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Grand Tour of the West: Day 9

On February 25, 2021

In Family History

February 25, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

We ate breakfast the next morning at a chain grocery and the waiter told us the weather was unusual. Then we drove to the Santa Cruz Mission but it was mostly in ruins.

Drove on the Watsonville past the artichoke capital of the world – went through Castroville and Del Monte then to Monterey where we walked out on the wharf to see the fishing boats. Saw several fish markets selling all kinds of seafood among them red snapper and squid arms.

February 25, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

We ate breakfast the next morning at a chain grocery and the waiter told us the weather was unusual. Then we drove to the Santa Cruz Mission but it was mostly in ruins.

Drove on the Watsonville past the artichoke capital of the world – went through Castroville and Del Monte then to Monterey where we walked out on the wharf to see the fishing boats. Saw several fish markets selling all kinds of seafood among them red snapper and squid arms.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 8

On February 24, 2021

In Family History

February 24, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Went to church in Burlingame the next morning with Regis, one of the girls who lived with Earlene, and left Burlingame about noon. We were really grateful to Earlene as she made our visit to San Francisco so interesting.

Drove south on the El Camino Real (King’s Highway) through Redwood City and Palo Alto. Saw the Leland Stanford University there.

February 24, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Went to church in Burlingame the next morning with Regis, one of the girls who lived with Earlene, and left Burlingame about noon. We were really grateful to Earlene as she made our visit to San Francisco so interesting.

Drove south on the El Camino Real (King’s Highway) through Redwood City and Palo Alto. Saw the Leland Stanford University there.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 7

On February 23, 2021

In Family History

February 23, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning we went into San Francisco on the bus with Earlene. Got off just off Market Street and walked down to Chinatown. Looked around. Saw many old curios, a lot of jade. Stopped at a little shop and saw a wild animal exhibit. Bought some Chinese fortune cakes which was unfortunate as they almost made me sick.

Google (ND) [driving directions Burlingame to San Francisco] Retrieved 2/9/2021

Took a cable car out to Fisherman’s Wharf which was the high spot of our visit. We walked out on one of the piers and saw the little sail boats which are used by the fishermen, mostly Sicilians. There were many fishermen on the wharf, mending nets, and they all spoke some language foreign to us. They use trawl nets and drag the bottom for prawns, scallops, abalone, oysters, crabs, clams, and other shellfish. There were several Navy vessels at the dock and out in the harbor we could see the dim outlines of the fleet in the haze. Also we could faintly discern Alcatraz.

February 23, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning we went into San Francisco on the bus with Earlene. Got off just off Market Street and walked down to Chinatown. Looked around. Saw many old curios, a lot of jade. Stopped at a little shop and saw a wild animal exhibit. Bought some Chinese fortune cakes which was unfortunate as they almost made me sick.

Google (ND) [driving directions Burlingame to San Francisco] Retrieved 2/9/2021

Took a cable car out to Fisherman’s Wharf which was the high spot of our visit. We walked out on one of the piers and saw the little sail boats which are used by the fishermen, mostly Sicilians. There were many fishermen on the wharf, mending nets, and they all spoke some language foreign to us. They use trawl nets and drag the bottom for prawns, scallops, abalone, oysters, crabs, clams, and other shellfish. There were several Navy vessels at the dock and out in the harbor we could see the dim outlines of the fleet in the haze. Also we could faintly discern Alcatraz.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 6

On February 22, 2021

In Family History

February 22, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning, we drove down to Sacramento. Passed many hops farms. Particularly noticed the tall barns and high arbors on which the hops vined. Arrived in Sacramento quite early in the morning and spent some time looking over the capitol grounds. The have a great number of different trees, all labeled, among them flowering eucalyptus and many types of palm trees. Looked at the exhibits in the Capitol. Then drove to Sutter’s Fort and spent several hours there.

February 22, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning, we drove down to Sacramento. Passed many hops farms. Particularly noticed the tall barns and high arbors on which the hops vined. Arrived in Sacramento quite early in the morning and spent some time looking over the capitol grounds. The have a great number of different trees, all labeled, among them flowering eucalyptus and many types of palm trees. Looked at the exhibits in the Capitol. Then drove to Sutter’s Fort and spent several hours there.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 5

On February 21, 2021

In Family History

February 21 ,1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Google (ND) [Directions from Weed, CA to Williams, CA] Retrieved February 3, 2021

During the night the water pipes froze and we awoke the next morning to find what we could see of California covered with snow and we had expected to see flowers blooming. We drove into Weed, had breakfast, and crawled out of town on a sheet of ice. We finally ran out of snow and ice about 15 miles down the line. We passed the road to the Shasta Dam and then the soil started to look very red. Soon we saw flowers blooming and the vegetation was green. All along the road the banks were this red soil. Just before we got to Redding, we saw an airport which was just a little airstrip along the road. We wondered how planes could get in and out as there was a mountain on one side and the road and the Sacramento River on the other side. Stopped at Redding to look around and had another flat when we got back to the car. Bought a tire in Redding. Saw our first orange tree there with oranges ripening on it. Soon we saw palm trees and the further south we drove, the more it seemed like summer to us. Stopped at a roadside stand and bought some ripe olives. Saw many olive trees and English Walnut trees. Stopped at a roadside inn and had a very poor bottle of California beer.

February 21 ,1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Google (ND) [Directions from Weed, CA to Williams, CA] Retrieved February 3, 2021

During the night the water pipes froze and we awoke the next morning to find what we could see of California covered with snow and we had expected to see flowers blooming. We drove into Weed, had breakfast, and crawled out of town on a sheet of ice. We finally ran out of snow and ice about 15 miles down the line. We passed the road to the Shasta Dam and then the soil started to look very red. Soon we saw flowers blooming and the vegetation was green. All along the road the banks were this red soil. Just before we got to Redding, we saw an airport which was just a little airstrip along the road. We wondered how planes could get in and out as there was a mountain on one side and the road and the Sacramento River on the other side. Stopped at Redding to look around and had another flat when we got back to the car. Bought a tire in Redding. Saw our first orange tree there with oranges ripening on it. Soon we saw palm trees and the further south we drove, the more it seemed like summer to us. Stopped at a roadside stand and bought some ripe olives. Saw many olive trees and English Walnut trees. Stopped at a roadside inn and had a very poor bottle of California beer.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 4

On February 20, 2021

In Family History

February 20, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning, we stopped at the river and took pictures of some wild geese on the river. There were many lovely homes as many lumber men live there. Saw beautiful hotel downtown built like a Swiss chalet.

February 20, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning, we stopped at the river and took pictures of some wild geese on the river. There were many lovely homes as many lumber men live there. Saw beautiful hotel downtown built like a Swiss chalet.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 3

On February 19, 2021

In Family History

February 19, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning Carl got maps and got the trailer swivel greased. Left Ontario and drove to Burns where we stopped for lunch. The country was very barren all the way from Ontario to Bend, a distance of 237 miles, all high desert. There were cattle grazing and now and then a road leading to a ranch house. Stopped at an oil station along the way, Juntura, and at another oil station not listed on the map. Met very little traffic. The weather was cloudy and gray – rather dreary.

February 19, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

The next morning Carl got maps and got the trailer swivel greased. Left Ontario and drove to Burns where we stopped for lunch. The country was very barren all the way from Ontario to Bend, a distance of 237 miles, all high desert. There were cattle grazing and now and then a road leading to a ranch house. Stopped at an oil station along the way, Juntura, and at another oil station not listed on the map. Met very little traffic. The weather was cloudy and gray – rather dreary.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 2

On February 18, 2021

In Family History

February 18, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. This is that story.

Left Mountain Home the next morning – the weather was cold and sunny – still a lot of snow. About 20 miles from Boise, we broke the spring bolt on the trailer. Carl fixed it with a rope and when we got to Boise, we hunted up a machine shop and had a new spring made. Ate lunch downtown in Boise and shopped – bought a tire for the trailer.

February 18, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. This is that story.

Left Mountain Home the next morning – the weather was cold and sunny – still a lot of snow. About 20 miles from Boise, we broke the spring bolt on the trailer. Carl fixed it with a rope and when we got to Boise, we hunted up a machine shop and had a new spring made. Ate lunch downtown in Boise and shopped – bought a tire for the trailer.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 1

On February 17, 2021

In Family History

February 17, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. This is that story.

We left Pocatello Idaho on Sunday morning, February 17, 1946. Had breakfast at the home of our friends the Jacobsen’s. The Andersons, Fran, and John Streckenfinger were also there. Took pictures just before we left.

The Grand Tour of the West – 1946

On February 16, 2021

In Family History

Carl and Georgie, late 1930’s.

When the US joined WWII in December of 1941, Carl and Georgina (my parents) were living in southeast Iowa. Mom worked for A. Guthrie & Co., an engineering firm, as the executive secretary for the project superintendent, constructing an ordinance manufacturing plant in Middletown, IA. Dad worked for the local Ford garage as a mechanic. They were engaged to marry the following Valentine’s day.

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