We began the morning by eating a fresh, tasty bagel & steel-cut oats breakfast compliments of Tom & Kristen. Kristen showed us some of the super-charming kitty-cat cards she’d designed with photos of felines + flowers, fixed and formed with nifty software. She gave us some for the road!

Shay and I enthusiastically took them up on their offer of attending Hollywood’s Farmers Market with them. We joined them to the many blocks of delicious fresh citrus (proof was in the samples), veggies, prepared foods, and jewelry. I walked away with some three pounds of tangerines, but later found myself questioning how quickly I’d be able to eat them, after having sampled from nearly every booth for blocks. (Oh well.)

We set out for our 20k walk to Pasadena just before noon– knowing we’d be able to make it there well before dark.

WILL THE REAL GEORGE THROOP PLEASE STAND UP?

I had entered into contact with George L. Throop III (I am George C. Throop IV),

Though I’ve never met another Throop who is not a family member, years ago my dad (George III) had met another George Throop III, President of the George L. Throop Construction Company in Pasadena, CA., after learning of him through their throop.com website. On my way to Mexico in February of 2007, Dad, my brother Ryan, and I all joined George for lunch before continuing through the area.

Funny coincidences: both George Throop IIIs were born in 1950; their George-Throop fathers were born in 1924; their sons Ryan were born in 1977. Unlike Dad, Pasadena’s George didn’t pass the name on to any George IV; apparently there was enough confusion within the family construction business, which has existed for over 80 years, over which office call was for which George. (As my paternal grandparents had lived with us for a while during my upbringing, I remember the triple-George confusion quite well.)

George is an incredibly nice guy. George and Marcia, his wife, invited us to dinner at Le Grande Orange, a classy restaurant in Old Town Pasadena.

After dinner, they showed us around town. We drove by Caltech, formerly Throop University, founded by Amos Throop in 1891. We stopped at the Throop Church, a Unitarian Universalist church, for a pic next to the sign.

They ultimately delivered us to the cute, cozy, fixed-up home of Carlos & Erin, our well-traveled, full-of-great conversation Couchsurfing hosts.

Parting with George truly did feel like parting with family. We promised to be in contact the following day– George was going to bring us a sack of oranges, and we’d stop by the business to visit him there and pick up the oranges.

Another great day complete; more to come…

George L Throop, pitcher for the 1979 Houston Astros.

George L Throop’s office displays the raw ingredients to the concrete off which his family thrives…

The evening we arrive to Pasadena, George L Throop & Marcia Throop, his wife, show us the variety of Throop fixtures around Pasadena, including the Throop Church!

We meet with George Throop the following morning, to say our final goodbyes before proceeding east from Pasadena.