The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1941-06-05

It finally happened, after all these
long weeks of anxious waiting; my
name appeared on the list of those
who were to go on the convoy to
Laguna Beach. All together there
were 10 Of us to go and after get
ting up earlier than usual on Sum
day morning and going to church,
we left Camp Ham at $3.50. Going
southwark on Highway 1916 the con-
voy passed through Perris and at
N. Elisinore we took Highway "a
to make the climb over the steep
Elsirore Mountains. The climb was
steep and treacherous and there
fore the most extreme care was
used in driving because just one
little slip would cause a terrible
accident. The road kept winding
around and back and forth and
after getting up a little way one
could see the traffic down below
him We reached peak of 1855
feet and at that particular point
one could look out over the whole
valley seeing the many beautiful
orange groves and Lake Elsin-
ore. After getting over the top we
followed the San Juan valley out
of the mountains and af-
ter a time the valley began
to widen out and orange grove
upon orange grove could be seen
along the highway. At 1890 we
came into the town of San Juan
Capistrano and this is the place
the song when The Swallows
Come Back to Capistrano" was
written about, and the old Spanish
Mission is supposed to be the par
ticular spot where they come back
to. After about three more miles
of driving we travelled for eight
miles more along some Of the pref
test country I've ever seen. There
were beautiful houses and cottages
all along the shoreline and at this
early hour Of the morning many
swimmers could be seen lounging
around the beach. We arrived at
South Laguna and Travelled about
two miles before the central part
Of the town was reached but fin
all at Hoo everyone got off and
were at liberty to do as they pleas
until 400. In walking around town
there was one thing that was very
noticeable and that was that al
most everyone regardless of age
was walking around in a bathing
suit and also were barefooted. The
natives Of the town could readily
be picked out as they all had a
deep beautiful suntan which would
be the envy Of almost anyone.
Upon going down to the boardwalk,
which runs the length of the beach,
and the very sight of them would
make the heart Of any water-lover
jump with anticipations of SWIM
ming. All along the boardwalk
there are Restaurants, souvenir
shops, recreation spots, and all
other sorts Of stands and places
of business. We then wandered
northward along the boardwalk
and on the north end of the beach
the walk goes up a small bluff
which overlooks the whole Of the
beach and part of the town. A
little farther to the north is the
famous Victor Hugo Inn which is
a very beautiful building surround
ed by seas Of flowers. It is really
something to see, the flower gar
dens, the beautiful rocklined paths,
and above all the Inn itself. Inside
there is a spacious cocktail lounge,
a DINING room, rest room and
numerous other places. There are
pretty hostesses that wait on guests
and every courtesy is shown to one
who visits the place. Turning back
towards the beach itself the thou
ghts of swimming in the nice cool
ocean overcame me and before
long we all had on our trunks and
were laying on the hot white sands
of the beach. The sun was terrific
ally hot and the ocean was the
only sight of any kind of relief at
all. Now the hardest part about
swimming is, I think, is getting
wet for the first time. AS I was at
the ocean the easiest and quickest
way to do that was to stand under
a big breaker and let it splash all
over our body which would hap
pen all Of sudden. Seeing a big
six-foot breaker coming in I dash
ed down to the water to be in on
it but that is where I made my
mistake. The breaker broke right
on me and from that point on the
ocean had me. The terrific impact
of the water rolled me over and
over, my head and face scraped the
sandy bottom, my knees were hump
ed, my wrist was sprained, and I
will swear to this day that my
nose was broken. The force of the
water has subsidized and I was just
getting my bearings when the
undertow from the breaker began
to pull me out to sea and struggle
as I might the water was too
much. Finally coming to my feet
and with a stomach full of salt
water staggered out of the ocean
and Topped down on the beach en-
tirely exhausted. After about half
an hour of rest the urge again
overcame me but this time I met