Pamona KOA Campground and Los Angeles

Left the Catalina Island Ferry Parking Lot in Long Beach, California and headed for the KOA campground in Pamona, California.  Pamona is a small town thirty miles outside of LA.  We took this day to regroup.  Did laundry, went to the hardware and grocery store and washed the Chinook.  Went to the KOA campground this PM and grilled out steaks.  It is good to take a breath.  No great pictures on this day, but a fun time and relaxing.
July 31st -  Still at the KOA campground in Pamona.  Booked a sightseeing tour with the KOA campground for a tour of Los Angeles.  Doug, our tour guide picked 13 of us fellow campers up at the campground promptly at 9:30. 
Our tour lasted for six hours and we saw:
Downtowen LA - The Music Cente and Disney Music Hall
Hollywood Walk of Fame / Chinese Theatre - The Kodak Theatre (home of the Oscars)
Mulholland Drive and the Hollywood Sign
Sunset Blvd. and Melrose Ave.
Rodeo Drive
Movie Star's Homes such as Tom Cruise, Christina Aguilera, Aaron Spelling, David Beckham, Playboy Mansion, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson's last house, Nicolas Cage's last two repossessed homes, Lucille Ball, Doris Day and Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart.
To say the Least - It was a fun day and glad Joey nor I were driving the Chinook!  You haven't seen TRAFFIC, until you've been to Los Angeles.
Enjoy the pics.

Catalina Island, Off the coast of Los Angeles

Left the Wal-Mart parking lot at Doheny Point and began our trip over to the Marina for a ride on the Ferry.  Tried to get on an earlier ferry than our original reservation at 4:00 pm.  Couln't get on the ferry - FULL!  So the attendants suggested we drive another hour to Long Beach and catch that ferry over to Catalina.  It turned out to be a larger boat with a shorter distance to the island, so we were happy.  Arrived to Catalina and registered at a hotel up in the Canyon.  Very quiet and enjoyed the afternoon at the pool.  Spent the night at Catalina Canyon Resort and Spa.    The next day, we rented a golf cart from Uncle Ronnie, who haled from Oklahoma City, and off we went to tour the island.  The large round building in the pictures is called the Casino, but it is not a Casino, go figure?  William Wrigley, owner of the Wrigley Gum Company, bought this island in the twenties, built a large house on the top of the mountain and brought the ball team, the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball team, over every summer for training.  He developed the island.
This is also the island where Natalie Wood drown on her yacht.  There are tons of mooring balls and lots of pretty boats in the harbour.  Many people on vacation.  This island is a hot spot for Los Angeles to get away.  We enjoyed the dry climate and cool temps here.  Beautiful scenery.
Upon arrival back to the mainland by Ferry, we were not able to find a RV park, so once again we opted to sleep in the parking lot.  Pulled the curtains and said Good-night.

Cabrillo National Monument and Los Palomas Lighthouse

Before leaving San Diego, we headed up to the top of the hilltops in San Diego to the Cabrillo National Monument and Los Palomas Lighthouse.  Cabrillo was a Spanish explorer, who landed upon the shores of San Diego around 1510.     The view, 400 feet up on the hilltop, was beautiful. 
San Diego is a huge port.  The military presence there is quite impressive.  After all, it is the south-western point of the US.  In case you're wandering why a picture of an avocado is in the line-up???  They grow these beside the lighthouse.  There is a garden in honor of the lighthouse keepers, wife, who grew her own vegetables and used water from the cistern.  I have never seen avocados in a garden.  Just wanted a picture.
After our sight-seeing, we drove to Doheny Beach at Dana Point in Southern California.  The RV park was full.  No where else to stay, so we pulled into the trusty Wal Mart, pulled the curtains and spent the night.  Tomorrow morning, we'll head out for Catalina Island.  A twenty-two mile island off the coast of Los Angeles.
Enjoy the pics.

Las Vegas, Nevada

7/19/11 -Arrived to Las Vegas after our tour of Hoover Dam.  It took us about two and half hours to get to Las Vegas from Hoover.  We checked into the Treasure Island Casino and Resort.  We relaxed on this day.
7/20/11 - Went to see Blue Man Group tonight.  Lots of fun.  Very abstract show, but interesting.
7/21/11 -  Saw Terry Fator, the ventriloquist.  What a great show.  He was the best we have seen so far.
7/22/11 -  Cirques De SoLeil, Elvis.  This was also a great show.  The music was wonderful.
7/23/11 -  Comedian George Wallace.  He was a riot.
7/24/11 -  Went on the Las Vegas Bus Tour.  This was a great tour to see all of the Las Vegas Strip.  Took lots of pics.
7/25/11 - Left Vegas for San Diego.  Traveling to see Christopher Pierce.  Our  friends, son, Christopher, is stationed in San Diego.  It will be good to see him.
7/26/11 - Had a lay-over day at San Diego.  Stayed in the RV Park Christopher recommended.  It had a nice pool.  Made plans to travel up the coast of California.  Next stop will be Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles.

During our stay in Las Vegas, we went to see many hotels and casinos.  Bellagio had the water sprinkler pool with music that accompanied the sprinkler show.  It was outstanding.  The Venetian had gondula boat rides and painted ceilings that copied Michangelo's work.  It was spectacular.  The flamingo was old vegas, the Aria, is the new modern vegas hotel and the Wynn is beautiful, with the mosaic tile floors and gardens.  The Bellagio had beautiful gardens as well.  Our days were filled visiting the casinos and our nights were filled seeing shows.  It was a fun time.