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We rose early as usual with the usual rush of a travel day. We packed as we dressed and made coffee. There were a few moments when we did not want to leave our happy hotel room bubble. We slowly sipped our coffee, and Deborah got us one last hotel Starbucks breakfast to go with it while we finished our packing and I wrote the blog. Although we will be seeing each other in early July, it was hard to leave our home for the last two weeks and the source of the Magic Kingdom, a beach, the La Brea Tar Pits, and saying goodbye again. We know that every ‘hello’ is also a ‘goodbye.’

One more ride together to the John Wayne Airport. It has just over twenty gates, and the three terminals serve as an organizational device, having no real meaning inside. Deborah and I were surprised by the short trip (last time it was an hour), and I arrived more than four hours early for my later flight, but I couldn’t check my bags. Deborah tried to tell me this, but walked over to terminal B (a short walk), and we waited forty minutes, enjoying more time together. The clock moved forward, and I was able to check my one bag (for free this time, thanks to my Alaska Visa). Deborah and I then enjoyed the security check and managed to not find any mistakes in our packing or new rules. John Wayne is a computer-out-of-your-bag check (Portland is a computer-left-in-bag check), and the security people were amazed by my Star Wars Fifth Order redlighting umbrella. Apparently, they see many light sabers, but few umbrellas. They let me keep it.

I reassembled and balanced, holding on to a table, to complete the re-shoe process. Deborah pointed at a lone chair, but I managed without taking the only chair in the area. She resisted eye-rolling, I believe.

Ruby’s, after the security check, offers an excellent breakfast, if almost too large. While we had food before, it is good to eat when you can while traveling, and Deborah was bouncing back to the Eastern Time Zone, meaning a spare breakfast was her late lunch. Soon, time was running too fast, and it sent us to Deborah’s gate, and a goodbye. Deborah arrived safely in Detroit later. Her planned shuttle got her home without incident.

I bought the book Coffee, Tea, or Me? on my Kindle. This is the republished version from 2003, accompanied by a new introduction. I purchased the book after Deborah and I wondered about the source of the text, “Coffee, Tea or Me?” while we were traveling. I read the book while waiting for my flight, about two hours after Deborah’s. I was getting sleepy and read only some of it, and then on the plane. I boarded the plane without issue and took my window seat. My seatmates ignored me, and I accepted their focus on entertainment on their phones.

My phone dongle, purchased at the airport, did not work. So I had no music or other entertainment. But I nodded off and woke up to get a coffee with cream, and then enjoyed the usual rough air as the plane approached the rivers, mountains, and desert before landing in Portland.

I found my luggage after walking around the security area, a strange feature of the PDX remodel that I do not care for. I managed to keep my hat and my new umbrella and found my checked bag. I schlepped all of that to the MAX and rode the train to Beaverton and beyond.

I read and ignored the loud person in the walker arguing on the phone. My fellow passengers were less happy, and someone left the train, and they visibly relaxed. I was facing the wrong way and oblivious to the risk.

I took the Willowcreek and 195th station, located on the edge of Beaverton and Hillsboro, and ordered an Uber to take me home. I thought about calling Corwin, but he has a motor issue with his truck, and just went with the Uber. Just as the sprinkles started (yes, I was about to unwrap my Fifth Order lightsaber umbrella), the Uber appeared.

I reached the house, and Corwin was there. He watched me unpack as he went over the issues with his truck. I have to admit that it was hard to follow his discussion as I started doing my laundry and unpacking. He made a pasta and shrimp dinner for me (thanks, Corwin). I had some of that. Corwin headed out for food deliveries, needing to raise cash to cover the repairs. I remember when it seemed like you worked just to afford your car repairs and rent. I had some pasta and shrimp and watched a Star Wars show I had seen before, but I thought it was good to watch some after such a long immersion last weekend!

I managed to get one round of laundry done before getting tired. I had cleaned the house before I left, and except for a slight musty smell from being closed up for so long, the house was pleasant. I lit a candle, and soon that faded too.

I crawled into my bed after getting in my PJs and soon slept and did not wake until 6ish, and rolled over to 7.

Thanks for reading!

The day ended here in the Hyatt Regency room 758 in the North Tower, with us tired out, mostly packed, and in bed. Sleep was broken by the usual is-it-time-to-get-up-and-fly worry. Including tomorrow, the trip has been 14 days in California, in Orange County.

We ended the trip on a strange note. Pete, our Uber driver from the La Brea area, offered us mints, water, and changes to the AC for the long journey across LA back to OC. The price to the La Brea Tar Pits was about $60, but with the adjustment for rush hour, our trip back was around $100, as we waited until 7 before ordering a ride in the Uber app. We had to pack, and we were both getting tired. Eventually, we took the first trip for $100 (with some offers for an early time approaching $200).

We walked to The Grove (and discovered that The Farmer’s Market was also there) from the La Brea Tar Pits, as it promised dinner, shopping, a possible movie, and a place to rest. LA is often like one long set of strip malls that never seem to stop. The barred windows and closed shops are frequently mixed with other shops that look excellent. In the Uber we took, we saw that Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue were the end of an interesting neighborhood, featuring food joints and many Jewish services. I may need to take a winter trip and explore this area.

The Farmer’s Market was wonderful, located near The Grove, a high-end mall that seems to appear unexpectedly between lesser strip malls, and featured live music and excellent food. We walked the Market until after getting a more industrial dinner/snack at a higher-end restaurant, sticking primarily to Happy Hour items. Unlike Seattle or Portland, this one was open until 9 at night on work nights. Here is the website: Farmer’s Market Website.

Deborah’s phone was slowly dying. We switched to mine for maps. We walked for about an hour from the La Brea Tar Pits to The Grove and Farmer’s Market. We stopped by Craft Contemporary on our walk to visit their gift shop. We also enjoyed some of the LA County Museum of Art’s outdoor pieces (it was getting too late to get a ticket for LACMA).

Before all this, we took a cheaper Uber (the driver did not speak much English) for the seventy-minute trip to La Brea Tar Pits. It was a comfortable ride, but we initially did not spot the car at the hotel, and then we saw a car just waiting (it went from three minutes to there in seconds on the app). We arrived in the La Brea area, crossing from Orange County to Los Angeles. While traveling, we noticed a considerable amount of smoke in downtown LA, and we later learned it was not protests but a local fire. Getting out of the car, we immediately noticed the billboards for Smerfs and the smell of tar. I am not sure how they are connected.

The stuff is, as advertised, oozing out of the ground, and when we walked over some of the grass, it had a spongy feeling that got us to remain on the paths. There were also signs to keep your pets leashed, which in this area was a good idea. The owner and pet could become part of a permanent exhibit!

We were walking in one area, and a stake used to close off the area, which resembled a rain ditch, had the black substance come out of the ground. It would not be a place I would want to tread. There were also multiple pits of the black stuff and a lake of groundwater pooled over the sticky stuff. There were some models of mammoths stuck in the tar to add to the drama. It all smelled of petroleum and worse.

The museum is a collection of bones reassembled and descriptions of all the now-extinct animals that once roamed the area. The sabertoothed cat, a tiger, and giant elephants were reassembled and even modeled in life-like reconstructions. Even insects, fish, and birds fell to the stickiness.

There was a colossal skull, tusks, and the staff in a lab washing and cleaning more of the elephant-like bones. Wow! I got some postcards and a book on the history of the area. It was all interesting. I have always wanted to see this place where the goo pops out of the ground.

Once we had enjoyed enough of the bones, goo, and looking at the pits, we discovered a Mexican place nearby. There we had some chips and a few drinks. We rested for a bit, and the bartenders were friendly.

And from there we headed to The Grove, not knowing the Farmer’s Market was in the same area. That closes the circle. Thanks for reading!

Headed home on Friday. Deborah is flying back to the Detroit area, and I am headed to Beaverton, Oregon.

Joyce Hill, Susie’s aunt and the supplier of Zabar’s bagels to me all these years, passed away unexpectedly, and I will be heading to celebrate her life next week. When I write this blog, I always think of her reading it and all the fun comments she would make. I will miss her!

 

 

We went slow in the morning with breakfast acquired by Deborah from Starbucks. I rose at about 7 with Deborah up earlier and making coffee. We had a 12:40 Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel. It was a hot day in Anaheim (much more comfortable, to our surprise, at Huntington Beach), and we decided to get an Uber to Goofy’s Character Breakfast (and I just learned that Uber dropped the Ü, ugh!).

We arrived early and were able to explore and shop again. I have not been at these hotels in years, and it was interesting to see how they have been renewed for a new group of guests. They did not seem faded anymore. Like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” they now seem like a historical item that you enjoy seeing preserved and still in use.

(Later at the beach)

We were not the only adult couple in line for the Character Breakfast and were joyfully received and treated well by the cast members. Goofy greeted us for a photo (complimentary), and then we were seated, and soon Chip and Dale visited us. Pluto was also there and was happy to stop by (the sous-chef we learned). Minni Mouse would stop by later with repeat visits from the others.

Deborah finally got her Micky Mouse waffles (only available on the kids’ menu so far). The spread was a mix of lunch and breakfast, with lots of sweet offerings for anyone who wanted chocolate cake for breakfast. The bread pudding was excellent. The food, although buffet-style, was well-prepared and served in smaller portions. I got lots of things on two smaller plates; it seemed to fit the theme. Deborah was enchanted, and we both found our inner kids were happy and jumped up to see the next character. Goofy’s Character Breakfast is recommended.

 

We got a taxi driven by an East African immigrant, Osmon, back to our hotel. He waited for us for no charge. Osmon was happy to drive us to Huntington Beach and regaled us about the area and the cost of houses. While his trip cost more than an Uber, the car was comfortable, and it felt safe. The distance is about the same as the airport, and so the price was what we paid for our first ride – not cheap, but not terrible.

(To my surprise, this is not a joke sign. Apparently, chumming near the beach is considered unwise for the swimmers and surfers)

We called to be dropped off at Huntington Beach, and Osmon got us there without issue. It was another perfect California day, but the breeze was cool near the Pacific, and we did not feel the sun strike us while on the pier or on the beach. We walked the pier to the end and sat inside at the Broad Street Oyster Company and had some cold Diet Cokes and shared a bowl of clam strips and watched the folks fishing.

I saw a splash and a flash of white. The beach was shut down a few days ago after a Great White was seen jumping out of the water. Soon, there were more splashes, and it was two pods of Dolphins, apparently fishing too. It was an absolute joy to see them. Not a shark.

We walked back down the pier with Deborah and I investing in a few more items at a shop. We then walked the long march to the sea after removing our shoes, and for me, my socks as well. The bag for all the items purchased soon held our footwear.

The waves were tall enough to be over the heads of folks standing on the sand. We stayed in the shallows, but a few times the water splashed us good. At first, it seemed cold, but soon it was a comfort. Not Oregon’s cold Pacific waters that hurt to stand in.

We walked on the beach, and some folks were catching mole crabs (I know them as sand fleas). Deborah got to touch one and then saw how they dig in and realized they are everywhere in the surf. It is one of my favorite things to watch in the surf (from a distance in the cold Pacific Northwest waters). It was a marvelous time in the light surf.

We tried Fred’s Mexican Food for lunch/dinner. We were in the sun and we both felt off. We are unsure whether it was the heat, the margaritas, or the food. The Uber back was not well air-conditioned, and that did not improve things.

I spent the rest of the early evening with my colon demonstrating how much it could hold (and release) and nearly reversing the mararita process (which would have been most unpleasant). I managed to recover without causing a mess. Deborah and I just read, napped, and finally slept.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

We again had no plans that required an early start, and I managed to drag out the start of our day, making coffee, until just around 7. It was another bright day in California, with the clouds burning off quickly, and the temperature reached a hot 86°F (30°C). We decided to have breakfast at the hotel’s buffet, as it was convenient, and the omelet service was excellent. I had a bit of everything: some smoked salmon, some yogurt, a poached egg on ham with Hollandaise sauce, and pastries. Expensive, but still good, and some options are better than the usual industrial breakfast I get for free at some places.

We planned only one item for the day, and that was an Über trip to the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. There resided the famous helicopter that was used by the presidents in the late 1960s and early 70s, with the image of Nixon at the end of his time as President at the helicopter still in my memory (though the TV was black and white–I remember it in color from all the later photos and newsreels). I was also hoping to get some postcards and small Nixon tchotchkes (yes, I have to look up how to spell that every time).

The ride was complex, as two or more Uber drivers rejected our trip because it was headed to a less touristy and business-oriented area, Yorba Linda. We finally got a driver and took the thirty-minute trip to the library. We passed by the A’s baseball stadium on the way. The traffic was heavy but fast-moving (and a bit crazy). I missed driving the Air VW the Gray in LA traffic (despite the craziness that is LA driving), but the cost and extra time were prohibitive.

Aside: For those EV enthusiasts, four hotel nights and a $40-per-day hotel charge are required to pick up and keep the car here. Charging when not using the Free CalTrans stops is about a $37 charge. I only drive eight hours, and it is 20+ to get home to Beaverton. Meaning two extra days on the start and end of the trip. However, it is still an incredible drive.

The Nixon Presidential Library was neat and organized (not quite my image of his Presidency). The Pat Nixon Rose Garden reminded me of the White House and Mrs. Nixon, who seemed to be everywhere at once during their stay. Both the late president and Pat are buried there, and we were surprised to find that the house where Nixon was born is still standing and has been incorporated into the library and museum. The parking lot and house are the original Nixon farm, and the house was built by his father from a kit.

The helicopter was showing signs of needing some care, and I learned that it would soon be shipped back to an Air Force facility for protection and refurbishment. The sitting out in the sun here had caused it to age quickly. I was told that the Presidential library is trying to fund the building of an indoor place for the helicopter and a cafeteria. I mentioned that the Chicago museums had to do the same with U-505, which had aged poorly in the open elements and is now protected underground, looking quite impressive and fully restored. We took some photos of ourselves by the helicopter.

Next, we were going backwards, which startled the docents (we had planned to go outside first, as the day promised to be hot), to the house. I was initially unimpressed, as it appeared to be the same as many historical homes I have visited, and populated with items just to fill up the space. However, we learned that 90% of the items were retrieved from storage, and we were able to see the actual items the family used. Wow! The musical instruments were the ones that the family (including Richard Nixon) used. The house had been partially rebuilt, but the lines were still there (the most you can hope for from this period). The docent shared that one of the president’s brothers explained to her that it was not Richard’s violin but the one he borrowed from his brother.

After that, we took the more typical tour of a politician’s life, except that the items were mostly real. We also noticed that Nixon’s bad moments were less of a focus (such as his poor showing in the first televised Presidential debates). We learned that during World War II, Nixon was a scrounger (his own words) and created Nick’s Snack Shop to provide burgers and beers for the troops in transition while he was involved in transportation for the Pacific War. Later, we were told, folks wondered what happened to Nick.

The rise of Nixon was a mix of successes and failures, reaching unprecedented heights, and then making terrible choices in Vietnam and on the world stage. Watergate is covered, as is the 18 1/2-minute gap in the famous tapes. Apparently, the tape still exists, and advanced recovery efforts have yet to locate the lost words, but there is hope, according to the library, that someday technology will enable recovery. I can see a new Kaggle contest starting for this someday, when a careful scan of the tape is released to the public.

Deborah sat in the Oval Office behind the recreated Wilson Desk while I got her the phone. We saw photos later that matched the reconstruction. Always a treat, I understand, at Presidential Libraries.

The displays were well done and worth multiple trips, I thought. We were tired from walking and skipped the additional shows on Ancient Egypt and another one on Women’s Rights. There is also music on the weekends.

All the Docents were dressed in suits or dresses that would be suitable for a White House reception. The gift store had a range of gifts, but the huge, nearly $40 bobble-head Nixon was not coming home with me. I picked up some small items and a pile of postcards. I buy strangely themed mints, and a pack of Nixon Now! mints seemed to fit my memory of the place.

An Über soon had us back, but it was nearly 2 and we had no food (yes, they need a cafeteria at the Nixon Library). I had a nap after we picked up Starbucks for sandwiches (with my grilled cheese upgraded to ham and cheese as they were out of just cheese). We spent the afternoon relaxing.

Buca di Beppo was a place I had always wanted to try, but the food portions were family-sized and not suitable for two people. We decided we could reheat some later. It was just a block walk, and the heat at 6:30 was down to the low 80s. We were happy to get the kitchen table and watch the food preparation as well as to talk to the staff while they worked. They seemed pleased to have an audience.

I was shocked by the size of the servings. I do not have that many bowls of that size at my house! I wish we had one in our area, as the leftovers would be great for a week!

We ordered some wine, the smaller salad (we took half back with us), enough garlic bread to feed three tables, and three full-sized stuffed chicken breasts. All the food was flavorful and well-made. We had no pasta items, but the baked items were tasty.

Stuffed we returned, managed to reorgaznie the frig and contain our wealth of leftovers, and soon were sleeping early. Just two full days remaining of our trip. And while we have loved the time together, home is calling us both back. But we will be in Iceland and the Detroit area in July.

Thanks for reading.

We did not get up early on Monday, and we did not rush off to Disney. We spent a relaxing morning together and did not head to Downtown Disney until 10ish. We did rise again around 6:30 with coffee made in our room. This is our compromise wake-up time between East and West Coast times. The coffee, this is a Hyatt in Orange County, is a liberal and a rainforest-supporting brand pod with a little green stamp on it. Love the taste of liberal in the morning!

We pre-ordered our items at Starbucks, and I dressed and picked them up. We enjoyed them, cleaned up, enjoyed some time together, and then headed out. We were going to use the Orange County bus system, but the shuttle had a 15-minute wait, and somehow we still had passes for it. We took the mid-morning bus with folks who had started later to Disney and were buried under a load of kids, strollers, and various water and food items. Deborah smiled and remembered those days with the kids in Florida.

We got off the bus and walked towards Downtown Disney for lunch and some shopping. We also took pictures of folks in front of the various signs and displays. We were relaxed and not in a hurry. We soon found the huge Disney store, which had everything except for the 70th anniversary Starbucks cups and the bottle openers we had seen in the park. Deborah found some gifts, and we both had a cold chicken salad and Diet Coke, which came to over $70. Yes, we were still in Anaheim!

Deborah found something at the Star Wars shop and resisted the Legos. It was 84°F (29°C), and our feet and legs reminded us that the rest we purported to be having on Monday was not quite restful. Yesterday was our easiest day, with my iPhone recording just under 12,000 steps. We headed to the shuttle and, after a short wait, caught the shuttle back. The loading and unloading of families differed, as the children were either sleeping or sleepy. The driver said, “Enjoy your nap,” as we unloaded.

We napped and rested a while. I acquired more postcards at the hotel store as they are the most varied and cheapest ones I have found so far in the Orange County area. However, I finally saw Disney postcards, but they were small copies of art and cost $15 each! I did not acquire any.

We were ready to try the bus, but the shuttle was available, so we took it instead. We then walked out of Disney and headed to the Garden Walk Anaheim outdoor mall. There, we learned that the House of Blues is open Thursday to Sunday — it was closed. There is also an AMC movie theater, and we chose the Cheesecake Factory, as Deborah had not eaten there before. I startled Deborah by picking seats at the bar, my usual, and we then ordered Happy Hour drinks and potstickers as Deborah’s meal. I opted for the “skinny” menu’s beef medallions. We also tried the Key Lime Cheesecake. Deborah was surprised by the vast array of cheesecake options for the first time.

We bought tickets for the 7:15 showing at AMC for the new John Wick movie (going backwards in the story and landing between films three and four in the series), Ballerina. While we liked it, Deborah thought that the movie lost its momentum towards the end, with repetitive fight scenes that did not advance the plot. I agreed with Deborah, there was seemingly endless playing with flame throwers to impress the audience, but after a few uses, some story elements could have been added. But a fun movie, and it was nice to see the World of John Wick brought back.

We found the mall nearly empty, and with it, the complex ups and downs seemed like they would erupt at any moment, with John Wick of the Ballerina appearing. But we made it out safe. We found an OC Bus and managed to make the tickets work. The bus driver was unhelpful and even unfriendly.

We were home and in bed, our latest at 11ish. Sleep came fast.

Thanks for reading. Sorry, I forgot to take any helpful pictures on Monday.