08/04/11
Where do you live now? Kailua, Hawaii
How many years were you in the desert? 16
Are you willing to help with pictures? If I can find some!
Are you willing to help with stories? Sure
Comments:
I feel so blessed to have grown up in China Lake/Ridgecrest back in the day. We got there in 1953-I was 2 years old. My sister was born at Drummond in 1954. I still have friends from before Kindergarten who I hold dear to my heart. My high school buddies-well, we all keep in touch now with Facebook and Skype. Who would have thought?
Fond memories-climbing up B Mountain with a sack lunch (Mom-what were you thinking letting us kids do that??), Butterfly Kingdom behind the alley on Nimitz, horny toads, iguanas and snakes...frozen gutters in the winter that we used to slide on, using Mike Reardon's dad's parachute to pull us on our skateboards down the street with the wind...China Lake/Ridgecrest was a safe, nurturing place to grow up. Once in a while I will go to visit during our reunions and have fun reminiscing with friends...Thanks for this site. It's wonderful!
08/01/11
Where do you live now? Scottsdale, Arizona
How many years were you in the desert? 1964 - 1976
Are you willing to help with pictures? All I have is memories...
Are you willing to help with stories? Got a million of 'em!
Comments:
First, "Howdy!" to all who cherish their Ridgecrest memories and experiences. It was a great place to live and learn. And, without exageration, I believe I knew and explored every street, alley, store and hut in town. Walked and rode my gold Schwinn for miles and miles and miles. Some things I recall...
The Ridge theatre. Saw many movies there, from Mary Poppins to JAWS.
James Monroe vice-Principle,Mr. Brewer, once threatened to stick me with a syringe I brought to school to squirt water at kids from across the room. Terrifying! Some may remember I was sent to his office often. Many painfull but ineffective swats!
Mr. C.M. Robertson, my 6th grade teacher at James Monroe. Great teacher. Had lunch with him in Inyokern 'bout 10 years ago. Got to tell him how much he meant to me.
When the Desert Empire Fair was in that big empty lot on China Lake Blvd.
Favorite rumours: If you hopped the fence along Trona road to go explore "B" mountain, somebody, somewhere, would shoot you for trespassing on Gov. land. Also, "The Red Ragger", a guy who crashed his Cessna airplane near Poison Canyon (on the way to Trona), got his legs cut off below the knees, lost alot of blood and went crazy. He left creepy crawling trails in the dirt and blood-soaked pieces of his clothing - the "red rags" - behind. "They" said he would push boulders on to Trona road at night and attack the drivers who had to stop. He also caused trouble during a Kerr-McGee strike by stopping chem. trucks and setting them on fire.
Many parties at the Rocks and Sand Canyon.
All the Corvettes the sailors bought and drove around town.
School field trips to the Petroglyphs and the obsidian field North of Inyokern.
Finally, if anyone knows how to contact Janice Girrard, please let her know I have a HUGE apology to make to her. Thanks.
07/30/11
Where do you live now? Washington DC
How many years were you in the desert? Lived in Ridgecrest (also China Lake) from age 6 to 18, and have been back to visit family many times since.
Are you willing to help with pictures? I have some good pictures of the area, definitely.
Are you willing to help with stories? Sure, I can probably provide a couple.
Comments:
I was very happy to stumble onto this website. I was doing a little research for a post I'm writing on the name: I remember there was an effort once to rename Ridgecrest as "Maturango." A friend told me the word "Maturango" actually meant horse-dung. Of course I never looked that up, as I liked the story the way it was.
07/19/11
Where do you live now? Gerogia
How many years were you in the desert? 4 in a row and many off and on
Are you willing to help with pictures? yes
Are you willing to help with stories? yes
Comments:
You know, I just want to come home, lay on the ground deep in the desert on a starry and windy night and smell the smells of that magical place that will never leave me. I want to come home.
07/07/11
Where do you live now? Washington, DC
How many years were you in the desert? 9
Are you willing to help with pictures? No
Are you willing to help with stories? Yes
Comments:
I moved there in 1981 and left around 1990. Saw a lot of changes over the years but the town was always friendly. Sometimes we went to Trona to see a movie. Winter mornings were spent out in the desert for some riding or shooting. Summer you stayed indoors with the good old Swamp Cooler full blast.
Lowen's on R/C Blvd was the only place to find some music vinyl. I shipped in my stereo since the selection here was practically non-existent.
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