Cathedral City, CA to La Quinta, CA

Our view this morning from the hotel in Cathedral City, CA

Wow, exciting day today! We got to our destination.

Here's Den Mom relaxing after lunch on the outdoor patio
at The Grill in La Quinta, CA

And here is our trusty van parked at our complex
5,058 km since leaving home!

Den Dad right in front of our condo here

and Den Mom right in front of the bedroom window of our condo

We saw a bunny
welcoming us
- always a lucky sign
(we hope for the bunny too)

We are very blessed to have arrived safely!  We have had many exciting adventures in 2011.  We are grateful for all the guidance and support we have had from our Den Parents and if you look closely below, you can see that all of us are wishing each of you an adventurous and blessed 2012.  Jeremy, Rudy, Rusty and Mickey

Happy New Year!

Valencia, CA to Cathedral City, CA

Well folks, that was about it for today! 238 km across Los Angeles region - 5 lanes each way at 120+ km/hr - change lanes whenever the urge strikes - the more aggressively the better (or so it seemed).

It was perhaps a little too exciting. We all needed our seat belts today.  Rudy

Visiting the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA

Hi everyone! Wow! Today I got to play President.  Here I am in the Oval Office!

"President Rudy" - It has a nice ring to it!

Here I am with the presidential limousine!

 Even Jeremy got in the act, going riding with Reagan!

Of course, the Den Parents got involved too!

Here's Den Dad (and all of us) with Nancy

Here's Den Mom with John and Abigail Adams
(the subject of a recent book she read)

And here are a few other scenes from the day.

Air Force One is really BIG!

There was even someone from Canada mentioned!

And this is the view looking out over Simi Valley!

It was very busy at the centre - the large parking lot was packed and vehicles were parked along the entry road for more than 2 kms.  The inside was very crowded.  It was difficult to get to see many of the displays.  It would seem President Reagan is still very popular.

Several people stopped us to ask how we were enjoying the tour.  When they found out about our ADVENTURES, two or three even asked for more details and we told them about our book and blog!  All in all, it was an historic day.  Rudy

San Luis Obispo, CA to Valencia, CA

Hi all! Rudy here! Boy, did we have a lot of exciting adventures today!  It was our first real summer type day at + 21 C and lots of sunshine.

We saw lots of farm land!

We saw the Pacific Ocean! With people surfing!

We saw strawberries in rows of beds!

We saw farmers working in the fields!

We saw orange trees being taken for a drive!

We saw pretty girls in convertibles with the top down!

 But the bestest thing we saw by far was a place to sample HONEY!

 Good-night from wonderful California, Rudy

Santa Clara, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA

Good Evening from Jeremy.  We had an interesting day today.  Den Dad took lots of photos of trees and hills today.  Rudy says they are not that exciting - but - here are a few examples.   If you click on the photo - you get a larger version - if you want.

One of the highlights along the way was visiting the Monterey Bay area - and seeing the Pacific Ocean - again - much warmer looking today.

And then we traveled through the agricultural areas in the Salinas Valley.  Again, here are a few photos.

We stopped in the town of Salinas for lunch.  Rudy had fun ( he thought so anyway) making up new words to the Kris Kristofferson song Me and Bobby McGee to tease Den Mom.  Example: "It was right there in Salinas, she let the diet slip away, searching for a home we hope it finds."  It actually was kind of funny.

A chocolate chip cookie sundae - in Salinas, CA

Rudy even kidded Den Dad about being all over the hills.

 We also found one of California's oil fields.

 Tonight we are in San Luis Obispo - exactly half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles,  The Spanish Catholic Mission was established here permanently in 1772.  The name actually refers to the mission being the Diocesan seat or "the Bishop's Place".  It is interesting that the year 1772 was before the American Revolution that created the United States and that those British North Americans had no inkling that such places as Monterey Bay even existed.  Of course, before the Spaniards, or even the Aboriginals, this area was home to thousands of bears - a fact captured in the name of a nearby community - Cañada de Los Osos [Our place of many bears].  Now that's exciting!  Good-night.  Jeremy

Concord, CA to Santa Clara, CA

Wow! We've had a great time here at the Crowne Plaza in Concord.  To celebrate, I took my friends for a drink at the Vineyard Bar.

The nice bartender made helpful suggestions.
I chose a honey flavored martini - shaken - not stirred.

My name is Rudy  - just Rudy

 After our drinks, we relaxed by the fireplace; with some sadness, but growing excitement, it was time to be off on our next adventure - in San Francisco.

 On our way to San Francisco, it was quite foggy. So here I am on the famous Golden Gate Bridge.  Look at the view!

Fortunately, by the time we reached downtown, the sun was shining and we saw some of the great scenery of San Francisco.  Here are a view of the scenes.

Highway 101 heads right thru downtown San Francisco

One of the famous side streets that heads up hill, up, up, up

Old First Church is now a concert venue1751 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA

(415) 474-1608 ‎ · oldfirstconcerts.org

San Francisco City Hall

One of the famous cable cars on San Francisco streets

Tonight we are in Santa Clara.  This area is home to many computer and internet related companies.  Just down the road is the head-quarters of McAfee, the anti-virus software company.

Good-night - from Rudy (on behalf of my buddies)

Christmas Day in Concord, CA

Wow! Stockings filled with chocolates, apples, and packets of honey!  There was even frost on the windshields of vehicles and aircraft when I looked out the window.

Christmas morning Buchanan Field, Concord, CA - 3 C

And what do travelers do for recreation?  We went for a drive in the hills between here and Oakland.

Thanks to Den Dad, we got up really high and found lots of twisty roads, and finally got to the fringe of Oakland before heading back through a long tunnel that started us on the road back to the hotel.

Tomorrow we head on to a new location.  New adventures! Rudy