Bob's Travel History (Pre-1970)

Updated June 13, 2009

Introduction

This is part of the Swansons' travel narrative history. This section covers Bob's travels, before he met Sandi. Years covered include:

1969 .-.-.-. 1968 .-.-.-. 1967 .-.-.-. 1966 .-.-.-. 1965 .-.-.-. 1964 .-.-.-. 1963 .-.-.-. 1962 .-.-.-. 1950's

1969

This was quite a year for everyone. Enough college! Bob took a job in Southern California. Most of his travels were on business, but he managed to see the wine regions of Northern California, and visit friends in the Bay Area.

1968

Relocating from Boston to Sacramento, California, Bob drove straight through with a college buddy. This was a most difficult and strange experience. There were still Burma-Shave signs on the highways, but for the most part the Interstate system had taken over travel. Don't try this at home kids. Fatigue took its toll. Paul Simon was right when he sang about "America".

This summer, Bob (not having wheels) does a lot of hitchhiking from Davis to Berkeley, Calif. Many interesting events happen, and much rapping takes place.

This fall, while trying to continue studies at Humboldt State College (way up there in the Redwoods), Bob spends a lot of time hitchhiking between there and Berkeley. Even more interesting trips occur, such as sharing a car with a group of surfers who happened to be lumber mill workers. They were on their way down to Santa Cruz, California, to catch the waves.

And by the way, the area of Oregon and Northern California coasts are very beautiful, then and now.

1967

Bob took a Spring Break trip (literally) from school in Riverside, California, to San Francisco. The trip did not follow the normal highways of California. The loveliest sight was coming over the coast range into Watsonville in the fog. The green was intense. Bob took infrared color pictures. Paul Simon was right about "Cloudy".

This was the last summer for Bob at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Southern Oregon left a lasting impression on him. This is one of the possible places he would love to retire. Travel to and from the Festival was always interesting, since it punctuated the end and start of school years. For instance, the 1967 trip back home required a long stopover in San Francisco, where the summer of "love" was in full swing.

1966

Christmas in New York City. Bob had never been to this part of the East Coast before. In many ways, this was the End of the "old" New York City. Things are much different there today.

1965

Bob's first summer (of three) at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. This year was a threshold between the "old" and "new" eras for the Festival, and he got to see the changes happen. The trip up to the festival was Bob's first commercial airplane trip, and it was a doozie. The short-haul flight from San Francisco to Medford on United Airlines was on a DC-3!

1964

Bob drove himself up to Stanford for a summer program in theatre. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival was presenting plays early in the season (before starting in Ashland). This was Bob's first driving trip alone, and the scene at Stanford was unique. He visited San Francisco a few times this summer. Herb Caen was writing a column in the paper, and a music critic pointed out that there was a group called the Jefferson Airplane playing in The City.

After summer school, Bob and a friend drove up the Oregon Coast. The loop took them from Ashland up the central route, to Portland, and then down the coast. Camping was cheap or free, and the scenery was beyond description.

1963

As part of a youth organization, Bob got to fly to Washington, DC, and Annapolis, Maryland. A very interesting experience, and the first time that Bob had ever been in an airplane. Turns out that the next day after his visit, the famous Civil Rights March took place. Bob missed seeing Bob Dylan perform by only one day.

1962

Bob took part in a National Science Foundation summer program in San Jose. This was the first time away from home, and was a real eye-opener. Bob got a taste of the college life, and suddenly decided that High School was the pits. He had to attend another year, however, before he could get back into the college life. During this summer, he saw a baseball game at Candlestick park, and saw Willy Mays hit one out (deep center field). The Giants beat the Dodgers.

Oh yes, on a side-trip to San Francisco, Bob bought his first guitar in a pawn shop. He then proceeded to try to play it, in hopes of attracting women.

1950's

Bob's family drove from the LA area to Seattle and back, towing a travel trailer. Fascinating experience. The time period can be accurately determined by the fact that the San Francisco cable cars were about to be destroyed, and a petition (and local election) was in full swing to protect them. This was the "old" San Francisco, before the truly large high-rises. No freeway blotted out the old Ferry Building. Fisherman's Wharf still had fishing boats bobbing in their slips.

Previous family trips included Yosemite. In the early 50's, we camped by the side of the Merced River. To get the campsite, we just drove our trailer into the Park, and checked at the Ranger Station for a spot. Try that in the 21st century! Some of the old original Yosemite Village was still standing at this time. A year or two later, we visited Kings Canyon Park and did similar things.