalry were stationed here. There was a similar post about every 100 miles along the San Antonio - El Paso trail.

This view across the parade field to the officer's quarters shows the beautiful mountains in the background and the gorgeous sunny day we enjoyed.


The barracks has been partly restored. One section has been converted to a museum of the kinds of equipment the cavalry had in the late 19th century, including such weapons as light artillery and this Gatling gun.


The barracks was laid out as though for inspection, although most military posts would require bunks to be made up and gear stowed.


One bunk had the trooper's dress uniform laid out.


This was one of the posts manned by "Buffalo Soldiers" comprised of African American troops.
The non-commissioned officers were also black men as depicted here.


The Commander's Quarters were in the center house on Officer's row.


When the founding commander retired, he settled in the Fort Davis area.
When the National Parks Service restored the Fort and the Commander's quarters. they donated much of the original furniture. So almost all of what is in the house is the original furniture!


Following the delightful visit to Fort Davis, we commenced the Mountain Loop Drive around to the North and West fo Fort Davis. As it happens, we learned bout this drive in a book which Fr Vince Lampert gave us several years ago "Scenic Drive Across America" by National Geographic.
We learned that NPS had restored the Fort on-line.

The Drive took us up into the mountains (our friends from Colorado will probably laugh at the idea of a 6,000 ft "mountain") past The McDonald Observatory. The remarkably clear skies and lack of pollution in the atmosphere makes this a great location for an observatory.


The scenery from the drive is breathtaking!



Several signs warned of high water. We often saw measuring sticks such as this to alert drivers how many feet of water cover the road!


Our day ended as we drove on into Las Cruces, bidding adieu to the mountains of Fort Davis.


Next: White Sands!