Leg 4
- Sacramento, CA - 2/22/2004 - POC: John "John396" Hintz
G'day Don, Time to catch up with my travelling.... 'Flapper and the Devil'...
well, what can I say? We went to the San Cantalina Mountains (above photos) and
stopped here and there... beautiful scenery to boot. Just behind me is a
...'saguaro' type of cactus..see Soni and Bob, I remembered (finally) lol and
it looks like they are sprouting from my head (photo above, third from left)...
beware! I managed to throw a snowball and then I saw Paul McCartney's Ranch.
The Pima Air Base where the aircraft are in 'mothballs' is interesting. Would
like to have stayed longer but the first train out was Saturday night and the
next was Tuesday night! San Cantalina Mountains...well, one good looking Aussie
Rooster ( minus the Devils Horns)
After a 17 hour journey on the Train - Bus - Train and then Bus, I finally
arrived in Sacramento to stay with John396 (see photo below). His wife was out
of town (was it something I said?) and we went looking around the Old Town. Had
a nice meal and impressed a chic with my accent - of course, but not there long
enough to get 'busy' (lol) We worked out a quicker way to McKinleyville which
was via Sana Rosa, still, a 11 hour journey with Greyhound. I have been frisked
more times in one week in the USA then I ever have in my life...who tipped them
off? There are lots of loopholes in the so called security I have
noticed....maybe there is a job for me here in the States?? (this message
continued in Leg 5 below)
Click on photos for full-size view:
John and Blue. Blue and his buddy Morgan.
Leg 5
- McKinleyville, CA - 2/24/2004 - POC: Paul "PEP" Perris
(continued from Leg 4)
Today I went out with PEP (photos below) and two of his friends ( ex Army and ex
SEAL) and we travelled a few miles to Trinidad, saw some Elks and Redwood
trees...pretty big. This was a rather enlightening journey and the driver at
times believed he was in the land of Oz and wandered onto the 'correct' side of
the road on more than one occasion...much to our concern!! Tomorrow at 2100 I
leave for Portland by Greyhound, arriving at 0850. I may try to get to
the USS BLUEBACK as that was my Host Boat back in 1985. Then head up to Seattle
to see Ric.
From the BBS: 2/24/2004 7:21:55 AM G'day guys...and
Gals.... I arrived here in Mckinleyville after a 11 1/2 hour bus ride from
Sacramento. Just woken up and I have PEP's Basset's 'talking' to me....very
friendly critters. Will write more later on, time to catch up with e-mails etc.
From PEP: Hell it hasn't stopped raining but an hour here or an
hour there since he's been here! Trying to cram a weeks worth of fun and sight
seeing is almost like work! Well here's a few pic's I took and put up on my web
page to wet your whistle until Don can find some time to put some up! Blue has
been an excellent guest and I really enjoyed the short time we've had together.
We're waiting for my wife to get home right now then we're off to the Somoa
cookhouse for dinner! It's an old logging camp kitchen probably 80-100yrs old.
The building that is. It's got an add-on room that is a logging museum so after
we check that out then stuff ourselves with homemade breads and whatever
they're having tonight we'll stop at the bus station on the way home and see
Blue off! Hope he can sleep with a full gullet! Hope he can tie up with Don and
the guys from Blueback base before meeting up with Ric! End of report PEP
Blue, visited the USS BLUEBACK SS
581 Thurday 2-26-04. Had a pleasant talk with him, a very charming guy for a
torpedoman. Had a good time showing him throught the BLUEBACK. I was only
sorry he was on a such a tight schedule. I would like to have more time to swap
sea stories. I hope he enjoyed his time on the boat. I know I enjoyed
talking to him and looking at his pictures. He is a great guy. I
hope the rest of you will show him a cordial time.
Blue, visited the USS BLUEBACK SS
581 Thurday 2-26-04. Had a pleasant talk with him, a very charming guy for a
torpedoman. Had a good time showing him throught the BLUEBACK. I was only
sorry he was on a such a tight schedule. I would like to have more time to swap
sea stories. I hope he enjoyed his time on the boat. I know I enjoyed
talking to him and looking at his pictures. He is a great guy. I
hope the rest of you will show him a cordial time.
