On the road again

After six months of confinement, most of which helped me be more patient and accepting, I finally was able to return to modified travel. The first trip was to my Ventura timeshare in midMay, then to visit a friend in Palm Desert — a twoweek sojourn broken into small pieces.

It took me two days to drive to Ventura because I knew I shouldn’t drive too far each day — yes, drove by myself. Because I hadn’t been on Highway 101 recently that was my route — especially enjoying Salinas to Ventura. Stayed in King City and discovered it was a very short trip to my final destination. Along the way a new treat was visiting Los Alamos, a quaint touristy town south of Santa Maria.

The return trip took three days because I visited a niece in Lucerne Valley, an hour and a half from the Coachella Valley, then drove “all the way” to Bakersfield! (Didn’t leave the niece’s until noon.) It was a good trip showing me I could still travel, although in smaller segments.

My next trip in June was to a timeshare week at Squaw Valley with a short stopover for two nights in South Tahoe.

As I drove into Squaw Valley I realized it had been over 50 years since my last visit. Chuck and I went there right after the Olympics in 1960 when all the facilities and venues were still in place. Naturally, much of what I remembered was gone — but what a lovely valley and mountain area. No wonder everyone still talks about those

Olympics with love.

My destination was

Olympic

Village

Inn.

These units were the original living quarters for some of the athletes. Of course, they have been modernized with kitchen facilities added as well as a pool, five spas and a clubhouse/recreation/workout facility. Yet, it has kept its charm with an European/Alpine feel. I can’t say enough about the staff who went out of their way to make guests feel comfortable.

My first walk was to Olympic Village, both to see it and view the excited skiers who were taking the tram to ski in June. Tickets were going fast for the July 4 skiing. (Hear it was quite a spectacle.) The people with season passes were easy to spot — decked out in winter gear and lugging either ski equipment or boards. More fascinating were the tourist groups who couldn’t resist doing the unusual — skiing in June. And the ski rental businesses were booming.

The younger people working in Squaw Valley told me they were there for the skiing. However, one 31-year-old woman said she had been there for ten years, coming originally for the skiing. “But now I enjoy the summer months more,” she said. “There’s hiking, mountain biking, water skiing, kiting — you name it, they’re all around us to enjoy.”

The next day I took a walk eastward because I was certain I saw a spot where the ski jump had been. Sure enough, I spotted a building three-quarters of the way up the mountain. When I asked a resident later, he said that was an original building and “Yes, that was the ski jump.”

While the ice skating rink is gone, although I do remember five years after the Olympics it was still there, the company which owns the concessions has different entertainment on the mountain at the Aerial Tram’s end. You can take the Tram to a full recreation area — swimming lagoon, huge spa, roller skating rink, restaurant and bar. Plus you have a fantastic view of the entire countryside from every direction. Did I go? No, I’m rather cheap and didn’t want to spend $49 plus I didn’t know how my ears would react at that altitude (good excuse!). I wish I could have taken some of the hikes but don’t do that by myself because of my equilibrium.

Following my week I headed to South Tahoe for two nights before my family took over the condo. Here again, it had been a long time since I’d gone by way of the eastern side of the lake. So glad I did it, even though Tahoe City and Kings Beach are a little crowded during tourist season. When I arrived at Kings Beach I realized that was where my parents and I stayed in 1947 (my first view of Tahoe). The Eastern Nevada was a beautiful and relaxing drive with few cars until I reached South Shore!

While I’ve learned how much I enjoy my home, I still do love to travel to various places, some of which I’ve seen and some I haven’t — and thrilled I can do it again!