V5N3A

Our Olympic Experience

We killed 2 birds with one stone while we were in the San Diego area. I wanted to visit the Pagano West factory where my western sportcoats are made, and we wanted to tour the Olympic Training Center, both in Chula Vista, CA just south of San Diego.

Our timing was perfect as we left Pagano West just in time to eat lunch at Alejandro's Mexican Restaurant. Nobody can take a tour unless their hunger has been previously satisfied, especially at lunchtime.

The ARCO Training Center was built in the early 90's with a multi-million dollar donation from the Atlantic Richfield Company. The buildings, of course, are plain and blend into the environment, but the overall grounds are immaculately landscaped in this desert setting. We did not have access to any of the buildings, except the Visitor's Center, but were told that some of the existing dorms hold 2-3 athletes per room, and approximately 160 total throughout the Center.

We toured the grounds in a 10 passenger golf-type cart and we were lucky to do so. Most tours are conducted on foot and do not encompass the entire site as ours did. Our trip around the fields and courts among the landscaped areas was very impressive. There is even a backwater lake which is used for the rowing events. The lake is also used for training by Special Forces troops, stationed in San Diego.

The tour was an excellent and informative jaunt through the world of the amateur athletes. We were disappointed on the way home when Sharon remembered that we had missed the movie they show as an orientation to the center. We were supposed to watch it before the tour, but they hustled us into the tram and we forgot about it later. Forgetfulness is what happens when you get older I guess. I forget.

Channel Islands N.P.

The Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of California, near Ventura, just north of Los Angeles.

We dropped the motorhome in the Oxnard Wal-Mart and continued on to the harbor at Oxnard. It was a very nice harbor with upscale stores lining the shore, but we were in the wrong place. What a surprise! A quick call to the National Park put us on the right road.

A twenty minute ride made the Islands almost appear. They were shrouded in mist, but we could just make out the outline of the first island. There are 8 islands in all, from very big to very small. The Visitor Center program was our first stop, along with the model of the entire Park. The Islands are situated in the Santa Barbara Channel, and the channel connects with the large marina in the rear of the visitor's center. We enjoyed a Birds-eye view of the entire area from the 50 foot tower attached to the visitor's center. It was simply a beautiful sight.

Santa Monica Mtns. N.R.A.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is located south of Hwy 101 and about 10 miles east of Ventura, CA. The Visitor's Center is a beautiful building built below grade and formerly used, and still owned, by the county.

The Visitor's Center had no movie or slide show to show us so we were basically on our own. The Ranger recommended a drive that we could take that would be approximately 50 miles through the mountains. Because it was almost lunchtime, we decided to go out to the motorhome, in the parking lot, and pack a lunch to take with us.

Ten minutes later we were on our way. The first part of the trip took us through the upscale ranches located at the base of the mountains. Beautiful gates, guarding more beautiful homes beyond. Lots of pillars.........Sharon's favorite. As we started climbing the mountains, in the car of course, the houses became few and far between, but the views improved drastically. By the time we made it to Mulholland Drive, any curve we traversed, held a magnificent vista, well worth the trip. Our little Escort, however, huffed and puffed its way up the mountain, and was now glad that we were there. Mulholland Drive is the highway that Angelenos would take to get from the city to the beaches. But as for us, it was now time to head back down the other side of the mountain. The views on the other side were just as impressive, and the trip was capped off by a visit to Paramount Ranch. The ranch is a small preserved western town that has been used for many silent movies in the past, and some current flicks including Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. We walked through the town thinking it reminded us of Alamo Ranch in Brackettville, TX where the Alamo was filmed.

By the time we finished at Paramount Ranch we were about 10 miles from the motorhome, so we jumped on the highway and headed home, with our sandwiches still neatly stored on board, which we ate back at the motorhome. Very good planning on our part.

Pinnacles N.M.

Pinnacles National Monument is located in Paicines, CA in the Central part of the state. Our visit there was a disappointment in that there was no Visitor Center program and the only way to see the monument was through hiking. I've got a problem with one foot that doesn't allow much walking, and hiking up a mountain is out of the question. We could see a small portion of the Pinnacles from the Visitor Center, however, and took our pictures there.

The drive through the rolling hills after leaving the monument was worth the trip. We just had to stop and take pictures they were so intriguing. And the trip encompassed at least 75 miles, over the hilly, curvy roads.