Interesting places to consider visiting...

Crescent City
http://www.crescentbeachmotel.com/local-attractions.html

Sea Ranch
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-1118-top15-pg,0,6571730.photogallery?track=rss
http://www.thesearanchchapel.org/

Tomales Bay
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-1118-top15-pg,0,6571730.photogallery?track=rss





Best Western
http://www.bestwestern.com/programs/govt.asp

Seaside Hotel Guides
http://hotelguides.com/california/seaside-ca-hotels.html

Mt. Shasta

This year for our birthdays in July 2011... Mt. Shasta Resort.

http://www.mountshastaresort.com/

Woodland Cabins : $84 a night.... staying 3 nights.

Scouting out Mt. Shasta... look for a place to spread mom's ashes.

Heading north on California 89, stop at Subway Caves, where we traveled underground a third of a mile on a spooky route carved in the earth by a lava tube. Native Americans believed that this lava tunnel housed an evil man-beast; today tourists don their warmest jackets regardless of the season and carry bright torches deep into the wet cave along a path of pumice.



 ice cream at the 1930s White Mountain Fountain in McCloud.

Newport Beach 2011

Schedule for:

Saturday, May 28 - leave home @ 8am....
to...  Saturday, June 4

Travel Route: 
I80 to 680
Dublin... take 580 EAST towards Tracy
Take I5 towards LA

Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hq=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fhelp%2Fmaps%2Fdirections%2Fdriving%2Fmapleft.kml&dirflg=d&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=207669476909447113553.00049ec8215c7a509368a&ll=36.025705,-119.986045&spn=5.125893,10.206299&z=7

Distance/Time:  454 miles   /  7 hours 40 min.

Place to stay:
http://www.newportbeach.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
Corporate rate:  $84 night  UC0  19.00 day parking    10.95 Internet Access
Room total only:  $659.68  with additional taxes.
Request BayView balcony or poolview balcony

Relax and enjoy these spacious 385 square foot Newport Beach accommodations, featuring a balcony or patio and lush tropical-themed décor reflecting the surrounding exotic landscape. Enjoy deluxe amenities, including high-speed Internet access, 37" flat screen TV, un-stocked mini refrigerator, daily newspaper available upon request, coffeemaker and exclusive Portico bath products in a sumptuous bath. Take advantage of video-on-demand, cable / satellite channels, an iHome stereo with iPod® docking station, video checkout, Concierge service during regular hours, data port, dual-line speakerphones with voicemail, and in-room safe large enough to store your laptop. Rest upon one King-sized Hyatt Grand Bed™, fitted with softest sheeting, a down throw and plush pillows, piled atop an irresistible pillow top mattress. Treat yourself to these welcoming Newport Beach, California accommodations.
...
high-speed Internet access, 37" flat screen TV, coffeemaker, hairdryer 
http://newportbeach.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/gallery/virtual-tour.jsp?icamp=corpVirtualTour

7 nights
Check in 4pm: Saturday, May 28       Check out:  Saturday, June 4

Rate Description:
Available For State Government Employees Only. Must Have Active State Id at Check in. 2 Rooms May Be Booked Under One Name at the Time of Reservations. 1 Valid Id Required Per Room at Check in.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancel By 4pm PST 48 Hours Prior To Arrival


Places to visit
Catalina Island (zipline)
Santa Monica Pier
Disneyland
Knotts Berry Farm
Universal Studios

E Tickets:  http://www.getawaytoday.com/tickets/DisneylandResortArea.aspx
Experience the best attractions that Southern California has to offer, with one flexible ticket! Includes a 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Ticket and one day admission tickets to all of the following: Universal Studios Hollywood®, SeaWorld ® San Diego and a choice of either the World-Famous San Diego Zoo® or the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park®. The CityPass must first be redeemed at the Disneyland® Resort. Turn in voucher at the ticket booths at the entrance to Disneyland® Resort to receive Park Hopper tickets. Then proceed to City Hall in the Disneyland® Park and get a booklet for the remaining tickets to the other parks. Tickets must be used within 14 days and individually redeemed at the various attractions.   $259

Just in case we decide to stop off in Las Vegas....
http://travel.wwte1.com/daily/30001/deals/Vegas.asp?rfrr=-6580&rdct=1&eapid=45110-30001

Vacation 2011

Schedule for May 2011

Originally thought a trip from California to Ohio would be nice... but as life would have it... gas prices have gone up  (as of March 2011, $4. a gallon). By the time May comes around, it may go up to $4.50.  Ralph's calculations... it would be about 2500 miles from california to ohio. Round trip is approx. 5000 miles. Infiniti takes 20 miles to the gallon. A 30 gallon tank will take us 600 miles ($135 @ 4.50 gal). So... it would take approx. 9 fill-ups for the whole round trip (5400 miles... a little "cush" for stopping at places) and day and 13 hours to get there (if we don't sleep).  $1215 for the gas alone. Or we can take a train for $1000 and rent a car for $300 a week, but there would be no stops until we get the car. Also, if we go to Akron, Ohio, I would want to also go to New York  (only because I've never been there).

Change of plans...
So the next best bet is Newport Beach and visiting William.

Where is George?

I am taking a short vacation from the Bay Area and will be out of the country from 12th of January and if weather permit for the return trip, home adjusting to local time on the 27th of January. While I am away, I may or may not have access to Internet and no phone coverage is possible.
I have been selected to be part of the DX0DX DXpedition Team to Pagasa Island, also known at Thi Tu Island. The Island, currently flying the Philippines flag is located between the Philippines and Viet Nam, approximate Coordinates LAT: 11° 3.0' N LON: 114° 17.0' E, http://www.dx0dx.net// , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thitu_Island

The DX0DX team has two main mission,

- The Humanitarian Medical Mission

The role of the Team Doctors, Dr Josette VK2FXGR & Dr Edward 4F1OZ will be to perform a Humanitarian Medical Mission to perform health checks of all the islands inhabitants as part of the overall expedition.
- The Amateur Radio Mission

The Team of Radio Amateurs will be deployed to erect and operate 12x Ham Radio stations to provide Pag-Asa with a Global focus to promote regional tourism in the Philippines and provide Radio Hams around the world to contact this remote region.

As Amateur Radio is one of my few hobbies for many years, being part of this DXpedition will be one of my most demanding experience I would ever expect, by choice. Another hobby is Astronomy. While out on the island, I am planning to enjoy the darkness of the area (no city lights) and do some star gazing with my binoculars and Stellarium (www.stellarium.org) application on my laptop as a guide.
Chat with you upon my return,  George

N6NKT


Reply:  Don't forget the caves
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/largest-cave-interactive