Christmas in California 2007

Trip Report: Christmas 2007

Bonnie and Mike drove from Albuquerque to California, leaving on 18 Dec 2007 to reach San Diego in time for the Poinsettia Bowl football game between Navy and Utah on 20 Dec. We decided to take the southern route and spent our first evening in Gila Bend, AZ.
Note: Arizona has saguaro cacti, New Mexico does not.

The second night was spent in San Diego at the Heritage Park Inn award-winning Bed and Breakfast of classmate Charlie Helsper and wife Nancy.

Charlie Helsper’s Victorian-era B&B, along with the other buildings of Heritage Park (which features special plantings such as Australian coral trees acquired by Kate Sessions, the city’s 1890’s horticulturist), were moved to this park as part of the City’s Bicentennial celebration.

Originally San Diego had no trees. Kate Sessions traveled all over the world, examining locales with climates similar to San Diego’s and bringing back trees and plants that would flourish in the local environment. Kate is credited with popularizing the poinsettia in San Diego.

On the night before the Bowl game, a Navy Pep Rally was held for the Football Team on the flight deck of the USS Midway, CVA-41. Both the new (interim) coach Ken Niumatalolo and the Academy’s Commandant Capt Margaret Klein gave a rousing speech to inspire against a strong Utah team. It almost worked.

Representatives of USNA Class of 1963 at the Heritage Park Inn included (in photo to be included left to right) Mike Blackledge, Bob Forster, (Innkeeper) Charlie Helsper, Dick Anderson. Also staying at the B&B were two other classmates, Dave Moore (who had acquired our Bowl tickets and was from George Nolan's 14th Company) and wife Lana, and Ron Saqui (Mike’s best man in 1966) and wife Sharie.

Bonnie Nolan and Bob Forster (in photo to be added at left) discuss how Charlie and Nancy Helsper set an excellent table at the Heritage Park Inn, complete with USNA flags. That night was the bowl game at QualComm Stadium.

Christmas Eve-Eve: Penny and Fred welcomed Penny’s twin Patti and her husband Dick Blide from Kalama, WA, as well as Mike and Bonnie, to a fabulous dinner at the Long Beach Yacht Club. Penny and Fred’s son Nick who teaches English at nearby high school joined the dinner party.

[in photo to be added Below from left to right: Dick and Patti Blide, Penny, Nick, and Fred Woods, Bonnie Nolan]

Following Christmas Eve services at St. Hedwig’s and Christmas morning brunch at the Marriott, we drove to Harbor City for Christmas Dinner with Heidi and John Strom and sister Ruthie’s family at the home of Bonnie’s mother Sally Armes. That evening we took Sally and headed for the San Clemente beach condo kindly loaned to us by Bonnie’s sister Mollie. We arrived in time to appreciate a beautiful Christmas sunset.

The day after Christmas, Mike’s sisters and their families drove down to join us for a day on the beach and the San Clemente pier. Dinner that night was with Sally at The Cheesecake Factory in nearby Mission Viejo.

When we returned from San Clemente, Mike’s roommate from the Academy, Ron Saqui and his wife Sharie, treated us to way too much food at The Claim Jumper in Torrance. John Strom was right, one can eat on The Ore Cart for three days!

Just before departing from California, we needed to have at least one meal at Marie Callendar’s. For this farewell morning, we were joined by Bonnie’s mother Sally, and Bonnie’s good friend from Bishop Montgomery High School Days, Celina Henderson.

Heading home at last, we had to stop for breakfast at Mike's favorite: La Posada, the historic Mary Jane Colter-designed and beautifully restored old Fred Harvey House railroad hotel in Winslow, Arizona. [in photo to be added Above: Bonnie carefully chooses a tea to go with her gourmet breakfast meal.]

By the time we returned home, we were exhausted - however, we bravely went out to celebrate the New Year. What a trip!