From Peaceful to Violent Streets.
I was fortunate to have been stationed in North Africa for about seven months in 1943.
Our 2nd Bomb Group was en-route to join the 8th air Force in England during March of 1943, as replacement crews. We flew our new B-17 over to North Africa, using the South-Atlantic route - West Palm Beach, Trinidad, Belem, Natal, Ascension Island, Dakar, and then up to Marrakech, Morocco. While in Marrakech, Field Marshall Rommel (who headed up the German Afrika Corps) broke through General Montgomery’s Eighth Army’s position and forced them to retreat at Kasserine Pass. The “powers that be” changed our orders, and assigned us to the African front. We were part of General Jimmy Doolittle’s Twelfth Air Force. The Group remained in Africa until after the invasion of Italy in September 1943.
During this time, when we weren’t flying missions, we had leisure time to “swim” in the Mediterranean sea, or visit the very interesting cities in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. I also got to spend a week on R & R in Cairo. While playing “tourist”, I was very observant of the large crowds in the bazaars and waking peacefully on the streets of Tunis. The people in Tunis, either spoke Arabic or French, which was very interesting to me. The French influence came in 1881 when France became their protectorate. Tunisia became an independent state in 1956. The British invaded Egypt in 1882, and they became an independent country in 1922.
This experience has motivated me to follow foreign affairs in the Middle East - primarily on the Lehrer/PBS News Hour and the Wall Street Journal. Based on my experiences nearly 70 years ago, I was very surprised, and saddened, by the recent news of the violent protests in the streets of Tunis and Cairo. This didn’t reflect my pleasant experiences of the time when I walked those very same streets and felt safe and secure.
In Tunis, Ray Bernier - our navigator; a fellow bombardier - “Red Bird”, and Bob Wolfcale, a navigator, would jump in a jeep and travel about 20 miles to Tunis. While there, we would usually go to mass at the St. Vincent de Paul Cathedral. We also visited the Cathedral in nearby Carthage, after a swim.
We visited the Red Cross Club for servicemen, where we could get doughnuts and ice cream. Near the Cathedral in Tunis, was a very nice hotel with a huge porch, I think it was the Hotel Tunis. We would sit in the large wicker - rocking chairs, sipping our cool drinks, and “people watch.” (I suppose that a new hotel sits on the spot today.)
The “powers that be” thought a few us were getting “flak happy” from flying so many combat missions. Our Flight Surgeon suggested that we be given an R&R leave to Cairo. I was fortunate to be one of the chosen group. They let us use a “stripped down” B-17, and we flew from Tunis to Cairo and back - an 8-9 hour flight each way.
We stayed at a B & B in Heliopolis - a suburb of Cairo. The city of Cairo is known for it’s large crowds, and beautiful architecture. I can attest to that! I particularly enjoyed visiting the Bazaar, and even went inside a very beautiful mosque. I bought a few souvenirs in the Bazaar. The merchants liked to bargain, and haggle over the final price. I must have disappointed them, because I didn’t have this skill, and consequently, probably paid more than full price.
We visited the Shepeard Hotel near the American Embassy. It was a five star at the time.
Back to today. It saddens me when I compare my pleasant experiences, nearly 70 years ago, in Tunis and Cairo, with the turmoil in the streets there today - justified or not.
RCL - 1/31/11.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
ORIENTATION at CALIFORNIA VETERANS HOME.
VETS HOME ORIENTATION.
I have been a resident here six weeks now. I have completed my Orientation already, even though I was told that it could take two to three months. During one of my early sessions, I met Jim Scheers. He has been here a couple of weeks longer. I am glad that our paths crossed. He is very friendly and outgoing. We have something in common! We are nonagenarians. Jim is 95, and I am trailing him by three years.
During our conversations, I learned that he was an author. He has written 25 books - some in collaboration with other authors. His writing career spans about 50 years, and he is currently writing another book! I mentioned Jim to our daughter, Joan. She was familiar with his books, and said that she has two of them.
This morning we ate breakfast together. He happened to mention that if he were eating alone, he would be “writing” in his head. I asked him if he would remember it, and he said “yes”. He would transcribe his thoughts after he got back to his room.
Jim has an interesting philosophy of life. He told me about a guy, after learning that Jim was 95, asked him if he enjoyed being 95 Jim said, “Oh yes”. The guy said, “but you are closer to dying!” Jim replied, “Everyone is going to die, and I am ready. The guy asked “why?” Jim said “Because I am planning on going to heaven. I have led a good life, geared towards this goal. Jim’s mantra is John 3:3. While I consider myself being spiritual, I was not sure of John3:3, so I Googled it, with the following results:
John 3:3 (King James version.) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily. verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The the new International version, is similar. “Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Footnote:
The Greek for “again” also means “from above”.
Jim’s faith is very interesting and convincing. 12/27/10.
P.S. Mary and Greg invited me over for lunch on Sunday - the day after Christmas. Mary read the quote on the label of her Honest Ade drink. "Do not regret growing old. It is a privilege denied to many." - Author Unknown.
I think it fits in perfectly here!
RCL 12/28/10.
RCL - 12/27/10.
.
I have been a resident here six weeks now. I have completed my Orientation already, even though I was told that it could take two to three months. During one of my early sessions, I met Jim Scheers. He has been here a couple of weeks longer. I am glad that our paths crossed. He is very friendly and outgoing. We have something in common! We are nonagenarians. Jim is 95, and I am trailing him by three years.
During our conversations, I learned that he was an author. He has written 25 books - some in collaboration with other authors. His writing career spans about 50 years, and he is currently writing another book! I mentioned Jim to our daughter, Joan. She was familiar with his books, and said that she has two of them.
This morning we ate breakfast together. He happened to mention that if he were eating alone, he would be “writing” in his head. I asked him if he would remember it, and he said “yes”. He would transcribe his thoughts after he got back to his room.
Jim has an interesting philosophy of life. He told me about a guy, after learning that Jim was 95, asked him if he enjoyed being 95 Jim said, “Oh yes”. The guy said, “but you are closer to dying!” Jim replied, “Everyone is going to die, and I am ready. The guy asked “why?” Jim said “Because I am planning on going to heaven. I have led a good life, geared towards this goal. Jim’s mantra is John 3:3. While I consider myself being spiritual, I was not sure of John3:3, so I Googled it, with the following results:
John 3:3 (King James version.) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily. verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The the new International version, is similar. “Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Footnote:
The Greek for “again” also means “from above”.
Jim’s faith is very interesting and convincing. 12/27/10.
P.S. Mary and Greg invited me over for lunch on Sunday - the day after Christmas. Mary read the quote on the label of her Honest Ade drink. "Do not regret growing old. It is a privilege denied to many." - Author Unknown.
I think it fits in perfectly here!
RCL 12/28/10.
RCL - 12/27/10.
.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
PEARL HARBOR
Pearl Harbor Remembrance.
Today, is the 69th anniversary of the “infamous” Sunday, December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu. This sad day marked our active participation in World War II.
Today is also the birthday of our youngest daughter Susan, who was born in the Wilcox hospital at Waimea, Kauai. Also, my good friend Jim Leslie is celebrating his “double-eight” birthday back in Ypsilanti.
I recently moved here to the California Veterans Home, in Yountville. A large group of us are having breakfast. The subject of conversation at the nearby tables is, of course, Pearl Harbor. I wonder how many men, and women, in this large dining room, were there, in Honolulu, on that day?
My memory of the day is still vivid - like it was only yesterday!
The human brain is quite a remarkable organ to be able to store data, and release it upon demand, 69 years later!
I had enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 26, 1941 - in Detroit. On this day, I was stationed at Gunter Field in Montgomery, Alabama. I was a Crew Chief of a Vultee Basic Trainer 13. Our mission was to train English lads to fly.
Being a Sunday, four of my friends and I decided to drive to Birmingham (about 100 miles) to spend the day. I was sandwiched in the middle of the back seat - no seat belts back then. I can’t remember the type of car, and who owned it. We had the car radio “on”. All of a sudden an “Alert” was broadcast “All military personnel report to your bases immediately.” One of us said, “Turn off the radio”, and we decided to keep going. So, we sped along as if nothing had happened!
After spending the day sight-seeing in Birmingham, we returned to Gunter Field. I was immediately assigned to “Guard Duty”. I was given an Enfield rifle (WW I vintage,) but no ammunition. I don’t remember having any rifle training in “Boot Camp”. I can still remember walking around the buildings on that cool, spooky December night.
RCL - 12/9/10.
Today, is the 69th anniversary of the “infamous” Sunday, December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu. This sad day marked our active participation in World War II.
Today is also the birthday of our youngest daughter Susan, who was born in the Wilcox hospital at Waimea, Kauai. Also, my good friend Jim Leslie is celebrating his “double-eight” birthday back in Ypsilanti.
I recently moved here to the California Veterans Home, in Yountville. A large group of us are having breakfast. The subject of conversation at the nearby tables is, of course, Pearl Harbor. I wonder how many men, and women, in this large dining room, were there, in Honolulu, on that day?
My memory of the day is still vivid - like it was only yesterday!
The human brain is quite a remarkable organ to be able to store data, and release it upon demand, 69 years later!
I had enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 26, 1941 - in Detroit. On this day, I was stationed at Gunter Field in Montgomery, Alabama. I was a Crew Chief of a Vultee Basic Trainer 13. Our mission was to train English lads to fly.
Being a Sunday, four of my friends and I decided to drive to Birmingham (about 100 miles) to spend the day. I was sandwiched in the middle of the back seat - no seat belts back then. I can’t remember the type of car, and who owned it. We had the car radio “on”. All of a sudden an “Alert” was broadcast “All military personnel report to your bases immediately.” One of us said, “Turn off the radio”, and we decided to keep going. So, we sped along as if nothing had happened!
After spending the day sight-seeing in Birmingham, we returned to Gunter Field. I was immediately assigned to “Guard Duty”. I was given an Enfield rifle (WW I vintage,) but no ammunition. I don’t remember having any rifle training in “Boot Camp”. I can still remember walking around the buildings on that cool, spooky December night.
RCL - 12/9/10.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
THE TENTH INNING
THE TENTH INNING.
I had anticipated seeing Ken Burn’s documentary on baseball for quite a while. This week I finally got to see the two episodes. I never thought that I would get tired of seeing the “home run swing”. But, during the two showings, I got “homered” out. The fact that HGS provided the “oomph” for a lot of them, didn’t help. I think the traditional- role model athlete is a thing of the past. The millionaire prima donnas, of today’s sport world, are a poor substitute for my old heroes!
Pete Rose has been denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, because of a character flaw. The same reasoning should be used to exclude the baseball players who are guilty of using performance -enhancing drugs.
This documentary wasn’t a total loss, for it had many redeeming features. It covered many stadiums and players that I had either seen in the ball parks, or on many of the old TV shots that were used in this documentary. Having lived near three American League cities (Detroit, Cleveland and Oakland), I was naturally an American League fan - for as long as I can remember. My memory is still clear, even though it covers about 82 years since I saw my first major league baseball game. We were living in Hillsdale Michigan during the 1920’s. When I was about 8, my Dad took me to Detroit( 100 miles), to see the Tigers play, at Navin Field on Michigan Avenue. This was an all- day outing - on a Sunday. I said that my memory is good, yet, I can’t remember who the Tigers played on that day. (strange!).
We started out early in the morning. My Grandpa Flood, my Mom’s dad, was also along. I don’t even remember having a flat tire, to or from the game. My grandpa owned the 1927 Chevrolet touring car, but he didn’t drive. My Dad drove, but he didn’t own a car. So it was a great reciprocal combination. I do remember one harrowing experience on our way to Detroit. We were “speeding” (probably at 35 mph) in the Irish Hills (on highway 112), when a strap - holding the fabric top to the header of the windshield - broke. The top went swooshing back. Thinking back, it is a wonder that my Dad controlled the car. I don’t remember how he fixed it, but soon we were off again to Detroit. An aside. The touring car had curtains, with eisen glass little windows. In nice weather, the curtains were stored under the rear seat - with the air pump and tube repair kit. So, if it started to rain, my Dad would stop the car, and my Mom and grandmother would have to get out, so that my Dad could remove the curtains. The gas tank was beneath the front seat. So, before a trip my Dad would take a flat -wooden stick, which was calibrated to read out in “gallons”. He would dip the stick into the tank to see how much gas remained. When we got gas, everyone had to leave the front seat, in order to access the neck of the tank.
Back to Detroit and baseball. While I don’t remember much about the game that Sunday, so long ago, I do remember my Dad keeping score as the game progressed. He showed me his technique, including all of the symbols for “strikeouts”, “base on balls”, “errors” etc. I tried his system, for a few games, after I started going to the games alone. It certainly forces you to pay attention to what is going on down on the field. My problem was that I would lose my concentration, and start watching the fans and vendors instead of scoring. So, finally I had to forget keeping track of every play, and let my attention wander as it pleased.
Viewing the documentary was quite interesting and fascinating, because I had seen so many of the players mentioned, actually playing. I go back to having actually seen the following players play - Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Lefty Grove, and Bob Feller, who was the best right-handed pitcher that I ever saw. Feller was born 8 days before I was. I saw him pitch as a rookie in 1936, in League Park in Cleveland. He was only 17! (In his first big league game before this, he struck out 17 batters - at 17 years of age!). I saw many other old-time stars, also.
Of course, I have seen many of the modern baseball stars. I enjoyed having a Week-day Season Ticket to the Oakland Athletics games in Oakland, for about 15 years. I saw the following players (may of whom were mentioned in the documentary) at the Oakland Coliseum, or at Candlestick/Pac Bell Parks - Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Billy Martin, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Vida Blue, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriquez, Derek Jeter, Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemons. While I never saw Ty Cobb run the bases, I have seen Rickey Henderson steal many bases. He was by far the best base stealer that I ever saw.
A couple of baseball highlights of mine were that I got to see two World Series games. The first was the Detroit Tigers playing the Cincinnati Reds, in the fall of 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. I was living in Ypsilanti, and “sweating out” being drafted, prior to World war II. The next - and last World Series game that I saw - was in 1972, 1973 or 1974, when Oakland was the American League Champion all three years. I was working for California and Hawaiian Sugar Company at their corporate office in San Francisco. While I remember my boss, Ken Black, inviting me to accompany him, I don’t remember which National League team Oakland played.
An aside: While living in Berea, in 1936, my Dad took me to an exhibition football game in the new Cleveland Municipal Stadium on the waterfront. What an ideal and pretty setting - right on the shore of Lake Erie. I was really impressed with the huge size of the facility. It held 78,000 people for baseball games and 81,000 for football! Today, that would seem small compared to the University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor, which seats 110,000. The Chicago Bears were playing the Cleveland Browns. Red Grange was the star of the Bears. He was a great runner - the best that I have ever seen - even at the tail end of his pro career. I only wish that I had seen him play when he was a student at the University of Illinois, where he ran wild against other teams in the Big Ten.
After viewing the Ken Burn’s Special on TV, I had a bad taste in my mouth. I was really disappointed that professional athletes would abuse their bodies with performance enhancing drugs, to promote their fame and fortune. To make matters worse, some denied using steroids - even under oath! Reinforcing my view was the disgraceful acceptance of such an ugly culture by the Commissioner of Baseball, and the powerful players’ Union. Our Society, in general, and Sports in particular, took one in the gut - motivated by vanity and greed - by thoughtless egomaniacs. A black day for America indeed!
RCL - 10/1/10
10/2/10
10/3/10.
I had anticipated seeing Ken Burn’s documentary on baseball for quite a while. This week I finally got to see the two episodes. I never thought that I would get tired of seeing the “home run swing”. But, during the two showings, I got “homered” out. The fact that HGS provided the “oomph” for a lot of them, didn’t help. I think the traditional- role model athlete is a thing of the past. The millionaire prima donnas, of today’s sport world, are a poor substitute for my old heroes!
Pete Rose has been denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, because of a character flaw. The same reasoning should be used to exclude the baseball players who are guilty of using performance -enhancing drugs.
This documentary wasn’t a total loss, for it had many redeeming features. It covered many stadiums and players that I had either seen in the ball parks, or on many of the old TV shots that were used in this documentary. Having lived near three American League cities (Detroit, Cleveland and Oakland), I was naturally an American League fan - for as long as I can remember. My memory is still clear, even though it covers about 82 years since I saw my first major league baseball game. We were living in Hillsdale Michigan during the 1920’s. When I was about 8, my Dad took me to Detroit( 100 miles), to see the Tigers play, at Navin Field on Michigan Avenue. This was an all- day outing - on a Sunday. I said that my memory is good, yet, I can’t remember who the Tigers played on that day. (strange!).
We started out early in the morning. My Grandpa Flood, my Mom’s dad, was also along. I don’t even remember having a flat tire, to or from the game. My grandpa owned the 1927 Chevrolet touring car, but he didn’t drive. My Dad drove, but he didn’t own a car. So it was a great reciprocal combination. I do remember one harrowing experience on our way to Detroit. We were “speeding” (probably at 35 mph) in the Irish Hills (on highway 112), when a strap - holding the fabric top to the header of the windshield - broke. The top went swooshing back. Thinking back, it is a wonder that my Dad controlled the car. I don’t remember how he fixed it, but soon we were off again to Detroit. An aside. The touring car had curtains, with eisen glass little windows. In nice weather, the curtains were stored under the rear seat - with the air pump and tube repair kit. So, if it started to rain, my Dad would stop the car, and my Mom and grandmother would have to get out, so that my Dad could remove the curtains. The gas tank was beneath the front seat. So, before a trip my Dad would take a flat -wooden stick, which was calibrated to read out in “gallons”. He would dip the stick into the tank to see how much gas remained. When we got gas, everyone had to leave the front seat, in order to access the neck of the tank.
Back to Detroit and baseball. While I don’t remember much about the game that Sunday, so long ago, I do remember my Dad keeping score as the game progressed. He showed me his technique, including all of the symbols for “strikeouts”, “base on balls”, “errors” etc. I tried his system, for a few games, after I started going to the games alone. It certainly forces you to pay attention to what is going on down on the field. My problem was that I would lose my concentration, and start watching the fans and vendors instead of scoring. So, finally I had to forget keeping track of every play, and let my attention wander as it pleased.
Viewing the documentary was quite interesting and fascinating, because I had seen so many of the players mentioned, actually playing. I go back to having actually seen the following players play - Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Lefty Grove, and Bob Feller, who was the best right-handed pitcher that I ever saw. Feller was born 8 days before I was. I saw him pitch as a rookie in 1936, in League Park in Cleveland. He was only 17! (In his first big league game before this, he struck out 17 batters - at 17 years of age!). I saw many other old-time stars, also.
Of course, I have seen many of the modern baseball stars. I enjoyed having a Week-day Season Ticket to the Oakland Athletics games in Oakland, for about 15 years. I saw the following players (may of whom were mentioned in the documentary) at the Oakland Coliseum, or at Candlestick/Pac Bell Parks - Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Billy Martin, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Vida Blue, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriquez, Derek Jeter, Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemons. While I never saw Ty Cobb run the bases, I have seen Rickey Henderson steal many bases. He was by far the best base stealer that I ever saw.
A couple of baseball highlights of mine were that I got to see two World Series games. The first was the Detroit Tigers playing the Cincinnati Reds, in the fall of 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. I was living in Ypsilanti, and “sweating out” being drafted, prior to World war II. The next - and last World Series game that I saw - was in 1972, 1973 or 1974, when Oakland was the American League Champion all three years. I was working for California and Hawaiian Sugar Company at their corporate office in San Francisco. While I remember my boss, Ken Black, inviting me to accompany him, I don’t remember which National League team Oakland played.
An aside: While living in Berea, in 1936, my Dad took me to an exhibition football game in the new Cleveland Municipal Stadium on the waterfront. What an ideal and pretty setting - right on the shore of Lake Erie. I was really impressed with the huge size of the facility. It held 78,000 people for baseball games and 81,000 for football! Today, that would seem small compared to the University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor, which seats 110,000. The Chicago Bears were playing the Cleveland Browns. Red Grange was the star of the Bears. He was a great runner - the best that I have ever seen - even at the tail end of his pro career. I only wish that I had seen him play when he was a student at the University of Illinois, where he ran wild against other teams in the Big Ten.
After viewing the Ken Burn’s Special on TV, I had a bad taste in my mouth. I was really disappointed that professional athletes would abuse their bodies with performance enhancing drugs, to promote their fame and fortune. To make matters worse, some denied using steroids - even under oath! Reinforcing my view was the disgraceful acceptance of such an ugly culture by the Commissioner of Baseball, and the powerful players’ Union. Our Society, in general, and Sports in particular, took one in the gut - motivated by vanity and greed - by thoughtless egomaniacs. A black day for America indeed!
RCL - 10/1/10
10/2/10
10/3/10.
Monday, August 9, 2010
ISCHIA
ISCHIA
I received my September copy of Traveler today. I was surprised to see “Ischia’ listed on the cover. This is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 20 miles west of Naples. I hadn’t thought of this island for over 67 years - ever since I used to fly in between this island and the Isle of Capri during our bomb run on Naples. I was a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. We were part of the 2nd Bomb Group, which was part of General Jimmy Doolittle’s Twelfth Air Force. I could spot the Island, down to the left, from my perch in the nose of the plane. We usually were about five miles high and indicating about 150 mph, on an easterly- inbound course, over the Bay of Naples. What I remember most about the view were the red-tiled roofs on the buildings. The little island looked very peaceful.
I was on four missions to Naples - two of the targets were shipping in the harbor area. One was the rail- marshalling yards and the other was the Capodichino airdrome. The Naples area was our roughest target area. We had our largest losses of crews and planes. The German 88 guns were very accurate. Sometimes, the black smoke from their bursting anti-aircraft shells was so thick, it looked like I could walk on it. These guns were not only shore batteries, but some 88’s were mounted on barges moored in the harbor. Besides all the flak, we had to contend with the German Me-109’s and FW- 190 fighter planes which attacked our formation. We were unescorted, because Naples (from North Africa) was beyond the range of our P-38’s.
I always hoped that I could return and view this beautiful country close-up - from ground level. My wish was realized in 1985 - 43 years later. I had been retired from C & H Sugar Co. for two years, when Marie and I went to Italy. We visited Rome; Florence; Venice; Naples and the Isle of Capri. I enjoyed flying on the Alitalia air line.
RCL - 8/9/10.
I received my September copy of Traveler today. I was surprised to see “Ischia’ listed on the cover. This is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 20 miles west of Naples. I hadn’t thought of this island for over 67 years - ever since I used to fly in between this island and the Isle of Capri during our bomb run on Naples. I was a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. We were part of the 2nd Bomb Group, which was part of General Jimmy Doolittle’s Twelfth Air Force. I could spot the Island, down to the left, from my perch in the nose of the plane. We usually were about five miles high and indicating about 150 mph, on an easterly- inbound course, over the Bay of Naples. What I remember most about the view were the red-tiled roofs on the buildings. The little island looked very peaceful.
I was on four missions to Naples - two of the targets were shipping in the harbor area. One was the rail- marshalling yards and the other was the Capodichino airdrome. The Naples area was our roughest target area. We had our largest losses of crews and planes. The German 88 guns were very accurate. Sometimes, the black smoke from their bursting anti-aircraft shells was so thick, it looked like I could walk on it. These guns were not only shore batteries, but some 88’s were mounted on barges moored in the harbor. Besides all the flak, we had to contend with the German Me-109’s and FW- 190 fighter planes which attacked our formation. We were unescorted, because Naples (from North Africa) was beyond the range of our P-38’s.
I always hoped that I could return and view this beautiful country close-up - from ground level. My wish was realized in 1985 - 43 years later. I had been retired from C & H Sugar Co. for two years, when Marie and I went to Italy. We visited Rome; Florence; Venice; Naples and the Isle of Capri. I enjoyed flying on the Alitalia air line.
RCL - 8/9/10.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
CACHE CREEK CASINO
CACHE CREEK-2
Today is July 14, 2010. We are leaving Quail Creek at 9:15, headed for the Cache Creek Casino, located at Brooke - near Winters. It is time for me to pay my “annual dues”. It is also a beautiful day to be cooped up inside - but one has to do what one has to do! Nearby, Manual Campos Drive is now open. They did a great job on it, and it is a very appealing thoroughfare. The landscaping job is very attractive. This new road will save about five minutes between Quail Creek and the freeway. The rolling hills are a pretty golden brown now, in mid-summer.
We are heading eastbound on I-80, and will exit on to the 505. Traffic is quite light. I would think that there were more vacationers out. We are passing irrigated sugar- beet fields and orchards. This is a very fertile area. We turn off the 505, and head west on the two-way Highway 16, to Esparto. This is a “Daylight Headlight” section - a deterrent to head-on collisions between cars passing in opposite directions.
I notice a sign, “Manca’s Ranch - Fresh Apricots.” A little farther, in Esparto, there is a roadside sign - “Sweet Cherries”. The small burg of Copay ahead, with a 35 MPH posting. I was surprised to see a large vineyard here. It is a pretty drive through this area - about 15 minutes from Esparto. We arrive at the Casino 10:05. I am surprised to see eight “gambler” busses already here. The last time we came, there was only one!
The Casino is one large place - but still very crowded, noisy and smokey. You wouldn’t come here if you were looking for a health resort. I decided to play the nickel machine, but had more trouble than before locating a vacant one. We had two hours - before re-gathering for lunch - so I put a 20 dollar bill in the machine. The last time, there were a lot of vacant machines. But, not this time. I didn’t notice so many one and two cent machines last time. Today, these were all packed with gamblers! I would guess that the management removed some nickel machines and replaced them with the “Cents’ machines.
I “cashed out” before lunch, and had a $10 credit left, which was imprinted on my Cache Creek Club card. I had a nice lunch at Kung Fu Fats restaurant in the Casino - a bowl of chicken-noodle soup. It was very good. My fortune cookie insert says, “You will attend an unusual party and meet someone important.” It didn’t give the date of the party, and directions, though. I had a ten dollar credit remaining, from the original $25 credit I received, when I registered for the first time, the last time we were here. So, I guess you can say that I broke even - considering my $10 “donation” to the slot machine.
I have another couple of hours before our scheduled departure for Quail Creek, so might as well invest the remaining $10 credit on my Club card. It was difficult to find a nickel machine, just as before lunch. You can just push a button on the slot machine to activate the three reels. The old fashioned way of pulling the lever also works. I decided to do this. It is not only the most familiar to me, but I feel that it will slow down “feeding money” (this is automatic - controlled by the remaining credit on your Club card that you inserted to start play,) into the machine. Too, I feel more in control of the action with my manual operation. You can also speed up your “dues paying” by playing five nickels at a time. While this method will multiply your “winnings” by five, it also has the same effect on your losing! I selected the horizontal middle line for my play. It is interesting to watch the results on the two lines above, and the other two lines below my middle line. The winning (and losing) combinations are also shown, but there are no payouts for these lines. I was tempted to chase after the paying results shown on the other four lines, by changing the line that I was playing, to the line that just showed a winning combination. I know this is confusing. You will just have to go and check it out, to better understand the options. I would win some and then lose some, by sticking with the middle line. Finally, I had “slot fatigue”, and decided to cash out the $10 that I started with over an hour ago.
I “people watched” until it was time for us to leave. It was interesting watching the people scrambling to board their busses. We departed at 2:25. One of the eight bus drivers was in a big hurry. Tony had to park in front of one of the buses to load the power chairs. The driver was in a big hurry and complaining about our holding up his departure. We had a young CNA along to help Kelli. JV whipped out his I phone and called the phone number listed on the back of the bus. He got a “this number is no longer in service”. So, JV went to this phone directory, and got the phone number of the bus lines. He called this number and reported the offending driver to the dispatcher. I thought JV’s fast reaction to the situation was pretty classy for a young fellow to use his modern electronic equipment so effectively.
We had an uneventful trip back to Quail Creek. When we passed the Shell station I noticed the $3.14 price of their gas. While price at the pump is up, the $70 spot price is about the same as it has been. We arrived back at 3:18. RCL - 8/6/10.
Today is July 14, 2010. We are leaving Quail Creek at 9:15, headed for the Cache Creek Casino, located at Brooke - near Winters. It is time for me to pay my “annual dues”. It is also a beautiful day to be cooped up inside - but one has to do what one has to do! Nearby, Manual Campos Drive is now open. They did a great job on it, and it is a very appealing thoroughfare. The landscaping job is very attractive. This new road will save about five minutes between Quail Creek and the freeway. The rolling hills are a pretty golden brown now, in mid-summer.
We are heading eastbound on I-80, and will exit on to the 505. Traffic is quite light. I would think that there were more vacationers out. We are passing irrigated sugar- beet fields and orchards. This is a very fertile area. We turn off the 505, and head west on the two-way Highway 16, to Esparto. This is a “Daylight Headlight” section - a deterrent to head-on collisions between cars passing in opposite directions.
I notice a sign, “Manca’s Ranch - Fresh Apricots.” A little farther, in Esparto, there is a roadside sign - “Sweet Cherries”. The small burg of Copay ahead, with a 35 MPH posting. I was surprised to see a large vineyard here. It is a pretty drive through this area - about 15 minutes from Esparto. We arrive at the Casino 10:05. I am surprised to see eight “gambler” busses already here. The last time we came, there was only one!
The Casino is one large place - but still very crowded, noisy and smokey. You wouldn’t come here if you were looking for a health resort. I decided to play the nickel machine, but had more trouble than before locating a vacant one. We had two hours - before re-gathering for lunch - so I put a 20 dollar bill in the machine. The last time, there were a lot of vacant machines. But, not this time. I didn’t notice so many one and two cent machines last time. Today, these were all packed with gamblers! I would guess that the management removed some nickel machines and replaced them with the “Cents’ machines.
I “cashed out” before lunch, and had a $10 credit left, which was imprinted on my Cache Creek Club card. I had a nice lunch at Kung Fu Fats restaurant in the Casino - a bowl of chicken-noodle soup. It was very good. My fortune cookie insert says, “You will attend an unusual party and meet someone important.” It didn’t give the date of the party, and directions, though. I had a ten dollar credit remaining, from the original $25 credit I received, when I registered for the first time, the last time we were here. So, I guess you can say that I broke even - considering my $10 “donation” to the slot machine.
I have another couple of hours before our scheduled departure for Quail Creek, so might as well invest the remaining $10 credit on my Club card. It was difficult to find a nickel machine, just as before lunch. You can just push a button on the slot machine to activate the three reels. The old fashioned way of pulling the lever also works. I decided to do this. It is not only the most familiar to me, but I feel that it will slow down “feeding money” (this is automatic - controlled by the remaining credit on your Club card that you inserted to start play,) into the machine. Too, I feel more in control of the action with my manual operation. You can also speed up your “dues paying” by playing five nickels at a time. While this method will multiply your “winnings” by five, it also has the same effect on your losing! I selected the horizontal middle line for my play. It is interesting to watch the results on the two lines above, and the other two lines below my middle line. The winning (and losing) combinations are also shown, but there are no payouts for these lines. I was tempted to chase after the paying results shown on the other four lines, by changing the line that I was playing, to the line that just showed a winning combination. I know this is confusing. You will just have to go and check it out, to better understand the options. I would win some and then lose some, by sticking with the middle line. Finally, I had “slot fatigue”, and decided to cash out the $10 that I started with over an hour ago.
I “people watched” until it was time for us to leave. It was interesting watching the people scrambling to board their busses. We departed at 2:25. One of the eight bus drivers was in a big hurry. Tony had to park in front of one of the buses to load the power chairs. The driver was in a big hurry and complaining about our holding up his departure. We had a young CNA along to help Kelli. JV whipped out his I phone and called the phone number listed on the back of the bus. He got a “this number is no longer in service”. So, JV went to this phone directory, and got the phone number of the bus lines. He called this number and reported the offending driver to the dispatcher. I thought JV’s fast reaction to the situation was pretty classy for a young fellow to use his modern electronic equipment so effectively.
We had an uneventful trip back to Quail Creek. When we passed the Shell station I noticed the $3.14 price of their gas. While price at the pump is up, the $70 spot price is about the same as it has been. We arrived back at 3:18. RCL - 8/6/10.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO
FERRY TO SAN FRANCISCO
Today is Wednesday, July 28, 2010. We are leaving Quail Creek at 9:15 - right on time! - for the Ferry building in Vallejo. From there, we will catch the 10 o’clock boat to San Francisco. Counting Kelli and Tony, there are ten of us aboard our mini-bus. This is the largest group that I have seen in the two years that I have been going on the Quail Creek “Outings”.
We pass the Arco station, and gas is $3.00 a gallon. I don’t know what Shell, nearby, is charging, because Tony used the newly opened Manuel Campus Boulevard cut-off. This saves about 5 minutes (and much less traffic) than our former route. This new road is part of the larger $5 million North Texas/ Highway 80 interchange. The large project has been in progress for over two years. The Futures price for crude oil today is $77.50.
The weather is clear and cool - probably 50 degrees. If I had a “smart phone”, I would know for sure! The traffic, in both directions of I-80, is light. (I was just over this same stretch yesterday, when Anne drove us to Napa for lunch, and then on to Yountville.) It seems like there are more trucks in the westbound weigh station, than I have noticed before. I would think this is a sign that the Recession is easing, but there are other mixed signals that is not the case. We pass the large Sunnyside Dairy. I don’t see many of these anymore.
As we approach Hunters Hill, I can see the high-fog bank overhead. Tony exits on to West bound Tennessee Street in Vallejo. It seems good to be in Vallejo (where we lived for 46 years), and not be en-route to the Kaiser Medical complex. We pass the beauty shop where Marie used to have her hair done and, in another few blocks, the barber shop where John cut my hair for 40 years! Vallejo hasn’t changed much in all that time.
Our Senior all-day pass on the ferry was $13.00. As I remember, when the ferry service started 25 years ago, the round-trip fare - Vallejo-San Francisco was $6.00! We are aboard Bartlinks’ original ferry - the “Vallejo”. This is a much smaller boat than the larger ones that they run during the commute hours. It is also slower - taking ten more minutes to get to the Ferry Building. Consequently, it is packed with vacationers and people like us. We back out of the dock at 10:02.
The Captain sets the throttle at 5 knots as we head south on the Mare Island channel. The slow speed minimizes any wake damage on shore. After 14 minutes of “Idle” throttle, the Captain gooses the twin engines and our speed increases to about 30 knots. I can see Mt. Tamalpais- in Marin County - straight ahead. The water, a few feet away has a grayish color, rather than being blue. Now, Mt. Tam is at 3 o’clock, about 5 miles away. The San Francisco panorama ahead is spectacular. I spot the U.S. Bank building at One California Street straight ahead - behind the ferry Building and the Hyatt Regency Hotel. I always look for the building - named the Mutual Benefit Life building during the 14 years that I worked for California and Hawaiian Sugar Company. My office was on the 19th floor. I don’t see any cruise ships dockside.
We tie up the Ferry Building dock at 11:00 - right on time. About half of the passengers disembark. The others staying on board are headed for Pier 41 - between Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. According to the encyclopedia Wikipedia, the current structure on the Embarcadero, was designed by Page Brown, and the terminal opened in 1898. The building survived both the large 1906 and 1989 earthquakes. The large clock tower on top of the building is a landmark. The clock and chimes are operational. The 12th century Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain was the architectural inspiration for the Ferry Building clock tower. The Bay Area Rapid transit (BART) tracks run beneath the building.
We walk the length of the Ferry building, and then returned to Gate B, where we got off. This is near to the Slanted Door where we had a nice lunch. From the restaurant, we had a great panoramic view of the waterfront - Bay Bridge. Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island. The latter was a man- made island constructed particularly to support the infrastructure for the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939 and ’40. The ritzy World Trade Center is directly above us. With the great food and view, this is a prestigious place to have lunch - if you are lucky enough to find a member who will invite you! Luckily, we arrived early - before the business cliental arrived. I ordered their chicken noodle soup, and it was delicious. It was listed at only $6! This is not a San Francisco price. I was suspicious, presuming that I would be the “cup” portion. I was pleasantly surprised by the large bowl.
After lunch, we split up. We had a couple of hours before our return boarding, plus everyone had different interests. So, I repeated walking the length of the Ferry Building - passing (would you believe?) food shops! I particularly like to go in the “Sur La Table” at the end of the shops. They have many interesting items - geared primarily to the kitchen. Then, back to the other end. I was in the mood for some ice cream, so got in line at the Ciao Bella Gelato. I had trouble deciding between all the tempting flavors. Finally settled on the Mocha Chip. It was very good - even though the ambient temperature was about 60 degrees. I took my delicacy on a bench outside and enjoyed the view and my ice cream.
I still had an hour and a half before meeting back at the Ferry Dock. So, I walked over to the Hyatt Regency Hotel - a couple of blocks away - across the Justin Herman Plaza. En-route, I walked past the most interesting Vaillancourt Fountain with water flowing out of it’s many openings. Also there was a large tent, where Peter Pan was performing. I ended up in the interesting lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Marie and I went to a Tea Dance here in the lobby about 30 years ago, not long after it opened I sat in the lobby for 45 minutes fascinated by the five unique inside elevators going up and down.
I returned to the waterfront. I still had a half hour to kill. Eastbound traffic on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge is light. In two more hours I won’t be able to observe this. The tower clock bongs three times. I don’t get to hear this melodius sound very often. So, my time wasn’t wasted, I got another gelato - this time I tried the Dulce de Leche flavor. I prefer the Mocha Chip. At $3.65 for one scoop in a cup, I spent more on gelatos that I did for lunch! It wasn’t a total loss, as it brought back pleasant memories of our visit to Rome in 1985.
About 3:30, and the inbound Vallejo Solano ferry is docking. This a larger and faster twin-hulled boat. What a great invention the side-thrusters are! The Captain can maneuver along side of the dock and then move the boat sidewise for a smooth berthing. We are lined up on the dock waiting for the passengers to get off so that we can board. There are many arriving San Francisco Giants’ fans, dressed in their team colors of orange and black.
They expedite our boarding, and we move out from the dock at 3:34 - three minutes late! A green “China Shipping Lines” freighter moving across our bow, heading for the port of Oakland. Probably loaded with Christmas goodies! I get a good view of the new East span of the Bay Bridge under construction. Today, they are hoisting the huge first section of the unique single tower self -supporting suspension span between the viaducts. The bridge is scheduled to open in 2013 - six years late! - at a cost of 3.6 billion dollars - a cost over-run of 2.5 billion dollars! The Current parallel - structure between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island - will then be dismantled.
It must be a little more windy now, as there are white caps on the Bay. We are passing a tanker unloading oil at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond. A good view of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refinery beneath the bridge at Crockett. I worked there for seven years before transferring to the C & H corporate office, in San Francisco, in 1949. I can see the Maritime Academy (now part of the California College system) on the other side of the Carquinez Strait. At 4:13 the Captain is slowing the boat down to 5 knots. We are passing the former Sperry Flour Mill on the right. We are passing another Vallejo Ferry heading to San Francisco. We arrive back in Vallejo @ 4:28 - right on time. We arrive back at Quail creek at 5: 10. It is much warmer in Fairfield than it was in San Francisco - about a 20 degree temperature spread in the 40 miles. We have been gone 8 hours. While it was a long day, it was a very nice one.
RCL - 8/5/10.
Today is Wednesday, July 28, 2010. We are leaving Quail Creek at 9:15 - right on time! - for the Ferry building in Vallejo. From there, we will catch the 10 o’clock boat to San Francisco. Counting Kelli and Tony, there are ten of us aboard our mini-bus. This is the largest group that I have seen in the two years that I have been going on the Quail Creek “Outings”.
We pass the Arco station, and gas is $3.00 a gallon. I don’t know what Shell, nearby, is charging, because Tony used the newly opened Manuel Campus Boulevard cut-off. This saves about 5 minutes (and much less traffic) than our former route. This new road is part of the larger $5 million North Texas/ Highway 80 interchange. The large project has been in progress for over two years. The Futures price for crude oil today is $77.50.
The weather is clear and cool - probably 50 degrees. If I had a “smart phone”, I would know for sure! The traffic, in both directions of I-80, is light. (I was just over this same stretch yesterday, when Anne drove us to Napa for lunch, and then on to Yountville.) It seems like there are more trucks in the westbound weigh station, than I have noticed before. I would think this is a sign that the Recession is easing, but there are other mixed signals that is not the case. We pass the large Sunnyside Dairy. I don’t see many of these anymore.
As we approach Hunters Hill, I can see the high-fog bank overhead. Tony exits on to West bound Tennessee Street in Vallejo. It seems good to be in Vallejo (where we lived for 46 years), and not be en-route to the Kaiser Medical complex. We pass the beauty shop where Marie used to have her hair done and, in another few blocks, the barber shop where John cut my hair for 40 years! Vallejo hasn’t changed much in all that time.
Our Senior all-day pass on the ferry was $13.00. As I remember, when the ferry service started 25 years ago, the round-trip fare - Vallejo-San Francisco was $6.00! We are aboard Bartlinks’ original ferry - the “Vallejo”. This is a much smaller boat than the larger ones that they run during the commute hours. It is also slower - taking ten more minutes to get to the Ferry Building. Consequently, it is packed with vacationers and people like us. We back out of the dock at 10:02.
The Captain sets the throttle at 5 knots as we head south on the Mare Island channel. The slow speed minimizes any wake damage on shore. After 14 minutes of “Idle” throttle, the Captain gooses the twin engines and our speed increases to about 30 knots. I can see Mt. Tamalpais- in Marin County - straight ahead. The water, a few feet away has a grayish color, rather than being blue. Now, Mt. Tam is at 3 o’clock, about 5 miles away. The San Francisco panorama ahead is spectacular. I spot the U.S. Bank building at One California Street straight ahead - behind the ferry Building and the Hyatt Regency Hotel. I always look for the building - named the Mutual Benefit Life building during the 14 years that I worked for California and Hawaiian Sugar Company. My office was on the 19th floor. I don’t see any cruise ships dockside.
We tie up the Ferry Building dock at 11:00 - right on time. About half of the passengers disembark. The others staying on board are headed for Pier 41 - between Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. According to the encyclopedia Wikipedia, the current structure on the Embarcadero, was designed by Page Brown, and the terminal opened in 1898. The building survived both the large 1906 and 1989 earthquakes. The large clock tower on top of the building is a landmark. The clock and chimes are operational. The 12th century Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain was the architectural inspiration for the Ferry Building clock tower. The Bay Area Rapid transit (BART) tracks run beneath the building.
We walk the length of the Ferry building, and then returned to Gate B, where we got off. This is near to the Slanted Door where we had a nice lunch. From the restaurant, we had a great panoramic view of the waterfront - Bay Bridge. Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island. The latter was a man- made island constructed particularly to support the infrastructure for the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939 and ’40. The ritzy World Trade Center is directly above us. With the great food and view, this is a prestigious place to have lunch - if you are lucky enough to find a member who will invite you! Luckily, we arrived early - before the business cliental arrived. I ordered their chicken noodle soup, and it was delicious. It was listed at only $6! This is not a San Francisco price. I was suspicious, presuming that I would be the “cup” portion. I was pleasantly surprised by the large bowl.
After lunch, we split up. We had a couple of hours before our return boarding, plus everyone had different interests. So, I repeated walking the length of the Ferry Building - passing (would you believe?) food shops! I particularly like to go in the “Sur La Table” at the end of the shops. They have many interesting items - geared primarily to the kitchen. Then, back to the other end. I was in the mood for some ice cream, so got in line at the Ciao Bella Gelato. I had trouble deciding between all the tempting flavors. Finally settled on the Mocha Chip. It was very good - even though the ambient temperature was about 60 degrees. I took my delicacy on a bench outside and enjoyed the view and my ice cream.
I still had an hour and a half before meeting back at the Ferry Dock. So, I walked over to the Hyatt Regency Hotel - a couple of blocks away - across the Justin Herman Plaza. En-route, I walked past the most interesting Vaillancourt Fountain with water flowing out of it’s many openings. Also there was a large tent, where Peter Pan was performing. I ended up in the interesting lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Marie and I went to a Tea Dance here in the lobby about 30 years ago, not long after it opened I sat in the lobby for 45 minutes fascinated by the five unique inside elevators going up and down.
I returned to the waterfront. I still had a half hour to kill. Eastbound traffic on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge is light. In two more hours I won’t be able to observe this. The tower clock bongs three times. I don’t get to hear this melodius sound very often. So, my time wasn’t wasted, I got another gelato - this time I tried the Dulce de Leche flavor. I prefer the Mocha Chip. At $3.65 for one scoop in a cup, I spent more on gelatos that I did for lunch! It wasn’t a total loss, as it brought back pleasant memories of our visit to Rome in 1985.
About 3:30, and the inbound Vallejo Solano ferry is docking. This a larger and faster twin-hulled boat. What a great invention the side-thrusters are! The Captain can maneuver along side of the dock and then move the boat sidewise for a smooth berthing. We are lined up on the dock waiting for the passengers to get off so that we can board. There are many arriving San Francisco Giants’ fans, dressed in their team colors of orange and black.
They expedite our boarding, and we move out from the dock at 3:34 - three minutes late! A green “China Shipping Lines” freighter moving across our bow, heading for the port of Oakland. Probably loaded with Christmas goodies! I get a good view of the new East span of the Bay Bridge under construction. Today, they are hoisting the huge first section of the unique single tower self -supporting suspension span between the viaducts. The bridge is scheduled to open in 2013 - six years late! - at a cost of 3.6 billion dollars - a cost over-run of 2.5 billion dollars! The Current parallel - structure between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island - will then be dismantled.
It must be a little more windy now, as there are white caps on the Bay. We are passing a tanker unloading oil at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond. A good view of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refinery beneath the bridge at Crockett. I worked there for seven years before transferring to the C & H corporate office, in San Francisco, in 1949. I can see the Maritime Academy (now part of the California College system) on the other side of the Carquinez Strait. At 4:13 the Captain is slowing the boat down to 5 knots. We are passing the former Sperry Flour Mill on the right. We are passing another Vallejo Ferry heading to San Francisco. We arrive back in Vallejo @ 4:28 - right on time. We arrive back at Quail creek at 5: 10. It is much warmer in Fairfield than it was in San Francisco - about a 20 degree temperature spread in the 40 miles. We have been gone 8 hours. While it was a long day, it was a very nice one.
RCL - 8/5/10.
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