Summer 2012 - Day 2

The day started with a phone call to Rita's mom, to wish her a happy birthday. 

"Happy California Birthday to my favorite mother-in-law" (inside family joke)

Then we left looking for something for breakfast before going to InfoComm 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  We ended up at a Starbucks next to the Bass Pro Shop where Rita needed to get a few more things for her river trip.

 Just outside of Bass Pro Shop, inside the Silverton Casino was this huge salt water fish tank.

 . . . and just inside Bass Pro Shop, were DUCKs sitting under a waterfall.

We went to InfoComm, saw some of the new projectors, videoconferencing equipment, and tablets.  We did meet up with Dan and Paige for awhile, then headed for a late lunch at Bahama Breeze.  After a two hour lunch we went back to the hotel for a nap.   We did end up at Willie's and Jose for dinner in the park at Sam's Town.

Glenn's Dinner - Shrimp Cocktail and maragrita

Rita's Dinner - Flaunta and Enchilada Combo and a Corona (silly BOB)

From our seats we watched the laser light show ......

 Dancing with the goats (another inside family joke).

Summer 2012 - Day 1

"Our bags are packed, we are ready to go"

It is time to be on our way, first stop with be lunch with my parents at "RICK'S" in Phelan, CA, then to Vegas.

 

After a great and filling lunch of Club / Pastrami sandwiches and great conversations with my parents, we headed east.  We just parked in Baker, CA when "BOB" noted the temp outside . . .

"The Famous Dread Pirate Roberts" and BOB found us a parking spot at the Fresh Aliens Jerky store in Baker.   It has the best selection and best jerky (beef and alligator) around.

BOB found a bottle of BBQ sauce that my daughter Cory would love . . .

We got to Vegas and to our hotel, Sam's Town.  Met up with Dan Lauf and his aunt and parents for dinner.   It was great time.  After that Rita and I went to play slots, and Rita (with BOB's help) won $50 playing our favorite game, Lobster Mania . . .

Tomorrow it is InfoComm 2012 at the convention center, so until tomorrow night, C-YA

Swimming Day

After a great breakfast, we went down to the beach with coffee in hand.  

The tide was in, so in that it came within inches of the bottom steps on the bluff.  We wanted to get a better look of the big logs that were being deposited on the beach...

then ........

More later - signal low

Up the Coast

Cannot wait to be in Cambria again!!! This time I am taking "She Who Must Be Obeyed" with me.   We even packed our swimming suits!

Decided to take the I5 North to the California 46 West, that would give us a little time tasting wine in Paso.  On 46, we saw hundreds of these on either side of the highway.

We drove past all the wineries east of Paso and continued to "46 Farmstand" for a late lunch.  We tasted wines at Grey Wolf, then Midnight.  This was outside their door.

Then off to the organic winery "Pipestone".  On the way; turkey vultures were not letting us past, deer were watching us, and goats that need to be walked..........What a journey!!!!!

After buying a bottle of Zin for later, we headed to Moonstone Beach and checked in at the Fogcatcher Inn.  Then to the beach for the sunset....

Now off to Linn's for dinner then back to the room for Squaw Rummy.  

Cooking Weekend

I spent the weekend cooking for fun.  On Friday, I was hungry for soup.  I was wanting chicken soup.  Chicken soup with potatoes.  Creamy chicken soup with potatoes.   I just winged it with onions, celery, carrots, Yukon potatoes, half of a roasted chicken, chicken broth, half and half, and spices.

I was told by my son that there was a little too much fresh black pepper.  I said NEVER.

On Saturday morning, my beautiful wife was hankering for cinnamon buns.  So had to go to the store to get yeast and cream cheese.  Forgot to put raisins (plumbed out with Cognac) in the buns, so I put them on top of some of them.  It was ready by lunch time.

 

This picture was before I put the cream cheese icing on them.

My daughter talked about Broken Lasagna so I made some for Sunday night dinner.  Made a red tomato sauce with mushrooms, onions, celery and carrots.  Rita picked the pasta.  I had ricotta cheese and a 3 cheese blend from Trader Joes.

It was yummy.

Wonder what I will make this week?????????

Day 5 on the Road - the way Home

I hope not to "Lose my Heart in ...." today.  Woke up with wicked leg cramps - hot shower helped a little. Packed up and went outside - it was sooooo foggy that I had a hard time finding Foggy.  After finding some coffee I did made it to the Golden Gate Bridge.   I did send you pictures of the bridge, but I did take a hike to one of the old forts and took these pictures.....

I then went over the bridge and took Highway 1 through Frisco down to Half Moon Bay.   The fog disappeared and I got to see the ocean...

Then I found the Pigeon Point Lighthouse just north of Santa Cruz (Go Fighting Banana Slugs).  All the out buildings are a hostel.

 I had lunch in Santa Cruz at an old drive-in then down the 101.   I drove through Paso Robles during the Harvest Festival (Hey Rita, I DID NOT STOP). I did get to Fess Parker to taste and buy "The Big Easy".  I thought of spending the night around there, but it was only 90 minutes till home.

I ended my little trip Friday night after 2000 miles of fun...   Where to go next time ????????

Day 4 on the Road

Did not get much sleep, people in the rooms on either side of me left their TVs on ALL night.  Too much noice, even for me.  Did laundry and ate breakfast in the hotel.  Here is something new, you have lot leave you room card in this spot to turn on the lights in the room . . .

Then I stopped in Arcata for memories for Cory and Dean.....do you remember......

 This is when I figured out that I had to go home instead of traveling around....I need to find a job and take care of getting the condo fixed so we can sell it and move.  Sorry Cory and Dean....Maybe for Thanksgiving.   I turned south and went to Loleta to get cheese...

and then I looked around the corner and found this.....

You can get it at http://www.drpepper.com/ or A&W BBQ Sauce at http://www.rootbeer.com/.  Then over the bridge and over the dell and off to Ferndale I went.  I did go up a hill and took this pix....

I then went to Garberville to get some bread for lunch and then to Richardson Grove State Park.  Once

again I was the only one in the park.   There was a note on the main gate saying that this park will be closed on 11/1/11,  I tried to climb onto of Wonder Stump - but I slipped off.  So I took this pix...

I then moved over to have lunch and took these pix,,,,

 "Ode to Fire Pit"
           Two thousand years ago these trees were planted
                    they grew slowly, reaching for the sky,
                    flood, earthquakes, and fires could not stop the reach to the heavens
           The trees were spared by the lumberjacks from the 1800s
                   and then came the automobile,  snaking through the trees,
                   I was installed in the 1950s, so that families can spend the night around my heat,
                   in the 70s, they moved the campsites, so I was there for the hot dogs and
                   hamburgers of the picnic,
                   in the 90s, no more picnicers, I was left to be with the redwoods,
           Now no one will use me for warmth or to cook their meals,
                   now time for me to return to the earth where I came, but
                   these redwoods will be here forever, and maybe,
                   they will remember me.....maybe"

I took a couple more pix while I was in the redwoods....

I then got to finally skip a rock on a river (the Eel River)

Once on the coast I found another lighthouse

I then turned to Highway 1 and drove through Fort Bragg and Mendecino...

Look at all the Sea Otters in the water, watched them for a while.....

Then dinner at Tex Wasabi in Santa Rosa.   EARTHQUAKE 4.2 - 50 miles away.  Here is what I had (Jackass Roll, Tootsie Roll, and Was-n-Roll roll) ...

Off to the hotel for blogging and sleep....The only thing I know about what I am doing is going over the Golden Gate Bridge in the AM....Stay tune to fine out.

Hugs,  Redwood Foggy