California Dreaming

June of 1980 the Westra Family went on a family vacation to California to visit the Griffiths.

Wendy (age 12) wrote this poem to describe the trip~

Our Trip:

We drove to California in our car – we drove very long, we drove very far.

We drove past houses cities and cars. It seemed like we were going clear to Mars!

We drove past churches and hotels. We stopped in Nevada at Scott’s Motel. 

The weather here was very cool, so we were glad for an indoor pool.

Then on and on our trip we did go – until we finally arrived in Sacramento.

We got there on the thirtieth of May, to enjoy ten days of fun and play.

We went to a park called Fairy Tale Town, where there were slides and castles and a king with a crown.

We had a picnic and played all around, and went on a ride that went round and round.

The next day was Sunday and we went to church meetings. We were sure glad to have a nice greeting. 

On Monday we went to San Francisco, and do you know what we rode on, do you know?

We went on a trolley car and boy was it fun! Then we ate lunch and sat in the sun.

We saw a museum full of neat things – fishes and snakes and Indian rings.

We went to the beach and saw lots of waves, and we found lots of seashells to keep and to save.

Today is June second, it is no longer May, but boy it sure was a really fun day! 

On Tuesday we went to the park and the zoo. We fed all the animals and the little squirrels too! 

On Wednesday we played games such as tennis and bowling, where the ball went flying and the ball went rolling.

Scott was not necessarily being a teenager and stepping out of the photo. 

This picture was damaged in the scan and cut off. 

Thursday we went to Marriott – with our things all ready and our things all set. 

We rode the Demon and the Tidal Wave – and we even got little booklets to save.

We rode on Willard’s Whizzer and that’s not it, we rode on others and just couldn’t quit. 

I thought the Demon was the best, I thought it was more fun than the rest.

But the other rides were a total blast too, and there was always lots of fun stuff you could do.

We also watched a show about Bugs Bunny, you know, and one called “To Fly,” another great show.

Today was SO fun – riding rides in the sun! 

On Friday we went and water skied. Uncle Arnold had the boat and the things we would need.

I’d never done it before, I didn’t know how, but I did it! And boy was it fun – wow! 

We ate there on the island, there in the sun – and we played in the water and had loads of fun!

Saturday we went to a restaurant and ate – we even got seconds on a new plate!

But what I liked best was the vanilla ice cream – topped with toppings and nuts, see what I mean?

Sunday we got ready to go back home. Oh! I felt like I was going to moan!

But I missed my house, so I was kind of glad – I missed my friends, so I wasn’t too mad.

And again we drove past houses and hotels, and we stopped again at “Scott’s Motel.”

Then we drove again and arrived back home, and I will always remember our trip by this little poem!

By Wendy Westra (age 12)

Jenny wrote in her journal too ... not quite as much ;)

A few more photos and adventures from the trip ...