Kickin' Back in the Sierra Nevadas

We decided to schedule our trip to Yosemite National Park in the spring before the peak of the tourist season.  It was a good decision.  There was a considerable amount of traffic this early in the season, and there were waiting lines of vehicles to view the popular attractions such as Bridal Veil Falls. However, for those of us with a disdain for crowds, there is a location from which the most popular attractions are visible. Just before the tunnel on Highway 140 there is an overlook from which you can view Bridal Veil waterfall, El Capitan, and The Half Dome.  After a few photos here we continued on to the Wawona Hotel.

The Wawona dates from the 19th century when tourists were delivered by stagecoach. The hotel has 104 rooms and is comprised of several buildings.  Our room was in a building constructed in 1919, and it was small and furnished with period marble topped dresser and night stand.   The two story building had wide wraparound porches with dozens of Adirondack chairs, which were great for relaxing beneath the giant trees.  There was a large common room with tables and chairs and a huge stone fireplace. Since many rooms in this building do not have private baths, including ours, the common bath was well appointed. The main and initial structure for the hotel had all the appearance you would expect of an old hotel of the 19th century: wide full width porches, high ceiling lobby, and posh dining room. We enjoyed our lunch on the front porch.  The cool mountain air had the slight odor of the pines. Claudette had a panini, and I had a smoked turkey with gouda on ciabatta. The food was good and the Stellars Jays provided entertainment. 

Wawona is all about relaxing. There  is a golf course, swimming pool, and tennis court. But we found relaxation in the comfortable chairs beneath the giant trees near the fountain - a great way to pass the time. Later that evening we had dinner in the dining room. There is a quiet serenity as the sun sets in the Sierra Nevada  and long shadows become twilight. It is quiet in the candlelit dining room with only the hushed voices of the diners and the slight tinkle of silverware. The lush lawn and fountain are visible through the huge multi-paned windows as we order our dinner. The  choices are varied with entrees in the twenty-five dollar range.  We made the decision after much deliberation to choose meatloaf with mashed potatoes and broccoli.  When our food arrived we were happy we had opted for the $5.50 fee for splitting the dish.  It was a huge amount of delicious food. I chose pine nut pie for dessert, while Claudette chose her favorite, bread pudding.  It was my first experience with the fruit of the pine tree and must say it was delightful.  But he huge scoop of vanilla ice cream insured my delight.  Claudette’s bread pudding was equally good, she rated it a “10”.

On our way out of the park we stopped by Mariposa Grove.  The parking lot as quite crowded. We walked a marked path through part of this preserved forest of giant sequoia trees.   Many of these trees are over 3,000 years old.  They are truly awesome. 

We followed the signs toward Fresno and our destination of Bakersfield.

The Haunting of Raisin' Hell

RF-8 Crusader

In the town of Atwater,CA, at the abandoned Air Force base, is a good collection of aircraft from WWII and later. At the Castle Air Museum, as you enter the twenty-two acres of display area, immediately visible are the most common planes of World War Two: the B-24, the B-25, the B-29, the B-17, and the AT-6.  These planes were produced in greater numbers than any others. But, this is not why we have come, and we begin our search for that “special” aircraft.  Along the way we see some historic airplanes such as the C-47.  There is an interesting story behind the development of this airplane, affectionately referred to as the “Gooneybird”. When Bill Boeing built an airliner for his airline, American Airlines, the owner of Trans World Airlines, Howard Hughes, asked Boeing to build some for him. Boeing refused, not wanting to supply the competition.  Douglas Aircraft designed and built the DC-3 for Hughes, and Boeing’s plane immediately became obsolete.  This plane became the workhorse as a troop transport during WWII and later in commercial aviation. 

As we wandered among the airplanes I pointed out to Claudette an RF-8 Crusader.  It was the first plane to fly into the projectiles fired from its own cannon. That’s pretty fast!  I recounted to her that late one afternoon aboard the USS Intrepid I had seen a Crusader land so hard the nose wheel was torn off.  There were no injuries, but the aircraft mechanics had a lot of work to do. 

We stopped to take a closer look at a B-47 bomber.  The B-47 was the first jet powered bomber of the U.S. Air Force. After the United States had developed the atomic bomb there needed to b a vehicle to deliver these bombs.  The B-47 was fully capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons. Actually, it was a little too good at delivering them.  In 1958 a B-47 accidentally dropped an atomic bomb on a small town near Florence, South Carolina.  It created a crater but did not detonate.  There are some good old boys who would say that the Yankees are still trying to get us, but I don’t believe it. 

B-29 "Raisin' Hell"

We finally found the plane we were looking for: the B-29 Superfortress.  But, not just any B-29.  It’s the “Raisin’ Hell”.  It didn’t do anything historic or anything.  Why, it was created from three other damaged B-29s. Why was I interested? I asked the docent,”Tell me about the ghost?”

He responded, “I can’t say anything about that.” 

“Why?” I queried.

The last thing he said was, “No  comment”, as he walked away.  

This is the story.  As the plane was being restored a passerby noticed the green and red navigation lights were operating  on the plane.  When he called the museum he was told that that was impossible...the plane had no electrical power. At another time a mechanic was working in close quarters in the cockpit of the plane and asked the man working with him to hand him  a wrench, which was placed immediately into his hand.  But, when the mechanic  looked a minute later, he saw his work mate outside the aircraft! These incidents have been investigated by paranormal organizations. 

We enjoyed looking at the fifty-four planes and the indoor museum as well. It is a great display of historical American air power. I couldn’t resist looking over my shoulder at “Raisin’ Hell” as we left.  What if?

B-36 "Peacemaker"

Jumpin' Jiminy!

When I was young I read the stories and books of Mark Twain and among these was about this jumping frog of Calaveras County.  Well, we had spent the night in the county and the Jumping Frog Festival had started on Thursday. It was Saturday morning and time to check it out. The festival is held at the fairgrounds in Angels Camp, referred to as "Angels" by the locals, in May every year. It's not just about jumping frogs but is a big celebration more like a county fair with frog jumping as the main attraction. There a displays of local arts and crafts and 4-H boys and girls with their prized pigs, cows, and sheep.  Lots of horses and rodeo type events too. With funnel cakes and carnival rides available. There were some antique engines and I had a great conversation with a guy about his 1919 Fairbanks-Morse oil burning engine.  But the stars of the show are the long legged amphibians.  The main event is on Sunday but practice is on Saturday.  The record distance jump is a little over 21 feet. The judges measure three jumps.You place you frog at the starting spot and he jumps away, or rather he should. Frogs jump when they want to.  Frog wranglers, people who jump frogs, sometimes kiss the frog, stamp their feet, clap their hands and say all sorts of things to get the frog to jump. They have a training area for young frog wranglers where a kid can use one of the company frogs to practice making them jump.  There is a huge viewing stand overlooking the stage where all this jumping is going on. Incidentally, all frogs must be local, not souped up imports allowed. Green is the dominant color around the festival.  Little did ole Mark know that his story would lead to such a spectacle.