Storm Stayed in Kamloops (almost)

We are sort of storm stayed in Kamloops.  The weather to the east is still bad so we are sitting it out rather than risk getting into bad road conditions.  Not that we are suffering - cable TV, good wifi, 50 amp service and a quiet park.

So just as we left Mesa on  April 1, the cacti were beginning to bloom.  They were late we were told because of the cold weather in January.

One of the last things we did at Towerpoint before we left was to buy a park model.  It is older and so didn't cost too much.  We decided that it was too much trouble to try to get the motorhome back and forth.  Look what has happened this year!  Several days in Vancouver and now several days here.  So next year we will drive down with just our car.  So we will have painting and things like that to do next year.

One of the other things we did before we left Mesa was to have most of our regular social group over for dinner.  Larry and Linda had already left but he rest of us enjoyed our time together and wished everyone a safe trip home.  Some are leaving around the 15th.  Notice that Dalton is working hard behind the screen!

 

We headed for California because of concerns about the weather directly north.  Also we wanted to do a side trip to Hearst Castle near San Simeon.  We stayed nearby at Pasa Robles which is wine country.  What a coincidence that the Tamneys would stay in a wine region!

Miner George Hearst bought 40,00 acres of California in 1865.  In 1919 his only son William Randolph Hearst inhereited the ranch.  He called it The Ranch at San Simeon but it is now widely know as Hearst Castle. The castle was worked on from 1919 until 1947 under the direction of architect Julia Morgan. The property was the Hearst family ranch from 1865 but the castle itself wa given to the State of California in 1957.  The area around the castle is still a family ranch. W.R. Hearst eventually owned 250,000 acres.

Here is my take on Hearst Castle.  More money than brains is how I would sum it up. (In some periods he was making $50,000 a day.)  He would build a part and then if he didn't like it, he would have it torn down.  He was said to have liked antiques but that didn't stop him from altering them to fit into his rooms.  He got some monks' pews (those are the ones monks used to "cheat" at services when they were supposed to stand the whole time.)  Hearst cut his down to fit the size of  his room.  The antiques and the architecture are quite something to see however - and the gardens are lovely.

You begin at a visitors' centre where there is the usual souvenor store and restaurant.  From there you take a bus up a long and winding road to the castle itself.  You get a tour with a knowledgeable guide and then some time on your own.  As much time as you want.  Buses go up and down all the time.

Hearst Castle  gives you a view into the lives of the rich and famous in the1930s. Charles Lindgerg and Howard Hughes were among the visitros as well as numerous actors and actresses of the time. 

 

The Visitors' Center where you catch the bus.

 

 

 

A view of the castle from the Visitors' Center.

 

A portion of Casa Grande (one of two bell towers)  which is 69,000 square feet, with 115 rooms.

 

 

 

One of the guest houses used by the rich and famous. Each was named for its view:  Casa del Mar (House of the Sea), Casa del Sol (House of the Sun) and Casa del Monte (House of the Mountains).  Casa del Mar was Hearst's house until he moved into Casa Grande in 1928.

 

 

The main terrace which gives views of the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

The Neptune Pool.  It holds 345 gallons (US) of water and is 3-10 feet deep.  It was heated year round until the mid 70s. 

 

One of two similar statues.  I don't recall the details.

 

 

Another view of one of the bell towers.

 

 

The room where Hearst cut down the antique pews to fit the room.

 

 

 

How is the this for a pool room?

This pool is the only part of the gymnasium that was completed.  It is called the Roman Pool. It hp;d 250,000 (US) gallons of heated water.  There are tennis courts above the pool.

The guide said that Hearst did not use fancy table ware but preferred iron stone.  After all, this WAS the ranch!

The flags represent regions is Europe.  At first the originals were hung but as they began to deteriorate, copies were made and hung.

 

 

After our stop at the castle we continued north, heading for Canada.  We stayed in Vancouver for a few days hoping that the weather would improve.  While cooling our heels, we decided to go to Granville Island since my friend Penny had recently said on her blog that it was worth a look.  It had lots of neat little shops and a wonderful market with fruits, veggies, breads and pastries, cheeses, coffe and teas and an assortment of sweets.  We enjoyed a cup of fresh coffee and a pastry from one of the little shops in the food court area.  A busker played and sang while we ate and drank.

 

 

There were wonderful views of the city from the promenade around the eating area.

 

 

 

So now we sit and wait for the weather.  Our son David said Calgary had 5-6 inches of snow yesterday (Saturday, April 13)  but an Alberta Clipper is expected to bring much warmer weather this week.  When that happens we will move on - and maybe tow some good weather home to Saskatoon eventually!