California: L.A. and the O.C.



The Queen of the World on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY

In mid-April, Allison and I traveled to several destinations in southern California including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, Catalina and San Diego. This posting covers our visits to Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County; Catalina and San Diego are addressed in a separate posting.

The R/M/S QUEEN MARY and former Soviet attack submarine SCORPION

After a late night arrival at LAX, we drove to Long Beach and checked into our unordinary lodgings on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY.  This regal old passenger liner is permanently moored in Long Beach’s harbor and serves as a hotel, museum and tourist attraction.  She features multiple restaurants, conference facilities and historical displays.

Our stateroom on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY

We stayed in one of the ship’s original luxury staterooms, outfitted as it was for her transatlantic passenger service many decades ago.  Our room was compact as would be expected of such accommodations, but nevertheless comfortable and well-maintained.

Bridge of the R/M/S QUEEN MARY

After breakfast, Allison and I toured the ship from stem to stern and bridge to engine room.  There was much to see including opulent halls and salons, her navigational and engineering facilities, and many photographs of famous passengers on board the grand old dame in her glory days and of her wartime service as a troop transport.

Upper deck of the R/M/S QUEEN MARY

We happily promenaded the decks in bright California sunshine.  Our time on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY was extremely interesting and enjoyable.

Inspecting the SCORPION's (fully functional) periscope

We also toured the adjacent SCORPION, a former Soviet attack submarine.  We had the diesel-electric submarine all to ourselves, and enjoyed extensive access to the vessel's torpedo and engine rooms, bridge and crew accommodations.

The SCORPION's forward torpedo room

Allison and I then boarded a ferry from Long Beach to Catalina Island, a destination addressed in a separate posting.  Upon returning to the mainland we traveled to the home of my brother Marc and his wife Mieko in Mission Viejo.

With Marc at the Getty Center
(photo courtesy of Marc & Mieko M.)

Marc and Mieko graciously escorted us to several different attractions in Orange County and Los Angeles.  First we enjoyed a Friday night dinner at the Spectrum Center in Irvine, which seems equal parts shopping center and amusement park!  The large outdoor mall was crowded with shoppers and diners enjoying the warm evening air.

The Getty Center in Los Angeles

The next day Marc and Mieko took us to the impressive, modern Getty Center in Los Angeles.  There we toured two separate exhibits: an architectural and urban planning exhibit entitled Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, and a display of photographs entitled Japan’s Modern Divide: The Photographs of Hiroshi Himaya and Kansuke Yamamoto.

Exhibit banner from the Getty Center

In addition to viewing the two exhibits, we also walked through the Getty Center’s beautiful gardens.

Gardens at the Getty Center

Marc and Mieko then took us to Laguna Beach in Orange County, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner.  After dinner we attended a big band jazz concert by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at the Laguna Playhouse.  While Allison and I do not often listen to this genre of “America’s Classical Music” (as bandleader John Clayton aptly described it), we relished the orchestra’s tight performance of many excellent selections.  I found the standard “Emily”, highlighted by John Clayton’s bowed bass, particularly moving.

Dinner in Laguna Beach

After departing Mission Viejo, we spent two days in and around San Diego.  Like Catalina, San Diego is addressed in a separate posting.

Le Parc Suite Hotel in West Hollywood

The final stop of our southern California tour was in Hollywood.  There, we spent some time with our niece Courtney catching up on her personal life and work in internet publishing.  She was also very interested to hear about our own adventures, including the series of trips detailed in America Out of the Box!   We passed several hours with her over a wonderful dinner at Taste on Melrose Avenue.

Madame Tussaud's on Hollywood Boulevard

Although we had to leave California the next morning, Allison and I could not resist playing Hollywood tourists briefly before driving to the airport.  So we visited the Walk of Fame near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, walking by the sidewalk stars of many film, television and musical celebrities whom we enjoy.  While we were there, preparations were underway for the premiere of Iron Man 3 at the El Capitan Theatre and we saw a crew literally rolling out the red carpet for the actors.

Iron Man 3 Premiere at the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard

Allison and I did and saw so much during this visit to California; it is hard to believe that it lasted only eight days!  And yet we come away from the trip realizing just how many more things we would have liked to see and do.  The Golden State is certainly a land of many opportunities for those who wish to seize them.

Los Angeles from the Getty Center

Big Sky, Montana

Lone Peak and Big Sky's eastern bowl

In early April, Allison and I spent five days in Montana skiing with my family.  We were joined by my father, brothers Marc and Michael, our sister-in-law Mieko and nephew Abel.

Main Street in Bozeman

We flew into and out of Bozeman, Montana.  This small city, situated in the midst of a cluster of mountain ranges, clearly displays its western ranching roots.  After arriving, Allison and I went grocery shopping to feed our hungry crew of seven.

Herd of bison outside Bozeman

Elk near Big Sky

From Bozeman we drove up the winding Gallatin River Valley to Big Sky.


Approaching the Big Sky Resort

The expansive Big Sky Resort is dominated by Lone Peak (11,166'/3,400 m), but also encompasses several other nearby mountains.  The ski area is so large that it requires two separate trail maps: one for the east side and the other for the south!  We stayed in a cabin which provided convenient, direct access to the resort’s lifts and trails.

Making a snowman

Abel has all of the energy you would expect in a healthy six year old boy, and was thrilled to play in the abundant snow with his aunts and uncles.  We built a snowman and had a vigorous snowball fight around the cabin.


Snowball fight!

The late season snow was excellent for skiing, and the slopes benefited from nearly a foot of new powder which fell while we were there. 

Michael and Abel on a lift

Big Sky offers a good mix of beginner, intermediate and expert terrain.  Abel is learning to ski and progressing rapidly, so we spent quite a bit of time with him on the resort’s broad, groomed intermediate trails.  But I also had many opportunities to enjoy the resort’s more challenging black diamond slopes.

Powdery black diamond terrain

The resort’s expert terrain includes a mix of steep open faces, narrow bump runs and powdery glades.  Especially noteworthy are several extremely steep chutes and bowls on Lone Peak’s south side, accessed via the spectacular Lone Peak Tram.

The Lone Peak Tram

On the final day of our visit my brother Michael and I took advantage of beautiful sunny weather to ride the tram, marvel at the views of the surrounding mountains and ski the challenging Liberty Bowl.   I also made several steep descents into Lone Peak’s eastern bowl.


Me and Michael above the Liberty Bowl

Our visit to Big Sky was both a fitting climax to a terrific ski season, and also a great opportunity to spend time with my family while exploring this picturesque region of Montana.

View from the Lone Peak Tram

Check In from America's Southwest Corner

Fence at Border Field State Park 

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Check In from Catalina Island

Catalina Casino in Avalon

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Check In from R/M/S QUEEN MARY

R/M/S QUEEN MARY in Long Beach

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Fishing on Jeffrey's Ledge

Departing Hampton Harbor

On April 14, my friend Fred and I took an offshore fishing trip to Jeffrey's Ledge.


Preparing to board the M/V NORTHERN STAR

We went on board the M/V NORTHERN STAR, operated by Al Gauron out of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.  After an early morning departure, we motored for two hours to reach the fishing grounds.

Resting on the ride out

We fished an area of Jeffrey's Ledge about 30 miles off the coast of New Hampshire.  Fortunately the weather was excellent, with smooth seas and increasingly sunny skies.

Motoring to Jeffrey's Ledge

The fishing was pretty good.  Fred and I caught and kept a half dozen delicious redfish, and others on the boat caught haddock, cusk and other bottom fish. 

Filleting the catch

Check In from Jeffrey's Ledge

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