Monday, October 3, 2011

Traveling California South

Leaving Campbell, CA. we headed south on Highway 101. Our plans were to make it to San Diego sometime within the next week; however, we wanted to enjoy the drive and scenery along the California coast. The first day we made it as far as Vandenberg AFB (a long day - 240 miles) where we decided to stay for the night. Up early, around 9AM, we were on the road again and made it all the way to Long Beach, CA. (roughly 180 miles) where we spent a couple days at the Naval Weapons/Ammo base. While in Long Beach why not hop over to Anaheim and visit with Mickey and all his friends at Disney, we did and had a great time. The next day it was over to the island to explore the Queen Mary. What a beautiful ship and her history is really interesting. After a couple days in Long Beach it was on to San Diego for five days, but not before a stop at the famed Spanish Mission of San Juan Capistrano. The mission is best known for the annual "Return of the Swallows" each year on March 19th. The mission has beautiful gardens and old ruins from the old chapel of the 1700's as well as a new church built in 1984.

Although crowded sometimes, Highway 101, which hugs the coast in many places, is one of those highways you should drive if you ever get the opportunity. 101 has a variety of scenery from the ocean, as seen in these two pictures; from huge vegetable farms to magnificent homes hugging the edge of grand mountains overlooking the ocean.

What a beautiful place to skydive...

We used to think they grew a lot of strawberries in Florida; however, we have never seen as many strawberries being grown as we saw in California. Neither have we have ever seen strawberries grown next to the ocean. Eat some fresh strawberries and then take a swin in the ocean. How can it get any better???

We saw field after field of people picking strawberries. We were told that in areas of California they grow strawberries year around.

This is an example of some of the homes you see along Highway 101

Another home along Highway 101

A couple pictures entering Vandenberg AFB.


Not a bad place to spend a few nights. This is a California State Park along highway 101. We wanted to stay here but realized that if we stopped everywhere we wanted too we might never get to San Diego much less get home.


Just another little town on 101 close to Los Angeles. Beautiful beach but cold water. Water temps were in the low 60s

A few shots entering Los Angeles.




This is the "Proud Mary" WHOOPS, I mean the Queen Mary...

Yes they do have cruise ships in California. This one happens to be docked next to the Queen Mary

One of many boat harbors in Long Beach. This one is right across the bay from the Queen Mary

We're here, it's time to board the Queen Mary

Prior to boarding we checked out this World War II Russian sub docked next to the Queen Mary

Long Beach from the upper deck of the Queen Mary.

Another view of Long Beach from the Queen Mary

This is San Juan Capistrano Mission; a very popular mission that is still serving today



Some of the beautiful flowers on the grounds of the Mission

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Campbell, California

Thursday, September 8 we finally made it to Campbell, CA. around 7PM. Campbell is a town of approximately 40 thousand people, not nearly as large as San Jose and some of the other cities in the area; however, it is plenty big enough. In fact, one of the problems we had was determining when we left one town and entered another. Matt, our son and his wife, Shannon live in a section of Campbell within walking distance of the old section of town with many interesting shops and plenty of fine restaurants. We really enjoyed walking to town and dining outside. In the evenings, it was nice to be outside eating and people watching. On Sundays, Campbell blocks off the main street in the old section of town and has a farmers/craft market. The fresh vegetables looked really tasty and the flowers were beautiful. In addition to all the vegetables, flowers and crafts; there were musicians playing throughout the market. You would not believe how many people were at the farmers market.
It reminded us of the Fourth of July parade in Southport, NC. On Monday after a leisurely morning we met Matt and Shannon at Google for lunch. This is always something we look forward to when we visit here. On Tuesday we enjoyed the morning and then a leisurely lunch in downtown Campbell before we left to meet Matt and Shannon at Google for our trip to San Francisco to see a baseball game between the Giants and San Diego Padres. Gypsy really liked Campbell for several reasons; one is that Shannon would play with her and take her on walks, another is that there is a large fenced in yard in back of Matt and Shannon's apartment where she could run wild. Also there was a large dog park very close that provided a great opportunity for her to play with other dogs. For us,probably one of the things we liked most about Campbell, at least the part close to Matt and Shannon's apartment, was how laid back it seemed to be. No one seemed to be in any big hurry like the other places in California we have been. Of course there is the food and we did not miss any opportunities to try what Campbell had to offer, from the sidewalk cafes downtown to the ever famous donut house, "Psycho Donuts". Our time with Matt and Shannon was only nine days and we must say it was a very fast nine days. Like we have always heard, when you are having fun time flies and it surely flew while we were in Campbell...

This was one of our favorite restaurants in Old Campbell. Sonoma Roasted Chicken... However, they had several super specials each day which seemed to lure us back several times.

Another one of our downfalls... Donuts and more donuts... Alaska and Canada was Gigantic cinnamon buns, then to Portland, Oregon to "Voo Doo" donuts and on to Campbell for more DONUTS...

Nothing here looks tempting???

The farmers market in Campbell has to be one of the most beautiful farm markets we have ever been too. The colors of all the different vegetables were so eye-catching we just wanted to sample all of them.

Raspberries anyone

What about some fresh Garbanzo beans?

More nice vegetables

Peppers

Several more pictures of the farmers market

Nice Carrots

Linda likes purple so these flowers made the blog

They even had several kinds of eggs... These are quail eggs

These are just a couple kinds of squash at the market

A couple of Gypsy's "boy" friends she met at the park

From fishing in Alaska to baseball in San Francisco... As Linda said "its tough, but somebody has to do it"

Pictures from AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants


After doing this for over 160 times a year, ever wonder what these guys are talking about this time of the year???



A couple shots of McCovey Bay behind the right field fence


Linda and I are getting desperate, we will try to find a job anywhere...

Somebody along the way told us to go to California you had to have a good reason. We think we have two GREAT reasons!