Day 24 - On the lake

Today started with a tour of Big Bear Lake on a pontoon boat. The tour was fantastic but the fishing not so great... our excuse...? Too many boats on the lake this weekend!!

This weekend is a long weekend in the USA as Monday 28 May is Memorial Day, a day to honour fallen defence personnel who have died in the line of duty (very similar to our Anzac Day).

Memorial Day began in the United States on 30 May 1868, after the Civil War had ended. Flowers were put on the graves of both sides, in order to help heal the nation. It was later expanded to include all men and women who had died in America's wars. It is now celebrated on the last Monday of May.

Big Bear is a popular place for Southern Californians to spend the long-weekend and the valley can often expand to over 100,000 people. Just to give you an idea of what a 'holiday' town Big Bear Lake is, around 70 per cent of the homes here are holiday homes - only 30 per cent are occupied by full-time residents!

This afternoon we went 'rafting' with Big Bear Rotarians - this a great concept where everyone goes out on individual boats and then gets together on the lake and ties up to create a big floating raft. Every boat brings different drinks and nibblies and it really becomes a big party raft. As a team, we all managed to visit most of the nine or 10 boats that made up the raft... including a special visit to a truly unique vessel... the SS Relief!

Thank you Big Bear for looking after us Aussies so well. While we are a little sad to say goodbye, we are looking forward to our Palm Springs adventure.