Along the Pacific Coast of California

We headed West from Napa and started our way up the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). Unfortunately, several parts of the highway were restricted and we were too long to take the 1, so we moved to the 101.  These are pics from North of San Francisco along the highway.

It's a mystery to me, I can't figure out where they put the other leg!

So there's a crab and a bird in this pic!

Harbor seals, What a life!

Egrets.

This is a redwood: I think the sequoias were prettier.

I didn't expect clover on the forest floor.

The Eel river was very dry.  It is so strange to see the impact of the drought in this area.  

The blackberries were abundant and we stopped to pick them several times.  What a treat!

The dry eel river.

My fascination with bridges continues.

In Napa, California

We had the good fortune of catching up with our friends John and Liz Wenner in Napa.  They opened their home to us, and blessed us with their company over the course of several days.  Liz, a chef and wine educator, stepped in as our personal tour guide.  We had a wonderful time seeing the area, learning about California wine history, and enjoying time with friends. Liz and I took a cooking class while John and Mark solved the world's problems.  We had a wonderful week!

Mark was our designated driver while John, Liz and I tasted.  I think you can see the legs on this glass! 

Mark is 5 days into the vacation beard.  Distinguished? 

The grapes are just beginning to turn from hard and green to purple.  This point in the process is called veraison.

The vine and branches metaphor took on new meaning for me as we toured the valley.  The primary vine can be preserved for many years. The branches can be pruned back, or new ones grafted in while the primary vine remains as the main source of all nutrients and support for the branches and clusters of fruit. Christ was compared to the vine: the source of all that makes us bear good fruit.

Liz works for Caymus: home of award-winning cabernets and a very fine zinfandel.

John Wenner, is an expert negotiator, distinguished real estate instructor, and a fine man.

Liz Wenner is an accomplished wine educator, chef, future Culinary Institute of America student, and a gracious and caring friend.

A peek around the corner in the Caymus winery.

I was mesmerized by the rows of grapevines that were everywhere.

I rarely saw weeds along the highways: there were wildflower plantings and rosebushes between the vineyards and the road.

A drive through wine country

So many grapes, so many wineries!  The Napa valley and Sonoma county are home to many small family enterprises.  Wineries top the list but there are also olive farms, breweries and fruits and veggies everywhere.  There seem to be hundreds of limousines: ready to take wine tasters from one tasting room to the next.  There were several outlet malls, they seem to be busy.  We traveled from Petaluma and wound our way East to Napa.  We landed in a wildlife reserve for the night.  

Wineries in every direction! 

With dry grassy hills as a backdrop, farmers carefully plant, cultivate, prune and test their grapes.  

I was surprised to see breweries tucked in with the wineries.

The phrase "I heard it through the grapevine" has more significance when I see how these vines intertwine.They appear to grow together as a unit over time. 

New vines

Entering the city of Napa

When you eat outdoors, you just never know who might come by for a taste!

The RV park is part of a wildlife preserve and county park.  I just happened upon this horse and thought it was beautiful.

Caught her!

So funny!

This little girl was in a hurry!

In San Francisco, it's all about the bridges

San Francisco is so popular that people wait in line and pay 6 bucks to get in!  There is a crazy amount of traffic everywhere.  The city is one of my California favorites: the architecture, the bridges, seafood and sourdough, and of course, the people watching.

I now believe that there needs to be a national ez-pass that works on all bridges and toll roads.  Each geography seems to have its own and in order for us to have one for every toll we would have our windshield covered in stickers!  So, at $6 a car, how much do you think this bridge makes in a year? Bloomberg says that 270,000 cars pass over the bridge in a day, you do the math!

This is the San Francisco Bay Bridge. I like this pic because you can see the old bridge in the background. (as it is being dismantled)

Crossing into the city from Treasure Island.

Looking down one of the side streets.

Waiting to cross the Embarcadero: note the 3 days of vacation beard.  (more to come on that!)

Coit tower and the Occidental building

I didn't know that heaven was in San Francisco, but I'm certainly glad to know it has a chocolate region!

Boats! A few more than lake Minnetonka...

For my sis who made some awesome donuts as her high school job!

Alcatraz, the Rock, whatever you call it, an interesting place to visit.  I hadn't realized that you could see it from San Quentin also! 

Random flower pic: don't know what they are, but hoping they'll grow at home.  They were so pretty and the colors were so striking.

People loaded the pier to watch the sea lions.  The people were much more entertaining than the sea lions!

A liberty ship, the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, is docked here and open for tours.

People, food, shopping, wax museums, cool breezes, boats, and more, provide the backdrop for an afternoon at fisherman's wharf. 

I couldn't resist: he was hiding from me behind the colorful kites and windmills.

Reflections and transparency

A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the San Francisco side

From the Sausalito side of the bridge

The bridge at San Rafael reminded me of a roller coaster.

The light and color variations were so interesting from inside the bridge.  Unfortunately, I could not get out of the car and stand in the middle of this thing to take pictures, but not a bad view from the passenger seat!