Jack London Park
The long-awaited Jack London post is here! Well, maybe not long-awaited, but long time coming. I have not lived up to my new year's resolution to post more blog entries. Here's to making up (a little bit) for lost time.
Notwithstanding Mom's health and treatments, Mom and Dad were able to make a trip out to visit us this summer. For several years, I have been intrigued by the Jack London State Park (near one of our often-visited wineries in Glen Ellen) and have wanted to check it out. I have not been successful, however, in convincing Tom to come with me. Enter Dad, the innocent victim - although not too much the victim since he was actually interested in checking it out, himself. Since Tom was not interested and Mom was not up for doing a lot of walking/hiking, I stole Dad away for the morning and the two English literature geeks had a wonderful time exploring the Jack London ranch, grave, house, museum, and even the Pig Palace. A bonus was that we got to hear the musical stylings of Ben Vereen who was doing a sound check for a concert he was performing that night on the grounds. He was really quite good, and wandering through the park while enjoying the beautiful weather to his soundtrack was a treat.
The excitement is overwhelming.
Ben Vereen!
Eucalyptus trees. London was an entrepreneur and experimented with growing eucalyptus trees for use in building. The wood turned out to be unsuitable for building, however, so London, ever the optimist, turned to breeding livestock.
The Pig Palace. The piggery was built in a circle to save labor and had a central feed house for efficiency.
The gravesite. London died at only age 40.
Wolf House. London spent $50,000 building an impressive house. He never got to live in his dream house, however, as it was destroyed by a fire started by spontaneous combustion.
If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit to the park (http://jacklondonpark.com/index.html). Maybe I'll even join you!
Notwithstanding Mom's health and treatments, Mom and Dad were able to make a trip out to visit us this summer. For several years, I have been intrigued by the Jack London State Park (near one of our often-visited wineries in Glen Ellen) and have wanted to check it out. I have not been successful, however, in convincing Tom to come with me. Enter Dad, the innocent victim - although not too much the victim since he was actually interested in checking it out, himself. Since Tom was not interested and Mom was not up for doing a lot of walking/hiking, I stole Dad away for the morning and the two English literature geeks had a wonderful time exploring the Jack London ranch, grave, house, museum, and even the Pig Palace. A bonus was that we got to hear the musical stylings of Ben Vereen who was doing a sound check for a concert he was performing that night on the grounds. He was really quite good, and wandering through the park while enjoying the beautiful weather to his soundtrack was a treat.
The excitement is overwhelming.
Ben Vereen!
Eucalyptus trees. London was an entrepreneur and experimented with growing eucalyptus trees for use in building. The wood turned out to be unsuitable for building, however, so London, ever the optimist, turned to breeding livestock.
The Pig Palace. The piggery was built in a circle to save labor and had a central feed house for efficiency.
The gravesite. London died at only age 40.
Wolf House. London spent $50,000 building an impressive house. He never got to live in his dream house, however, as it was destroyed by a fire started by spontaneous combustion.
If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit to the park (http://jacklondonpark.com/index.html). Maybe I'll even join you!
Only read London in school, but this homestead sounds very cool. And Ben Vereen! Glad you had such a good time.
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