U.S. Interstate 10 – California

288 Placer Drive Goleta, California

Attention: This is yet one more post that originally had but one photo and maybe 200 words that told of our day. Here in late 2022, this oversight is being repaired.

This corner of Placer Drive and Cathedral Oaks Avenue in Goleta will forever belong to my aunt and uncle Burns, who moved into the house as its first occupants.

Cajun Kitchen in Goleta, California

On a similar note, this is Cajun Kitchen, but without my aunt and uncle, it is not the same place. Lots of fond memories of having breakfast with those two. Remember, I’m writing this in 2022.

101 Freeway through Los Angeles, California

Passing through Los Angeles on Highway 101 and only about 7 miles before we either merge onto the 10 Freeway or the 60 for our drive home to Arizona.

Norm's Famous Hamburgers in Whittier, California

Today, though, we are detouring right from Downtown Los Angeles to make our way to Whittier Boulevard.

Carbon Canyon Road in Brea, California

We went as far as we could on Whittier Boulevard until we turned to pick up Lambert Road.

Donkeys checking us out in Chino Hills, California

That road becomes Carbon Canyon and takes us into Chino Hills right to the California Institution for Men in Chino. From there, we took Central North to merge onto the 60 Freeway that will bring us to Interstate 10.

San Gorgonio Pass wind farm near Palm Springs, California

Northwest of Palm Springs, about 120 miles from Blythe, this is U.S. Interstate 10 going east towards Arizona. Over the past 11 years, Caroline and I have plied this asphalt no less than 70 times, maybe as many as 100 times; we have lost count. From visiting family to shopping, going to concerts, movies, national parks, ethnic communities, or riding the subway and trying new food, this road to and from Los Angeles has delivered us to Disneyland, Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean, and back home again.

Arizona State Sign

The question always comes up: why don’t you fly? For the 2 of us to fly to Los Angeles from Phoenix requires a 20-minute-drive to Sky Harbor International Airport, two days of parking at $20 per day, two plane tickets at $125 each, $45 for a small car in L.A., $21 for gasoline at a minimum upon rental return. The entire procedure takes 3.5 hours from home to sitting down in the rental car, so for $356 and still no hotel, we could go to L.A. 2 hours faster than driving. But, for the 70-odd times we have made this journey it would have cost us $24,920 versus the $3,570 we have spent for gasoline (that’s averaging $2.00 per gallon over the 11 years). With the money saved, we could have bought 362 entries into Disneyland, paid for 305 hotel nights, or flown non-stop roundtrip to Hawaii 22 times, or to Europe 9 times.

Quartzsite is on the other side of those mountains in Arizona

The homestretch, we are only 160 miles from our front door.

Highway 101 – California

Los Angeles River in California

Attention: This is yet one more post that originally had but one photo and maybe 100 words that told of our day. Here in late 2022, this oversight is being repaired.

Moving slowly today after our marathon Disneyland visit, we meandered across Los Angeles on city streets, making our way from Anaheim through Cypress and Long Beach, where I stopped to take this photo of the San Gabriel River.

Wandering out of Anaheim towards Los Angeles, California

North, the streets took us up to Cerritos.

Intersection of Flower Street and Bellflower Blvd in Bellflower, California

Wandering over to the intersection of Bellflower Blvd and Flower Street.

Ming Ya Buddhist Association in Los Angeles, California

Before hitting Valley Blvd in Monterey Park and taking a left, that brought us to the Ming Ya Buddhist Association.

N Main Street and Daly Street in Los Angeles, California

At the corner of Main and Daly in Los Angeles, we would soon be in Chinatown.

Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California

Back across Sunset to Hollywood Boulevard on some strangely quiet streets.

Oki Dog on Fairfax in Los Angeles, California

We failed to get breakfast earlier, so Oki Dog acted as brunch, and well, I don’t think there’s a better brunch in all of America.

Looking into San Fernando Valley, California

We followed the road to Mulholland Drive for some beautiful views of the San Fernando Valley

Pacific Ocean north of Ventura, California

Finally left the small streets and merged onto Highway 101 for our first visit to the Pacific Ocean on this trip.

Highway 101 looking north on the drive to Santa Barbara, California

Just a few feet to the left is the Pacific Ocean, on the right is Highway 101, and in the center is the train track for the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.

A lowered and chopped top old car in California

Our ultimate goal today was to visit our aunt and uncle in Santa Barbara; this was not them.

Disneyland

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Attention: This is yet one more post that originally had but one photo and maybe 100 words that told of our day. Here in late 2022, this oversight is being repaired.

Late yesterday afternoon, Caroline and I began the 350-mile (560km) drive from Phoenix, Arizona, to Anaheim, California, so we could spend ALL DAY AND NIGHT at Disneyland on Saturday. Up at 6:00 in the morning, in line by 7:00, walked through the gate at 8:00, and didn’t leave until nearly 1:00 in the morning.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

We were just here six months ago on Christmas Eve, so having that experience so near our memories, we were able to slow down the chase to experience it all again and focus on some other details that might be missed though, after more than a dozen times of visiting Disneyland together, you’d think that we’d seen it all by now.

Tiki Room at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

There are some attractions that we’ll never miss, such as the Tiki Room. If I knew the words by heart and had memorized every moment, we’d still return for one more show to listen to Jose wake up with “Buenos días, señorita. My siestas are getting shorter and shorter. Oh, look at all the people. Welcome to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Hey, Michael, mi amigo, pay attention, it’s showtime.”

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

I don’t know that I’ve ever consciously seen this, which begs the question, how many other things at Disneyland have I missed and are now forever gone?

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

To have the imagination I did when I was but 6 or 7 years old and first saw this gate and fence and felt the crazy excitement that not only were we at Disneyland, but we were going to unimaginable places within it.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

This was called Innoventions and was a showcase of tech built inside the Carousel Theater.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Asimo was relatively new to the world of robots when we saw it first perform here at Innoventions; it was astonishing.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

The elevated track used to be part of the People Mover. Later, it became Rocket Rods, and now the thing sits silent, even now in 2022, as I write this.

Jungle Cruise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Looking into odd corners.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Taking time to finally paddle the Rivers of America on our way around Tom Sawyer Island.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Just as Space Mountain propels us into the future, Rivers of America transported us into the past.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Nature’s Wonderland Railroad Engine that used to guide people on the Mine Ride.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

The park simply looks beautiful from all angles.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

And if all the fun wasn’t enough, throw in a parade for extra measure.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

How long before the barber shop quartette idea no longer resonates with parkgoers?

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

After my family went to Disneyland, we always had a bunch of A, B, and C coupons remaining as those were kids’ rides, and we all wanted E-tickets as those were for the really exciting rides.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

When we were kids, the last thing we wanted to see were the corny shows, now we’re those people that enjoy the corny shows.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

No, Dad, not the stupid Dumbo ride; I’m not a little kid anymore. Now I’m older and find it cute and romantic as Caroline, and I take to the skies flying in circles in our own private Dumbo.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

From Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, the formula still works.

Fireworks at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

The fireworks went off at 9:25 p.m. with a special extravaganza in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the park.

Fireworks at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

After dozens of times at Disneyland, we still find new things to do and are never bored, even for a moment – the power of imagination and romance.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

The rides are all shut down; it’s now after midnight the only thing left to do is stroll down Main Street, stopping in at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor to share a sweet.

Hitchhikers

Caroline Wise, Ann Burns, and John Wise in Goleta, California

Everything is now right in the world. Tata (Aunt Ann) got her hair done, and now it was time for breakfast at Cajun Kitchen. We’ll hang out until just after noon, reminiscing about all the stuff we’ve probably reminisced about before, but no matter as it’s always great to see their enthusiasm for sharing the highlights of their lives.

Downtown Los Angeles, California

It’s already mid-afternoon when we pull off the freeway for some quick sightseeing in downtown Los Angeles. While there’s plenty of blight to focus on in this part of the city, that’s what I was doing back when I was growing up before I had access to a car. Today, I’m looking for striking images.

John Wise in Downtown Los Angeles, California

However, I’m also persuaded to take distorted self-portraits.

Downtown Los Angeles, California

And more high rises.

Los Angeles, California

Not to forget the beautiful older and much shorter side of Los Angeles. Enough sightseeing, time to go home.

State Prison Next Exit - Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers

Passing the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison outside of Blythe, California, on the way back to Arizona, you are warned not to stop for hitchhikers as they just might be escaped convicts.

The Lady from Tijuana, Mexico

Woody Burns and John Wise in Goleta, California

These are not the ladies from Tijuana; they are Woody Burns and John Wise, who, with Caroline and our Aunt Ann, are spending the weekend together in Goleta doing not much at all.

Chicken soup

Well, there is this pot of chicken soup underway that I’m hoping Tata (Aunt Ann) learned to make from her mother, Luba, and that it’s the same recipe her sister/my grandmother Amelia used to make. There are those foods from our childhood that really defined our expectations, and from my grandma Wise (Amelia), it was chicken soup, homemade noodles, and tapioca pudding.

Yard ornamentation from Tijuana, Mexico

More than 30 years ago, my Uncle Woody and Aunt Ann picked up this once beautiful statue from across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. As she rode back to the U.S. in the passenger seat of a convertible, she turned heads – yeah, right, it was her stunning beauty and not those odd multi-directional breasts.

Filling Up on the Arizona California Border

Love's gas station in Quartzsite, Arizona

Driving to Santa Barbara, California, for the weekend, we have to stop in Quartzsite to fill the tank before the price jumps from $2.99 a gallon to over $3.55. The drive to Santa Barbara is 510 miles (826km) and takes us about 9 hours to drive, including a stop for dinner. The majority of the road slices through the desert until shortly before Los Angeles, when the temperature drops, the air moistens, and traffic starts to get heavy.

At the Colorado River on the California / Arizona border

Along the way, we stopped at the Colorado River, where the Ehrenberg Wash joins the river here on the Arizona side.

Approaching Palm Springs, California at sunset

That’s Palm Springs ahead.

Northwoods Inn in Covina, California

Here’s that stop for dinner I mentioned above, which is once again being taken at the Northwoods Inn in Covina, California.