Lake Arrowhead

On a recent visit to the mountain communities less than an hour's drive from their home base, John and Laureen learned that Lake Arrowhead is known as 'the Alps of Southern California.'

Are those the Alps? Nope, just John and Laureen at Lake Arrowhead

One drive through the forested mountains in this region easily confirms the moniker. Tall green trees on steep slopes overlooking a marvelously blue mountain lake reminded the duo of trips they had ventured during trips to Europe. The crisp winter air mingled with the whistling of the slight winds through the evergreens had a definite Alp-like feeling - even if one only watched the film Sound of Music. The resemblance  of Lake Arrowhead to a bit of the Swiss Alps was confirmed.

This looks more Alpish - wintry with beautiful trees

A three day weekend is always fun and even more so when visiting a place so close to home but so different. Living in the High Desert of Southern California one gets used to the brown of the desert,  beautiful on its own, but the forest with snow in the mountains - that is a picturesque respite from the everyday life in the desert.

Bring warm clothes in the winter

The water fowl, mainly ducks on this day seem to enjoy the winter water

This small mountain city of just over 12,000 inhabitants at an elevation of 5,174 feet above sea level has a very interesting part in early California history.

People living near what would later be known as Little Bear Lake date back hundreds of years when members of the Paiute and Serrano Indian tribes would use the area for hunting and gathering during the non-winter months. The Paiute, who actually were from further north most of the year, were more war-like than the Serrano and kept out of each others way most of the time. But then came the white settlers who changed things up a bit.

Native American locations in Southern California prior 1900's

A partner of the famous adventurer, Jedediah Smith is recorded as the first white male to visit the mountains in 1826 of what would become known as the San Bernardino Mountain range. This is when Grizzly Bears roamed in the hundreds but would, within a few decades, no longer exist in Southern California and then the rest of California by 1922. In fact, William F. "Grizzly Bill" Holcomb loved to hunt the bears in the mountains and finally eradicated the magnificent beasts from Southern California. Holcomb Valley is the reward this man received on future maps of the area just north-east of modern day Lake Arrowhead.

Things went well between the first white settlers and the natives until one of the miners, the locale was loaded with gold, made unwanted advances toward a Serrano maiden. Skirmishes occurred leaving both a number of settlers and Indians dead. The Paitue had never trusted the newcomers and peace was never a number one priority for either white or Indian. They never got along.

Then, as is the case in most of the history of California more newcomers discovered lands of interest and took it upon themselves to develop such lands to their liking. The Mormons began a road up into the mountains from San Bernardino in 1852 for the lumber located there. In the 1860's flat land was located in various parts of the mountains and turned out was good for raising cattle. In the winters most people hunkered down for the snow but business would pick up as soon as the snow melted and the sun appeared daily.

Mormon Road in the 1920's to Lake Arrowhead

By now the mountains were dominated by miners, ranchers, loggers, and people that realized the mountain top could prove to be a marvelous place to install a reservoir for the building population of San Bernardino and west to Los Angeles.

In 1893 work began on a man-made reservoir named Little Bear Lake. Quarters were built for the men constructing the reservoir and through the years as construction continued the area become better known to the people down in the valleys below as a place of quiet solitude. As more and more tourists visited the mountains small encampments were erected, mainly camping sites, and eventually permanent places to welcome guests who wanted to escape the hot summers and enjoy the coolness of the pines.

Before the dam was erected creating Little Bear Lake

By the 1920's a village had taken shape with a golf course, vacation rentals, an outdoor theater, a pavilion, and many other attractions making it a wonderful get-away. Soon private home sites were offered by the Lake Arrowhead Company, out of Los Angeles, and the area was renamed Lake Arrowhead. The homes went up at record speed and became a well known destination for the more financially well off to have a place to retire to for a short time from the ever growing valleys below the mountain tops of Southern California.

UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center

The village of Lake Arrowhead has grown into one of the secret gems not only in Southern California but world wide having tens of thousands of visitors coming here each and every year. The lake is inundated with locals and visitors during all months and with snow falling the sight is something to behold in the winter. Home to many varieties of water fowl and fish makes this a favorite spot for everyone to stand on shore and marvel at the beauty of nature.

Water front at the Lake Arrowhead Village

It is a place for family and friends to spend a day, a week, a month, or a life time enjoying. Great shops, restaurants, events, hiking trails, and anything else an explorer or not could relish. It is a location for whatever the traveler would make of it.

Many famous people have made Lake Arrowhead their home. The likes of Tom Selleck, Sammy Hagar, Michelle Kwan, John Candy just to name a few have graced the waters and watering holes throughout the area.

Sammy Hagar's home - it's for sale 5.9 million

This was Tom Selleck's boat house to his house - we'll take the boat house

These fabulous lake homes and the history of the lake itself is told almost daily, weather permitting, aboard the paddle wheel, Arrowhead Queen. A hour long cruise on the lake highlighting many of the details which made the area what it is today.

Arrowhead Queen paddle boat tour

Braken Fern Manor in the village of Lake Arrowhead is now a Bed and Breakfast but it was originally opened on July 4th, 1929 as the Club Arrowhead in the Pines by the mobster Bugsy Seigel.

It was here that many famous and infamous people would venture to get out of the limelight and possibly the police spotlight to mingle with each other. As would befit the ghost of Mr. Seigel - the place is believed to be haunted by those suffering the wrath of the gang boss - who knows but makes an interesting stay for those interested in such other worldly adventures.

Braken Fern Manor - is that Bugsy looking out the upper right window?

No wonder Lake Arrowhead is truly a hidden gem. And all this time it was just in our backyard.

Lake Arrowhead at its best - nice and warm

For further information:

https://lakearrowheadchamber.com/
http://www.lakearrowhead.com/lahistory.html
lakearrowheadqueen.com/

Yule Go a-Viking

Hmmm, who would win?

A vastly misunderstood people, Vikings are often characterized as mere savages. Even the term ‘Viking’ comes from the Scandinavian ‘vikingr’ meaning pirate – so you can certainly see the parallel. But this term refers more to the time in summer when Scandinavian men would go ‘a -Viking’ and head out on a oversea expedition with the goal of trade or to work as foreign mercenaries. And, well, let’s be honest, there was quite a bit of plundered treasure, and a number of slaves brought back to the homeland for the winter, so we can only defend the characterization so much. 

Dublin - site of a Viking settlement

The Vikings were a sea-faring culture who thrived from the late 8th century through the early 11th century, establishing quite a legacy for themselves. They discovered the Americas centuries before Columbus was born and explored as far east as Russia. Honing their ship-building skills for more than ten centuries, they constructed everything from small fishing boats, to large cargo vessels (to carry all that treasure), and lightning fast longships, all of which were narrow with short drafts, making them well-adapted for use in rivers as well as on the ocean. The Vikings invented the keel, and though their boats were technological marvels, they paid as much attention to the art as they did the craft of the construction of their vessels. The dragon-head on the front of the Viking vessel, designed to keep away evil spirits, struck fear into the hearts of Europeans for centuries.

Viking town in Dublin 1014

The Scandinavian geography had a significant impact on the development of the Viking culture. The difficult location and terrain meant that, for the most part the Vikings were tribal; there was no unified Viking army. When they weren’t a-Viking, they maintained homes with their wives as farmers. The growing season was short and resources were scare, so most Vikings were actually smaller in musculature and stature than many of their contemporaries. 

So, what can modern man learn from the Vikings? Well, not to supplement your income by raiding; there is a limited amount of other people’s treasure – and it doesn’t make friends. No, in this season of giving, let us be generous to our Scandinavian ancestors and see what we can learn from the way they lived, a thousand years ago.

Lassies love a man who treats them with dignity and respect.

First, view, and treat women with dignity and respect, if not outright equality. There is evidence to suggest to Vikings fought beside their wives, sisters, and both sons and daughters. Evidence suggests that they trusted each other to take responsibility for leadership roles, and although there were indeed gender-specific roles (men went a-Viking, while women tended the children, home and farms), men and women often worked together on tasks. In the pantheon of Norse gods and goddesses, there is also quite an equitable distribution of power.

And speaking of faith…the Vikings were a very faithful people. Whether it was a commitment to a particular god or to the pantheon, life and activities were built around these beliefs. As Vikings encountered individuals of other faiths, this led many to a curiosity and later an adoption of a new belief in Christianity.

John with one of his Viking comrades

But the Viking man does this, without sacrificing what it is to be a man. The Viking Ideal man is still Alpha, yet in touch with art and emotion. Strong and sensitive? Sounds just about perfect.

Finally, the Viking loves to travel, to explore, to meet new people, and develop new relationships. We at J and L especially applaud this Viking attribute. We all benefit from the open-minded, open-heartedness we inherit from our Scandinavian forbearers. Especially in this age of partisanship, we can appreciate the Viking ability to survive and thrive as a culture for centuries despite their differences, traveling throughout the world, into the unknown, discovering people and places not even imagined, and managing to cultivate a kindred spirit. Enough that more than a thousand years later, we are still fascinated by them. 

A thousand years ago, the Vikings gathered in middle of January and celebrated Jol – or Yule. They exchanged gifts, and drank beer, toasted the gods, thanking them for the gifts of the past year as they welcomed the new. As you enter your yuletide celebrations, may we ask that you raise your glass, and join us at J and L as we toast the Vikings? 

Yuletide Greetings!

Plan 'B'

On a recent weekend venture to Newport Beach, California -  John had a great idea for how to spend one Sunday morning: visit the small but enchanting Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society located on Marine Ave.

The weather was perfect with highs in the low seventies, clear skies and just a slight onshore breeze. Not bad for November! Conditions could not be any better. The island is one of John's and Laureen's favorite haunts - an intimate setting with shops, restaurants and plenty of rental houses available surrounded by the gorgeous waters of Newport Bay. An ideal place to get away for a short period from the everyday hustle and bustle of life.

After a quick but delicious bite of late breakfast -  John and Laureen walked hand-in-hand through the quiet streets of Balboa Island, enjoying the beautiful surroundings. That was until they reached the museum. It had a 'closed for remodeling' sign plastered to the front glass door.

"What?" John asked. "The internet said it was open."

Hmm, what was the question?

"It's not," Laureen observed. "Look through the windows - there's a ladder, drop cloths and all kinds of construction going on."

"It's supposed to be open," John repeated, stunned.

Laureen nodded her head in sympathetic understanding of her husband's confusion. She can be very patient at times like these.

"Sometimes the internet is not correct. No worries, what's your plan 'B'?"

Silence hung in the air like water droplets on the top of a sunroof.

"I don't have a plan 'B'."

Of course, Laureen thought John was joking since a plan 'B' for any outings is a must to ensure a travel isn't ruined by unexpected consequences - like a museum that was supposed to be open and not being. J and L always have a Plan B, and often a Plan C or D, etc..

"Really?" Laureen asked.

"Yep, really," John replied.

"You're not joking? You don't have a Plan B? Well, let's find one."

When in doubt, ask Mr. Google, as our good friend Paul Bakas always says. We did and the rest of the day was nothing but adventure and exploration.

First, the dynamic duo strolled through the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve taking in sights such as the Egyptian knapweed, arundo, sweet fennel, and Algerian sea lavender as well as many more invasive plants. Sounds rather mean for these plants to invade this section of Newport, but they were pretty none-the-less.

An hour among the flora and fauna made us head indoors to the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The center was fabulous with interactive dioramas, question and answer boards about the coastline, massive fish tanks with rays and sharks, sea worm tunnels, and an assortment of other activities to keep both children and adults busy researching for hours.


It was well worth the visit and made a great Plan B. But we were not done yet.

A short drive to Balboa Peninsula brought to mind the idea of enjoying the afternoon by simply walking along the sandy beach and peering out into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoying each other's company and then a splendid dinner.

That changed when a six foot poster near the parking area revealed a sale on whale watching by Davey's Locker located near the ferry on the peninsula. Sixteen bucks for a two and half hour boating adventure could not be ignored. More than half price off - Laureen and John jumped at the chance. No whales on our whale watch tour, but we did enjoy the pleasure of the company of perhaps two dozen so-called common dolphin. They stayed and played near our boat for nearly thirty minutes, using using the wake of the vessel to aide in chasing their food source. And, showing off a little for their human audience. Laureen took exception to the guide referring to them as common, as she found their sleek, rapid spinning movements to be anything but common. She is a sensitive soul when it comes to feelings, human or non-human. For me, they were indeed a sight to behold.

As the newspaper editor, Tess Flanders, once wrote in 1911 - "One picture is worth a thousand words."  Well, how about a few photographs?

When going out to explore your backyard, community, county, state, or wherever the mood drives a persons there must always be a Plan B. If there isn't one, make sure to research if something goes awry like a museum being closed for repairs. The day then is not ruined but only momentarily paused and that is perfectly fine - Plan B may turn out to be better than the original idea in the first place.

For further information when visiting Newport Beach, California

https://balboaislandmuseum.org/

http://www.ocparks.com/parks/newport/

http://www.daveyslocker.com/

https://www.visitnewportbeach.com/