Moving through California

  We have spent mid-March to mid-April moving through the sights and experiences of middle and northern coastal California, traveling much of the time on Route 1 and 101.  We have really enjoyed traveling at this time of the year.  The weather is chilly but the traffic is already picking up and we can't imagine what it will be like on these narrow, winding, rain weathered roads this summer!
Our first stop was in Castaic, CA to visit with Alan's high school buddy, Dan Gustin.  We had a lot of fun together and really enjoyed seeing the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium.  Great trip to the stars!  Thank you, Dan and Florence!

While in that area, we spent a day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  Lovely. It looks like a ranch house with big outdoor courts and a whole area just for Air force One that retired when he did.

A great day remembering a great man. 

 

Alan is considering his chances of running in 2020!

The view was amazing! 

The next stop was Paso Robles.  This area reminded us of the New York State finger lakes topography without the lakes.  Plus it is a huge wine producing area.  Hilly, grapevines everywhere, beef cows and sheep.  

Visiting Hearst Castle was like taking a step back in time.  The sheer magnitude and beauty of this amazing home took our breath away.  Sitting high overlooking the Pacific coastline, it is was so interesting to think of the many famous people that sat at his dining table and spent evenings in conversation as they played cards in the library.

the front room

the dining room

a sitting area

the Library

Hearst's collection of 3000 year old pottery.

 His office

There are so many more rooms to show and things to see....we enjoyed our time at Hearst Castle. It is truly magnificent.  It's a day well spent.  Below are the remnants of Hearst's zoo that at one time included many wild animals.  Today the zebras are the only ones left.  It's a funny sight to suddenly see zebra amongst the cattle roaming the hills of the Hearst Ranch.  

Another day we went to Ragged Point which is as far north as we could go on route 1 from the south. The winter rains in CA washed out the supports for the bridge ar Big Sur as well as parts of the road leading up to there.  So... 

 we drove as far as we could, met some interesting folks enjoying the views on a Sunday afternoon,

and saw the good sense in the closing the road along this coast.

Driving south on Rt 1, we visited the towns of Avila Beach after driving through Moro Bay.

Cayuccos Beach was so nice and they had a terrific

cookie factory! called  "Brown Butter Cookie Company" ...YUMMY!! 

It was fun to see this hometown success story and meet the friendly, helpful folks running it.

The local Kindergarten stops in regularly for a cookie fix!!  Right up my alley!

Then we were on to Pismo Beach and Grover Beach where we could drive on the sand right up to the water.  Sat by the sea and enjoyed the afternoon and the people kite surfing.

Moved the RV to Felton, CA to a RV park in the redwoods.  So beautiful and very tall! 

We went for a two hour train ride pulled by a steam locomotive up Bear Mountain.  It was an adventure and as we went deep into forest the trees seemed to grow bigger and the railway steeper.    An interesting time at the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad.

 Monterey Bay as we drove south to Big Sur area.  The bridge at Big Sur is out due to the rains, as  we said earlier.  We could only go so far but we enjoyed the trip!

 

Sea Otter Refuge Lighthouse, Big Sur

Point Pinos Lighthouse, Carmel 

Stopped in to check out the famous Pebble Beach Golf Club.

We saw sea lions laying in the sun and sea otters playing and diving in the rough ocean.

Another day we drove north toward Half Moon Bay.
This is the lighthouse at Pigeon Point.

The wild flowers this spring have been amazing all along our coastal trip.

 

 On to San Francisco area! We stayed in Rio Vista and met up with Ann's cousin, Andy, who first showed us Napa Valley.

The perfect ending to a fun day together.

V. Sattui Winery

Andy and his wife, Janet, welcomed us warmly.  We had a nice visit with them plus they had planned several fun things to do!  They lived and worked in San Francisco for years and took us on a tour of the city proper.  Fun to see it through their familar eyes.  What a beautiful city.

Lombard Street

Cable car 

San Francisco Bay

site of the 1915 World's Fair

 The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge

We also saw the Presidio, drove through neighborhoods they where had lived, the financial district, Sausalito, UC Berkeley.  Plus we attended the play "Beach Blanket Babylon", so funny!  And of course, ate at terrific restaurants for lunches and dinners.  Ending with a delicious brunch at the Olympic Club.  Thank you so much, Andy and Janet.  Your warm hospitality really made our time in San Francisco so memorable.  We enjoyed everything and appreciate all you did for us.  Family is the best!

 The last few days of our California journey, we headed for Cloverdale, CA for two days and once there, spent time driving up the coast, again on Rt 1, from Bodega Bay to Albion.

Historic Point Arena Lighthouse

Next we went to Eureka, CA for an overnight and onto Crescent City.  Then turned inland to go over the Cascades to Grants Pass.

Eureka has a fishing fleet plus tons of pleasure boats, cool to see them in this beautiful bay.

It was once a rich town and the early folks built these incredible Victorian homes.

The detail is still beautiful.

The shops quaint and full of interesting local items.

The next day was our last day in CA.  We drove the coast to Crescent City where DOT crews were working on the steep roads and cliffs....what a job!

Then up over the Cascades to Grants Pass, OR.

 

Our final travel day after two months, into Bend, Oregon and Mike!  A beautiful smooth trip down to Klamath Falls and then north to Bend.  The day was sunny and the snow was cleared off the mtn. roads.  It was a happy day and we were so glad to get to Bend late that afternoon!! 

Now we are here for two months, until June 15th.  Enjoying our time with our son and his friends and all this beautiful area has to offer.  In another few days we'll have been on the road for eight months.   Still having the best time and really loving what we're doing.  However, it goes without saying that by August, we will be glad to see central New York State and all of YOU!!  Enjoy the spring and early summer!