Hildene – The Lincoln Family Home (Manchester, VT) – May 2015

4 May 2015:  HILDENE

Back in Senior Year in high school, I had a “personal enrichment” class called Humanities which had field trips to a number of historical and culturally significant areas in the region.  Hildene was one of the places visited.  Of course the memories of those trips are fleeting due to age and the raging hormones of youth disrupting all normal brain activity.  Nevertheless, this was on the list of places I’d been wanting go back to.

During one of the visits to the area when Lee was still with me (I think this was when we’d gone to the Clark Museum or the Bennington Battle Monument), we’d passed a sign that mentioned it, and Mum mentioned that she’d never been there at all.  I noted that was place to go on a later visit.  Sure it was a little later than planned, but when I was preparing for my yearly visit, I told Mum that Hildene was on the top of my list.

As we traveled south on Route 7A to reach Hildene, we passed the Equinox Resort.  While that seems like a trivial comment now, we learned later that’s where the Lincoln family was staying when Robert Todd Lincoln (the only son of President Abraham Lincoln to survive to adulthood) became enamored with the area.  The short film at the Visitor’s Center provided that info, as well as Robert Todd Lincoln’s connection to the Pullman Car Company, so be sure to watch those first.  (As a quick aside, the Pullman Car on the premises was a recent addition, thus something I wouldn’t have seen on my first visit.)

The tour starts with the main house, and the downstairs contains the dining room, kitchen, and sitting room.  Because the house was occupied by Lincoln’s descendants up until the late 1970’s, there were things which have been updated.  That is most notable in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Beyond that, the house has been restored to what it looked like when Robert Todd Lincoln lived there.

One room on first floor was the servant’s quarters.  What was amusing about it was the edges of the floor were only finished, so the rest of the bare wood was covered by an area rug in the center.  As most of the rooms have ropes across the entrances, you can only look into them, as opposed to being able to manipulate any of the artifacts inside.

The foyer has an old-style pipe organ which plays tunes off of paper rolls.  This was placed in here when the house was designed, as the pipes could be found on the landing of the stairs up to the second floor.  Our host let the organ play for a few minutes in order to give us an idea of how the house was filled with sound.  The small couch at the landing (between the pipes) was a wild place to sit and listen to the music.  See, even back during the Gilded Age people had hearing damage due to loud music.

Upstairs were other bedrooms, including the parlor of his wife Mary, and the room dedicated to Mary Lincoln Beckwith (who was the last surviving member of the family, and the last person to live in the house).  Mary Beckwith was an avid painter, and had other interests like photography and aviation.  The upper levels have more of the “updated” feel, as opposed to the ground floors which have the “original” décor.

At the rear of the home was where the Formal Gardens were.  The pattern was clearly visible, even though no plants had bloomed yet.  It had just begun to warm up, so it’d be a couple weeks before those were out in full bloom.

Off of the Garden was a section which overlooked the fields and wetlands along the Battenkill River, and was where a large portion of the 400 acres attached to the home were.

A gate (which I expected to be locked) yielded an interesting little surprise.  It lead to some stairs to a small cliff with a viewing area overlooking the valley.  While I’m sure when this was still a residence a small breakfast table was set up here, but for me today, it was a place to have some fun.  Look at me holding up the rock over-hang.  >grin<

Also on the grounds was a gazebo, which was a short walk from the main house (and really wasn’t that impressive), and a small observatory.  I’d venture to guess this was constructed for Mary Beckwith’s use, as the interior was very similar to Lowell Observatory I’d visited back in Flagstaff, AZ.  The telescope inside was small, but I’m sure the small amount of light pollution in the area.

I happened to notice a path which went off into the woods, and I took a quick moment to check it out.  What I discovered a set of stones erected to be the Hildene Award Honors.  As the trail continued on, there was a marker (made up of a pile of stones) to show the recipient for that year’s award.  That’s a hidden gem you’ll only locate if you explore off the main areas of the property.

Robert Todd Lincoln spent many years associated with the Pullman Car Company, and even served as their Vice President.  With that in mind, the group which maintained Hildene wanted to find a Pullman Car, and make that part of the museum.  That was done in 2011, when a car was located in the southern United States, restored, and transported here.  From the visitor’s center, it’s a short walk to where it rests now.

This car was known as “Sunbeam,” and dates from 1903, so it’s a fitting addition to the museum.  It sets in an area designed to look like a train stop where this type of car would pull up to.

Inside was spacious sitting areas which converted to sleeping spaces for those affluent people who were able to travel across country during the late 1800’s.  The front of the car had a small gallery where two servants would prepare meals, and they had bunks there too.

During this period, those who could afford to travel used the train for longest portion of the trip.  Their days were spent socializing, drinking, smoking cigars, playing board games, and looking out the window.

This was very interesting to see, from the way the seats converted to bunks to the hand-carved wood ornate trim inside the area.  What was even more amazing was the restoration of the “Sunbeam” was done using the same tools and techniques utilized when it was originally built.

From there, a shuttle will take you the Rowland Agricultural Center, which is technically part of the museum complex.  Here is a small goat farm, where their milk is harvested to make a variety of cheese products.  Everything needed to create the cheese is on the premises, and the building is self-sustaining with a large number of solar panels on the roof to provide power.

Those are the major areas of the grounds, and what could be seen within a couple hours.  As the site covers over 400 acres, that means there’s miles of hiking trails which cross-cross the area.  Exploring all the pathways could take an entire day, so have a picnic lunch handy.

This is one of those places which was so close to me when I lived in the region, it never occurred to me to take an afternoon drive back over.  And even on subsequent visits to the area (after I moved to another time-zone), there was always something else which was higher on my list to see.  My recommendation is spend the day exploring the Green Mountain region of Vermont, and this is a good place to start the day.

For more information on the places visited or mentioned:

Clark Museum (Williamstown, MA):  http://www.clarkart.edu/

Bennington Battle Monument:  http://www.benningtonbattlemonument.com/

Hildene:  http://www.hildene.org/

Equinox Resort (Manchester, VT):  http://www.equinoxresort.com/

Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, AZ):  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Observatory

Hildene Award Honors:  http://visitmanchestervt.com/events/hildene-award-luncheon/

Pullman Car Company:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Company

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Mount Bonnell (Austin, TX) -- April 2015

Mount Bonnell -- 19 April 2015

After we left the open house at Camp Mabry, the weather was nice, and there was still time left in the day, so I recommended to my friend that we go up Mt Bonnell.  She’d never been up there, and this would be my fourth (each time with different people, for those of you who know the myth).  A lot of others apparently had a similar thought that day, as there were quite a lot of cars in the area.  Another reason why I wanted to make a return visit because on my previous visit I remembered seeing the monument at the summit damaged, and I wondered if there had been anything done to address that.

One of the first things I noticed which was new was the informational plaque next to the base of the stairs.  It looked like there was a restoration project going on.  My friend and I decided to race up the steps for fun.  My longer legs allowed me to take two at a time and I quickly reached the top with a great workout.  My friend threw in the towel after the 20^th step, and slowly came up the rest of the way.

The reason why there were so many cars became clear as a couple had chosen the top to be the location for their wedding.  I thought that was really nice.  What I also so was nice was the monument had been encased in a wire cage to prevent further damage from being done to it.  It hasn’t been repaired, but there was a picture which showed what it used to look like.  I attached one from my 2007 visit for comparison.

Since it had rained recently, some of the observation points where you could see the city skyline were a bit muddy, but it didn’t ruin our enjoyment of it.

Once we’d come back to the main area, the main phase of the wedding had passed, so we were able to look out the southward view without being obtrusive.  Looking at this section of the Colorado River, you wouldn’t think we’re under a drought condition (as evident by the low levels a short distance upriver at Mansfield Dam).  I did point out to my friend that this was a section of Austin where the “money” lived.

As we moved to the section to the right of the stairs, the view upriver became clearer.  I pointed out the crescent bridge of 360 which crossed the river.  In addition to the wedding guests, there were a number of people who were out enjoying the view on this nice day.

I showed my friend that instead of taking the stairs back down, we could walk the longer trail which paralleled the river, and eventually brought us back to the road.  From there it was just a short walk back to the car.  For those wishing to ascend to the summit in a less-intensive way, this might be a good option.

If you haven’t been, you get off Mopac on 35^th Street, and go west past the entrance to Camp Mabry.  You’ll see sign for Mt. Bonnell Road which, obviously, you’ll take.  Accelerate as much as you can past the water treatment plant, because after you make a hard turn you’ll be heading up a very steep hill that will tax your engine.  You have been forewarned.  When leaving, if you go the same way, then you’ll want to be in low gear, as not to ride your brakes all the way down.  Alternately, you could drive northward past Bright Leaf Preserve and come out on 2222 near St. Theresa’s Church.

For more information on the places visited or mentioned:

            Mount Bonnell:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Bonnell

Bright Leaf Preserve:  http://www.brightleaf.org/

Camp Mabry Open House (Austin, TX) -- April 2015

Camp Mabry Open House – 19 April 2015

Every year Camp Mabry hosts the Texas Military Forces Open House, and my friend had never been there.  Due to the threat of rain on Saturday, we passed on going that day.  (The rain held off the entire weekend, by the way.)  It was still overcast Sunday morning when we arrived right as it opened at 10am, but that soon burned off to be a bright sunny day.  Like last time, we had to flash our ID’s at the gate, and there were enlisted personnel directing traffic to the parking lot.  Since we got there early, I was able to grab one of the few shady spots.

Because I’d spoken to most of the vendors near the parade grounds the previous year, I didn’t stop and talk to them (other than the booth for the Austin Fire Department).  Also, there weren’t too many people present, so I knew this was the best time to go over and see the helicopters.  Once the crowds got too thick, and it got to the hottest part of the day, we could go inside the Texas Military Forces Museum to get out of the sun.

There were a few ground vehicles (like a Humvee and mobile rocket launcher) we went by to reach the helicopters.  The Blackhawk had its side doors open, and visitors were allowed to climb inside the back (not the pilot section), sit down, and strap in.  The safety harness had five buckles which slid in easily to a central lock, but the amusement was to see how easily you could get out of it.  I knew it already, but my friend had a little difficulty.  I jokingly asked the officer if we could go for a ride, and he said if it was up to him he would provide them.

We then headed over to the Apache sitting next down the path.  Once again the cockpit of this attack helicopter was secured so we couldn’t go inside.  Since I’d seen someone sitting on the edge of the cockpit, I decided to climb up to do the same.  There were foot and hand-holds for pilot to get in, and I used those.  I also figured out that once I’d get to the desired position, it’d be difficult to get down.  I decided to hang off the edge instead.

My friend figured out a better way to climb up so she could sit the edge, like I tried to do.  She also then had some difficulty in figuring out how to get down.  It took a few extra moments of “Now put your foot there” before she was back on the ground.  She then commented she knew why I didn’t go all the way up.

The dual-bladed transport C-40 was the next piece of flying hardware there.  We entered in the rear of the vehicle, and walked up to the cockpit area.  One of the pilots had his tablet with him, so he could show video of this helicopter in action.

On the side of the parade field closest to Mopac is where there’s decommissioned items permanently on display, like a Sabre jet or a Huey.  This was also where the Memorial Wall had been set up.  This was divided up by each conflict (World War I, Gulf War, etc.) showing the names of National Guard members who perished in the line of duty.

What I liked was the “battlefield grave marker” made up of the helmet sitting on the rifle embedded into the ground, flanked by the boots.

After we rounded back to the side of the parade grounds we started at, we checked out some of the light arms which were available to be inspected.  While visitors got to hold unloaded rifles (without an ammo clip in sight), we allowed to dry-fire some of the .50 caliber weapons.  It was enough to get an idea of what the recoil would be like had it fired a real round.

There were also some Jeeps and small vehicles near there too.  While my friend laughed at the desert-colored military bicycle…

…I laughed at the “survival kit” for the WWII-era troops going into France, which included a bottle of wine.  I took a picture of that for my Mum.

We briefly looked at the tanks and APC’s (Armored Personnel Carriers) located at Artillery Row, and then went over to partake in some of the Earth Day celebrations which were going on.

We raced solar cars, tossed bean bags for a chance to win a water bottle, and then painted a fish to make a take-home print.  Since the paint was wet, these were hung up to dry, and we’d come back for them later.  I took a picture of mine, and texted it to Henry, to let him know his daughter would be getting this.  (As a side note, when we did come back at the end of the day, someone had taken my fish picture, thinking it was theirs.  Bummer, no real loss, but it would’ve been nice to follow through on the promise to Caitlin.)

Next we quickly ducked into the actual Military Forces Museum to get out of the sun.  A guide in the museum mentioned how the 36^th Infantry Division (the unit which this museum was dedicated to) was made up of both Oklahoma Territory and State of Texas individuals during World War I, and used the Indian tribes to communicate with each other to confuse the Germans.  This was the forerunner of the Code Talker program used during WWII.  It was only after the conclusion of WWI, when Oklahoma gained statehood, that the unit then became completely comprised of Texans.

We didn’t stay in the Museum proper for much longer, only because that’s something which could be visited at any time.  There were events scheduled to happen outside, and we wanted to watch those.  After grabbing something to drink from one of the vendors, we went back to the parade grounds, where we were able to watch some parachuters descend in.  And a few moments later, the C-40 lifted off.

A Blackhawk was part of two additional demonstrations.  One was it being used in a rescue operation, which a person being lowered down by winch to target, secure them, and reel them back into the helicopter.  This is the technique used to retrieve people suck out on the water, flood zones, or remote areas.

A second demonstration had a couple police cars chasing a truck to a stand-off.  As the Blackhawk hovered nearby, a small tactical unit repelled down a rope to move in, and secure the target.

Since the next outdoor event was due to start over an hour later, and was over at the “small pond area,” we stopped by my car to grab the umbrella.  Because I knew what to expect, I recommended we head down early, so we could get a spot on the limited bleacher space available.  We were able to get a nice centered area on the highest bench, so we’d have the best view of the action.

A gentleman who was part of the reenactment group explained how this would be a representation of a battle between the advancing US forces and the defending Germans during the Italian campaign.  It was going to be “time compressed” for the demonstration, as the real thing would take over a few hours (and cover a wider area).  Still, even with the blank rounds going to be used, the audience was told how loud it would be.  Earplugs were handed out to everyone.

The demonstration had been choreographed and practiced, but that was done so the majority of the action took place on the side of the hill facing the audience.  The German troops were dug-in, and we got to watch American tanks shell provide cover fire as US G.I.’s rushed the positions.  The battle climaxed with the disabling of the enemy tanks and capture of a German officer.  The whole demo lasted about thirty minutes or so, and it was enough to give an idea of how an actual battle would unfold.

The open house would last for another or two, but we decided this was the time to leave, before the traffic got too heavy.  We’d seen the major events which were only being done that day, and knew we could return on a weekend in order to finish exploring the actual museum.  Even though it ended up being sunny and hot today, it turned out to be a great day to enjoy the experience.

For more information on the places visited or mentioned:

Camp Mabry:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Mabry

Military Forces Museum:  http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/about-us/

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Some Random Places in Austin (TX) -- March 2015

Thunderbird Coffee (Manor Road, Austin) – March 2015

Tucked away off Manor Road is a building which looks like it used to be a residence.  Considering the area, it probably once was.  The footprint for the area means parking is extremely limited if you’re coming there to meet friends.  If you can park someone else and walk there, that’s probably better.  The interior is quaint and quiet, a perfect place to unwind.  The side lot has picnic tables where you can socialize, but the busy road makes it noisy.

Service was good, and the staff were very friendly.  The cup of hot chocolate I got came in what I expected would be used for a soup bowl.  It was filled to brim too, so when I was walking to the outdoor area, I thought sure I was going to spill it.  It tasted very good.

If you’re anywhere within walking distance of this establishment, it’s a good place to go.

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Taco Cabana (Mopac & Parmer)

I generally avoid national chains, but when my friend said she wanted to take me there, I’ll go.  For being a Friday evening, it wasn’t that busy, which I found surprising.  The parking lot seemed full, but that could’ve been because some of those vehicles were parked for the nearby businesses which shared the lot.  We sat on the outside patio for a short time, until the intensity of the wind sent us inside.

I wasn’t overly hungry, so I ordered the chicken fajita bowl.  It was a fried tortilla shell molded into a bowl shape, but it was still served in a plastic counterpart.  There wasn’t much meat on it, when comparing it to the ratio of the rice, but it was still filling.  My friend ordered the steak fajita dinner, and received a huge amount of food.  Needless to say, she ended up getting a take-home box.

I found the food average, but my friend liked it.  And at the end of the evening, that was what was important.

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Fuddrucker’s (IH-35, Round Rock)

My friend wanted to take me out for a burger, and this was his destination of choice.  I’ve found better burgers from local establishments in the area, but today it was his choice.  I ordered a grill chicken BBQ sandwich on wheat bun, and a side of chili cheese fries.  The piece of meat I received was respectable size, although the sauce wasn’t very “bold” in flavor.  The fries had a generous helping of chili on it, although there could’ve been a little more cheese on it.  Overall, it ended up being a not bad meal.

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Zoe’s Kitchen (University Blvd, Round Rock)

We were looking for a relatively quick place for a sit-down dinner, and since we were in the area, we opted for something we hadn’t tried yet.  The menu has selections of soups, sandwiches, and some entrees.  We ended up both getting the chicken kabobs, which came with rice and a Greek salad.  I was worried about getting too much food, and she was worried about not getting enough.

Each entrée had two skewers with chicken chunks, tomatoes, and peppers for the kabobs.  After pulling everything off the skewers, it turned out to be a rather small amount of meat.  The bed of rice was decent sized, but the salad portion took half the plate.  Thought everything was prepared well, although the salad wasn’t I wasn’t too crazy about it.  My friend thought hers was okay.

In the end, we had a satisfying dinner, but we were still hungry afterwards.  For a lunch destination, I think this would be good (especially for the businesses in the area), but it’s not as impressive as a dinner locale.

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Verts Kebap (Anderson Lane)

I’d never been to this location before, but I’d had a good experience at a companion location, so when my friend couldn’t figure out where to have lunch, I was able to suggest this with confidence.  One of the high marks for this was that we didn’t have to wait in line for an hour in order to be even be seated (unlike a so-so burger place nearby).  The interior here was neat, there was a nice mural on the wall to give it a “uniquely Austin” feel, and a small patio for outside.

I got the chicken salad, which was a great option for me as I try not to have bready-things in my diet.  The mix of meat and veggies in a bowl could be eaten with a fork, in order to keep my hands clean.  My friend wasn’t as hungry, and just went for the fries.  He really liked the atmosphere.  Even when the place was filled with people later on, it didn’t get that noisy.

There’s a lot of parking in the plaza, but with so many businesses sharing it, it can be tough to find a space.  The selection for dining choices are numerous on Anderson Lane, and a few here.  This is one of the ones you should go, especially if you’ve never been here before.

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Game Plan (Freidrich Ln, Austin)

When the management team was looking for a place to do a team-builder function, this came up as a good suggestion.  Located in an office park, the building doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the interior was want counts here.  Dozens of arcade games (many from the classic 1980’s period) were available to play, along with a pool table, air hockey, ping pong, and shuffleboard.  A couple of additional side rooms contain various console systems each connected to their own monitor in order to provide a different style of gaming.

All the games were set for “free-play,” so there was no need to carry a pocket-full of quarters.  The entrance fee paid allows for the continuous use of the games.  The version of Gauntlet was on, but not set in playable mode.  That, and the water fountains not working, were my only quibbles.

We were there in the early afternoon, so the team had the entire place to ourselves.  I can see how this would fill up on the evenings, as the location was very accessible and there was plenty of parking.  No refreshments were available on site, but arrangements could be made for large groups for items to be brought in.  It was a good venue, and one which is worth returning to.

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Some Random Places in Southern California -- February 2015

Hyatt Place (Riverside, CA) – February 2015

Because of the good experiences I had on my previous visits, I made sure to book here when I was going to be in the area again.  The cost to park is a little extra, but it’s really not too bad when you consider the lot is set aside for guests only (not a public lot).  If you’re going to be here more than a couple days, the cost could add up, but it’s convenient.  I was greeted with a friendly smile at the front desk, and an issue at check-in was quickly resolved.  An error had appeared on my reservation which placed me in a handicap-accessible room.  Since that wasn’t something I needed, I asked to be moved to a room which didn’t have that feature (in order to free it up for someone who did need it).

Every room I’ve stayed here has been similar to the ones before.  This was nice not to have an adjoining room, and enjoy a king bed this time.  Previous visits had given me a view of the pool area, but this time I got to see the street.  The lounge area was convenient to put my suitcase on.  On my previous visit, the Director of Sales (Donna) had left a cookie and card addressed to me specifically in the room as a nice gesture.  Because of the room swap I did, the front desk mentioned the treats from Donna would have to be dropped over later.

As my stay here isn’t very long, I haven’t had the opportunity to take advantage of the outdoor pool or the exercise room.  The bed was comfortable, the room clean, and I was again satisfied with the quality.  The only suggestion I have is the breakfast having some more protein items available.  Between the French toast, muffins, and cereal, there’s a lot of bread items, and there’s a decent selection of fruit.  I just wonder if some scrambled eggs could be added just to give some variety.  That’s my only quibble, and not something which would keep me from returning here.  This has become my preferred hotel when I stay in the Riverside area.

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Java Bakery Café (Lake Forest, CA)

While looking for a place to have lunch before meeting my client, I drove around the area and chanced upon this place.  The “grand opening” sign visible from the road meant this was an opportunity to try something new, in more ways than one.  Located in the corner of a strip center, not only was there decent amounts of parking, but the building design allowed for some outdoor seating in a shaded area.

There was quite a large selection of soup and sandwich options on the menu, and well as a number of coffee variations.  I ordered a BBQ chicken pinani, with chips and a fountain beverage, and ate outside on the patio.  BBQ things tend to be a little messy, which I knew going in, but it was not overly so.  The sandwich was very good, and made a perfect filling quick lunch.

The layout of the building made the interior long and narrow, and the interior seats were spaced along that.  It made it a little congested between those ordering, those picking up, and those moving through to other parts of the establishment.  There was only a single bathroom for the patrons, which was in use the entire time I was there.  I would’ve liked to have been able to wash my hands after eating.

From the location near a residential area, and the variety on the menu, I can envision this as doing good business all the time.  The next time I’m in the area, I look forward to coming back here.

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Flame Broiler (Redlands, CA) – February 2015

Work brings me out to this area, and there isn’t too many places nearby to go for lunch.  With the road construction on Alabama Street (which has been going on for months), it makes it difficult to go anywhere for a “quick lunch.”  This was within a short walk from my client’s job site, and we were able to walk there quicker than we would’ve been able to drive there.  Hard to tell if this construction has impacted business at all.

I went for the chicken bowl (without veggies), and loaded it up with the “special sauce.”  That basically turned the plain brown rice to something with a teriyaki glaze which actually made it taste a lot better.  As far as a lunch meal goes, it was filling, and that’s what it needed to be.

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Jimmy John’s (Costa Mesa, CA) – February 2015

The reason for going here was because it was next to my client’s location, and I didn’t have to cross many busy lanes of traffic to get here.  This place advertises themselves as “being fast,” which comes from having a pretty limited menu and allowing very little variation on the orders.  Whatever sandwich you get will be absolutely no different than the person in line behind you that orders the same thing.

I asked for the roast beef sub.  It came with provolone cheese and covered in mayo, and no opportunity to swap for a different dressing or type of cheese.  Overall the sandwich was okay and satisfied the lunch hunger, but being able to customize a sandwich is what sets other sub shops above this one.

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A Drive to Laguna Beach -- February 2015

A Drive to Laguna Beach – 20 February 2015

I was in Garden Grove this morning in order to meet with my dealer there, and it was getting close to 11 am.  Normally I’d stay until noon, and then head over to my next target for the day, while getting lunch in between.  I was a man with a plan this time, as my next visit was in Costa Mesa.

Using the direct measurement of “as the crow flies,” my next destination was about six miles to the south, but I’d planned to take a scenic route.  Since I’d already been on Trip Advisor to figure out various places I was going to eat the rest of the week, I’d done that similar bit of research for what I was going to do today.  I mentioned this to my contact at Garden Grove (named Raymie), and she thought it was a fun and amusing plan.  Being able to share you insanity is always good.

So bear with me as I talk like a native Californian right now, and describe the route that I took.  Follow along on a map, if you must, but it’ll give you an idea of what I did to take the “scenic route” to my next locale.  Or “long way around,” whichever you’d like to term it.

I hopped on the 405 and cruised east, and then picked up Interstate 5 to take me past Santa Ana’ and Irvine.  Heading towards Lake Forest (near where one of my other dealers was located), I debated whether or not I was going to follow I-5 all the way to Dana Point.  That would take me a bit farther out of my way, and I still needed to keep this side-trek justifiably short.  I turned south on to Route 133.

At this point, I was in the hilly region of Laguna Canyon.  This was a nice area of gentle mounds and rises which would be considered “large” in Texas, but were “small” for the area (and similarly “small” for New York where I grew up).  The two-lane road didn’t have any pull-over sections to take proper pictures, so I had to hold the camera over the steering wheel, and hope for the best.  Keep in mind I’d only snap a shot when there were no other cars around me, and I was on a straightaway so there was less chance of any unexpected things happening.

As I got closer to the coast, then signs of civilization began to return.  On either side of the road were the houses and business which made up the settlement of Laguna Canyon.  I don’t know if it’s an actual incorporated municipality or not.  But it looked like the road was built on the path of least-resistance, and the dwellings were stuck on either side of it.  It was a nice, small town feel here.

Soon I arrived in the “not-so-small town” area of Laguna Beach.  This was very much an upscale area which drew the tourists and the “pretty people with money” which California prides itself on having so many of.  I knew there was an actual beach here, and I wanted to get as reasonably close to it as I could before heading northward up Pacific Coast Highway.

Near where I came in was the Laguna Art Museum, which looked like a great place to check out, even though parking nearby looked few and far between.  I went down a narrow side street towards the coast and found some street parking near an odd-looking tree.  There was a meter there I could pump change into, if I had some, but choose not to.

The actual beach was down a bunch of steps, with a rapid descent in elevation.  On a quick wander around, it would take me time to get down there and back.  And since I didn’t have time for anything other than a few pictures, I had to be brief.  Also, I was the only one in the area wearing a suit, so I was already out of place.  Add taking pictures to that, and I look like either a tourist or CIA or both.

The area appeared to very safe and friendly, without any nasty elements (like what I saw over in Venice Beach months ago).  I only went a short distance from the car in order to get some shots of the actual beach.  Considering how early sunset happens in the winter months, this was the only beach view I was going to get this trip.

If the beach was closer to the car, or I had more time, I would’ve gone down to get a few more pictures of the area to show a better sense of what the area looked like.  It feels odd, and a little creepy, to show up at a place, take a few random photos, and then leave.  Trying to keep the creep factor low.

From there I cruised northward up Pacific Coast Highway.  Along this section, the road was very close to the coast, so I was able to look to my left and see the ocean.  I enjoyed the view as much as possible, keeping my eyes on the road at the same time.  There were no pull-off points along the way either where I could frame a decent shot, so I had to be innovative in order to get what pictures I could.

The further north I went, the more distant PCH got from the coast, and my ocean view faded.  I could see neighborhoods and housing developments to the west, which I’m sure had a great view.

Because there was construction along the way now, time got added to the trip, and that’s in addition to having to wait through traffic lights.  It was a nice drive, but it was taking a little longer than I’d planned.  I arrived at Newport Beach, which was a very nice and economically-thriving area.  At one of the stop lights, I was amused at the shrubs which had been carved into whale-shapes.  I thought that was nice.

My original plan had been to continue up PCH until I reached Huntington Beach, and then back-track a little to Costa Mesa.  But once I finally got on the other side of Newport Beach, I grabbed a side road which brought be directly to my dealer.  I was able to do this because I had my final destination already programmed in, so I got to keep hearing the route recalculate.

So there was a section of PCH I didn’t drive, but that wasn’t a big deal, because I essentially did what I set out to do.  As a side note, once I was done at my dealer, I bee-lined towards Huntington Beach, where I decided to have dinner at Ruby’s Surf City Diner at the end of the Pier.

I timed my visit so I was able to catch the sunset over the Pacific which I look forward to on every trip.

For more information on the places visited or mentioned:

Garden Grove (CA):  http://www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us/

Costa Mesa (CA):  http://www.costamesaca.gov/

Dana Point (CA):  http://www.danapoint.org/

Laguna Canyon (CA):  http://lagunacanyon.org/

Laguna Beach (CA):  http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/

Laguna Art Museum:  http://lagunaartmuseum.org/

Newport Beach (CA):  https://www.newportbeachca.gov/

Huntington Beach (CA):  http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/

Ruby’s Surf City:  http://www.surfcityusa.com/listings/rubys-surf-city-diner/281/

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