California Dreaming

Sorry for not posting in a while…what can I say, we are having a really great time and I’ve been too tired in the evening to write and edit images.

Our first stop in California was Crescent City in the northwest corner of the state. Crescent City borders the Redwood National and State Park. While there we took a six mile ride on a dirt road through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. It contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. Some places were especially narrow and there were lots of twists and turns where only one vehicle at a time could get through. I was really surprised that two-way traffic was allowed there. I saw redwood trees on a previous trip, but this ride was spectacular, particularly when the sun was streaming through the trees. I am still in awe of how incredibly tall these trees can grow. My pictures do not justify the beauty and enormity of these trees.

 Driving between the redwoods

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Pete and Simon by a redwood

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While in Crescent City, we also drove along the rocky shore and saw the Battery Point Lighthouse which became operational in 1856. I learned that Crescent City was hit by a tsunami in 1964. I also read an eyewitness account by the couple who occupied and were the curators of the lighthouse when the tsunami flooded the city. They were in the lighthouse and watched as the wall of water rushed toward the city. They thought the tsunami would demolish the lighthouse and that they would perish, but the water parted as it hit the point and flowed around it and into the city. You can read more about the lighthouse and the tsunami at:

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=58

 River near our RV Park

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 Battery Point Lighthouse

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Rocky shore of Crescent City

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When we left Crescent City, we headed for a glorious week in Napa and Sonoma. We stayed in Petaluma as we had done on a previous trip and drove to Napa or Sonoma each day going to wine tastings, winery tours, wine pairings and restaurants. We determined early on that we could only handle two wine tastings a day and still be able to drive safely back to Petaluma. We found the cost of wine tastings to be higher than they had been in the past, but the amount of wine poured had increased as well. We visited wineries and tasting rooms we were familiar with as well as some we had never heard of before. All were very educational experiences and very enjoyable. We also returned to some of our favorite restaurants and found some great new places to dine.

 Champagne Flight tasting with cheese,

fruit and nut pairing at Domaine Carneros

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 View of Domaine Carneros Winery

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 Great restaurant find in Sonoma called

The Girl and the Fig

Veggie Panini and Seasonal Salad

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 Complimentary cheese, fruit, nuts and bread at

The Girl and the Fig

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Heirloom tomato, watermelon, feta cheese and herb salad

at The Girl and the Fig

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 Kendall-Jackson Winery

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 Vineyards at Robert Mondavi Winery

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 Wine tasting at Robert Mondavi Winery

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 Dining room at St. Francis Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Event

Five courses paired with wines

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Smoked Duck Breast with Beluga lentils, honey-ginger

eggplant and pickled Antohi peppers at St. Francis Winery

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 Fresh Strawberry Granita

Elderflower Panna Cotta, Compressed Peaches and Pistachio Lace Cookie

at St. Francis Winery

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When we departed Petaluma, our next destination was Anaheim and a visit to Disneyland. We traveled for two days and stopped along the way at one of Pete’s favorite wineries in Lodi called Michael David Winery. They make Earthquake, Seven Deadly Zins, and a number of other wines that Pete and our son-in-laws enjoy. They also have a great little café on the premises which is where we had lunch that day. 

 

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Mozzarella, Basil

and Balsamic Dressing at Michael David Winery Cafe

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Our stay in Anaheim had its ups and downs. Visiting Disneyland was an up and something I have wanted to do ever since I was a little girl watching the Mickey Mouse Club on TV. We had a very enjoyable time at Disneyland which was not very crowded. We were able to get into many of the attractions without having to wait in long lines. The parade was great and we attended a number of musical performances; jazz, marching bands and singers. Our accommodations at the RV Park, however, left much to be desired. It wasn’t the fault of the RV Park but the fact that a carnival was taking place across the street from the RV Park. There were hours of loud music with heavy bass vibrations that lasted until 10:00 each night. The carnival began the night we arrived and ended on the last night we were there. Talk about poor timing!!!

 Disneyland all decked out for Halloween

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 Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue

near Cinderella's Castle

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 Horse-drawn rail car on Main Street

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 Dalmatians couldn't be found anywhere in

Disneyland, but guess who was there?

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Not sure if this was Chip or Dale with Goofy

in Mickey's Soundsational Parade

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We left Anaheim with all its city noise, traffic, concrete and pavement behind us and began our trek east as we headed for Arizona. After driving for several hours through the desert, we found a little oasis of an RV Park along the Colorado River in Blythe, CA. The dogs even had green grass to pee on!

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Next chapter, Arizona! Hope I get to "Take it Easy" and stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona...Eagles style!