Journeys with my Gun

(53) U.S.A.

America, a great country which saved Australia during WW2.
For the unknowing, a moment or two brushing up on the American WW2 campaigns in New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Coral Sea, Midway and the amazing victories along the chain of pacific islands up to Japan which like it or not, saved our bacon.
Unfortunately, that dreadful sacrifice of the American military is somewhat lost amongst some Australians and we can thank the education system for that.

Anyway, definitely one of the friendliest people I have met during my business and holiday visits to the United States over the years.
I worked for an American company, which was a breath of fresh air after it purchased our languishing company.
I was fortunate to visit our parent company in Flagstaff Arizona and fly in a company aircraft across the fabulous painted desert and the not so fabulous air currents en route to the Black Mesa and Kayenta mines (now closed) in Kayenta, northern Arizona.
Just south of Kayenta is 'Monument Valley' a Navajo Tribal Park, formed of red sandstone and famous for its part in many movies, such as, Stagecoach, Forest Gump, How the West was won, Easy Rider and National Lampoons Vacation.
I also attended a company conference in Casper, Wyoming and HR conferences in Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, along with visits to company mines in New Mexico and Colorado. Our company jet trips also stopped in at Williams Az, to allow us to visit the Grand Canyon and flew us in and out of Wyoming, often buzzing small airport runways to scare off wooly, hairy and other things with several legs before landing.

Later I was back to San Francisco, for a train ride to Merced followed by bus to Yosemite National Park which was highly enjoyable, with the waterfalls doing overtime.
The history of flaming logs tumbling down the mountains at night is now a long gone form of entertainment along with the mischief of the bears which in past times climbed onto the top of cars to reach apples in an old orchard.
The outcome of that happily extinct pastime is that the Bears would gorge themselves with apples and then poo all over the cars.
Photographs were plentiful in capturing the damage to cars caused by the bears if they smelt food inside, they didn't just break a window but rather tore the sides out of the car before climbing in to investigate.
I think I saw a bear using a coat hanger to unlock a car door, or was I dreaming.
Back to Merced same evening and I endured a very long wait for the overdue train bound for San Francisco. I was on my own however, others also waiting became friendly culminating in a group purchase of Pizza delivered to the station.
Midnight arrival in Frisco, another day sightseeing before heading south with my rental car, along Highway One for the second time heading for LA.
First stop Monterey for coffee and then I moved on to the famous town of  Carmel (by the sea) firstly famous because it is truly a beautiful town and secondly Clint Eastwood was the town mayor many years before. Clint is still going strong elsewhere at 94 years of age.
A short walk to the beach revealed a dangerous whirlpool not much advertised.
Hearst Castle
Further along the way. I paused for a night to visit 'Hearst Castle' at San Simeon, halfway between San Francisco and L.A.
You have to see it and know the history as it is just too huge a story of a mansion built out of money to describe.
The 'Castle' sometimes shrouded in fog, is situated in the Santa Lucia mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The owner, newspaper publisher and recipient of a huge inheritance, William Randolph Hearst enjoyed an outrageous lifestyle amongst incredible and exotic surroundings, there are too many magnificent structures to relate in detail. (the swimming pools, inside and out are simply a dream) the underground pool is known as the Roman Pool and is encased in gold and crystal linings. The outside pool, an often used background for movies is stunning.

Here Hearst entertained his famous friends such as Churchill, Harlow, Gable, Chaplin and Niven etc. accommodated in lavish cottages ( no booze allowed)
Hearst had every possible activity in which guests could participate, horse riding, tennis, exotic animals to view (new generations of those originals remain including kangaroos) Then there were shows, tours and lavish menus.
The 'Castle' with 165 rooms set on 127 acres is reduced somewhat from its original size. This national treasure took 28 years to build and furnish with Italian and Spanish antiques and artwork.
There are five tours, running into the night (pay for each one) including such areas as Casa del Sol, 18 room guest cottage, La Casa Grande, the main house but only 5 rooms are on display, Assembly room, largest of 14 sitting rooms, Refectory, Morning room, Billiard room and Theatre.
Continuing on - Doge Suite, Cloister rooms (4 guest rooms) Library, 5,000 books, Gothic Suite (Hearst's private rooms)
Pantry, Kitchen, La Casa del Monte, 10 more guest rooms. North Wing, three floors of guest suites.
Much more is included in tours than noted here including massive gardens.