The Singin’ Tourist in the SW USA (Day 2)

I was just a few miles from the entrance to Death Valley National Park. I got a very early start, so I took some pictures of the sun rise. It had felt a little weird to run air conditioning again the night before, but then again, I had used it while in the Irvine/L.A. areas, …

The Singin’ Tourist in the SW USA (Day 1)

Sunday night after dinner with my friends, I decided to find Newport Beach, where I was scheduled officially to begin the tourist part of my trip. I had purchased a ticket through Tripadvisor to go whale watching early Monday morning. I’m glad I found where things were situated Sunday night when everything was quiet and …

A Bit of Business, A Bit of Fun

This “how many national parks can I visit in a week” trip has been on my radar for quite a while. I finally have a shot of actually doing it! The trip is now part business and part pleasure. I am scheduled to give a lecture on the development of concert spirituals during the Harlem …

Afterthoughts about Goin’ West 2014

This is the map of my 16-day, Goin’ West 2014 trip: This surpassed my previously longest car trip from Grinnell to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, by a whole 17 miles!! I stuck pretty closely to my original route, with some new additions–especially Little Bighorn National Park and North Cascades National Highway–and only two major deletions.  …

Day 14: Yosemite Sa… Randye

While my vacation time was fast drawing to an end, I still made time to visit Yosemite National Park. I chose a route that took us through Modesto and the Napa Valley area.  The prominence of vineyards I passed in this famous wine region weren’t surprising to me, but the significant presence of almond tree …

Day 13: Things Don’t Always Go As Planned

After a great night’s sleep Wednesday, I got up, packed, and bade Dan farewell.  I had some time before I was scheduled to meet two of my “California cousins,” so I took RB back to Fort Point in the hope the fog would have lifted from the San Francisco Bay so I could get a …

Days 11/12: The (Foggy) Streets of San Francisco

Tuesday turned out to be a recovery day.  I didn’t even make it to see the San Francisco Opera’s production of “Show Boat,” which was a disappointment because I was looking forward to meeting several people backstage after the performance. Wednesday, however, my host–a gentleman named Dan–and I did some sightseeing around town.  I actually …

Day 10: Talk about Big Trees!

Got RB all squared away, then we completed the trip towards Redwood National Park.  The sign leaving Oregon looked more welcoming than the one we passed on arrival.  I actually stopped to get pictures of the California welcome sign.  This is far from my first visit to the state, but I’d always flown in before, …