Above, The Beast at the Los Banos/I-5 KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
One year ago today, I departed from the Los Banos/I-5 KOA that is located in Santa Nella, California after spending the night following the talks and book signing by former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin at Book Passage in Corte Madera on their book, Five Presidents. I stayed nearby at the Marin RV Park. I was on my return trip home.
Above, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin at Book Passage the day before. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
I arose early, as I recall, due to high winds that were buffeting the sides of The Beast. It was amusing that I was assigned the same campsite that I stayed at two nights prior, during the trip to the book signing. The KOA was a good midway stop between the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Above, the front of the Los Banos/I-5 KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
A few hours later, while stopped for breakfast at a Denny's Restaurant in Coalinga, the television monitor in the dining room had a news report on the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was reported that Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, killed 49 people and wounded 58 others in a terrorist attack/hate crime inside Pulse, a gay nightclub. He was shot and killed by the Orlando Police.
It was a good trip and it was a good trial run for the Owens Valley trip the following month.
As a thank-you for being my "Jiminy Cricket" during times of turmoil and whom I've dubbed my "honorary sister", I sent Diane an autographed copy of Clint Hill's and Lisa McCubbin's Five Presidents.
Along with that, I also sent her a copy of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.
Although she was pleased with the Five Presidents book, she seems more impressed with the travel guide. As she emailed me this last night:
And so hath mine! Thank you SO much!!!! And I really appreciate the copy of your book too :-))))) I just had a chance to glance through it and was fascinated by some of the detail that you thought to add in. Typhoon season, the maps and the currency are fabulous ideas! But I just saw the last page and love the Clamper thinking of letting people know there are intentional mistakes in there - too cool :-))))))
It's kind of exciting to see pictures of the places you've sent before and the explanations of what they are about. I almost feel like, "Oh! I know that place!" I'd be terrified going over that Saikai Bridge though. Whoops, flipped to Shima Pearl - that's worse.
Very, very cool though! I had no idea of what you could possibly put into a book on monsters, especially G, that would interest so many people, but frankly, even as a monster-ignoramus, I find the information very interesting. Egads. Just flipped to Yokahama Bay Bridge. I'd have a nervous breakdown there! Well, I always knew you had talent, so not surprising :-))))
Thank you so much again! A little thank you will be heading your way. Expect something by way of slight thank you coming for Miss Sierra Vaquer. Of course, you are free to open it too - after all, we are human can openers for them ;-)
My personalized autographed book, Five Presidents by former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin arrived in today's mail.
I had pre-ordered it, not knowing if I would be able to attend their appearance at Book Passage in Corte Madera or if the line would be too long for me to wait. It turned out the latter was true.
Above, Sierra had to take a closer look. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
As you can see from the second photo, my cat Sierra is interested in the book and had to take an up-close look for herself.
Above, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin at Book Passage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, two books I bought for myself. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
While at Book Passage in Corte Madera in Marin County over the weekend to attend the talk by former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and journalist Lisa McCubbin, I made a few purchases of books.
I picked up three autographed copies of Hill's and McCubbin's Five Presidents. One for daughter Amber, one for "honorary sister" Diane and one for myself. I pre-ordered a personalized/autographed copy of the book, figuring that I may not have been able to attend or if I did attend, the crowd would be too large to get a signature. It turned out I was right. There was a very long line and I had to make my way back to the Los Banos KOA Kampground, 125 miles away. I bought myself an extra copy.
Above, the autographs by Hill and McCubbin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
For Amber, I also got her a copy of Wild by Cheryl Strayed (about her experience in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail).
For myself, I also bought a copy of Five Days In November by Hill and McCubbin. I began reading it two nights ago and now almost finished.
I'll be heading to the Tarzana Post Office to mail Diane her copy of Five Presidents.
Above, former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill today at Book Passage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It has been an interesting day.
I am now back at the Los Banos KOA after having left the Bay Area immediately following the presentations by former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and his co-author, Lisa McCubbin on their new book, Five Presidents.
I managed to get a reserved seat in the front row in the event room of Book Passage in Corte Madera. I picked up autographed copies of their book for my daughter Amber and for my "honorary sister" Diane.
It was a good thing I pre-ordered my personalized autographed copy as the line for their signatures was a long one. Hill drew a large crowd. I had to leave as I was expecting a three and a half hour drive back to Los Banos. Strangely, I am in the same campsite I was in two nights ago.
Hill and McCubbin grave a great presentation on Hill's experiences with five U.S. presidents, beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower through Gerald R. Ford.
Photo slides and video accompanied their presentation. Now in his 80s, Hill is sharp as a tack and McCubbin said that he's the most intelligent man she knows.
Hill was the secret service agent who reached the Kennedy limousine in Dallas during the assassination. He described in vivid detail what happened. I shot a video of this part of his presentation and it is uploaded at YouTube. You can see it below:
Along with the JFK assassination, Hill talked about working for Lyndon Johnson, Viet Nam, Nixon (particularly the visit by Elvis Presley to the White House), Watergate and the Nixon resignation. He also talked about attending the Robert Kennedy funeral and burial with President Johnson (after the RFK assassination, presidential candidates began being given secret service protection under a law signed by Johnson) .
The presentation by Hill and McCubbin was an enjoyable event and I have to thank the fine folks at Book Passage for their work in putting it all together. It was well worth the nearly 400-mile drive from L.A.
Below, are more photos of today's event:
Above, outside view of Book Passage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, one of the displays of Clint Hill's books. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, other books by Hill and McCubbin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, Hill talks about working for President Eisenhower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, Hill recounts the JFK assassination. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, Hill tells how writing his books was cathartic for him. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, the Robert Kennedy assassination portion of the discussion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, Elvis visits Nixon is recounted. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, a large crowd in line for autographs by Hill and McCubbin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Everything's all ready for tomorrow's book event at Book Passage in Corte Madera
I just finished charging the battery to the big Canon camera, so it is good to go.
At 1:00 tomorrow, former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin will be speaking on their new book, Five Presidents. They will be signing copies while there. I already ordered a signed copy, but just in case I couldn't go, or not be able to get one for signature, I pre-ordered it.
I knew that Book Passage was close to the RV park I am staying at, but I found out today that it is virtually within walking distance. As I have a 12:00 check-out time at the RV park, I will drive The Beast over there.
Following the event, I will be heading back home with a stop overnight in Los Banos. I will be home Sunday.
Hill was the only secret service agent who sprung into action during the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. He was assigned to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and he got her back into the limousine after she climbed out to the trunk.
