Once Roland finished building the house his job was finished. We decided it was time to travel around California, check out job opportunities, look at the availability of land and houses, and see how we felt about each area.

First we took day trips to Ramona, where Roland’s aunt Helen lived. Then to San Diego, Escondido and La Jolla. All were lovely areas. The flowers in La Jolla were magnificent. We traveled up the coast to see old Spanish missions:

The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of 21 religious outposts; established by Catholic priests of the Franciscan order between 1769 and 1833, to expand Christianity among the Native Americans northwards into what is today the U.S. state of California. (from Wikipedia).

We also took the children to Knott’s Berry Farm.

It would be two years later, July in 1955, before Disneyworld would open in California. It was the only Disney Park that was supervised by Walt Disney as it was being built.

We also looked at land around Los Angeles. We finally decided it was too expensive for us at $10,000 an acre. However,  it would be worth millions today.

After viewing all the sites and real estate within a days drive of our parked trailer we finally decided to hitch up the trailer again and head north toward San Francisco.

It took a day or two to shop and get the car and trailer ready to go, as well as the children and us ready. Early one  morning Roland hooked up the trailer to the station wagon, we climbed into the car and took off after breakfast with Florence and Harry. We headed up Route #5. First stop would be Bakersfield.

Wait ’till you hear how that went!!