Saturday, October 29, 2011

USS Iowa

Johnathan Williams, Rob's business partner had one of his dreams come true this weekend.  Johnathan has been working for over a decade to secure the USS Iowa, and now that dream has come true.  The Iowa was awarded to Pacific Battleship in September and entered Richmond, California over this last weekend.  They have big plans for the Iowa.  After getting some new paint, etc it will leave Richmond and head to LA where she will be docked.  The Iowa will then be open as a museum for all to see and remember.

Here is a little more information from Wikipedia...
USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 29th state. Owing to the cancellation of the Montana-class battleships, Iowa is the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships, and was the only ship of her class to have served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.
During World War II, it carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt across the Atlantic to Casablanca en route to a crucial 1943 meeting in Tehran with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin. It is the only U.S. Navy battleship with a bathtub — an amenity installed for Roosevelt, along with an elevator to shuttle him between decks. When transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1944, Iowa shelled beachheads at Kwajalein and Eniwetok in advance of Allied amphibious landings and screened aircraft carriers operating in the Marshall Islands. It also served as the flagship for Adm. William F. Halsey at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. During the Korean War, Iowa was involved in raids on the North Korean coast, after which she was decommissioned into the United States Navy reserve fleets, better known as the "mothball fleet." She was reactivated in 1984 as part of the 600-ship Navyplan, and operated in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets to counter the recently expanded Soviet Navy. In April 1989, an explosion of undetermined originwrecked her #2 gun turret, killing 47 sailors.
Iowa was decommissioned for the last time in 1990, and was initially struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1995. She was reinstated from 1999 to 2006 to comply with federal laws that required retention and maintenance of two Iowa-class battleships. In 2011, Iowa was donated to the Los Angeles-based non-profit Pacific Battleship Center and will be permanently moved to the Port of Los Angeles to serve as a museum and memorial to battleships.

It was really cool to watch and witness this memorable event for Johnathon.  He took us on a tour, one of many to come in the future.


ol' Glory




Johnathan, aka Big Man

A 900 footer


This was a cool scene. As we were climbing the stairs to board the ship, this elderly gentleman asked if he could take a look as well.  Comes to find out he was a gunner on the USS Iowa during the Korean War.  He was proud of his ship and thankful that Johnathan and his company were restoring it.


dem are some big guns





This was Presidents Roosevelt's old office/bedroom (yes we saw the tub too)
  What a piece of History.

peek a boo



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

carvin' pumpkins

After the pumpkin patch adventure, we took our treasures and started carving.  I don't remember carving being so much work.  After a few hours, this is what we ended up with.

let the fun begin!

are we having fun yet?

Dad makes things fun



Oz likes pumpkins too

Before....

after....

Splish Splash I was takin' a bath


I know that the color is pretty dark, but I had to catch this on camera.  Max loves a bath or maybe it's water.  I think we might have the next Michael Phelps on our hands.  Watch as he splashes away.  No one is dry when giving Max a bath.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Pumpkin Patch

You got to love this California weather.  Today, October 22nd, it was 85 degrees.  I have to admit, the weather, the sun, and all the fun things to do in California is appealing, and I can see why so many live here.  But it would never been fun ENOUGH with out my friends around.

The pumpkin patch was great.  It was my first time every going to one.  It will definitely have to become a tradition.  We ate pumpkin pie, rode trains and tractors, and picked our own cool pumpkins.  Here are some  pictures, and by some, I mean a LOT!





Max and his buddy Colton



yum, pumpkin pie....

no, I don't wanna share!

where's Maxwell?

Oh there he is!

Pumpkins for days

Dad, I like this one!

Tractor fun

Chester wanted to "hang out"

The Stockton crew

almost there...

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pismo Beach

On our last day of our trip, we hit Pismo Beach.  It was pretty nice.  I'm loving the 80+ degree weather in October.




Chester is loved by all

Oz had a blast too

Hearst Castle

While in SLO, San Luis Obispo, we had to swing by Hearst Castle.  I wasn't sure about the history of the Castle, but I knew it was a sight worth seeing.
A little history......The castle is on 250,000 acres.  It was built in 1919. It has 56 bedrooms and 61 bathrooms. 
Not to shabby!


Indoor pool

Dad and Max on the bus up to the Castle



up the circular staircase

On the tour of the bedrooms

Max was impressed too


The Library



cheese

Chester made it too