Back in Cali Again – Part 1

Went on another 2.5-ish week trip to Cali – half for getting my parent’s house ready and half for fun. I stayed with cousin Beanie again and got some workouts in by walking the mile down and back up to her house – whew!

Here are some photos:

Here’s Kenn waiting for our flight to board

Saw this in the trash can in the airport ladies room – ha ha!

View from the front door of dad’s house- that’s my rental car – a Hyundai Tucson – same car I had when I drove from LB to Santa Fe!

Next day I went for a hike with sis to look for a filter thingie for her camera that she had dropped previously. We didn’t find it …

Stopped at the Mountain House after the hike for a drink and a snack.

Neil Young filmed his video for Harvest Moon at Mountain House!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVi0UvFu8Yo

Next day Beanie and I went to San Francisco to have lunch with her mom. After a very filling lunch we felt the need to walk some calories off, so we found some stairs near Auntie Donna’s house to walk. Kenn came along too!

Next day we went to the Half Moon Bay Distillery for a tour. It was pretty interesting. For one, vodka is distilled until it is 95% alcohol. That defines it as vodka. So, when some vodka makers advertise “Distilled 5 Times!” it has no effect on the quality of the vodka – it just means it took 5 distillings to get to 95% alcohol.

Also, HMB Distillery pours off the first xx gallons of distilled liquid because the first ones are very harsh. They use the pour off to clean around their distillery! Since they are a small batch distillery, what they pour off doesn’t amount to a huge loss. Other larger vodka makers may not do the pour off, and that’s why they are most likely less smooth.

Here are some photos. Kenn came too!

The distillery makes both Vodka and Gin. We got to sample both. Purissima Vodka is awesome!

Afterwards we walked around near the distillery

Then Beanie and I walked out to Mavericks – site of a big surfing competition in the spring.
Then we walked over to the fish market and got fresh ahi tuna and oysters. We saw this little guy (about 3″ total across) when we were walking.

And, I learned how to shuck oysters!

Next morning a walk down and back up. This sign is next to the El Granada Post Office

Then time to head over to the house to do some stuff. Afterwards we had Peruvian Food – this is a Pisco Sour decorated using bitters.

Next up was a day with my cousin Ted. We went to see China Camp, where he volunteers, and then we went cheese tasting in Marin County! First up, China Camp:

You can see where El Granada is, and Mavericks!

Then on to cheese tasting!

I’ve never seen wine in a can like this. It was pretty good!

Those are all abalone shells!

Somebody looking for a place to live …

Then it was time to head back. But took a little time to check out the Golden Gate Bridge!

I never walked underneath it before!

That night I had dinner with my high school friends. Passed this place on the way. Nice duds (?)

Next day, more sorting. Came across some of my old toys:

UPDATE: I thought this doll was Chatty Cathy but it is not- you pull the ring (left side of neck) and she talks. She still works!

Here’s the real info:
1961 Mattel Sister Belle the talking girl doll, 16″ tall, red stuffed cloth body with lower arms flesh colored and plastic painted face, yellow yarn hair with bangs and ponytail, battery operated pull string talker; she says 11 phrases: 1. It’s time to eat. 2. Let’s play house. 3. Sing me a song. 4. Please take me with you. 5. Is it bedtime? 6. Do you like me? 7. I’m glad to be your friend. 8. Will you play with me? 9. Let’s draw a picture. 10. I love you. 11. I think you’re nice., was wearing a cotton blue and white diagonal ^ striped dress with appliquéd red mittens on front, red short sleeve shirt and black cotton shoes.

This cracked me up when I found it – an old See’s Candies box that had an Easter Egg in it, that I turned into a horse barn for my toy horses (not sure where they were).