Even though Amtrak’s California Zephyr lacks the same style, not to mention the Vista-Dome, of the original train of that name, it does follow much the same route. I felt lucky to ride the Zephyr between Emeryville and Sacramento a year ago; back in 2000 my mom traveled on the Zephyr from Roseville through the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky […]
I’d never seen this episode of California’s Gold before today — but since I’m leaving on a short trip to San Francisco in a couple of days, I thought I’d get myself into the right mood. I’ve walked up Lombard Street once, about 20 years ago, and it was quite an experience… but nothing like the experience Huell had. I […]
I chose this episode of California’s Gold this week in honor of all my own memories of road trips when I spotted some intriguing road sign or attraction and wanted to stop to check it out but didn’t, for one reason or another. I’m sure I can’t be the only one who’s had this experience! I’m still hanging onto my […]
I’ve had a fondness for mariachi music ever since my trips to Mexico back in the 1960s and 1970s. This episode of California’s Gold is one that I managed to miss on television, so I’m really glad that the Chapman University archives are keeping Huell Howser’s wonderful adventures alive into the future. I hope you enjoy as much as I […]
I’ve been very slowly working at transferring my old Hi8 videotapes to DVD, and from there to my hard drive. I’ve been editing them with Windows Movie Maker and then uploading — with a little additional editing — to YouTube. Much of the footage is devoted to our three dogs, Buster, Gabby, and Pinkie. My final results are far from professional, but that’s okay. Most of the videos are at least 10 years old, and I’m just very happy that I’m finally able to watch them with more smiles than tears. As I wrote in the description of this video on YouTube, Gabby wasn’t allowed on the furniture inside the house, but once we moved this old chair to the back patio, she adopted it as her own. She loved that chair! One of her favorite things was to curl up in it during a spring storm and watch the rain fall. The music is Tucson Tease by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy of YouTube’s collection of ad-free tunes.
It’s an old, old story — families being compelled to pick up and move from one place to another when times are hard. Those of us who have never been in such a situation may struggle to understand what it feels like; but John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath (not to mention John Ford’s brilliant movie adaptation) and the […]
The next best thing to a train is a rail car! I wasn’t even aware that Folsom had handcar races until I noticed this sign at the Folsom Railroad Museum; sadly, I missed the event this past May — but I’ve already got my calendar marked for next year! This episode of California’s Gold features the beautiful scenery of Northern […]
I’ve heard it said many, many times that because the heat in California is a “dry heat,” it’s easier to bear than heat with high humidity. That may be true, but it’s little consolation once the thermometer hits the 100-degree-plus range! I don’t live anywhere near a desert, but plenty of people in Southern California do, and it turns out […]
If you happen to be in Southern California this summer and are looking for something different to do, Huell Howser has a couple of ideas for you in this episode of California’s Gold. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., but I’ve never seen anything like the living […]