Hollywood!

The Hollywood Sign


Our Limo


Cheryl & Michelle in the limo


On Rodeo Drive

The Playboy Mansion

Paul's 1952 Chevy truck

On Thursday we went to Hollywood. Mike & Paul had business to take care of so they could not join us. So, once again, Bob had a harem. Bob, Cheryl, Michelle & I were off to our tour of Hollywood in a 1923 Ford T Roadster Limo. It just doesn't get any cooler than that! We went through Bel Air, Holmby Hills and Beverly Hills, as well as down Rodeo Drive. Our driver pointed out nearly 50 stars homes, including the Playboy Mansion and Aaron Spelling's huge mansion. We parked in the Kodak Theatre garage (where the Academy Awards were on Sunday) and walked out onto Hollywood Blvd. Right across the street is the Jimmy Kimmel Live theater. We could have had free tickets to the taping of Bill Maher's show and Jimmy Kimmel Live, but we were not sure what time we would be back from our tour. Bob & I are planning to go back to Hollywood next Thursday in hopes of seeing those shows. We're still trying to get tickets for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After Hollywood we met Mike, Paul & Paul's son Andrew at the Elephant Bar for dinner. They were going back to Paul's to work on Paul's 1952 Chevy Truck he is restoring. Bob wanted to go watch, but of course he was right in there helping before it was over. Yesterday we moved from Yucaipa Regional Park to Mountain Lakes Resort in Lytle Creek, CA. We will be here a week and then move to another of our "free" ROD parks for a week and then back here for a week. We're not sure after that, but we will be in this area for at least another month. We are camped right on the lake, our large rear windows look out at the lake and the mountains beyond that. Nice view!

Universal Studios - Hollywood

Universal Studios fountain


Bob, Paul & Mike with Shrek & Fiona


Bob at the Hollywood sign


Part of a spectacular plane crash scene


Michelle with Beetlejuice (he wanted a kiss, but she politely declined) :-)

On Wednesday, we went to Universal Studios - Hollywood. I went here 40 years ago when we were in California, Bob & I have been to Universal Studios - Orlando and to Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando. This one is by far the best! We had a great time here and then we went to dinner at the North Woods Inn in Covina, which is a restaurant we went to in 1969 when I was here with my parents and sister. What a blast from the past! In the first picture - the guy on the right is real, although I had no idea when I took the picture!

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum

Mike (flashing), Bob & Paul


Reagan's Grave


Simi Valley


Air Force One (note the full glass wall)


Reproduction of Reagan's Oval Office

We have had a very action-packed week in California! On Saturday we went to Paul & Cheryl's beautiful home for dinner. On Sunday, we went to a pizza place for dinner with the entire family. My cousins Gwen, Paul & Mike and their spouses, children & grandchildren were all there. My cousin Mary had to work, so she was not there. It was a fantastic reunion! Everyone was so nice and so much fun to be with. We sure had a great time. On Monday Paul & Cheryl drove us around to see the homes that my aunt & uncle lived in after they moved here in 1960. Later we met some of the family at Vince's for a spaghetti dinner and a 16th birthday party for Cody, Paul & Cheryl's grandson. On Tuesday, Mike & Michelle, Paul & Cheryl and Bob & I went to Simi Valley to the Reagan Library. It is so beautiful and peaceful there.

CALIFORNIA!!!

We made it to Yucaipa, California today. It was a scenic drive through the Palm Springs area with the snow-capped mountains. (See picture on left). We went out to dinner this evening with my cousin Paul and his wife, Cheryl. We had such a nice dinner and laughed 'til we were sore reminiscing and telling stories. Tomorrow we are going to their house for dinner and then Sunday we are meeting Paul's brother and sister and all of their kids and grandkids at a pizza place. That should be a fantastic reunion! The park we are in is very close to Paul & Cheryl's house and it is a beautiful park. It reminds us of Natchez Trace State Park in Tennessee, but it is surrounded by mountains. (See picture on right and note the snow on the left side of the picture).

Lake Havasu & The London Bridge

Today we drove up to Lake Havasu City and saw the London Bridge. It was amazing to think that they took this bridge apart in England and numbered every brick and then reassembled it in Arizona. The entire area was beautiful. There's just something about mountains and blue water that makes for gorgeous vistas. Right after we left Ehrenberg this morning I spotted a roadrunner and Bob obliged me by pulling the truck over so I could get pictures.

Quartzsite, Arizona

We spent today in Quartzsite, AZ. For those of you who are not RVers, Quartzsite is a place where thousands of RVers converge in the winter and dry camp in the desert. There are booths there that sell just about everything imaginable. The people watching is fantastic! We did a lot of shopping, but didn't buy much. Tomorrow we are going to Parker, AZ and Lake Havasu City, AZ (where the London Bridge is). I'm posting a picture of Quartzsite and one of our campground here in Ehrenberg. Hopefully, you will be able to tell which is which.

Ehrenberg, AZ

We arrived in Ehrenberg yesterday afternoon. We are at the Colorado River Oasis RV Park, it's a very nice park which is right on the Colorado River. It's a Resorts of Distinction park, which means it is one of our "free" parks. We are one mile from the California state line. In fact, last night we went grocery shopping in California. We will definitely be filling both of our tanks in AZ before we leave for CA on Friday. It is about $0.80 more per gallon in CA. We will be moving on to Yucaipa Regional Park near San Bernardino, CA on Friday and will spend a week with my cousins that I haven't seen in many, many, many years. It should be a great reunion. After that week we will be spending at least 2 more weeks in California at our "free" parks. I just this morning decided that I need to post Connor & Jillian's school pictures for this year. It's hard to believe that Connor is now 10 years old and Jillian will be 7 in April. Jillian is that awkward age where she is losing baby teeth and getting her permanent teeth. She's keeping the tooth fairy very busy! We sure do miss them and can't wait until we get back to Michigan in May. With all the things we have been collecting for them during our travels, they will have another Christmas in May!

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Yesterday we visited the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, AZ. The museum there and the ruins were extremely interesting. We are just amazed that over 1,000 years ago they had such knowledge of architecture and structural engineering. This site is the only place in the world that has an existing structure from that era made from caliche. They have built a roof over the "Big House" to protect it from the elements, but they are extremely worried about sinkholes causing it to shift. Before being designated a national monument, it was vandalized and neglected for many years.

Superstition Mountain Museum, January 28th

Last week we visited the Superstition Mountain Museum which is very close to where we are staying. We can see the Mountain from our campsite. They also have the "Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel" and a barn from the old Apacheland Movie Ranch, which are the only two buildings that survived two fires at the movie ranch. They were dismantled and moved to this site. Elvis filmed the movie "Charro!" at the Apacheland Movie Ranch and the chapel was part of that movie. When I walked into the chapel I was quite surprised to see the two guys standing at the front of the church. (See picture). The museum had many artifacts and interesting information about the mountains and the history of this area.