Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

20 July 2007

On the 20th of July, San Jose threw a party to celebrate its 130th anniversary (as you do). The venue was the historic Luis Maria Peralta adobe–the same one I’d visited on no less than four separate occasions before, each time unable to get in because it was closed. Right! I decided. I am going to see what’s in there. Don decided to tag along too.

It was definitely a family event. Reeanctors in costume stood around, explaining what their counterparts had done in the past. There were crafts including the making of tortillas and clay pots, and you could lassoo a “cow” or sit on its back if so preferred. A little shaded seating area had been set up to allow traditional singers to traditionally sing. I checked out the plaques and discovered that only one was a “real” new one for Markeroni purposes–the rest were all plain ol’ dedication plaques. Boring.

Just as I got started in a conversation with the National Park representative for the De Anza trail, Don came and brought me over to be photographed with an elderly couple that I’d never seen before in my life. It turned out that the man had been involved in the adobe’s renovation a few decades ago, had written a history book about the Murphys in Sunnyvale, and was bursting at the seams with historical information. We sat down with them in the shade and listened to their stories, which I think made both our days.

They had just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary!

When Don got to talking about GPS units, I excused myself and went back to talk to the De Anza National Historic Trail lady. There is no one single guide to the plaques and Markeroni is only just starting to get together a grouping, so it was quite fun to compare notes. I even got a new stamp for my National Parks passport!

Across the road the Fallon House (home of former mayor Thomas Fallon) had also been made available for tours. This had been recently renovated and its plastic wrap removed. Docents guided us around the features of the home, an impressive Victorian residence with ornate decoration in every direction. One of the docents was a little old lady from Hounslow, an area of London near Heathrow Airport.

I liked the simple two-room adobe, with its natural air conditioning, much better.

Just a few random posts

• 01 August 2002 (0)
• Old fishery (2)
• Some more mountains (0)
• Email from a tent (0)
• Smoky Weaverville (6)

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