Category: San Fran and SLT 2018

OK, I need to wrap this up.  Here goes.

My last post ended on the first full day all of us made it to South Lake Tahoe (SLT).

So, here are some more photos!

First up, I got up early Tuesday and went with Jay and Bob the Dog to the dog beach for a little walk.  It was a beautiful morning!

Then back to the hotel to clean up.  Went for a walk and saw this:

Then off on a little roadtrip to Fallen Leaf Lake and some places on the way.

These views are from a ridge we drove over on the way.  I didn’t even realize it was a ridge until we drove back over it on the way home.  It was a little intimidating having drop offs on both sides and no railing!

Kenn wanted to see what everybody else was looking at!

Next we made a stop at Angora Lakes.  It’s a cool place.  They have cottages you can stay in, and a cute little general store.  Very peaceful!  We had a little picnic there.

The big grey rock in the middle – lots of people try jumping off of it into the lake.  The sign below this photo shows some of the consequences of doing that

And here are some photos of Fallen Leaf Lake.  It was an epic drive to get there.  Single lane road but with two-way traffic.  Somebody was always having to pull over to let somebody else through.

The next day was supposed to be very windy so thoughts of doing a big hike were put on hold.  Jay, Carolyn, Bob and I went to check out the Rainbow Trail at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center:
https://tahoesouth.com/events/taylor-creek-visitor-center-ranger-programs-rainbow-walk/2018-07-01/

And then we hiked over to the Tallac Historic Site.  It was pretty cool!
http://www.tahoeheritage.org/events-and-programs-2/tallac-historic-site/

Check out this cool sink!  Look at the divider!

Next day Caroline and I went to visit the Vikingsholm.  You have to park up by the road and hike about a mile down.  Keep in mind we were at altitude.  The walk down was easy.  The walk up wasn’t real hard, but it wasn’t trivial!
http://vikingsholm.com/

Here are my photos.  First up are photos I took during the hike down.

The beach in front of Vikingsholm.

This is Selma the clock lady

After the house tour we hiked along the edge of Emerald Bay for a bit

This is the boat we had lunch on earlier in the week!  (I think I might have posted this already – sorry!)

This is another road on a ridge – another nailbiter!

Next day was a day at the Spa at David Walley’s resort
http://www.davidwalleys-resort.com/

We had a great day and then we had to leave the next day.

I drove back to the bay area – passed a wind farm

For the past couple years I was wondering why I always had to walk such a long way to get my bags, and why the terminal I flew out of was so small.  Now I found out – SFO had been working on a mega-redo of the terminal and now it’s open!

Kenn bids a fond farewell to SF!

Not sure where this was …

This was New Jersey, approaching PHL

So, that was my last trip.  I’m looking into the next one now!  Not sure what will be next – I found a bunch of options!

I guess you’ll have to get used to reading some ‘Random Stuff’ posts for a while :-).  Until then!

For the last week of my trip to Cali, I drove up to South Lake Tahoe where I was meeting a bunch of the guys I grew up with (same reunion as last year, when I went to Boise).

Stopped by to see my cousin Roanne’s house in Tracy – she and her husband have 40 acres, some of which they lease out, and she gave me a bunch of fruit and veggies to bring up.

Here is a photo of her house.  If you look closely you can see her in front:

Then on up to SLT – I needed a restroom break so stopped at Carson Pass.  Beautiful!

And then, I got to my room at the Hotel Azure!  We picked that hotel because it was right across the street from an RV park, where some of our group was staying

This is my view.  Not great, but you can still see Lake Tahoe!  It was also a little noisy, but it was a great room – good size.

Next day everybody else arrived and we had dinner at Jay and Carolyn’s RV.  Yum!

Next day we took a ride on a boat out onto Lake Tahoe.  Lunch was included.  It was a great day to be on the water!

Here is Kenn talking to Charlie on the bus ride to the boat!

Saw some parasailers!

Ship’s captain posing for me
Headed to Emerald Bay

This little island has a tea house on top.  It was owned by the same woman who owned Viking House (you’ll see what that is later)

The house in the middle is Viking House.  Build in the tradition of Norwegian Houses, designed by a norwegian architect.

The boat we were on used to be a corporate retreat boat.  It was pretty nice!

And then we were back at the marina.

I think I will do a ‘Part 3’ post for this trip – I have too many photos to still add!  Until then, dear readers!

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).

Kenn found some new duds to wear too!

Next day I did another long walk down the hill, but took myself out for breakfast and walked along the coast before walking back up the hill!

Last set of photos for this part of the trip!  This breakfast was delish!! (No, I didn’t eat the whole thing – I left some potatoes)

After this part of the trip, I headed to South Lake Tahoe for a reunion with the guys I grew up with.  I’ll save that for the next post …

Until then dear readers!