Kali Kaelynn and Serk's Excellent Adventure (Sadly non-Valk. This time.)

[Serk]

Now that Kali is back in Uncle Sam's loving protective embrace, OPSEC concerns are allayed and I can tell of the trip we just took. After Kali's surprise holiday visit, we decided that Kali, Kaelynn and myself would drive her back to California so Kali would have a car to use while training there, and Kaelynn and myself would fly home (Kaelynn's first flight no less!) I'll tell the story in pictures...

(Apologies to anyone I'm friends with on Facebook or MeWe, this is pretty much an exact duplicate of my postings on those sites.)

First Stop - The Big Texan in Amarillo. No, didn't try the 72oz challenge; for a touristy place though the food isn't half bad!



Morning after our first stop on the road, we were so excited to find a light dusting of snow on the car in Albuquerque. Little did we know what was to come.



Quick detour to stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona.



The girls insisted I stand on the corner as well.



Snow for miles, long traffic backups, snow everywhere, but we finally made it to the parking lot for the visitor's center at the Grand Canyon. Kali's military ID saved us the $35 entrance fee, which was nice.



Big sister carrying little sister.



Well heck. The canyon was almost entirely fog/cloud filled. They did get to catch glimpses of the grandeur as the clouds would briefly open up, but only briefly.



The initial route was Texas -> New Mexico -> Arizona -> California, but we noted a 5 minute detour would dip us briefly into Nevada so that Kaelynn could add that to states she'd visited. One thing led to another and here we are at the Hoover Dam.



Well heck, we've already gone off the planned route, let's have Kaelynn get her first look at the Las Vegas strip too...



First major sticker shock, and we weren't even in California yet!



Kaelynn's first step on to California soil



The modern humans were confused by the ancient relic of the past we encountered. (It worked too! They got to hear a dial tone)



Our first night in California was in Bakersfield, the plan was to go west and get on the PCH, then take it to Monterey. This was headed to the PCH, our first glimpse of the Pacific.



Sisters being sisters looking at the ocean and beautiful scenery.



Repping Buc-ee at the Pacific. Unfortunately, we only made it about 10 miles on the PCH when it was closed due to a rock slide, no detour, turn around, go home. Sorry folks, California's closed. Backtracked and took inland boring roads to Monterey.



New Year's Day, I'd neglected to pack the essentials (Black Eyed Peas and greens) and paid dearly for that mistake. That can is $1.49 here in Texas. But alas, me and my girls got our southern New Year's Day requirement.



One day Kali was doing Army stuff, so Kaelynn and I checked out the Monterey Bay Aquarium.



After the aquarium, Kaelynn and I had dinner overlooking the ocean. Doing my best to show my girls how they should be treated.



Kaelynn LOVES beaches, every chance she got she'd ask to go to a beach.



She also loves climbing out on rocks and making me get rather nervous.



Found a really cool playground that, among other creative things, had an old steam engine converted to a playground thing the kids can crawl all over. Was kinda weird being at an outdoor park, bright sunny day with a nice breeze, and 90% of the kids were all masked up. Oh well, different cultures different ways I 'spose.



Took a day to do the PCH headed south from Monterey through Big Sur. Freaking GORGEOUS! There were cattle grazing behind me. That has to be the most picturesque pasture land I've ever seen. Lucky cows!



Sisters taking in the view at an overlook on the PCH.



More of the PCH. Doing it on a bike has been added to my bucket list, much as I'm loathe to ride through California, might have to just suck it up and do it one day.



...all that beauty on the PCH does come at a price though.



We did get to visit The Presidio at Monterey, but for OPSEC reasons I took very few pictures.



Love this picture of Kali and I on Fisherman's Wharf.



Last minute impromptu whale watching cruise.



We saw lots of sea lions, otters, etc and a LOT of whales, but getting pics of 'em with just my phone was rather challenging, so after I got a few I quit trying and just concentrated on enjoying the moment.



View of the ship from the bow facing back... Kaelynn gets seasick it turns out, but the crew had some meds for her that helped.



Sunset from the whale watching ship.



Alas, it was time to hug Kali good bye and head home. Kaelynn walking up to board her first airplane.



She got really nervous before takeoff but relaxed pretty soon after. Being her first flight and being such a tiny plane we splurged for first class, at one point Kaelynn asked me "Why isn't the nice man offering snacks or drinks to all the people behind us?"

[Jess from VA]

Great post, and thanks for sharing.   

Just one question..... Where's your pussycat ears?     

[Serk]

Just one question..... Where's your pussycat ears?    

They tried numerous times to slip a pair on me and get a pic but I thwarted the efforts every time. My standards might be low, but I do have them!

Another observation, I noted I was given what appeared to be ALMOST normal plastic straws at several places in California. Knowing they'd executed the last person who tried to smuggle an actual plastic straw behind the Iron Curtain I did some research.

They're making drinking straws out of cow farts.

Seriously.

One of the straw wrappers said "Made with AirCarbon" so I did some research:

From the company's Wikipedia page:

"Currently, Newlight captures methane from a dairy farm in California. The methane is transported to a bioreactor. From there, the methane is mixed with air and interacts with enzymes to form a polymer trademarked as AirCarbon. According to Popular Science, the plastic performs similarly to most oil-based plastics but costs less to produce. AirCarbon has already been contracted for use in desk chairs, computer packaging, and smart phone cases."

As the girls were drinking I told them they had solidified cow farts in their mouths; they didn't believe me until I showed 'em the article, then I got a "daaaaaaad! Could you have not waited until AFTER we were finished to tell us that?!?!?!?!"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newlight_Technologies

[scooperhsd]

DOn't you mean "TIGER EARS" ?

[Thunderbolt]

Nice job on the pictures and captions.  Great that you can take the time with them.

[bassman]

Excellent “trip” report.   Thanks for sharing!  Enjoy each and every one.

[Jess from VA]

Leave it to California to make things out of cow farts.

They must have started with (many of) their politicians.   

[carolinarider09]

Nice report and thanks for sharing.  Been to most of those places but never took a whale watching cruise. 

Standing on the corner is cool.....

 

[Valkorado]

Thanks for the report, looks like a good time.  When I was 19 and "hormonal", I had to flee the mountains and head for Cali.  It was a wild and crazy handful of years for a young country boy.

Despite is many flaws, California is a beautiful state.  Looks like you found some of the good offerings, and avoided most of the fruits and nuts.  

[msb]

Nice Serk! Excellent adventure indeed! Brings back a lot of memories of me and my girls. They're in their 30's now with daughters of their own, but all those times we spent together when they were kids has paid off...I still talk to them almost every single day even though they live in other parts of the Province and we just returned last night from 2 weeks of travel spending the holidays with them and their families.
You seem like a good...no, great...Dad. As it is with most of us, your kids will always be the greatest accomplishments of your life. They deserve good parents.

[Willow]

It's entirely unexplainable but you make cute girls.

I'm glad it was a good trip and they both had a fine adventure.   

[VALKMAN]

Hey Serk, nice Adventure. Next Time you are out here, we can go out. You can take my Wing or My Valk!!!!

[scooperhsd]

Serk - echo the thoughts about a great trip.

Now , on a practical matter  - the car you're leaving Kali - she should insure it based on her location (Monterrey CA). She can keep the Texas title and registration, but insurance companies are funny about location....

[DDT (12)]

Serk,

Excellent adventure, indeed! I congratulate you on the wonderful life-long memories you've helped create for all concerned! Youdaman!!!

DDT

[MAD6Gun]

 Back in 02 my brother Chris and I flew out to San Francisco. We rented bikes,I got a Goldwing and  Chris got a VTX. We rode the PCH north and south of SF. Although it was only a short section of the PCH it was a fantasy ride.

 Chris and I talked at one time about running the entire length of the PCH some day but not sure that'll ever happen.

 Goad you were able b to spend some quality time with your daughters. Great adventure. The pay phone pic was funny....

[Jess from VA]

Serk - echo the thoughts about a great trip.

Now , on a practical matter  - the car you're leaving Kali - she should insure it based on her location (Monterrey CA).  She can keep the Texas title and registration, but insurance companies are funny about location....

If it's USAA they may take care of it, but best to call anyway.  The fact it is kept on a secure military reservation should help with any increase for CA rates.  Have her declare minimum (but honest) annual mileage.  She may not have been primary driver in the past, but she is now.

Under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act, she should keep TX as her home of record (it can be changed with the military, but I don't know why she would, and certainly not to CA).  She should never do anything to allow or consent to CA having any providence over her or her property or income.  No CA state inspection necessary.  I was stationed out there 5 years and had no problems (MI tags), other than they wanted my AR registered.... I didn't, but it never left the (exclusive federal enclave) of my base again, until I left.  It would be good to know if her military reservation is exclusively federal, or proprietary (joint jurisdiction).

There is generally some leeway on expired drivers licenses under state law (while on active duty), but local cops may be unaware.  Plan ahead.  I seem to remember renewing by mail.  If she relies on TX law to continue on an expired license, get her a copy of the TX DMV rule to carry with her.

If things haven't changed, CA lets you take a one day safety class to get rid of any (non criminal) moving violations you earn there (once a year).  Of course you still pay the violation, and you pay for the class, but you get no points, and the ins co never finds out, and you never go to court if you act in time.  I did it twice (Corvette, not motorcycle).  The safety classes were like a day at the Comedy Club.

Remind her that cops everywhere feel more leeway with out-of-state tags.   

[Serk]

Yup, looking into the insurance. It is USAA, so that's a good thing. Definitely keeping everything Texas based and not letting CA sink it's $$$hooks$$$ into her!

Since the Presidio is about half of the city of Monterey, the locals are very used to seeing out of state plates, there's a very heavy military presences in the city.

Just looked it up, total personnel in The Presidio of Monterey: ~10,000
Total population of the city of Monterey: ~30,000

She's also been told even one ticket and she gets knocked back to "Phase 4" privileges, formation every 2 hours, no permission to leave base, no driving, etc for an undetermined period of time, so she's highly motivated to stay clean in that regard.

[scooperhsd]

Ok, good - just giving advice from 11 years active duty experiance, moving from base to base.

[Jess from VA]

She's also been told even one ticket and she gets knocked back to "Phase 4" privileges, formation every 2 hours, no permission to leave base, no driving, etc for an undetermined period of time, so she's highly motivated to stay clean in that regard.

Well, IMHO, that's pretty arbitrary (military or not), though I understand complete rookies need to be on a short leash.  But the military has always been aware of the fact that if they don't take care of their new recruits (and first term enlisted), parents/family may see they don't get as many as they need going forward.  Still, a failure to signal is hardly the same as a 20 over.

Many universities prohibit freshmen (or even freshmen and sophomores) from even having a car on campus.  Same reasons (though parking is often a problem too).

Overseas, traffic was so bad and taxis so cheap, most of us with cars just about stopped using them and just let local taxis take all the dings and potholes, except for to-from work and travel.

Taxis are probably real expensive, but can be shared, esp if there is any beer involved.

I suppose you've had the talk about picking her friends carefully.  Peer pressure and reckless friends got me in most of my youthful trouble.  (actually, all of it)

EDIT:  I guess that's an insulting question (sorry), but it's a bit different when you leave school and home to be on your own in the world.    

[Serk]

No insult received, we agree. And have had the talk. And I could fill a whole other thread about the problems we have with her new boyfriend. I just hope any mistakes she makes are temporary and nothing permanent.

Ubers and Lyfts have pretty much replaced Taxis but yeah, that's a viable option, to a point.

The main draw of having her own car is Big Sur down the road, San Francisco up the road, skydiving drop zones being an hour away, etc. Also when they reassign her to a new barracks across post, a lot easier to move it all via car. (I wanted to get a pic of her in front of the sign saying her barracks are for Marines just for Willow, but she wouldn't allow it, anything showing entrances to a barracks is forbidden to be photographed.)

Mother In Law who worked pretty deeply in car insurance is digging through our policy but recommending we leave it assigned to our home address since this is a temporary training post, not a permanent posting.

[f6gal]

Well heck, we've already gone off the planned route, let's have Kaelynn get her first look at the Las Vegas strip too...

Las Vegas or Laughlin??

Took a day to do the PCH headed south from Monterey through Big Sur. Freaking GORGEOUS! There were cattle grazing behind me. That has to be the most picturesque pasture land I've ever seen. Lucky cows!

You should have packaged up some cow farts and sold them to the straw manufacturers.

"Why isn't the nice man offering snacks or drinks to all the people behind us?"

 Those are very expensive "free" snacks and drinks.

[Jess from VA]

Mother In Law who worked pretty deeply in car insurance is digging through our policy but recommending we leave it assigned to our home address since this is a temporary training post, not a permanent posting.


I remember you saying that it was a period of months (not even a year).  I have always picked up languages pretty easily (even mistaken for a Turk), but that was only spoken, not written, and never a fluency.  For that it would take me more than months. 

That may be good advice.  Since it's USAA, you are probably fine.  Best way to be fine is don't smack up the car (advice my wife could never follow).      And, exercise care where it gets parked/left. 

Sorry about the boyfriend.  My sister always chose boys and men who were broken and needed fixed, and it never once worked out for her.  Her and her husband used to do home WWE all the time, until my dad finally told him he'd stick him with Jimmy Hoffa if he hit her again.  And he meant it. 

[Serk]

Las Vegas or Laughlin??

The original modified plan was to pop up to Laughlin so she could add Nevada to her states set foot in, but then we decided what the heck, let's go all the way up to Hoover Dam (Or Hoover Darn as my "Raised by nuns in Parochial school" mom refers to it) and actual Las Vegas proper.

Fun fact I hadn't realized until we left: We managed to get to Vegas, walk through a casino, walk down the strip for a bit, get back to the car through a casino and not spend one single cent there.

"Why isn't the nice man offering snacks or drinks to all the people behind us?"

 Those are very expensive "free" snacks and drinks.

Luckily my aunt, who's been stockpiling AA miles through her credit card for years and will likely not fly again has offered us full access to her stash of around ~200,000 miles. And for buying with miles, the difference between coach and first class for that particular day was minimal. (Funny the difference one day makes. The mileage for both of us to fly home first class on Tuesday was less than for ONE of us to fly home coach on Monday.)

I remember you saying that it was a period of months (not even a year).  I have always picked up languages pretty easily (even mistaken for a Turk), but that was only spoken, not written, and never a fluency.  For that it would take me more than months. 

That may be good advice.  Since it's USAA, you are probably fine.  Best way to be fine is don't smack up the car (advice my wife could never follow).      And, exercise care where it gets parked/left. 

Sorry about the boyfriend.  My sister always chose boys and men who were broken and needed fixed, and it never once worked out for her.  Her and her husband used to do home WWE all the time, until my dad finally told him he'd stick him with Jimmy Hoffa if he hit her again.  And he meant it. 

She'll be there right around a year, month or two either side of it. Then to Goodfellow in Texas for a few months, then off to..... who knows.

So far at least the boyfriend is treating her exceptionally well... But I did make it clear to him that if he does ever hurt her they won't find him. If it weren't for some of the other issues I'd like the kid. (Other issues - being kicked out of the Army for failing a drug test and going through a nasty divorce with a custody battle over his 1 year old son, that sort of stuff.)

I'll give him credit for being willing to wear the kitty ears I 'spose...



And he's taller than her and can easily carry her around, which she also quite likes.

[carolinarider09]

Regarding the boy friend..  On my oldest daughters first date I followed the Rodney Atkins song below.

On my youngest daughters first date, I did as you did Serk.   

Don't really know if either worked but they are both still well and happy.   Not perfect, but....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nIJxveOgmc

[Savago]

@Serk: next time you are in the area, let me know. I would love to brake bread and suggest some of the best roads in NorCal.
:-)

> took a day to do the PCH headed south from Monterey through Big Sur. Freaking GORGEOUS!

At South of Monterey there is the Carmel Valley, which is worth the ride that leads to the Pinnacles NP and the Skyline road.


>Another observation, I noted I was given what appeared to be ALMOST normal plastic straws at several places in California.

California has its many issues, but there are good things to appreciate. Don't believe in all you see in Faux News.
 

[Savago]

> took a day to do the PCH headed south from Monterey through Big Sur. Freaking GORGEOUS!

Mandatory CA-01 and Big Sur video:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APCUJX8hIGA

[cookiedough]

aahhhh boyfriends,  had my share of misfortunes with daughter while in high school.  Now since age 23,  cannot do much about it.  Before age 18 in my house,  just the opposite getting police involved, restraining orders if need be.   

[Jess from VA]

I've forgotten about the height issues.  I topped out at 5'9", and had several girls in college who said I was a good guy, but they couldn't date anyone shorter than them.  The best one, I told her if she laid off the heels and wore flats, we'd be about even. 

I like heels.  I like how they make my butt wiggle. 

I like that too.  A lot.       But no go.

So she dated a big moron on my (dorm) floor who payed her no attention so he could go out drinking with his buddies all the time while he flunked out.

Those issues would bother me too.  Although there's a lot of growing up and learning going through that, if it takes. 

[scooperhsd]

I'd consider a year to be essentially  "perm duty station" until she gets to her next one.

[henry 008]

 

[POPS 57]

My daughter had her share of boyfriends during and after high school. One time we were talking and she says to me. Dad you have never been very friendly to any of my boyfriends. I looked at her and said they are not my friend and they need to know that.

[Serk]

Small update - her and Mr. Boyfriend mutually decided this wasn't the right time for them to have a relationship and parted ways...

(That's a relief, now she needs to keep her head in her studies... Only a 60% passing rate is kinda concerning!)

And Savago - I thought of contacting you at the airport as we were leaving, if I manage to make a next time happen I'll definitely do so!

[Jess from VA]

That is good news.

Love is great, but when you have your life's goals before you in youth, requiring all your attention and study and drive, everything else should take a backseat. 

Actually, stay clear out of the back seat.   

While I chased a few girls in undergrad and law school, I always made it clear up front that it was to be fun only.  I had a short marriage in law school, and guess what, my 6 hours a day to be left alone to study, exclusive of classes (with no interruptions) did our marriage no good.  Thus the shortness. 

[scooperhsd]

60% pass rate ? - Navy flight school - only 30% to wings !!! AF flight crew numbers being the same would not surprise me.

Rate to Flag officers - (all services) - less than 1 in 1000 from commisioning to selection  !! Only the best of the best make it.

Since the Navy started operating Nuclear Aircraft carriers - there have only been just over 200 O-6's that completed the trek from squadron CO, to Nuc power school, CVN XO, deepdraft Command, CVN CO. Now - barring a major screwup - it is the route that produces the most Navy Flag officers (percentage- wise).

[f6gal]

Small update - her and Mr. Boyfriend mutually decided this wasn't the right time for them to have a relationship and parted ways...

(That's a relief, now she needs to keep her head in her studies... Only a 60% passing rate is kinda concerning!)

And Savago - I thought of contacting you at the airport as we were leaving, if I manage to make a next time happen I'll definitely do so!

Good news for so many reasons.  Glad she got her head out of the clouds!

[cookiedough]

Serk will be able to sleep at night a tad bit better now that the 'friend' is gone.   

Isn't it weird that I disliked ONLY 1 of my boy's girlfriends (out of say 6) while the daughter was like disliked 5 out of the 6.    I guess dad's are more protected of daughters over boys as rightfully so.    Surely 1 of those 6 needed to be in JAIL or dead, no joke.   

Surely hope that she passes and with a 60% success rate I think she will pass now that she can concentrate more on her studies, etc....

My boy in a UW college wants to take off this spring if COVID is still prevalent and becomes 'virtual learning' again since was brought down to a pass/fail grade only with so many 'at home' failing.  Sort of a waste of money not learning much with virtual learning and we said would be o.k. to take off as long as he eventually goes back and finishes up his last 2 years of college getting a degree.