Pasadena
update #5
Hello family and friends of the
Pasadena group!
Today was our “free day”
between working on floats and doing the Skid Row adventure. The day
began with a welcome relief since we didn’t need to wake up at such an early
morning hour. We were free to decide how to spend the day and most chose
to do some sightseeing while a few wanted to sit around and simply relax and go
to the beach in the afternoon.
About half of the group hit the
freeways again and headed north into scenic country. California is
so beautiful with the dry hillsides and mountain ranges all around. They
drove to Simi Valley where the President Reagan Library and burial site is
located. The property is such a fitting tribute to our former
president. Everything is so well done and the atmosphere around the
grounds is nothing but quiet and peaceful with flowers, trees and shady benches
to sit on and ponder. The view over the valley is
breathtaking! They took a tour through Air Force One which is
suspended in mid-air and on display inside the huge building. This
is the Air Force One that was used by a number of presidents and President
Reagan logged the most miles on it. It has now been replaced with a
newer version.
This group was the most
ambitious since they decided to do it up right and take in two adventures in
one day. After leaving the library and museum they headed back
south, this time way down to San Pedro to the dock where the battleship USS
Iowa is resting. (I am inserting a description of the USS Iowa that my husband, Lynn, wrote last year after seeing the ship) " It is an impressive ship no matter how you look at
it. But once you tour and learn about all the weaponry onboard, its
firepower boggles the mind. The gun turrets are encased in 17 inches
of solid steel making them impenetrable to any existing weapon. Those
guns can continue to fire no matter what is thrown at the ship. Other
guns on the decks will literally pulverize anything that comes close, including
modern day incoming missiles. The ship was only hit two times; one
hit left a tiny mark not noticeable except for the arrow to show the spot and
the other left no mark at all. The famous ship was in service three
different times and could be called into service again if ever needed. It
was modernized and has modern weapons as well as the huge guns with their
awesome firepower. It can now launch Tomahawk missiles and
rockets. "
Part of our group enjoyed several of
the nearby beaches, eating out, visiting and enjoying the nice weather.
A large group also went to the Ronald
Reagan Museum but did not go to the USS Iowa.
I think most of them also ‘hit a beach’.
Four in our group braved the LA
transit and toured Hollywood and various CA sites.
After devotions, sharing pows
and wows and loading the vehicles with all the items we will deliver tomorrow
at Skid Row, we celebrated Lisa Zeller’s birthday with delicious chocolate cake
and ice cream. I don’t think this group
can ever get their fill of chocolate!!
I am thanking God because our group has had
eight vehicles crawling in and out of horrific traffic for six days now at all
hours of the day and night. Yet, not a scratch on any so far! Most
of us are not California trained but perhaps we are now. And we have
only been lost a few times! I personally think it is a feat to keep
that many vehicles together on the mass of spaghetti cement they call freeways
out here. Thank you, God! To you be the glory!
Ellie Menz-Journalist and Photos
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