Monday, October 25, 2010

The first thing we did today was take the MH in for service.  It’s funny because when we pulled in to the service area, a lady came out and said someone would be with us shortly.  Then she came back and said they were making room for us.  I thought, “That’s OK”, and waited a while.  Then the lady returned and said we would have to wash the MH.  I told her I had never had to wash the MH before someone serviced it.  "Service?”, she said. She thought we were delivering a new MH, not coming in for service.  So finally we were sent to the service department. 

After we filled out the service order, we showed the service rep what was wrong.  Wouldn’t you know, everything worked just fine,  The slide room worked fine, and the water issue worked as it should.  He said they couldn’t replace any parts if everything worked.  I agree.  They might replace one thing, and it might turn out to be something else.  End of service appointment!

We took the MH and toad and went to the Reagan Presidential Library.  The museum part is undergoing a $15,000,000 (all donated money) renovation and most of the exhibits are closed to the public.  The oval office was the only exhibit that was open except for Air Force One, the grounds, and the motor cycle exhibit.

The library and museum is located in Simi Valley, CA, 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles.  It was dedicated in 2001 and President Reagan was buried on the grounds in 2004.  Boone Pickens donated the money for the Air Force One pavilion.  After the 707 was flown to California, the people from Boeing disassembled the plane and reassemble it at the museum.  It has been the most visited of all the presidential libraries.  That makes sense - California has 38,000,000 residents.

The original desk in the Oval Office in D.C.  was built from the wood from the  British ship Resolute.  It was gifted to the United States by Queen Victoria in 1880.  Every president since 1880 has used the desk with the exception of presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford.  The original desk was open between the two pedestals, but was enclosed by FDR to conceal his leg braces.  This one, obviously, is an identical reproduction.

Air Force One and Marine One.

The motor cycle collection covered early and late model bikes.  The bike on the right is an Indian and was use by Steve McQueen in the movie “The Great Escape.”  It was also used in “The Magnificent Seven” and “Bullitt.”

On the left is the Jelly Belly jelly bean display.  The pictures in the background are mosaics made with…………………..jelly beans.  The photo on the right is a part of the Berlin Wall.

The grounds and views around the museum are beautiful and fashioned to celebrate the Grand Old Party.

The grave site of the 49th President of the United States seems very simply stated.   The life of Ronald Reagan is a very interesting and impressive American story.