Sea Ranch Voyage

A few weeks ago, Linda and I went up to Sea Ranch for 5-days of relaxation. We did the usual things: wine tasting at Annapolis Winery, ocean watching, drinks and dinner at the lodge, Point Arena Lighthouse, Mendocino. It was a perfect holiday for two friends who just wanted some quiet time.

On our way up we stopped in Point Reyes Station and Bodega Bay for some supplies. I also made sure to pause at The Timber Cove Lodge so Linda could see Bufano's impressive Madonna of Peace.

We had a great little house - very cozy with a view of the ocean and easy access to all the bluff trails. Linda went for long walks every morning while I slept, but I did take a little walk of my own to Pebble Beach, near our house:

Sea Anemone!!!!

Exposed Barnacles

Love the Bishops Lace is all over the place.

Not sure what plant this is, but it is lovely.

Cedar fences give Sea Ranch such a nice vibe.

Beach Shwag

Then we had our day trip up the coast. First stop, Point Arena Lighthouse:

Alien Glass

We didn't hear the fog horn - no fog!

Then Mendocino, where we had lunch at the Mendocino Hotel before walking around town and doing lots of shopping (and I mean a lot of shopping!):

This is what I want my backyard bench to look like (when I get one, at least).

If I ever have a tank like this, I'm copying!

Every bookstore should have a cat!

In Gualala, Linda made me take photos of the dinosaures for Kathleen and, of course, we had to visit the local bookstore, The Four-Eyed Frog:

A big pup managed this bookstore (better a pup then no fluff at all).

One day we had planned to visit Fort Ross, but it turns out the place is closed during the week. Instead, we stopped at Stump Beach in Salt Point State Park:

In Sea Ranch I had to make sure Linda got a chance to see the "Witch's Hat" chapel:

As we left the chapel we discovered a little hitchhiker, but when we stopped for me to take some pictures of the Big White Barn, he hopped off.

Linda chillin' at the Lodge:

Twilight from our porch:

It was a great trip. Nice day trips, good food, great company, much relaxing. Linda's visit with me would have been perfect if we hadn't both come down with a bad case of food-poisoning when we got back to the city. We are both on the mend. I just hope Linda will still vacation with me in the future!

Hakone Saratoga Gardens

Today Abby and I drove down to Saratoga to visit the Hakone Japanese Gardens. It was a perfect day for such an activity and we got there just as it was opening, so there wasn't much of a crowd. This garden is different then the one in Golden Gate Park. It's a hill garden with stairs and paths that wind up and down a steep hillside. The bamboo garden was especially serene. I love the sound of the bamboo leaves when the wind blows and the light clunky noises the trunks make when they come into contact with each other.

I've posted the pictures to my Flickr account, so go there to see them all! Here's a few to whet your appetite.

I got a souvenir From the gift shop for my garden... Maybe he'll bring me garden prosperity.

 

 

And There Shall Be Lilacs

In the spring of 2014 I had to go up to Spokane for a small conference at Gonzaga University. I was staying downtown at the very elegant Davenport Hotel. I just so happened to check-in just a few hours before the start of the annual Lilac Festival Parade.

I haven't seen a true small-town parade in ages, so this was a real treat. It was a pretty long parade - I think over 200 entrants. I managed to watch about a third of it before deciding I'd seen enough cheerleaders, color guards, military representatives and cowgirls and was ready for a few cocktails in the hotel bar.

I took a ton of photos. A few are here, but all my favorites (don't worry, there are only about 22 of them) are on Flickr in my Spokane Lilac Festival album. Please be sure to check them all out for the full vicarious experience.

OMG No Way! Lilac fluff!

Seriously? Goggles?

Cowgirl!