San fran, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge

We took a trip to a new salon today with plans to also take a boat to Alcatraz, see the Golden Gate Bridge and see some of San Francisco. We really like the open feel of this city and will no doubt return at some point. After lunch at a local tri tip legend we boarded a boat to Alcatraz. We debated taking the night time tour and maybe next time we will, this time the sun served us well.

Our visit to the “rock was guided by former guards and inmates and was the most real, unchanged, unmanaged sight we have seen thus far. The conditions at the Rock were clearly based on survival and control both of which were challenged several times by the country’s most famous and dangerous criminals. The escape featured in the movie was, as portrayed unreal in its complexity. Who knows if these men made it but to make it to the roof was incredible. We had the opportunity to go into the “hole” in the D block, the pictures might give an indication of the size and darkness but in less than 2 min’s, with the door open, was some of the most anxious moments we can remember. It is a rock as described, 1. 5 miles from the city, it is intense and utterly shocking to stand in.

The Golden Gate Bridge was also awesome. We have both seen suspension bridges and they are amazing, this one clearly takes the cake. We hope the pictures from the boat ride to Alcatraz, from the rock and on our trip over it give you an indication of its splendor. Reading about its construction is up to you, it is no doubt an impressive story, someone will have to tell us before we research it, why the Golden Gate bridge is red?

The city was simply comfortable, airy and warm, hope you like the pics.

Love you all,

Sanoma Valley Wine

Wine country...Missy...free time...seems like a recipe for trouble. Here we go...........

We entered this trip by making our first big mistake and ended up pulling the fifth wheel through some non RV roads at 10 MPH around 9o degree curves through the woods, around the mountains and down the coast in fog. We got off that trail as soon as possible, endured some scolding from my mother and are better planners for the experience.

I have to tell you all it was a total new experience for both of us and less fru-fru than I thought it would be, just classy. We visited three major wineries, Kendall Jackson, Blackstone and Chateau St Jean. At Kendall Jackson we spent a couple hours doing a private wine and food pairing and while it was exquisite it was also very educational about the art of wine and food.

Blackstone was short sweet and fun but the crown jewel was Chateau St Jean where we chose to do their private reserve tasting.... Just amazing to gain an understanding of the top tier wines and how the complex flavors interact with food.

If you love wine this area is awesome, I hope to be able to convince Missy to leave at some point.

San Fran next

Pacific coast hwy and Redwoods

We write is entry from just north of San Francisco, the heart of wine country. Could be trouble we will let you all know in the next post.

The drive down the OR coast and northern CA. coast line has been spectacular at times and very intimidating at others. The cliffs are amazing as are the views. On this portion of the trip we spotted several more whales, one was flat enormous. We also stopped at the sea lion caves, the largest natural sea cave in the world and while the lions we not home we did spot one on the rocks. We were both more excited to leave the caves then to enter them.

Finally, we spent the day in the Ave of the Giants Redwood forest. Those are some big, tall, old trees. The oldest we saw was estimated to be between 950 and 1,000 years old, 363 ft tall with a 53.2 ft circumference.

More in a few days

All about Amy

Anyone who knows Amy really well, knows how much she LOVES the ocean…This is all about her, and oh by the way….she is so connected with pa… hope it comes out in the pictures. Love ya Missy

Depoe bay Or

Holy crap it is cold here! Now that I have that off my chest, let me also say that the last few days on the Oregon coast were historic warm temps...for them. The first day we were here was the second day this year over 70 degrees. What they neglect to mention is that it is 70 degrees when the sun is out and 53.2 degrees when the fog rolls in. We won't even discuss the nighttime temps! We stopped here to take a breath for a few days and it has been wonderful.

The campground is the only one in this area with beach frontage and we were lucky enough to be right on the beach. While here we saw several Grey Whales and many Harbor Seals. The first whale we saw was referred to by the locals as a "juvenile" and was as big as our truck, awesome. The seals were just watching us watch them and just out of reach. It was kinda as if they were thinking...how does it feel?

Another great experience

Mt St Helens

We almost passed on the trip to Mt St Helens, we had heard about it on the news when we were teenagers and just were not sure. Well between Ranger Todd's animated presantation, the views and the very well done movies at visitors center 1 and Johnston ridge we were very glad we went. We left the mountain with not only a new understanding of the volcano but as Ranger Todd stated in his presantation of the events leading up to May 18th 1980 a "feeling of being small and insignificant".

Anyone can research the eruption and the months leading up to it so I won't write a book. The shear size of the movement of earth and the velocity and distance rocks flew is just utterly shocking. In one of the photos you see Missy's hand by a rock to show the size. This rock flew five miles at 600 miles per hour to arrive at Johnston ridge. In another photo you can see the fallen trees and braced behind the hill dead but standing trees. These trees are 10 miles from the mountian and were simply blown down in the rock storm that had temps of up to 650 degrees. Hope you like the photos.

Heading south now in hopes of warmth and whales