Left lovely Bodega in the warm sunshine this morning. Drove gorgeous 2-lane roads through lush, green dairy country. Tiny newborn lambs and goats to smile at along the way. Stopped in Petaluma and did a walking tour of some of their well-preserved 19th century buildings. Then plowed south, through the thickening clouds, over the Golden Gate Bridge (fun!), through town, and on home as the day got darker and darker. Bracing for a "robust winter storm" as the weather advisory called it. We decided we shouldn't risk staying ocean-front at Half Moon Bay with projected 20-40mph winds and 1-3 inches of rain coming. We did OK early in the week in hail and pouring rain and just didn't want to deal with it again. Muddy paws are no fun.
Had a very nice time at the state park boondocking, even though we almost drained our fresh water and battery very quickly. (We have a lot to learn in re: conservation tricks.) This morning's excitement was two-fold. Julie was cooking breakfast while Lisa showered. Julie decided to open the screen door and some windows because the bacon was heating up. Just as I opened the door, the smoke alarm went off, causing Nick to bolt out of the coach. I had to choose: chase scared dog or stop the alarm. I chased the dog. Poor sopping wet Lisa is left to wonder why the cooking food and alarm were abandoned.... All turned out fine, after a few moments, and our neighbors said they didn't even hear it, when I apologized later for the wake-up call. (They had their own kitchen tragedy to deal with. Both of us were on our maiden voyages. They blew up their coffee pot all over their trailer....)
So, we're back, unpacked, ready to clean the coach. She's filled with diesel and propane for our next trip in March, which will be Southern California: Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park (weather permitting), et al. Gotta use our National Parks pass some more before it expires in May ;-)
Boondocking in Bodega Dunes
To conserve on power (we are boondocking--no electricity or water-- for next 3 days!), posts will be brief....
Today was deeeeelightful. Sunny 65-70 degrees. Traveled 2-lane, wildflower-lined roads back down through Napa Valley to Napa proper. Stopped at Oxbow Public Market (like the Ferry Building in S.F.)--all organic, artisanal farmers and producers of cheese, wine, chocolate, beef, seafood, etc., etc. Picked up provisions for next 3 days in state parks. Now, that's roughing it.
Then headed west and back up Sonoma Valley, with all the wild mustard blooming amid the still-dormant trees and vines, to Santa Rosa and the Charles M. Schulz Museum, completed in 2002, and a real joy to visit. A few photos of the enormous art (the black and white mosaic is made of 10 years worth of strips!):
Lunch was at another Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives recommended place: Willie Bird's. Famous for its turkey, and boy was it delicious. Turkey club had turkey ham, turkey bacon, and thick, sliced turkey on whole wheat. Mama Bird was turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on whole wheat. Yum. Leftover club for breakfast tomorrow, we think...
Then we drove due west over winding roads to Bodega Beach and the Sonoma Coast State Park. Gorgeous, virtually empty. The sun is setting now, the charcoal is firing up, the wine is chilling, and it's just smells great here--green-green new grass from all that rain + fresh beach smell. Throw in the sound of the foghorn and you've got a nice spot.
We have been watching DVDs (and even a movie from Netflix over the Internet) this week. Love our big TV, but in order to conserve power, I think it's reading/card playing time!
Not sure what we'll do tomorrow, as we're here 2 nights, but we'll figure it out. A very long walk may be in order, although dogs aren't allowed on the dunes here ;-(
Today was deeeeelightful. Sunny 65-70 degrees. Traveled 2-lane, wildflower-lined roads back down through Napa Valley to Napa proper. Stopped at Oxbow Public Market (like the Ferry Building in S.F.)--all organic, artisanal farmers and producers of cheese, wine, chocolate, beef, seafood, etc., etc. Picked up provisions for next 3 days in state parks. Now, that's roughing it.
Then headed west and back up Sonoma Valley, with all the wild mustard blooming amid the still-dormant trees and vines, to Santa Rosa and the Charles M. Schulz Museum, completed in 2002, and a real joy to visit. A few photos of the enormous art (the black and white mosaic is made of 10 years worth of strips!):
Lunch was at another Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives recommended place: Willie Bird's. Famous for its turkey, and boy was it delicious. Turkey club had turkey ham, turkey bacon, and thick, sliced turkey on whole wheat. Mama Bird was turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on whole wheat. Yum. Leftover club for breakfast tomorrow, we think...
Then we drove due west over winding roads to Bodega Beach and the Sonoma Coast State Park. Gorgeous, virtually empty. The sun is setting now, the charcoal is firing up, the wine is chilling, and it's just smells great here--green-green new grass from all that rain + fresh beach smell. Throw in the sound of the foghorn and you've got a nice spot.
We have been watching DVDs (and even a movie from Netflix over the Internet) this week. Love our big TV, but in order to conserve power, I think it's reading/card playing time!
Not sure what we'll do tomorrow, as we're here 2 nights, but we'll figure it out. A very long walk may be in order, although dogs aren't allowed on the dunes here ;-(
Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about...
The rain finally stopped at 4:30 AM this morning, hallelujah! We're watching the sun set behind the mountains now, after a lovely day doing everything we like to do:
--leisurely departure in the morning (left by 9AM)
--shopping trip to a Sacto-area Camping World that was on our route (who knew how excited one could get about various and sundry RV accessories?)
--gorgeous drive up Napa Valley to our lunch destination, Taylor's Automatic Refresher, which we'd seen reviewed on TV and which TOTALLY lived up to its reputation as the fanciest hamburger ever: Niman Ranch-raised beef (yum), organic everything else. You've never seen a wine list like THIS at a drive-in burger joint (well, you've probably never seen ANY wine list at a burger joint): read the menu here
--delicious and fascinating wine-tasting session
--wonderful campground experience
Now to explain the details. Here's our lunch destination's sign (with one of the gajillion wineries in the background):
Even cooler is going to Taylor's in an RV. There is only outdoor seating--picnic-style or in your car. Very chilly today and only a few tables had heat lamps over them. So, we got our order to go and enjoyed it inside the RV, where we had our own ketchup ;-) When the food is SO good, I forget to take pictures. Best patty melt ever.
But that's not all the wondrousness of the day. We kept driving up the Valley, past every famous winery you can think of, to our 1:30 appointment at Schramsberg. OMG. The best champagne (and most beautiful caves). We tasted the same champagnes that have been served by every U.S. president since Nixon. Nixon actually was the guy who made them famous, by taking 13 cases over to China with him. Since then, the Carters, Fords, Reagans, Bushes (both of 'em), Clintons, and we hear Obamas (but the photos weren't up yet) serve this yummy, tiny-bubbled nectar of the gods to their guests (like Queen Elizabeth). We were the only 2 people on the tour--one of the joys of traveling both off-season and in the middle of the week. What fun. We bought one champagne and one amazingly tasty (and pricey) Cab. Not sure what occasion will call for the opening of either, but we had to take one of each home. If you're intrigued,
check this out.
Then to cap off the day, we checked into our online-reserved campground. We were, at 3:30PM, the only ones here ;-) with no one in the office. A bit creepy. But now (at 6PM) there are 4 of us here, which feels better. We parked and took Nick out (he has serious cabin fever with all the rain) and walked into Calistoga to purchase a bottle of wine for dinner. We are in Napa, after all, and must have something local....
Nice hour-long walk, which we all needed and enjoyed. This is the first campground we've stayed at where we could walk to attractions. Love having another "first."
--leisurely departure in the morning (left by 9AM)
--shopping trip to a Sacto-area Camping World that was on our route (who knew how excited one could get about various and sundry RV accessories?)
--gorgeous drive up Napa Valley to our lunch destination, Taylor's Automatic Refresher, which we'd seen reviewed on TV and which TOTALLY lived up to its reputation as the fanciest hamburger ever: Niman Ranch-raised beef (yum), organic everything else. You've never seen a wine list like THIS at a drive-in burger joint (well, you've probably never seen ANY wine list at a burger joint): read the menu here
--delicious and fascinating wine-tasting session
--wonderful campground experience
Now to explain the details. Here's our lunch destination's sign (with one of the gajillion wineries in the background):
Even cooler is going to Taylor's in an RV. There is only outdoor seating--picnic-style or in your car. Very chilly today and only a few tables had heat lamps over them. So, we got our order to go and enjoyed it inside the RV, where we had our own ketchup ;-) When the food is SO good, I forget to take pictures. Best patty melt ever.
But that's not all the wondrousness of the day. We kept driving up the Valley, past every famous winery you can think of, to our 1:30 appointment at Schramsberg. OMG. The best champagne (and most beautiful caves). We tasted the same champagnes that have been served by every U.S. president since Nixon. Nixon actually was the guy who made them famous, by taking 13 cases over to China with him. Since then, the Carters, Fords, Reagans, Bushes (both of 'em), Clintons, and we hear Obamas (but the photos weren't up yet) serve this yummy, tiny-bubbled nectar of the gods to their guests (like Queen Elizabeth). We were the only 2 people on the tour--one of the joys of traveling both off-season and in the middle of the week. What fun. We bought one champagne and one amazingly tasty (and pricey) Cab. Not sure what occasion will call for the opening of either, but we had to take one of each home. If you're intrigued,
check this out.
Then to cap off the day, we checked into our online-reserved campground. We were, at 3:30PM, the only ones here ;-) with no one in the office. A bit creepy. But now (at 6PM) there are 4 of us here, which feels better. We parked and took Nick out (he has serious cabin fever with all the rain) and walked into Calistoga to purchase a bottle of wine for dinner. We are in Napa, after all, and must have something local....
Nice hour-long walk, which we all needed and enjoyed. This is the first campground we've stayed at where we could walk to attractions. Love having another "first."
Democracy in Action
Spent this very rainy day (it rained all night and alllll day) in the State Capitol. The morning was supposed to be training, but a legislative schedule change made the day much more interesting. The 300-400 of us trooped over from our training area to the Capitol to sit in on the Judiciary Committee's hearing for HR 5--the Assembly's bill to strike down Prop 8. We got to hear testimony for and against, and then almost an hour of public comment--pro and con. While there were a number of illogical and purely emotional statements on both sides, it was really clear that the Yes on 8 folks have no rational arguments. None. The Bible isn't an argument. "The will of the people" (a.k.a. tyranny of the majority) isn't an argument. And my favorite--"the legislature has more important things to be doing now" (a reference to our pathetically stalled state budget). How is that an argument? Oh, let's not deal with a civil rights issue right now. Too inconvenient. Maybe next year. Yeah, right. Sorry...our typical humor is missing on this topic.
The good news is that no one thinks that our marriage will be struck down (nor those of the other 18,000 folks). The issue at hand now is whether a simple majority vote can alter the fundamental rights of other citizens. We think that the legislature will do the right thing and pass HR-5 and SR-7 (identical bills to strike down Prop 8) and that the Supreme Court (on March 5) will also uphold their ruling from May of last year. But, boy, it's frustrating to have people voting, debating, and arguing about our very lives.
OK, end soapbox rant. We did play tourist a bit after our lobbying visit to Senator Maldonado's chief of staff (the senator was locked up--literally--in a senate session re: the budget)--
Here's Lisa waiting for her meeting with the Governator:
We were struck by how ordinary citizens can just truck around the Capitol building. Our group was everywhere, there were school groups lined up outside Ahnold's office for a tour, etc., etc. I mean, we the people DO own the building, but still, it's cool that it's so open and available for citizens. Got a few patriotic warm fuzzies.....
And the historic dome--very pretty (but not so much on the iPhone. I didn't carry my good camera out in the rain today):
Didn't do any other sightseeing after we were done at 2PM--too rainy. Our campground is flooded. Poor Nick is dying to chase a ball, but he has to turn into a labrador to do that here in the deep and wide puddles!
Off to Napa tomorrow AND the promise of sunshine (or at least just plain cloudy)--
The good news is that no one thinks that our marriage will be struck down (nor those of the other 18,000 folks). The issue at hand now is whether a simple majority vote can alter the fundamental rights of other citizens. We think that the legislature will do the right thing and pass HR-5 and SR-7 (identical bills to strike down Prop 8) and that the Supreme Court (on March 5) will also uphold their ruling from May of last year. But, boy, it's frustrating to have people voting, debating, and arguing about our very lives.
OK, end soapbox rant. We did play tourist a bit after our lobbying visit to Senator Maldonado's chief of staff (the senator was locked up--literally--in a senate session re: the budget)--
Here's Lisa waiting for her meeting with the Governator:
We were struck by how ordinary citizens can just truck around the Capitol building. Our group was everywhere, there were school groups lined up outside Ahnold's office for a tour, etc., etc. I mean, we the people DO own the building, but still, it's cool that it's so open and available for citizens. Got a few patriotic warm fuzzies.....
And the historic dome--very pretty (but not so much on the iPhone. I didn't carry my good camera out in the rain today):
Didn't do any other sightseeing after we were done at 2PM--too rainy. Our campground is flooded. Poor Nick is dying to chase a ball, but he has to turn into a labrador to do that here in the deep and wide puddles!
Off to Napa tomorrow AND the promise of sunshine (or at least just plain cloudy)--
Wind and Rain and Hail and . . .
We postponed our scheduled departure by a day to miss the "high wind warnings" (50 mpg gusts) of Sunday. Left this morning (Monday) during low winds (20 mpg!), but steady downpour. This rig handles like a trooper. We sit high enough that we're out of all the spray coming off the cars and we're heavy enough to not hydroplane. (We saw a bunch of solo spin-outs of cars and kept our speed slow but steady.)
Reached Sacramento by noon and attended the equality rally all afternoon. Saw famous and infamous alike--politicians ducked out of the all-weekend budget sessions to speak, entertainers (Margaret Cho and Wanda Sykes), Gloria Allred--one of the lawyers who won last year's Supreme Court case, etc., etc., etc. Cold and rainy, but we ended up getting a sun break towards the end. Brrr.
Here's my favorite sign: (to all you non-Californians, we passed one proposition imposing all kinds of humanitarian rules on chicken farmers and another proposition that wrote discrimination into our Constitution):
Spent the rest of the sort-of-sunny afternoon looking for an RV parking space for tomorrow, Tuesday (a work day), where we can leave Nick and go to do the actual lobbying work we need to do all day tomorrow. In our campground tonight, JUST got hooked up and Nick walked, then it began to HAIL like crazy. Glad we're safely inside and off the road. You can tell it was an Alaskan cold front....
Eager to do the lobbying and further the cause of restoring our Constitution to equal protection for all citizens, but also very excited to get out of the city and over to Napa, Sonoma, and the coast and some real camping this week. Weather forecast has been revised to bring sun on Wed-Sat!
Reached Sacramento by noon and attended the equality rally all afternoon. Saw famous and infamous alike--politicians ducked out of the all-weekend budget sessions to speak, entertainers (Margaret Cho and Wanda Sykes), Gloria Allred--one of the lawyers who won last year's Supreme Court case, etc., etc., etc. Cold and rainy, but we ended up getting a sun break towards the end. Brrr.
Here's my favorite sign: (to all you non-Californians, we passed one proposition imposing all kinds of humanitarian rules on chicken farmers and another proposition that wrote discrimination into our Constitution):
Spent the rest of the sort-of-sunny afternoon looking for an RV parking space for tomorrow, Tuesday (a work day), where we can leave Nick and go to do the actual lobbying work we need to do all day tomorrow. In our campground tonight, JUST got hooked up and Nick walked, then it began to HAIL like crazy. Glad we're safely inside and off the road. You can tell it was an Alaskan cold front....
Eager to do the lobbying and further the cause of restoring our Constitution to equal protection for all citizens, but also very excited to get out of the city and over to Napa, Sonoma, and the coast and some real camping this week. Weather forecast has been revised to bring sun on Wed-Sat!
Nick Likes the New Ride
Took Nick on an in-town errand to the DMV the other day. He adopted his November-learned position on the dinette bench seat behind the driver. Settled right in. We were only out for a little over an hour. He was very confused about the short ride....
Well, we're off this weekend for a week around rainy Northern California--Sacramento, Napa, Santa Rosa (the Charles Schulz museum!), and the coast.
Well, we're off this weekend for a week around rainy Northern California--Sacramento, Napa, Santa Rosa (the Charles Schulz museum!), and the coast.
Iowa to CA or Bust: 2300 Miles
Visual overview of the trip:
Mason City, Iowa
(Home of "The Music Man" author)
[no photos in Kansas City, KS]
Oklahoma City, OK
National Monument at sunset
A close-up on the awe-inspiring message carved into the stone gate:
The chain link fence tributes:
The chair memorial--one chair for each victim, inscribed with the name
[no photos in Albuquerque]
Arizona: Route 66 and Petrified Forest National Park
Mason City, Iowa
(Home of "The Music Man" author)
[no photos in Kansas City, KS]
Oklahoma City, OK
National Monument at sunset
A close-up on the awe-inspiring message carved into the stone gate:
The chain link fence tributes:
The chair memorial--one chair for each victim, inscribed with the name
[no photos in Albuquerque]
Arizona: Route 66 and Petrified Forest National Park
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