Letter Supporting Keeping John Wayne Airport Name

Above, John Wayne and Geraldine Page in Hondo (1953). 

The debate over John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California rages on.

The latest is a letter from Mission Viejo City Council Member Greg Raths to Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Here's the letter (I think he meant to say "Marine" Corps Officer, not "Maine" Corps Officer):

Five Years With The Beast

Above, The Beast a few days after buying it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Five years ago today, I flew down to San Diego to pick up my new 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R motorhome (known as "The Beast") at La Mesa RV. I bought it online and got a good deal (I only paid $1,000 more than my first and only offer).

When I arrived at the airport in San Diego, a representative from La Mesa RV picked me up and drove me to the dealership.

Above, La Mesa RV in San Diego. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All I had to do while there was complete all the purchase paperwork, hand over the cashier's check, obtain insurance, do the systems check run-through and buy a few things at their accessory store.

Then, once all that was completed, I drove it off the lot and headed back to Los Angeles.

Above, my aunt Rose and I during my stop in Mission Viejo.

En route, I stopped in Mission Viejo to pay a visit to my aunt rose and cousins and show them the motorhome.

The Beast has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.

Three Years of RVing In The Beast

Above, The Beast in Tarzana, California in February 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Four days ago marked the third anniversary of my purchase of The Beast.

It was February 24, 2015 when I flew down to La Mesa RV in San Diego to buy my 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R. I negotiated a price before heading down to San Diego. After finding out when the RV would be ready for pick-up, I got a plane ticket to San Diego and flew down.

La Mesa RV sent one of their employees to pick me up at San Diego International Airport (formerly known as Lindbergh Field).

Above, at the West Entrance/Yellowstone KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After completing all the paperwork and giving them a bank check, I headed home. Since it has been a long time since I last drove a Class C motorhome, it was a little intimidating at first, but I got used to it.

On the way home, I stopped by my Aunt Rose's home in Mission Viejo for a quick visit and to give her and my cousins a little tour of the RV. I am glad I did as this was the last time I was able to visit with her as she passed away 11 months later.

The Minnie Winnie has given me three years of trouble-free service. I have visited 11 states and stayed at 40 RV parks and campgrounds. The longest trip lasted three weeks when I went to Metropolis, Illinois in 2016. The next memorable trip was going to Idaho to view the solar eclipse last summer.

Above, in the total eclipse's shadow during totality in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Beast (my daughter Amber named it) came in handy recently when I moved to Jamestown, New Mexico. My cat Sierra and I lived in it for 12 days while waiting for my furniture and belongings to be delivered by the movers. I plan on getting it a metal garage. It will be built somewhere on the second acre that adjoins my house. That will come during the spring months when the weather warms up and the frequent (they've been frequent since I moved here) snowstorms cease.

Luckily for me, La Mesa RV has a dealership in Albuquerque for any service needs.

The following video is what convinced me that the Minnie Winnie 22R was the right RV for me.

The Beast's Anniversary, Part 2

Above, during our visit last year.

As mentioned yesterday, today marks the first anniversary of my purchase of The Beast.

I also mentioned yesterday that on the way home from La Mesa RV in San Diego, I stopped in for a visit with my Aunt Rose and cousins in Mission Viejo (since it was on the way).

Unknown to me then, it would be the last time I would see my aunt alive. She passed away last month.

I cannot begin to say how grateful I am for taking that opportunity to visit with her a year ago. 

Got My New Toy!

Today, my trek down to San Diego to pick up my "new toy" went off without any problems, as I expected it to be.

It began with the ride to Los Angeles International Airport to catch my flight down to San Diego. I got to American Airlines's terminal and check-in went smoothly (well, I did use their check-in machine) and got my boarding pass. On the boarding pass, I was directed to go to gate 44B. So I headed there.

After going through TSA's screening station, I bee-lined it to Gate 44B. Upon reaching it, it consisted of a long passageway with a sign that said that Gates 44 A through J will need to take a shuttle to another gate in another terminal. I got down to the end of the passageway and there, waiting, was the shuttle bus. I got in and we headed down a road adjacent to the runway.

At one point, we had to stop for a couple of minutes so a big Boeing 777 could cross the road we were on to get onto the runway.

Finally, we got to our terminal and gates which serviced small commuter jets. The plane assigned to the trip to San Diego was a small 50-seater jet.

Soon, we took off and headed for San Diego along the coast at 11,000 feet. It was a clear day and on the port side of the plane, the San Gabriel Mountains were covered in snow from the recent storm we had. On to starboard side, we had a clear view of Santa Catalina Island. As I had an aisle seat, I was unable take any photos of the island. The flight had no beverage service due to the short duration of the flight.

Upon arrival at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, the courtesy car from La Mesa RV took me to the dealership. On the way to the dealer, we drove through San Diego's Hotel Circle and passed by the Town and Country Hotel, the site of many GOP state conventions I attended in the 1970s and 1980s.

At the dealership, a big welcome monitor screen with the names of their newest customers displayed. Mine was at the top.

Before getting down to complete the paperwork (and hand over the check) and walk-through, I contacted my insurance company to get insurance coverage for the motorhome. After this was done, the walk-through began. I was going to video the walk-through, but it went so fast (and much of it was already familiar to me), I didn't bother.

After the walk-through, the sales paperwork was completed and signed. During the signing, I was given a $75 certificate to spend at the La Mesa RV accessory store. And spend it I did!

After my spending spree, I headed to my new 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 322R and headed for home.

Above, my Aunt Rose and I with the Minnie Winnie.

Along the way home (which was about half-way to Los Angeles), I stopped in Mission Viejo to visit my Aunt Rose and a couple of cousins. I showed them the motor home and a couple of their neighbors came over to admire it.

Above, my aunt, cousins and I. No, I wasn't scowling. I was just caught mid-sentence.

After visiting with my aunt and cousins, I headed back to Los Angeles. The distance from La Mesa RV to home was 148 miles, much of it in rush-hour traffic. I was in no hurry, so I just relaxed and enjoyed my new toy.

It was an enjoyable day!