Newport Pier, CA

Wednesday July 15, 2001

After the Grand Canyon we stopped in Las Vegas for two nights. Really hot during the day. I don't care if it was dry heat or not---it was damn hot. Lots of flashing lights and crowds. I didn't like Vegas at all, but Katy loved it.

Then we headed to Los Angeles to stay with Katy's grandparents (her father's side). The first night there (Sunday), Mr. and Mrs. Miyamoto took us out to Knott's Berry farm. Good food, at a reasonable and fair price, and lots of it. They feed thousands of people each year. I'd never heard of their special "boysenberry" fruit before.

Monday we went to Disneyland. There was a lot of Disney stuff. The Jungle Cruise had enough puns to keep me happy. Yesterday we went to Universal City, Hollywood. Very cool. The rides and tours are aimed at an older audience than Disneyland.

(Katy and Grandma and Grandpa Miyamoto)

Thursday July 26, 2001

Yesterday Katy's grandparents drove us out to Newport Pier. Had I known there was a beautiful sandy beach I would have brought my bathing suit. We couldn't stay long at any rate. We went out to dinner with the grandparents and their neighbors the Otsukas, Marie and Denny. It was my first time eating at a Japanese restaurant.