Our Visit with Cousin Ines

We went non-stop the week we spent with my cousin Ines.  She lives in Windsor, CA in the Sonoma Valley area.    She put a great itinerary together for us and we had a great time.   We visited the Korbel Champagne Cellar, the Armstrong Redwood Park, Raymond Burrs Vineyard, Quivara Winery,  Bodega Bay and Charles Schultz Museum.  The highlight was a bus tour into San Francisco featuring the city 150 years ago.   We saw the oldest Missions and residences and ate lunch at the oldest restaurant – The Clam House. 

Ines is a great cook so we ate and ate and ate……boy do we need to join Weight Watchers.

We got to meet her daughter – Annie and her husband Sam.   Annie designs jewelry and sells at the local farmers markets.   We spent a few hours at the Windsor Farmers Market, saw a Chinese tea demonstration and of course had to make a few purchases.

Armstrong Redwood State Park

Armstrong Redwood Park

Colonial Armstrong redwood.  306 feet in height, 14.6 diameter and over 1400 years old.

Burl - a growth usually caused by stress.   The largest burl at 26 feet occur in the Coastal Redwoods.   When moisture is present, these burls can grow new redwood trees.

Bodega Bay

I could sit and watch the tide all day long!

Children's  Bell Tower

The Children's Bell tower dedicated to children everywhere.   Inspired by the death of 7 year old Nicholas Green from Bodega Bay, California, who was shot by highway robbers in Italy in 1994.   All the bells were dedicated by churches, schools and families of Italy to express their sorrow and appreciation to Nicholas' parents who donated his organs to seven Italians.    The centerpiece is from the Marinelli Foundry which has been making bells for the papacy for a thousand years.   This bell which has the name of Nicholas and the seven organ recipients 

was blessed by Pope John Paul II.  

San Francisco Tour

Mission Dolores Basilica.   

Mission Dolores has always had a central place in the religious, civic, and cultural life of San Francisco. Misión San Francisco de Asís was founded June 29, 1776, under the direction of Father Junipero Serra and is both the oldest original intact Mission in California and the oldest building in San Francisco. Today, the Mission Dolores Parish comprises both the Basilica and the Mission

We saw alot of neat architecture on the walking tour.

Had a great lunch at the oldest restaurant in SF.  The Old Clam House.  Their signature is offering a warm glass of clam juice before the meal.     Food was good - clam juice Ron liked, I didn't.

Can you talk about San Francisco and not include the Transamerica Pyramid??

Or the Golden Gate Bridge - celebrating it's 75th  this year.

As the fog rolls in every afternoon.   Is there a bridge in there?

Charles Schulz Museum

Santa Rosa, CA

Who knew - although Charles Schulz was born in Minnesota his last studio was built in Santa Rosa in 1969 where he remained until his death in 2000.   

Full wall mural designed by Yoshiteru  Otani composed of 3,588 ceramic tiles or about 10 years worth of daily comic strips originally published between 1956 and 1988.   Otani hand selected each strip to compose a secondary scene of Lucy holding a football for Charlie Brown

A close up of the tiles showing the individual strips forming the shape of Charlies head.

Cousin Ines sharing a friendly moment with Snoopy.

You will find several of Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters lining the streets of downtown Santa Rosa.  


We had a great visit and feel very fortunate we can visit family and friends while experiencing special places.   We love the RVing lifestyle!!


Hope all is well.