Coffee, Chocolate, California

We checked on Google Maps, and the distance from 91711 to Nevada City said 7 hours and 11 minutes. We took the slightly longer route up the 99 and with a stop for gas and lunch (which we ate in a cemetery next to the gas station), and made it in 8 hours.

Coming home was a different story. We wanted to make better time, so we opted to take the 5. I'm not sure why it took 9 hours to get home, but maybe it was the few stops we made. The first was for gas in Auburn where I spied a Dutch Bros. coffee. Lynn had never heard of this Pacific Northwest chain, so we had to try it out.

Then we had to stop at the Ghiradelli Outlet just south of Stockton on the 5. I know that we did not spend an hour there, but we sure had fun.....

Nevada City

Sierra Fiddle Camp is not all work and no play (and really, all the work IS play - literally and figuratively). On Thursday afternoon we had free time. Many people went down to the Yuba River, some went down to Shady Creek. A Prius-ful of women took a little trip into Nevada City (in California), just 12 miles from camp. One of the original Gold Rush towns (like nearby Grass Valley), this place has retained the charm of yesteryear. We spent several hours in the shops and drinking coffee and asking each other, "What tune is going through your head now?" 

Looking down the main drag

This building reminded me of New Orleans architecture

As seen on one bumper in Nevada City

Beach Day!

Today was a day for the beach! Turns out that we are more inclined towards Orange Co. beaches than LA Co., and one beach we've recently discovered is Treasure Island - a Laguna Beach City Beach. After a stop at 85C for our favorite iced sea salt coffees and some breakfast burritos from the Penguin Cafe, we took our blanket and NY Times and set up shop before the heat of the day and the crowds of people.

Before too long, however, a group of teens with several photographers came by for some kind of photo shoot, and since they planted themselves directly in front of us, I thought I would have my own little photo shoot. There seemed to be one girl who was the center of attention (and she changed clothes a few times....) and at one point they threw her up in the air.

Some of the beautiful tide pools at this beach

I thought that the colors of the ocean were particularly lovely today.

One of my many pelican photos. I love watching them fly in formation. This angle does not look like any kind of formation, but they started out in a V.

The Pacific Ocean

We love the Pacific Ocean. Here are some ocean photos from our spring break trip.

I like taking photos of birds in flight. Here is one of gulls flying over the ocean near Cambria.

I love the way the sun makes the sea sparkle on the sand.

Duh.

Here are elephant seal pups lounging on the shore near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.

We also love tide pools.

Pipestone Vineyards

Spring Break Trip - Day 4

Last Saturday was the day to start wandering home from the central coast, and I had it in my mind that I wanted to visit Pipestone Vineyards just outside of Paso Robles, one of California's wine regions. Through the Carleton network, I knew that this winery was owned by Carls who were there when we were (even though we didn't know them at the time). 

Pipestone is tucked away down a small road, so you have to know it is there to find it, although if you have the address, the GPS (or the directions on the website) will get you there with no problem. 

From the website: "Pipestone Vineyards is a small family winery with a dedicated history of sustainable farmingand producing handmade Estate Grown Rhône-style wines from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, & Viognier and a dry farmed Zinfandel. Jeff Pipes and Florence Wong use draft horses, organic methods of pest-control, and feng shui in their farming practices.

We arrived just as the tasting room opened up and walked in with our Carleton gear blazing, so Florence knew immediately that we had a connection. We started chatting and getting the wine glasses set up when another group came in. Turns out that three of those four were also Carls, so we had a nice gab-fest and figuring out how we were all connected. Oh, yeah, we tried some nice wines, too....

An hour and a half later, we walked out with 3 bottles of wine and new friends. Too bad that Jeff wasn't there. Maybe next time...

Hearst Castle

Spring Break Trip - Day 3

The last (and only other) time we toured Hearst Castle was back in 1997, during the pre-digital camera years. I looked through the photo albums and saw that I took about 4 pictures of the famous landmark then. I made sure to remedy that this time around.

Last time we took what I remember as "Tour #1" which was recommended for first-time visitors. I think they have revamped their tours. It seems that the tour for newbies now is called the Grand Rooms Tour. That one was sold out by the time I looked online the day before our tour, so I chose the Upstairs Suites. It also seemed to me that the Grand Rooms Tours had about 30 people in their groups, and our group had about 10. 

What struck me this time (and perhaps it was mentioned the last time I was there, but it didn't really take) was that William Randolph Hearst was an obsessive art collector, and the Castle (or the Ranch as he called it) was really a personal museum meant to showcase his collections. 

My favorite rooms this time were the Gothic Suite (Hearst's own bedroom suite) and, of course, the library. I think it is time to rewatch Citizen Kane....

The girls at Hearst Castle, July 1997

View of the Castle from the Visitor Center.

The library used by visitors to the Castle.

The ceiling in the Gothic Suite. There are three other such panels.

Lampshade from Medieval Music in the Gothic Suite.

The private library

The front.

H's favorite room. I think he particularly liked the light and the view.

San Luis Obispo

One good thing about a road trip is that going from point A to point B has opportunities for nice stops along the way. We've only driven through/by San Luis Opisbo before, never stopping to check it out. We decided to spend a few hours in this college town on our way up to Cambria - a delightful stopping point. Before we left home, I had downloaded a series of podcasts to take a walking tour of the historic downtown area, and we took the opportunity to listen to these little gems while driving up the 101. If you decide to do the same, just know that these podcasts have little video as well as audio, with historic and modern photos for each segment. Actually, you can see them as youtube videos, as well.

I didn't take any photos of the used bookstore that we enjoyed, but H bought a book with various walks throughout Paris for future reference.

The Court House

Mission San Luis Opisbo (Opisbo means bishop)

The original Carnegie Library, now the History Center where we talked to one of the docents who was a Scripps alumna

The creek that runs through town

A small, free art museum

The Wineman Hotel

The Ah Louis Store

Just outside of town is the SLO Botanical Garden, a little gem of a place. There is no charge during the week, but we would have gladly paid the $3 entrance fee if we had been there on the weekend. While H took great interest in the various plants, I was especially enamored of the various art pieces throughout the landscaping - some of it for sale. What a great way to combine several different interests which go so well together.

We also drove through the campus, but I didn't take any photos there. It's tucked into the foothills above the town.

Two-Tank Touring

I seem to recall a column in a paper (LA Times?) recommending short road trips called One-Tank Touring. Having just returned from a short jaunt up California's central coast where we used up more than one tank of gas, but fewer than two, I preferred the alliterative title of this post to the more awkward One-and-a-Half Tank Touring.

Anyway.

Last Thanksgiving when we went to Death Valley National Park, I was all set to declare that we had been to every National Park in California. A little fact-checking led me to realize that we still needed to get to the Channel Islands, because going to the Visitor Center in Ventura does not count as having been in the park. (Pinnacles has recently been upgraded from National Monument to National Park status, and we have been there, so I am counting that in my list.)

Hoping for good weather, I booked our boat ride to Anacapa Island, the smallest and closest island of the chain. Although the morning started out a little foggy, as it is wont to do on the ocean, the sun soon broke free, and we enjoyed beautiful skies and warm weather for the day.

This is a view from the boat as we approached Anacapa. The boat ride takes about an hour. The arch rock is the signature landmark for the Channel Islands. 

Bird droppings could also be considered a signature landmark for the islands.

Here is the boat landing site. Once you disembark, you must climb 153 stairs to the top of the island. Once on top, it is fairly flat and easy to traverse the 2 miles of trails which loop around in a kind-of figure 8.

Western gulls rule the island. Right now they are scoping out their territories for nesting. 

My favorite ocean birds are brown pelicans. I love watching them fly in formation. These guys nest on the middle of the three islands of Anacapa and you can sit and watch them fly over in formation after formation as though you are sitting under an airport approach. Our guide told us they are nicknamed the Anacapa Air Force.

Here is a view from Inspiration Point. A perfect place for a little picnic. You must bring your own provisions and pack out all trash.

At the opposite end of the island from Inspiration Point is the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast - 1932.

Here is a lovely spot for viewing - Cathedral Cove.

The coreopsis are blooming all over the island now, giving the effect of a yellow carpet.