And then the Hearst Castle

Historical Picture
   San Jose, the Electric light tower, 237' high. From 1881 to 1915

California people can be fun. Once in San Francisco, I was map reading and Sherry was driving (thankfully in the car) “Honey turn left at the next light.”  She did, and was headed the wrong way on a six lane One way street. One driver, I could see, was smiling as we made a U-turn, another driver acted like he was going to ram her. He smiled big and gave a friendly wave, as we got out everyone’s way! 

 But Imma going to back up to before LA. I want to catch a tale about the coast line. Leaving Los Angeles we found State hwy #1, the scenic route. 
The name Hearst became a house hold word when the daughter Patty was kidnapped by the Symbonese Liberation Army and turned her into a bank robber.  Hwy #1 goes by the Hearst Castle.
 
  (Casa Grande, the center piece of the Castle)

When we were about 30 miles from the Castle, we heard on the radio that #1 was blocked by a huge mud slide. Very soon we were seeing warnings "Road Closed Ahead." But the girls wanted to keep going. I am saying, “We will have to turn around and back track.”

But Sherry, the map-reader says, “Huh-uh, there is a road that crosses the mountains over to 101 a few miles past the Castle.” At the Castle the tour was pricey and much longer than we had time for so we skipped it and headed for Sherry’s ‘escape route. 

(Have you ever considered how big those Road Closed signs are? We realized how big they were when we saw two California girls stealing one. It was about too big to fit in the back door, but they got it!)

But hey, we found the road. Experienced map reader was right. The road was paved, the mountain was steep. Everyone began to notice there were no guard rails and the drop-offs were 50-200 feet practically straight down. (Did I say both Sherry and her sister hate heights?)  Sherry did look some, but I know Colette was head-down praying! TRUE.

I enjoyed the ride, it wasn’t all that bad. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as we reached the summit. There were no houses and we met no cars. This state is full of people? BUT where are they? Going down there were less drop offs and very dense forests both sides.

At the bottom what did we see?  Many military tanks in formations and performing maneuvers. Then comes Mr Jeep.
An army Major approached and I asked, “How do we get out of here?”
“Sir, My question is how did you get in?”
I pointed to the road, “We came over the mountain!”
Shaking his head, “No one uses that road, it must be posted!”
“If it is we did not see it. How do we get off base?”
He laughingly gave us directions and we left. The MP’s waved us out smiling. The Major must have radioed them.


Nite Shipslog

1.    California Caverns claims the distinction of being the most extensive system of caverns and passageways in the Mother Lode region of the state.

2.    Totaling nearly three million acres, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the country.

3.    On Catalina Island in 1926, American author Zane Grey built a pueblo-style home on the hillside overlooking Avalon Bay. He spent much of his later life in Avalon. The home is now a hotel.

4.    Reputed to be the most corrupt politician in Fresno County history, Vice-leader Joseph Spinney was mayor for only ten minutes.

5.    The Hollywood Bowl is the world's largest outdoor amphitheater.

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 Listed as 'Beach Bums' (above) 
All Girls 1950s Car wash (below)