Day 279
On our first night in the county campground, I was reminded how good we had it at the KOA’s. The power at our campsite was insufficient to operate the heat pump, and in the early AM it tripped the surge protector, shutting the power off to the Rv. I awoke to a chilly Rv and knew I would have to go outside to reset the power. Once I was up, the pups were not going to stay in their beds, so I took them for a 3:00 am walk, reset the switch, and climbed back into bed with the pups in tow. I did not bother powering up the heat pump knowing full well that it would just trip again.
Today we planned on hiking into the old M.A.S.H filming site located a few miles north of Malibu. We started our morning routine and during my walk with the pups, I noticed we were still the only ones in the campground. I began to get an uneasy feeling about leaving the Rv unattended for a whole day in a place where there were no other campers. Back at our campground in Temecula we had the back section of the campground to ourselves, but there was a security gate at the entrance, campers in the first two sections, and staff constantly zipping through the back section throughout our stay. At this county campground there was a grounds keeper stationed at the front of the campground. His Rv was surrounded by a chain link fence with privacy slats all around it. Barbwire ran along one side of the fence and I think this is where my uneasiness began.
Within a short time, my gut was twisting with concern. I began to analyze my feelings and came to the conclusion the KOA’s were providing something I didn’t realize until now, a sense of security. As I continued to get ready for our day, my uneasiness grew. I noted to Lori that I have a bad feeling about leaving the pups here for the day, in a giant sigh of relief, Lori confessed she was extremely worried also. At that point I realized the value the KOA’s were providing us. I asked Lori if she would object to us moving the Rv to a KOA today…. There was no objection.
Within a few minutes, I had a campsite reserved at the Ventura Ranch KOA, just thirty minutes west of where we were. We quickly packed up the Rv, cancelled our reservations at the current campground and headed out. With the drive only being thirty minutes, we didn’t even bother hooking up the vehicles, I took the Rv and lori drove the truck.
When we arrived at the new campground, we were happy to see staff moving about a campground filled with other campers. We quickly set up the Rv, and with our sense of security restored, we began looking for someplace to explore. On the campgrounds map we were provided when we checking in, there was an ad for Ronald Regan’s presidential Library museum, with a tour of Airforce One (the old one). Thinking that would be really cool to do, we confidently left the pups at home and headed out for the day.
Our new home, Ventura Ranch KOA
At the checkin office, the staff reviewed the campground rules. We were jokingly told the rule of quiet time in the evening did not apply to the Peacocks that wondered the campground.
Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Library.
Little did I know, Ronald Reagan was also and artist. He made these life sized statues of himself and his wife, and several others statues of people in his lifetime.
Exact replica of the Oval Office when Regan was in office. All the decorations on the shelves and desk are original artifacts from his tenure.
The Resolute desk is made for the oak Timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute. In 1880, Queen Victoria gifted the desk to President B. Hays. It has been used by nearly every president since. The desk originally was a partner desk, this is where two people could sit across from each other. During President Theodore Roosevelt time in office, he had the one side closed off with an carved oak panel so guest could not see his disability.
The Eagle Podium.
The podium was made in the early 19th century. Owned by Joseph Canzeri who worked for President Regan in the White House, he would bring it in to use on special events. The podium has became a popular White House fixture, and is often photographed during state diners. The podium currently used in the White House is in fact a replica of the original that now sits here. Joseph donated the real podium to the Regan Library.
Ronald Regan received some pretty interesting gifts during his time in office.
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”
The Air Force One served seven US Presidents from 1973 to 2001. Including Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush.
The Boeing 707 with the famous tail number 27000. During Ronald Reagan’s time in office, he placed the order with Boeing for the current 747 that replaced this aging Air Force one. The only time he flew aboard the new one was when his coffin was transported to Washington.
Flight crew of four would be crumpled into this little space.
Communication centre right behind the cockpit.
When in flight, “The Football” case carrying the the secure radio to the National Military Command Centre was stored between the presidents military aids.
Presidents suite.
First lady’s suite.
Conference room.
Military and high ranking personal seats.
Secret service seats.
All meals were prepared before the plane left. The menus was normally selected by the President and everyone ate the same thing, no choices.
This gift portrait was made entirely of butterfly wings
Another portrait in the centre was made entirely of jelly beans, Reagan’s favourite.
Marine One.
Pretty cramped in the original Marine One.
Ronald and Nancy Regan visited a small town in Ireland while they were tracing their ancestral roots, stopped in the local pub O’Farrells. After the visit the pub changed there name to the Ronald Regan pub.
During the construction of the Library, one of the administrations discovered the pub in Ireland was for sale. The Library purchased everything in the pub and moved it to the pavilion below Airforce One.
View of the valley outside of the library.
