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. 

Found my long lost cousins!!

Since our last blog we spent a week with my first cousin Lou and his wife Lorie.  They live in San Carlos, CA about 25 miles from San Francisco.  We haven't seen each other for years and really never knew them while growing up.   But it sure was great to re-connect.  They were very gracious host/hostess, opening their home for us non-stop for a week.   Both are excellent cooks (Italians....would you expect anything less?) and I'm sure we both gained at least 10 pounds.  

 They are in their early 80's and I should have as much energy now,  let alone when I reach their age.   They are always on the move with various interest and activities.   Lou makes silver jewelry and vases from antique silverware and succulent shadow boxes.   Lorie, while very active in the church, makes rosary bracelets, crotchets prayer shawls, chemo beanies and has an impressive aviary in the backyard.  

Me with cousins Lou and Lorie at their home.

Succulent shadow box

Lou hard at work making bracelets

Finished product

Lorie's new baby canaries

Lorie's brother Pete took us on a driving tour of San Francisco one day.   I am still amazed they build on the hills and the unusual architecture.  He showed us some of the most expensive homes, on streets now banned to tour buses.  Took a very scenic drive overlooking Alcatraz and Angel Island.   

A single residence, in the heart of the city, estimated at a value of over $50 million.
No big deal....we'll take 2!

And how can you talk about San Francisco without a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge?

We visited Fort Baker, a scenic army post that played a key role in the defense of the San Francisco Bay from 1866 till after World War II and is now in the National Register of Historic Places.   It sits on a hill with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the city.

Another afternoon Mark, Lou's oldest son, took us on a tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Our last visit to San Franciso area was in 2003 and we did not have time to visit the Aquarium, so it was a real treat. Not only did Mark take time away from his business,  he fit this adventure in between a trip to Phoenix for his neices graduation and a 2 week trip to Italy.  He visits the aquarium frequently and is a great tour guide.   

We took over 100 pictures, but these are some  of my favorites.
Moon Jelly Fish.

Flat Fish

A rare view of an octopus, who apparently hardly ever comes out.

Funny....the shrimp I eat never look like this!

And the fog rolls in over the bridge.   

Good-bye San Francisco.

My connection is vvvvvveeeerrryyyy sssssssssllllllllllllllooooooooooooowwww, so I'll blog our trip north to Santa Rosa to visit my other cousin,  Ines, Lou's sister, in the next couple of days.

Hope all is well.  

We have been in Chowchilla, CA., about 150 miles southeast of San Francisco, for a week.  There is not much going on in this town of 18,720, but it has some interesting history since it's first post office was established in 1912 and the city incorporation in 1923.   The good points are a really nice, clean Safe Mart grocery store 1/2 mile from the park and a Catholic Church only 1.8 miles away with very little attendance.   We spent one afternoon  exploring  2 wineries in Madera, a community about 15 miles south of Chowchilla.   Although it is not as well know as the Napa or Sonoma Valleys it has a wine trail of 10 wineries.   Although we had to buy a bottle of locally produced and distributed wine, the best purchase of the day were 2 bags of pistachios, also locally grown.    

We also ventured a trip to Yosemite National Park.   It is located about 80 miles northeast of Chowchilla, but it is a 2 hour and 10 minute one way drive.   All roads but the Tioga Road that runs the entire width of the park were opened.  The Tioga, still closed due to snow cover, does not usually open until late May or June.   Yosemite N.P., reaches across the western  Sierra Nevada and encompasses over 761,000 acres, 1189 square miles and is the size of Rhode Island,   but as the shuttle driver informed us most all of the  3.9 million annual  visitors only visit  7 square miles of the Yosemite Valley.

We picked the perfect time of year to visit.  There were enough people there to make it interesting, but not so crowded that you had to wait for shuttles, food service or in line to grab a picture.   Also the best time to view the massive waterfalls are in April since they are totally dry by summer.

As in most photography of natural wonders, pictures do not do it justice.   But here are a few:

Upper Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls, one of the parks easier hikes.  
Yes, we did get our camera back and yes, Ron is more trusting than I am! 

El Capitan, (7,569 ft elevation)  a vertical rock formation of granite monolith that extends about 3,000 feet from  summit along its tallest face and is one of the world's challenges for rock climbers.   We didn't see any the day we were there. 

Half Dome - a  granite dome,  extending 4,737 feet above the valley floor at an 8,840 feet elevation  is probably  Yosemite's most familiar rock formation, as shown on the state quarter and was the inspiration for The North Face corporate logo.  The view from the valley looks like only 1/2 the dome exists is an illusion.   To see Half Dome closer requires an 8.2 mile cable hike.   Needless to say we only viewed from the valley.

Half Dome later in the day engulfed by low lying clouds.

Bridalveil Falls

Tunnel View scenic overlook and historic site.    This overlook affords expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome.  

One of my favorite pictures.

One of the areas we wanted to see was the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.   The drive from Yosemite Valley was  just over 1 hour.   We arrived around 4:30pm  which we felt was too late for the 2 mile up hill hike to the grove so we only were able to view a few at the entry.   Starting in May there is a tram that takes you up to the top.....the only way to go for us.   We will just have to come back!    

Picture of the base of one of the "smaller" Sequoias.   We don't have the right camera equipment 

to get really good pictures of the full tree.  They can live for over 2,000 years and their trunks can reach over 25 feet thick. 

We will be leaving Chowchilla tomorrow heading for the San Francisco Bay area.   I have a first cousin that I've only met once before (I think) and that was several years ago.  

  He is very excited about our visit and so are we!

Hope all is well!

Are We in another State, Country or Planet?

We have been in sunny southern California since the first of April  attending a company conference.       But we are wondering if we have landed in another State or Country?    I usually buy water by the gallon and not the individual bottles, but I saw a case for a very good price at Walmart, so I grabbed them and proceeded to the check out counter.  Since I purchased only a few items I quickly realized the bill was a little higher than I expected.   In reviewing the bill I saw a CRV fee.   A what?    California Refund Value????    Well, come to find out it is a surcharge placed on all plastic, aluminum, glass and bi metal  items that will eventually end up in a landfill.   Ok….I guess that makes sense.   The fee is reimbursed if you take the containers to a recycling center…that’s probably not going to happen.

Then one afternoon we were running late since we tried to make some stops during our 1.5 hour conference lunch break, but when the low fuel light came on we knew we had to stop for gas.  So we rushed up to the pump, put in our credit card and was immediately asked for a pin number.   After trying this 3 times, I ran inside and inquired why  their stupid machine was asking  for a pin number when I put in a credit card. 

 Well, I was informed they only accept debit cards..and NO credit cards.   Shows you how often I use our debit card.  We also notice you can not lock the gas pump for automatic flow, you have to stand there and hold it the entire time.

I guess that's to prevent a spill - another environmental issue.   I'm all for protecting the ozone but when your in a hurry......

Welcome to California.  

  But, the Palm Desert area is beautiful with its wide boulevards, lush  landscaping and mountain vistas. 
We were pleasantly surprised after being so disappointed when we where in Palm Springs a couple of years ago.    We had to catch up on our taxes, laundry and organizing our conference notes (while I could still decipher what I wrote) we weren't able to sight- see as much as we would have liked.

Palm Desert located in the Coachella Valley, surrounded by the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto and
the Little San Bernardino Mountains

.  

Beautiful, lush grounds around the RV resort.

And some beautiful sunsets!

We left the Palm Desert area last Tuesday heading for Bakersfield, CA.  Bakersfield brags a 300,000+ population, but we haven't found much to see close by.    We did find a "pick-ur-own" family farm specializing in oranges, cherries and corn.  We had a late  lunch of Okie Fried Pie (Joan's choice) and Shepard Pie (Ron's choice).   Bought some homemade Peach Preserve, Blueberry Jam and Marinated Asparagus.

Entrance to Murray Family Farms.

Apparently they are famous for their Okie Fry Pies, so I had to try one.  
It was good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to have another.


We did spend a couple of hours geocaching one afternoon.   Although it didn't take us to any place too exciting, we did find 3 out of 4.  Which always makes for a happier Ron.  He hates when we go out for hours and find none.   I'm trying to convince him the fun is in the hunt and not the catch, but he hasn't bought into that theory yet. 

         

 We like the campground we are in,  which was designed around an orange grove.  They even give you a huge bag of oranges when you check in!   Some of the juiciest and sweetest I've every had.  

All the fruit has been harvested, but every time you step outside you can still smell the sweet aroma from the blossoms.

Surrounded by orange groves....I guess that's how they came up with the name of the park -
Orange Grove RV Resort.......original.

There are also  a few Olive Trees around the park.

Car temperature gauge on April 20th.   Time to start moving North!!!!

Hope all is well!