Sun, Surf, and Islands...

We took a day trip to the Channel Islands yesterday on another sunny blue sky day.  Took the Island Packers cruise to Santa Cruz and spent 4 hours hiking the hills and learning the history of these islands.  On the way, Ruthie spotted her first grey whale, shouted "spout ahoy" and got the attention of the all of the passengers (the boat almost tipped with all of the viewers on the front deck!).  We also saw more whales (all waving their tail fin as they dived) and schools of dolphins.

Once again tonight, we're camped only yards from the Pacific at Doheny State Beach; soon to be lulled to sleep with the sounds of the surf.  We will miss this once we head inland to the desert.  Something quite special to pull into a campsite along the highway, watch the sunset over the ocean, and then hear the waves in action.

Back at Jalama Beach, California

With our friends, Ray & Ann, we went back to Jalama Beach (yes, its pronounced "Halama"). We hoped for, and got a great campsite overlooking the campground and the Pacific.  We watched the surfers, the kite surfers, and the whole beach scene.  Couldn't miss out on the incredible lunches from the campground beach restaurant -- Jalama burgers and grilled 3-cheese and onion sandwiches.

Since we had left our surf boards at home, we chose the grueling horseshoes, where Ray handily beat Morey.  To get further cardio vascular workouts, we took long walks on the beach.  What a great place to hang-10!

Today we said our goodbyes and are camping at Hobson Beach. We are camped 20 feet from the ocean, with views of the Channel Islands.  Tonight we will sleep with the sounds of the surf.

We're back in California !!

We left NJ a day early -- SNOW was coming and our RV was waiting.  Took the bus to Phili, heading west......but then we detoured to Newark and flew out to LA.



So today its in the 60s and bright blue skies.

Glad to have been home for the holidays, see our kids and grandkids. 

After two months and over 12 inches of rain, our RV was aok and started on the first try.  Today we're filling the tanks, loading the refrigerator, and most important filling our wine cellar with fine California wine.

We're Home

Got home yesterday.  Left our RV stored in California until our mid-January reunion and our continued trip across the southern border of the U.S.

All is as we left it back at home; except for the dust that has accumulated over the past two months.  Went food shopping and restocked the refrigerator and pantry. Went through the mail -- amazing how many catalogs we've received and the constant barage of solicitations from the NY Times.

Now we're ready for family!

Big Sur to Avila Beach

We spent our last night "camping" in our RV along the California Coast Highway, Route 1.  Driving this road through the many hairpin curves was challenging, but quite spectacular.

Ending this leg of our journey at our friends, Ray & Ann at their new home in Avila Beach.  Back to sleeping "indoors" and enjoying the company as we tour this great area of the California coast.

Soon we'll be home for the holidays before coming back in mid-January to complete our journeys across the southern part of the U.S. and then Floriday and then back up to New Jersey by April.

From the Wine Trail to the Bay

We continued our tour of wine country, moving down to Sonoma, and then Napa Valleys.  On an absolutely beautiful blue sky Saturday, we biked past St.Helena and returned to Yountville.  Made our mandatory stop at the Oakville Grocery, and noted how much more crowded was the Napa Valley. 

Almost forgot to mention that we stopped back at Mondavi Vineyards, where we remembered that the last time we were there, as part of the wine tasting, they served smoked salmon on crackers between sips.  Sad to say, no more - - but, Morey was able to help direct the throngs of winees coming for a taste of their own.

Our special treat was dinner at the Ad Hoc restuarant where our chosen menu included tender and succulent short ribs, the freshest garden salad (from their own garden nearby), a cheese course, and a perfectly crafted apple crisp.  Words cannot describe how good it was!

After indulging in such a great dinner, we needed to work off some of the calories, so today we parked in Sausalito with our RV (challenging) and rode our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco.  Another beautiful blue sky day!!

Wine...Wine...Wine...Wine....

We are amazed at the amount of acres of vineyards...They go on and on and on.  And then of course, what does growing grapes lead to?  Wine!!

After leaving the Pacific coast after a nice stop in Mendocino and Eureka, we drove inland stopping first in the Russian River Valley.  Camped at one of Ruthie's favorite places, Lake Sonoma, built and managed by the Army Corp of Engineers {won't get political on the need for another division of our government to run campgrounds}, with incredibly great campgrounds at a bargain $10 fee.  We climbed on such steep roads that we lost half of our fresh water out the overflow on the RV, and then discovered that the campground had no water, "failed well". We managed aok.

We set out on our bikes on Dry Creek Road through the Russian River Valley.  A great ride through the mild hills through the vineyards.  After three stops with the tastings of the wine, we decided to call it a day.

Of course even more important than the wine tastings, is the great lunches and soon, dinners. 

We're now spending the next few nights in Napa where we will continue to bike from wine tasting to wine tasting, and lunch to lunch...

We did stop at the Jack London State Park in the Sonoma Valley, where we toured his home and writing workshop.  Remember "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang"?  Morey remembered how much he enjoyed reading his novels and short stories when he was in his early teens;

so yep, he will download on his Kindle some of the books he never read.                                                                                                                                   



Can't end this blog without a picture of Morey standing in front of a bagel shop in Eureka.  A pretty incredible place where you can get Rosemary-Parmesan bagels-- Maybe Morey should write his book, "Bagels of the USA".  Yes, I know Morey is NOT the food editor of this blog!