Mendocino May 2008

We decided to go on a road trip without the trailer and try out some pet friendly accomodations. Mendocino County is very pet friendly and we settled upon a cottage offered by Sweetwater Spa & Inn. The Inn is in the town of Mendocino, but this cottage was 3 miles south in Little River.


The Inn boasted cable TV and Kaya was certainly looking forward to it. Being satellite dish owners, we didn't realize that cable TV could be so snowy and hissy. At least the reception fit the old-timey TV that didn't have a remote. You'll notice the TV doubles as a wine bar.


Hey! How come Maggie gets the deluxe bed?????


Where are we going for dinner Bud????


The Inn provided dog towels for wet paws and sheets for "furniture jumpers" and some biscuits! We didn't need the towels or sheets, but the biscuits were a hit.


While in Mendocino, we took a walk right outside of town. It was still foggy, but really, really windy. The fog eventually disappeared for the rest of the trip. The wind, however, was with us the whole way.








A look back at town from the trail.


Flowers were everywhere. A really beautiful time of year.





A post-walk happy hour on the deck. It was nice and sunny, but still very windy. At least we had some shelter from the vegetation here.


We enjoyed a day of wine tasting in the Anderson Valley. We visited Goldeneye, Navarro and Standish wineries.

Vineyard at Navarro Vineyard and Winery.


Doggie rest break at Navarro.


All in all, the road trip was a hit with humans and canines alike. The dogs slept very soundly all three nights.

Bodega Bay February 2008

We ventured to Bodega Bay for a few days. It was our first time staying at the Bodega Bay RV Park. The weather was absolutely gorgeous - sunny, no wind for a couple of days, then foggy mornings with mild days for the rest of the stay. The park was very nice. We made reservations for Thanksgiving before we left.

We arrived on Friday, Feb. 8th and Ali and Ross joined us for two nights (9th and 10th). Bud and Ross enjoyed a 4-5 mile hike on Sunday morning through the dunes to the beach. See Ali and Ross' blog for pics of that.

The RV Park is right next to the Children's Bell Tower. This is a memorial for Nicholas Green, a 7-year old Bodega Bay resident who was murdered in Italy while on vacation in 1994. Nicholas' parents decided to donate his organs that helped seven Italians. The bells were donated mainly by families, schools and churches in Italy to express their sorrow and appreciation for their decision. The bell in the center was blessed by Pope John Paul II.



Some cocky pregnant lady with a ginger ale bottle. It sure looked like a beer bottle to passersby.


Snacks in the sun....


While Maggie enjoyed some quality nap time.


On Sunday we took a ride on the "scenic" route. After a loop on Bay View Road, on which Tippy Hedrin was filmed driving on in the movie "The Birds", we traveled to the little town of Cazadero. We hadn't been there for years. Found some nifty little tye-dyed fashion statements for the baby in the General Store, plus a much craved Hostess pie for the "incubator".

Then the adventure began... Having never been on Fort Ross Road, we traveled the 9 winding miles over the mountain. Below is a picture of the fog and ocean as we reached the top.


We made it to Fort Ross for Ross' first visit to his namesake. According to the sign below, it's May Tee Nee Time!!!! But first, we must play tourist...


The barely literate chomping at the bit to see the Fort instead of reading about it in the visitor's center. Ross, the literate, learned much more then these folks on this day.


The Eastern Orthodox Chapel at the Fort.


Picture inside the chapel dome.


View from one of the buildings.


Good Baby Bump picture.


On Monday after Ali and Ross left, we went to the Tides and bought a crab for dinner, then stopped by Gourmet Au Bay for a couple of wine "surfing" flights.

Nevada County Neighborhood RV Trip

December 14 - 17, 2007 - Seven couples (Lundquist, Hackett, Willoughby, Maxwell, Frost, Russell and Wilford) ventured forth to Nevada County and stayed at the Nevada County Fairgrounds with their RVs/Trailers for a festive weekend in Grass Valley and Nevada City. The fairgrounds have full hook-ups and served as base camp for the weekend.

We obtained use of a room that we were able to use for evening snacks and games and morning coffee get-togethers. The room had just been winterized, so with no carpet or amenities (i.e., bathroom), we enjoyed the heater and company and of course, dice.


On Saturday the 15th, we split up and ventured forth to historic Grass Valley to see the sights. Ten of us ended up in the same restaurant for lunch (Cirino's). Great food, but the service ended up to be a little terse. Still worth the visit.

Most of us then went to the Empire Mine State Park - the 3rd largest producing gold mine in the United States. Some of us took the docent led tour and learned quite a bit.


Brad, Roger, Diane, Martha, Mary and Cy enjoying the lecture.


Roger, Diane, Mary, Cy, Martha and Brad in the mine shaft. Quite awesome actually - pictures do not justify.


On Sunday, the Hackett's, Maxwell's, Willoughby's and Wilford's went for brunch at the Northern Queen Inn in Nevada City. Diane and Roger have stayed there a couple of times and recommended it. It was a wonderful brunch - great food and service. Beautiful grounds!






Next stop - Victorian Christmas in Nevada City. This is a very popular event. Such a cute historic town with great holiday spirit.

Martha, Mary and Diane checking out some booths as they set up.


Brad and Bud keeping warm. It was a little chilly!!


A bell ringing group from Sacramento.


Whoa!!! It's Father Christmas!


Holidays are not complete without Celtic dancers.


Here's precious Greta Lundquist enjoying her trip until.......

this mean old rooster attacked her, cutting one of her legs. A trip to the vet, some antibiotics and pain pills and Greta was more comfortable. NOTE - beware of roosters!!!!

37th Anniversary Day Trip - November 28, 2007

Seems like yesterday.......


For our anniversary, we decided to spend a day seeing some new sights. Bud saw an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge located off I-5, north of Williams and south of Willows. It was a clear, windy day in the low 60's - a good day for bird watching. Keep in mind that Bud and I aren't "birders". We do recognize some species like pelicans, sea gulls, hawks, herons, egrets, ducks etc., but mostly it boils down to "there's a white one and there's a black one".

There is a nice visitor's center where we met a very informative, chatty docent. We proceeded along the wetlands trail that has numbered stops with matching descriptions in the trail brochure.

This is a seasonal marsh, yada, yada, yada


Wood ducks, we found out, nest in hole in trees. In the middle of the picture below is a nest box for wood ducks. Boxes like this are placed to make up for lost nesting trees.


Pretty trees along the trail.


The refuge has a 6-mile auto-tour which turns out to be a wonderful way to see the birds. They are not scared off by the slow moving vehicles. On our walk, we sent quite a few birds into flight by our presence.

Bud looking at Snow Geese and Ross Geese. We saw this group take flight and return - incredible sight.


On a clear day you can see the Sutter Buttes....


More geese and ducks. We saw a blue heron at one point.




We then proceeded to the R.H. Phillips winery in Esparto. They also produce the Toasted Head brand. It was a winery we have been wanting to visit. It is a large, beautiful facility in the middle of nowhere. However, the tasting experience was less then thrilling (wine and the staff lacked the right stuff). Now we can say we've been there, done that, but didn't buy the t-shirt.

On the way home we stopped in Old Sac at the Rio City Cafe for drinks and our favorite appetizers - Ahi Tuna Nachos and the Cheese Loaf..... yum