Monday, what a Monday trip! Up the San Gabriels.
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| Come out, Come out, Wherever you are- Los Angeles! Los Angeles really is in the middle of this photo with the Pacific Ocean at top. |
Blog diary from Wed 31st Aug to 5th September:
My last blog diary entry about my US Road Trip (#5) mentioned returning to Las Vegas on the evening
of Wednesday 31st August. The Thursday morning, 1st September, saw us all piling
back into our rental vehicle for our drive from Vegas to Pasadena ,
Los Angeles . My
brother-in-law had indicated that the drive via the desert on Interstate
Route 15 might be a bit boring after the sights at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park but I can honestly say I didn’t think so. I
loved the changing colours and was intrigued by the fascinating hill terrain
and different vegetation on the constantly changing hues of the desert floor-
not in the least a monochrome sandy colour.
We took a tiny detour during the 4 hour drive to lunch at Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner at
Yermo, a little way off Interstate Route 15 http://www.peggysuesdiner.com/
What a FUN place to stop at (even if a bit of a tourist trap) with fabulous selections
and plentiful food! The attached shop is groaning with interesting goodies lots
of which I’d like to have bought but were too weighty for my luggage on the
flight home.
By late afternoon we were all checked in to our rental house in Pasadena and were meeting up with other family members who were attending my
niece’s wedding the following Saturday.
The house we rented in Pasadena had nostalgic 1960/70s decor. It was perfect for our stay during the next six nights and gave me the opportunity to catch up with my nephew and his wife who had also joined us from Scotland. The gardens and the pool of the house were fabulous for the 7 of us to relax in, but only for short spells since the wedding was looming!
Friday through Sunday was taken up with
pre-wedding and post wedding get-togethers with our US family and old friends from Glasgow who had also come to Pasadena for the wedding- some of whom I’ve not laid
eyes on since 1974.
The Saturday evening wedding was in fabulous gardens, where the bride and her
entourage of 8 were radiant – as was the groom and his 8 best men! The venue,
normally a Riverside park setting in south-west Pasadena , was lush and beautiful and it was fascinating for us from Scotland to experience a US wedding.
Monday the 5th September was itchy feet time
again.
We dragged ourselves from our gorgeous pool and
spent the day driving from Pasadena up into the San Gabriel Mountains .
A guest at the previous day's (Sunday) post-wedding ‘Pool and Brunch’ party at my brother-in -laws house had told us about going up to the
observation area on Mount Wilson, one of the peaks above Pasadena . He raved about the view from the
top being spectacular.
Coming from Brooklyn , New York , he had been bowled over by the huge spread that
lay before him all the way out to the waters of the Pacific
Ocean .
I’m so glad we took up his recommendation though the day for
us wasn’t as sunny as his had been the previous Friday. Even though there was a haze over Los Angeles it was still
a stunning drive with superb views.
However, in addition to the stupendous
mountain terrain and deep tumbling valleys there was the additional attraction
of being up at the Mount Wilson Observatory.
My husband is the scientist, his masters of Science degree
including studies in Astronomy and Astrophysics. He knew about the very famous
scientist who had spent a lot of time at the Mount Wilson Observatory but I
admit, it was news to me.
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| The 100 inch telescope Hubble used. |
I certainly had heard of Edwin Hubble. I vaguely
knew that he had broken the barriers of astronomy by claiming that the universe
is constantly expanding and was able to prove it with a particular new
telescope or its era. I didn’t know that it was at the Mount Wilson Observatory
that he discovered and proved his theories, along with the other astronomers
who inhabited the facility at the same time as he did.
The observatory buildings complex lies near the top of the peak of Mount Wilson
at around 5, 710 feet, one of many similarly high peaks in the majestic San Gabriel Mountains .
The little Observatory FREE Museum displays interesting static information about the
foundation of the Observatory back in the late 1800s, and further information
about its role into the twentieth century.
The Hooker 100 inch telescope, used
by Edwin Hubble from approx. 1917 through to 1949, is still in use today though
the function is limited at times by the smog which often permeates the area. It's situated in the original observatory that's now open to the public. (We'd have paid to go in but it was free entry)
Technical specifications for the Hooker telescope are available elsewhere on
the web for anyone interested but I was particularly intrigued by the wicker
chair used by Hubble while he made and proved his theories and which still sits
precariously on a raised plinth for the visitor to appreciate.
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| The wicker chair used by Edwin Hubble |
The road up to the Observatory winds its way around and up
the sides of the range, the views absolutely stunning and not easily forgettable.
I thoroughly recommend a trip up – even if you’re only interested in the views
and not in viewing the continually used scientific facility, part of which is open to the public.
The route back down isn't for the faint-hearted driver. I's so glad to have a really competent son-in-law driver who made the trip possible. My thanks for that day's driving, and for the rest of the US trip go to Dave and to my daughter, Sheena, who did some driving too!
A selfie taken in the observation room showing the 100 inch telescope at the observatory.
I enjoyed the trip- I hope you're enjoying my memories!
Slàinthe!
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