Day 1C Los Banos Park and Museum, Sunset

There's a lovely park, Los Baños park, with picnic tables, right next to the road through town. I never noticed it before, despite having driven through here dozens of times, because I neve ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:23:17 -0700

elf1
There's a lovely park, Los Baños park, with picnic tables, right next to the road through town. I never noticed it before, despite having driven through here dozens of times, because I neve ...

Several picnic tables are in the shade, and one of them is actually available, which is important in this heat.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:30:11 -0700

elf1
Several picnic tables are in the shade, and one of them is actually available, which is important in this heat.

We get out our luncheon gear. Linda slices the tomatoes.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:30:35 -0700

elf1
We get out our luncheon gear. Linda slices the tomatoes.

Yummy home-made sandwiches for lunch!

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:29:35 -0700

elf1
Yummy home-made sandwiches for lunch!

Yummmm!

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:29:20 -0700

elf1
Yummmm!

We notice, while sitting there, that there's a museum right next to the park. I love these small, local museums. You never know what you'll find. The sign was professionally done, but had od ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:29:02 -0700

elf1
We notice, while sitting there, that there's a museum right next to the park. I love these small, local museums. You never know what you'll find. The sign was professionally done, but had od ...

After lunch, we stroll over. There's an interesting old house next to the museum, with the windows all boarded up.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:28:41 -0700

elf1
After lunch, we stroll over. There's an interesting old house next to the museum, with the windows all boarded up.

The museum is set back from the road, in a more modern-looking building.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:28:14 -0700

elf1
The museum is set back from the road, in a more modern-looking building.

Linda grins with anticipation. It turns out to be a local museum with focus on Los Banos history, but fairly well organized and labeled. It's got artifacts from original Indian inhabitants t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:27:43 -0700

elf1
Linda grins with anticipation. It turns out to be a local museum with focus on Los Banos history, but fairly well organized and labeled. It's got artifacts from original Indian inhabitants t ...

But the real treasure is the docent on duty. We're the only ones in the museum the whole time we're there. He's a native of Los Banos and an historian with several published books on local h ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:27:25 -0700

elf1
But the real treasure is the docent on duty. We're the only ones in the museum the whole time we're there. He's a native of Los Banos and an historian with several published books on local h ...

Like, instead of the mere label "hand carved sheep brands", he noted that they were made of sycamore and were used, not with heat, but with a temporary coloring for after shearing.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:26:46 -0700

elf1
Like, instead of the mere label "hand carved sheep brands", he noted that they were made of sycamore and were used, not with heat, but with a temporary coloring for after shearing.

The docent was charming and well-spoken, didn't overwhelm us or drone on. He told us about the important early settlers of the area, including those belonging to this brand, which explained ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:27:08 -0700

elf1
The docent was charming and well-spoken, didn't overwhelm us or drone on. He told us about the important early settlers of the area, including those belonging to this brand, which explained ...

This photo is for Team Small Dog, who likes taxidermy.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:26:25 -0700

elf1
This photo is for Team Small Dog, who likes taxidermy.

I took photos of some of the key families. Now my sieve-like brain remembers nothing about them.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:26:07 -0700

elf1
I took photos of some of the key families. Now my sieve-like brain remembers nothing about them.

More key persons from this area. One of the key families belonged to the boarded-up house, which belongs to the school district (as does the museum building), and there aren't currently fun ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:25:24 -0700

elf1
More key persons from this area. One of the key families belonged to the boarded-up house, which belongs to the school district (as does the museum building), and there aren't currently fun ...

There was a little display on turn-of-the-century dentistry, including this box filled with replacement metal teeth.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:25:45 -0700

elf1
There was a little display on turn-of-the-century dentistry, including this box filled with replacement metal teeth.

Here's the dentist's foot-powered drill (the drill is hanging from the post to the right of the treadle). Boy, bet that felt good!

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:23:30 -0700

elf1
Here's the dentist's foot-powered drill (the drill is hanging from the post to the right of the treadle). Boy, bet that felt good!

And here's an early reclining dentist's chair.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:23:02 -0700

elf1
And here's an early reclining dentist's chair.

At the end of our tour, Linda bought one of his books and they posed for the paparazzi. (The book of his that I thought sounded most of interest to me was out of stock.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:25:03 -0700

elf1
At the end of our tour, Linda bought one of his books and they posed for the paparazzi. (The book of his that I thought sounded most of interest to me was out of stock.)

Then it was 3:30 and still basically 6 hours to go! We drove drove drove, no more photos or stops until dinner (more sandwiches) at this rest area outside Boron just before 8:00 (#6 on the m ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:24:04 -0700

elf1
Then it was 3:30 and still basically 6 hours to go! We drove drove drove, no more photos or stops until dinner (more sandwiches) at this rest area outside Boron just before 8:00 (#6 on the m ...

Linda and the van at the rest area.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:24:21 -0700

elf1
Linda and the van at the rest area.

We're out in the desert and just expect lovely sunsets. We weren't disappointed.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:24:39 -0700

elf1
We're out in the desert and just expect lovely sunsets. We weren't disappointed.

Same sunset several minutes later.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:23:48 -0700

elf1
Same sunset several minutes later.