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| A noise on the roof, to early for Santa Claus. I know turkeys can fly however this is getting ridiculous. She's a turkey for pete's sake. |
Friday Dec 2 at 6:00 pm “Christmas in the Colonies” a 1800’s holiday dinner event at Riley’s Farms in Oak
Glenn, CA
Saturday Dec 3 – Afternoon San Diego sightseeing and 4:30 pm
holiday party
Weds Dec 7 – Ride-a-long with Sterling (dress in layers
& comfortable shoes)
Sunday Dec 11 – Convertible Club (Meet at Wendys) at
11:00 am
Monday Dec 12 – Bunco Holiday Dinner
Saturday Dec 17 - Spaghetti Factory Dinner & Mission Inn
light show in Riverside
Sunday Dec 18 – Lawrence
Welk Holiday Musical Show (matinee - optional) Hot chocolate & Holiday
House Drive for viewing lights
Sunday Dec 18 – Dinner/Cards and gift exchange at 6 pm.
Monday, Dec 19 – Fashion Island “Rogers Gardens”/San Juan
Capistrano Late Lunch/Ortega Hwy Tuesday
Dec 20 – Drop off Vern & Ruthie at San Diego Airport
Dec 20 – Drop off Vern & Ruthie at San Diego Airport
The Bunco holiday party was held at Debbie's and was a repeat of the thanksgiving brunch. Warm friendly guests with beverages and treats to match. After ward we drove a few blocks to an acquaintance of Lynda's that continually won awards for their Christmas decorations. Not only were the outside decorations spectacular they also opened there home for viewing. After waiting in line we were greeted by the couple and offered homemade soup and treats. Donations went to help the needy and fill foodshelves in the area.
After the tour we drove around the neighborhood viewing the lights in the area.
The next day another short tour with Lynda, she had an errand to run and we rode along.
The next day another short tour with Lynda, she had an errand to run and we rode along.
We received a very nice Christmas email from Jim and Lynae Hot Springs village friends from our 2012 winter trip. It prompted me to phone them as it is always nicer to reminisce in person. Jim inquired why we weren't going back to a recent winter residence. I mentioned that we had put in to many hours there and I didn't want to put Ruthie thru it again. I said you know "Ruthie just can't say no" his reply "that's obvious, she married you didn't she." And I thought we were friends.
December 15 Today seemed like a pleasant day in the valley and we gave a thought to a ride up the mountain north of San Bernardino. Our Valkyrie forum friend had suggested it and I sent him a text inquiring about a particular road.
Without giving me an answer to my question he replied that "he wouldn't go today as the weather didn't look good". I sent him a smiley face so he would know we received the reply and continued on with our plans.
There were two main destinations on the mountain, lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. Our plan was to ride North on 210 and take #18 up to Lake Arrowhead then follow the Rim of the World road toward Big Bear. If the weather was bad or turned worse we could cut back on 330 instead of completing the entire mountain course. By ten AM we were half way up the mountain marveling at the views below. Every curve exposed us to more beauty.
Even though people at the top of the mountain questioned our sanity it really wasn't that cold and they nodded knowingly when we told them we were from Minnesota. Anxious to complete our large loop we drove thru Lake Arrowhead without dismounting. It seemed like a great tourist shopping area and I'm sure we will
return. In Big Bear we stopped long enough for a nice Italian lunch at Paolo's. Knowing we had a gift exchange at the ranch soon we took the time to do a little shopping. Some scarves caught Ruthie's eye for the ladies and I started inquiring about Huckleberry Jam for Sterling. When traveling as we do, the size of gifts do matter.
Its always fun to ride with snow on the side of the road however the warnings and cloud cover moving in told us to move on. We know how fast weather and conditions can change. We reached the summit at 8,443 feet and continued down the other side into Redland.
Evidently we didn't count it as a full day as yet. At Debbie's Christmas part someone had raved about the Mariachi music at Emilio's Mexican restaurant. And for some reason it appealed to me. Didn't have to talk Ruthie into it. A mere mention that it was tonight and we were there. We arrived just as the foursome started playing and going from table to table. Even though it was a fun evening I probably wouldn't even mention it except for the fact that they spontaneously played a song that seems to have followed me since our winter trip in 2013.
Yup, Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey. Go ahead I dare you, look it up on YouTube, play it and see if you can get it out of your head. As I type this I can hear it. Who ever wrote it was certainly an evil person.
December 17th,
We had no idea what was going on this evening, it was scheduled as dinner at the Spaghetti factory and mission inn lights.
Evidently reservations at not been made in time so we went to the tapas Seville in Riverside. A beautiful Spanish style restaurant with massive beams and ornate decorations. Impressive, the picture to the right displays how they serve kabobs. After that we walked down the street to the Mission Inn district. An impressive structure in it self which we must return to explore.
The area around it and the Inn itself were decorated and lighted for the Christmas season.
Crowds of people filled the streets, there were vendors of all kinds.
Back at the ranch we did our little gift exchange between the four of us. It is still hard for me to get a handle on our gift from Lynda and Sterling.
When Ruthie started to unwrap it and seen the box it was in I tried to temper her enthusiasm so she wouldn't be disappointed in case the box was just that a box for wrapping. Sterling was amused by my actions since the box indeed held a beautiful clock like the one Ruthie had admired in their living room shortly after our arrival. Playing music with movement on the hour.
December 15 Today seemed like a pleasant day in the valley and we gave a thought to a ride up the mountain north of San Bernardino. Our Valkyrie forum friend had suggested it and I sent him a text inquiring about a particular road.
 |
| I was pointing out how the road supports jutted out into space like a deck. A Facebook friend pointed out my riding gloves were courtesy of Harbor freight. |
There were two main destinations on the mountain, lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. Our plan was to ride North on 210 and take #18 up to Lake Arrowhead then follow the Rim of the World road toward Big Bear. If the weather was bad or turned worse we could cut back on 330 instead of completing the entire mountain course. By ten AM we were half way up the mountain marveling at the views below. Every curve exposed us to more beauty.
Even though people at the top of the mountain questioned our sanity it really wasn't that cold and they nodded knowingly when we told them we were from Minnesota. Anxious to complete our large loop we drove thru Lake Arrowhead without dismounting. It seemed like a great tourist shopping area and I'm sure we will
 |
| Fortunate for the "hot" warning! |
Its always fun to ride with snow on the side of the road however the warnings and cloud cover moving in told us to move on. We know how fast weather and conditions can change. We reached the summit at 8,443 feet and continued down the other side into Redland.
Evidently we didn't count it as a full day as yet. At Debbie's Christmas part someone had raved about the Mariachi music at Emilio's Mexican restaurant. And for some reason it appealed to me. Didn't have to talk Ruthie into it. A mere mention that it was tonight and we were there. We arrived just as the foursome started playing and going from table to table. Even though it was a fun evening I probably wouldn't even mention it except for the fact that they spontaneously played a song that seems to have followed me since our winter trip in 2013. Yup, Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey. Go ahead I dare you, look it up on YouTube, play it and see if you can get it out of your head. As I type this I can hear it. Who ever wrote it was certainly an evil person.
December 17th,
We had no idea what was going on this evening, it was scheduled as dinner at the Spaghetti factory and mission inn lights.
The area around it and the Inn itself were decorated and lighted for the Christmas season. 
Crowds of people filled the streets, there were vendors of all kinds.
Back at the ranch we did our little gift exchange between the four of us. It is still hard for me to get a handle on our gift from Lynda and Sterling.
When Ruthie started to unwrap it and seen the box it was in I tried to temper her enthusiasm so she wouldn't be disappointed in case the box was just that a box for wrapping. Sterling was amused by my actions since the box indeed held a beautiful clock like the one Ruthie had admired in their living room shortly after our arrival. Playing music with movement on the hour.
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