7.12.11 Mendocino, CA - The drive to Mendocino from Jedediah State Park was beautiful and harrowing. With moments of driving through beautiful stately old Redwood groves with crisp, clean air and a leafy canopy to treacherous turns and switchbacks along the 22 mile stretch of California Highway Route 1, we kept our eyes on the horizon to keep the dizzying heights from claiming our lunch. We arrived in Mendocino in the late afternoon and took a quick toole around town. Quaint names like Chocolate Moose Cafe and Creative Hands Gift Shop were on every corner. It was the same quaint Victorian town, set on a Northwestern California Coast cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean that Bobby and Clair remembered from their trip 13 years ago following Clair's friend Darilyn's wedding.
The State Park was 2 miles from town, down on the beach road with courageous outcroppings of rock posing in the tide for the Pacific waves to crash and dance around. Our campsite was interesting, initially very unlevel and way up in the woods. Mugsy worked her magic yet again and we were relocated to a perfect spot 100 yards from the beach inlet - albeit a COLD beach inlet! We managed to all dip a toe, finger or foot into the Pacific Ocean without taking a full dunk - it was quite close when a few waves came barreling in! Dinner of the infamous pesto and pepperoni Dutch Oven pizzas was hailed by all as overwhelmingly delicious and a good night was had by all.
7.13.11 Mendocino to Napa - A bit chilly morning with the Northern California fog keeping visibility to naught. Grammy was coaxing the sun to come out with great success by wearing her capri pants and insisting it would be warmer. We meandered up to The Mendocino Hotel for a most amazing breakfast of pancakes, french toast, dungeoness crab eggs benedict and omlettes then wandered around the picturesque town to shop and find some unexpected surprises. As we all know, Grandpa's favorite pasttime is going shopping. Oh no, wait. That seems to be a mistaken identity play on words! He doesn't like "sale-ing"...he likes "SAILING!!" So, with sale-ing on the menu, Grandpa and Grammy were quite delightfully surprised to sit in on the Mendocino Music Festival practice session for the Opera and several pieces from Carmen. A casual browse through Bookwinkles Book Store, pictures around town and the Joshua Grindle Inn along with the colorful abundance of wildflowers, several quaint gift and toy shops, finishing off with chai tea and lattes from Moody's Cafe and we all had fabulous new memories to add to the plethora we've had along the way.
7.13.11 - Napa - We thought the curvy roads were done....then we headed west to Napa, down in the Valley. Wine, wine everywhere! Lush green rows of green vines cascaded one after the other as we ambled along Route 29 into the Valley. Literally hundreds of wineries dot this verdant landscape as the winery roadsigns resemble an out-take from "The Wizard of Oz." Our campground was Skyline RV Park, which on first glance, was quite rough around the edges...but, no bear-packing, hot showers and one new, clean bathroom saved our sanity. Evening for the kids was movie night with Harry Potter's 6th episode. Dinner was leftovers that first night - chili and beef burgundy, along with impossible mac and cheese (we needed a microwave!).
7.14.11 Napa - As the mist rolls into the Valley in the morning, it brings with it a damp chill that leaves the bones wanting for heat. A hot Grandpa breakfast of eggbeaters and brown-n-serve sausage filled the bill and warmed us through til the sun caught up and burned off the dancing mist. Laundry filled the scene as folks headed out for $5 loads (whew!). Long about 11am, Clair's wonderful dear friend Darilyn from Medical School and her 2 yo daughter Micala drove out from Sacramento to pay a visit. Such a long-overdue and heartfelt reunion set the tone for another wonderful reunion at lunch with Sally's (Grammy's) cousin Betty and her daughters Sally and Sue. Betty and Sally moved to Walnut Creek a few years ago from CT and it was a wonderful reunion. All 14 of us had the most fabulous lunch at Angele, a French Cuisine Restaurant along the Napa Mill Section of shops. French, though it was, the Carolina BBQ was a hit for the kids. CC enjoyed the exquisite Fruits de Mer - prawns and octopus - yum!
A gaggle of us rented bikes in Yountville at Napa Valley Bike Tours to experience the vineyards in a different venue and it was a breathtaking experience....actually, quite breathtaking as we headed up the last hill! Bobby and Kendall on the tandem, Alexander, JJ, Andrew, Clair on hybrids and Darilyn pulling Micala in her "caboose" brought up the rear. We ambled through rolling vinyards and rotated bikes with JJ, Alex and Bobby pulling the caboose as well and Clair and Kendall on the tandem. One quite hilarious moment of Clair and Darilyn on the tandem left them laughing to the point of almost running into a rose bush! Darilyn's expert stearing skills saved them from a prickly path. We all headed back to camp for a pot full of pork sausage spaghetti and Micala playing "catch" with the kids. A full moon, bright as the sun, lit the night when Clair saw a ?wolf/coyote/stray dog? after a midnight run to the restroom. A chilly night at first...thank goodness for the Yellowstone heater!
7.15.11 Napa to Yosemite - We said goodbye to Napa this morning after a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, cereal and yogurt and a "stock-up" trip to the grocery store and fuel stop at Starbucks. Currently, we are headed to Yosemite National Park for a 3 night stay. Back to bear country but the National Park "state of mind" will be like a warm blanket following a few nights at a private park. A wonderful adventure is in store!
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