Autumn

Whether you call it Autumn or Fall, this is a wonderful time of the year - particularly up here in the mountains.  We don't have too many deciduous trees, mostly pines, but nonetheless there are a few that we enjoy seeing turn.

The leaves begin to turn from the top to the bottom, but with the Maples, they seem to go all at once and also very quickly.  Of course, for the very best shows, you have to go north east in the country, but we're happy with our modest displays here.  I'm told by the biologists, that the change comes through a combination of lower temperatures and hormones triggered by the diminishing daylight.

Trip - hotel

We camped for seven of the eight nights we were on our trip to Oregon and back.  But one night - the fifth - we stayed at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno, NV.  After our days and nights on the road it was quite a culture shock.

We're not in a camp site anymore, Michael!

The very first thing I did when we arrived was to run a big bath.  One of the major problems of a trip such as ours is that one becomes absolutely filthy, in spite of regular applications with Baby Wipes.  But the next day as soon as we rolled out of the parking lot, we were filthy again.

Video - Dog

Many thanks to Denise for this wonderful clip.  She knew I wouldn't be able to resist it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=xdj67XknFrM#t=5

Sunday's Column - March Air Museum

This Sunday's column is about the March Air Museum.  It's the home of the SR-71 Blackbird and also the Folland Gnat - the world's fastest, and the world's smallest jet airplane.

Folland Gnat

Unfortunately the column is yet to be posted on The Sun's site, so I shall be sending one of my unpleasant emails in the morning. You can check in though at www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels and hope its up if you'd like to read the entire column.

Right Track - Churchill

The great man was known for his in-depth observations; most of them right on target.  Here is one.

Tirade - props 30 and 38

Currently we are bombarded with TV ads for propositions on the upcoming election day.  There are several annoying ones.  Particularly there are two asking us to vote for an increase in taxes to pay for schools.  Excuse me, don't we already pay for them?  Is it our fault that the incompetents running these institutions can't keep within their budgets?  Let's face it if we gave them double what they asked they would be back for more in a few years time.  Maybe it's time to hand the entire business over to private enterprise and then we wouldn't have these pathetic whiners complaining they don't have enough money for pencils!  Come on People!

Music Track - Skyfall

This is the new James  Bond theme for his upcoming movie.  I think it's quite good as composed and sung by Adele.  What do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3-uE61vCk8

Suits - one

I don't think anything has changed as much in my lifetime as men's clothing.  In particular men's suits.  Now I know that in the UK suits are still worn in the business community, but out here in California, they seem to have completely disappeared from view.  I can hardly imagine how I would be greeted if I wore one to my local one evening.  But it wasn't always that way.
I still remember quite vividly having suits made for me.  It was at Wilde's of Edgware.  Downstairs the "front man" would help you choose the cloth, and measure you.  This was quite a long process as was the actual making of the suit.  Waistcoats (vests) would be sent out to a separate maker as too were the trousers, but it was the jacket that called for all the tailor's skills.  Mr Wilde himself upstairs would handle this.  He was rather deformed - I only met him once - and he made these wonderful garments sitting crosslegged on a table.
After ten days you would go back for a fitting and once again, the front man would check out the measurements and tear off the one arm that was loosely attached.  There were no lapels and the body of the suit was made up mostly of stiff sacking like material.  Another ten days elapsed and the second fitting would show something that more resembled a jacket.  The third and final fitting was pretty much the end of the process and the waistcoat and trousers would be tried on as well for any small adjustments needed.  Finally about six weeks after the order was placed you walked away with the suit wrapped up in brown paper and string.  Back in the sixties, the cost was about four weeks wages!

Trip - Chandelier Tree

On our trip, we took a little diversion to ride through the Chandelier Tree. Some stats for you.  It is 315 feet high, 21 feet in diameter, amd 2,400 years old.  Quite an age!  Soon after Michael went through, I did, and then came a big automobile. It was a 1960ish Dodge and barely made it.  The wife of the driver had to direct him through.  Later on we rode through a couple of Redwood forests; they were amazing.  Tall, dark and silent; in fact quite eerie.

Trip - Manzanar

On the penultimate day of our trip we passed through Lone Pine on the 395.  Just to the north we stopped to have a look at Manzanar.  It is a controversial place, as it is one of the ten internment camps erected to incarcerate Japanese Americans from 1942 to 1945.
People still argue over the correct name of the facility with the more militant insisting that it be called a concentration camp.
There is no doubt that to many of the internees the incarceration was a dreadful punishment for just being of Japanese heritage.  Some no doubt were spies, but mostly they were peaceful citizens as shocked at the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor as anyone else.  So if the same thing happened today, what would you do?
To read more about the events you can read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanar

Video - Hackett

I've never actually posted a joke on the blog before - well, not in video form.  My friend Kevin sent me this one delivered by Buddy Hackett, who was surely one of the funniest men in the business.  It is somewhat off-color so be prepared to be offended. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln0oWjjAW8w

Sunday's Column - Mojave Narrows

Pelican Lake at Mojave Narrows Regional Park

This week the column goes out into the country, or El Campo as it's known south of the border.  Mojave Narrows Regional Park is set in a area of urban build up which makes it seem even more countryfied.  There are two lakes and an area to rent horses and the bucolic atmosphere pervades the entire place, it's always a pleasure to visit.  You can read the column at http://www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels/ci_21817765/mojave-narrows-desert-oasis

About four years ago, I did a series of ten videos called Trevor's Treasures, which were my ten favorite places to visit in the Inland Empire.  The Mojave Narrows Regional Park was number ten on that list.  I have all the videos as a permanent link here on the blog, but this is the one for the park. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1676043380

Tirade - Football

It's taken me a long time to appreciate American Football (It took me one game to realise I hated the English style!)  But can someone tell me why we have to start the season - well pre-season - in August.  Then we have dozens of games every Sunday, several more later in the week and it all comes to an end in January.  Then we have the appalling prospect of basketball for months until the pre-season of baseball begins and Dodger fans can begin to dream again.  (Normally those dreams are turned to nightmares quite early, of course!) It's not that football players play basketball so why the rush?  Could I make a suggestion.  Lets start the season in late September, then if the weather is too bad to play in the north, then let's make two divisions, north and south or those with covered stadiums and those not.  Then we could also limit the number of games that come on each day.  That way we get a longer season.  This stuff is not hard to figure out. Come on People!

Right Track - clear choice

Worth considering - or is Romney "lying" again?!