The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, in Chiriaco Summit, California, is a museum erected in tribute to General George S. Patton on the site of the entrance of Camp Young, part of the Desert Training Center of World War II. Exhibits include a large collection of tanks used in World War II and the Korean War, as well as memorabilia from Patton's life and career — especially in regards to his service at the Desert Training Center — and from soldiers who trained there. Development of the Colorado River Aqueduct and natural-science exhibits are displayed as well. In addition, a 26-minute video is shown, detailing Patton's military service and the creation of the Desert Training Center. Though Patton spent less than four months at the Desert Training Center, his establishment of the training grounds directly impacted more than one million troops.
The Sherman Tank and what I believe is a Patton Tank.
As we make our way across Arizona, an opportunity arises for a soak.
El Dorado Hot Springs is located above a subterranean hot springs of pure, odorless, tasteless mineral water. Tonopah translates to "hot water under the bush" in the local native American language. Among the most ancient forms of natural therapy, hot spring soaking has been enjoyed worldwide. The water is naturally heated to an average of 107 degrees, with a ph of 8.2. Some say that it's like bathing in liquid silk.
The Corral has a shade cloth, shower, lounges, and a cold tub.
On the way home, we stopped in California, Arizona, and Texas for Ricky to try out the local Disc Golf.
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target.
According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000 established disc golf courses as of 2010, approximately 87% are free.
The early history of disc golf is closely tied to the somewhat mysterious history of the recreational flying disc (especially as popularized by Wham-O Inc.'s trademarked Frisbees) and may have been invented in the early 1900s, but it is not known for sure.
Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, when it seems to have been invented in many places and by many people independently.
Students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for example, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1964. Another story is in the early 1960s a few friends would get together in Augusta, GA, at Pendleton King park to toss Frisbees in 50-gallon barrel trash cans designated as targets.
The golf discs used today are much smaller and heavier than traditional flying discs, typically about 8 or 9 inches in diameter and weighing between 150 and 180 grams. The PDGA prohibits any disc to be heavier than 200 grams. Discs used for disc golf are designed and shaped for control, speed, and accuracy while general-purpose flying discs, such as those used for playing guts or ultimate, have a more traditional shape, similar to what you would see on a catch disc. There is a wide variety of discs used in disc golf and they are generally divided into three categories: putters, all-purpose mid-range discs, and drivers.
Score!
Well, we book it on home and arrive a few days before Christmas.
