Jul 2010
WEEK FIFTEEN: WILD COASTS AND GIANT TREES
Sunday, July 25, 2010
CONTENTS
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Maxwell
Favorite Photograph - Enough Walking
RV Gourmet - Rene’s Classic Mojito
Camper’s Corner - Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: Redwood National Park
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
Stop: Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
Stop: Creekside Cabins & RV Park, Willits, CA
Stop: Ancient Redwoods Resort, Redcrest, CA
(with a quick trip to Vegas in between)
Sunday
Ocean-side Walk
Once again it was windy, chilly, and gray as Jan and I walked the Pups out of the park and north along the ocean. While I did morning chores and packed, we listened to a few holes of the British Open.
On to the Airport
Just like the Sunday before, Jan and the Kids drove me the short drive to the San Francisco airport and dropped me off at the terminal.
On to Vegas
My plane landed into 112-degree heat, the kind that grabs you by the throat and tries to wrestle you to the ground when you first go outside. A quick taxi ride and I was checked in to the Bellagio, an over-the-top hotel among dozens of over-the-top hotels in an over-the-top city.
Dinner at Nobu
Five people from my client company took me and a client of theirs, who was also a speaker at their meeting, out to dinner at Nobu, a high-end Japanese restaurant known for the high quality of their cuisine. They were correct! We had at least ten palette-tingling courses and it was all wonderful. Highly recommended (if someone else is paying :’>>>).
Back at the Bellagio, my dinner mates went to the tables or to the clubs while I went back to my room—one tends to get a little wiser with age. :’>>> I took a soaker and hit the hay early.
Monday
I spent the day training the salespeople of my client, a software company, on how to sell services. A long day but a good day. I ended it with room service and a tub.
Tuesday
Photo Fitness Walk
During my past visits to Las Vegas when I came from Florida, because of the three-hour time change I would be up and out around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m in the hope of getting some exercise and some interesting pics. This early morning time proved to be the golden hours for seeing strange sights in Vegas, as many revelers were returning to their hotels in various degrees of intoxication (and sometimes dress). I’ve seen many a scene over the years that I dare not publish in a family blog! However, since my biological clock was set to Pacific Daylight Time, I didn’t get out and about until 5:30 a.m. Alas, all was pretty quiet on the strip—I shared the sidewalk with walkers/joggers and service workers heading out to start their day.
Workshop
My training session went as planned, and the feedback confirmed it was a success. I had lunch, took a cab to the airport, changed into jeans and tennis shoes, passed the security ritual, and did some work while waiting for my flight. The air travel part of the journey went off without a hitch, and to save Jan an evening shuttle, I took a cab back to our RV park by the sea.
Wednesday
Half Moon Bay
After working all morning, the family loaded up mid-afternoon and went back to our favorite destination in the area, Half Moon Bay. We picked up Jan’s new friend Zephyr, and went downtown for a cup of tea. Zephyr is a very interesting person. She has lots of experiences to share, as she has led a long life (she was married before WWII) and is inquisitive by nature. For years she taught the art of Tarot card reading, and she explained to us the basics and the process the devoted follow. Interesting. The three of us took the Pups for a walk down by the ocean with everyone enjoying the setting and the company.
The Distillery
On our way home, a sign advertising a restaurant called The Distillery caught our eye. It was off the road but smack on the ocean. This place earned a reputation as a prime spot for Canadian bootleggers during prohibition. The dog-friendly patio had two big fire pits roaring with people and pups gathered round chatting away and enjoying the ocean view.
We struck up a conversation at the bar with Victoria and Greg, a good-looking couple of upstate New Yorkers who transplanted to California five years ago. Check out their picture with Peter, our bartender. The food was wonderful. Jan had a huge bowl of clams and I had the seafood sliders. Highly recommended. www.mossbeachdistillery.com/
Thursday
Life Is Golden
We had enjoyed our stay in the Bay, but it was time to depart the land of the chilly fog and constant breeze. By 9:30 we were northbound on Highway One with Jan at the wheel and me at the maps. Instead of taking interstates around San Francisco, we stayed on Highway One (19th Avenue) all the way through the city. Yes, there were quite a few red lights and heavy traffic in some areas, but it was interesting to see the neighborhoods and small businesses. We passed through a couple of tunnels in the Presidio before connecting with Highway 101 and leaving the peninsula via the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge. Through the light fog we viewed Alcatraz off to our right, and then drove by the beautiful Sausalito. After a few minutes, the sun broke through the haze and we continued up past San Rafael, Novato, and Petaluma in good moods, free from the constant overcast.
Change of Plans
We had planned to stay in wine country, so I called to confirm availability at a campground at the outskirts of Rohnert Park, strategically located in close range of Napa and Sonoma. However, no sooner had I hung up, when we both looked at each other with the same question: “Do we really want to stop?” We both acknowledged that we’d rather continue on—besides when you think about it, in California most of the state is wine country!
Through the Countryside
Therefore, I made some quick navigational changes. My plan was to turn west at Santa Rosa and head back to the coast. Immediately at that exit was something else we had been looking for, a fuel stop that carried diesel and was big enough for us to get around. Jan pulled around back and I jumped out to help direct her into the pump and also capture the image of one magnificent pup, Maxwell, guarding his dad’s car from the passenger seat. We fueled up and removed ten days worth of salt spray from our windshield. Jan made the tricky maneuver to get us out and back on to the highway, and we were soon back northbound on Highway One. After two miles, we headed west on Bodega Highway. This road took us through some beautiful countryside complete with an abundance of brightly-colored flowers and the greens and browns of the groves of trees that were becoming more prevalent the more north we traveled. We made our way through Sebastapol, Bodega, and then picked up our old friend Highway One at Bodega Bay.
Seaside Saunter
The trip north from Bodega Bay rivals our earlier seaside jaunt from Morro Bay to Monterey in beauty and surpasses it in turns—that stretch of highway has more curves than a Vegas showgirl. However, Jan has honed her big rig driving capabilities and took this challenging stretch with ease. We drove through the quaint, artsy town of Jenner, and hugged the coast past the historic Fort Ross, finally stopping at our place of rest for the day, Salt Point State Park. The ranger at the park station was a pleasant, helpful young woman, who said we could scout around and try to fit into one of their campsites, or we could easily pull into the large overflow lot and dry camp for $5 less ($30 instead of $35). Since we were only planning on staying one night, we thought the overflow lot sounded simpler and more convenient. It turned out to be a great choice! Just one other rig in this very big lot, and we had a full view of the ocean from the front and from the side.
Seaside Hike
With hardly anyone else around, we let the Kids run free and we hiked along the shore. For two hours we strode among the flowers, viewed the relaxing seals on the rocks, and watched the passing pelicans before returning to our home on wheels.
Friday
Early Shoot
Being ten feet from the trailhead that leads to the ocean five minutes away is a tremendous benefit to the person wanting to take pre-drawn photos. More sleep, less hassle, and the ability to wait until the light is just right before heading into the day. I was up early, prepared my camera gear, and sipped on strong black coffee while waiting for the ideal time. As I looked out from my chair, I saw and huge expanse of dark gray waters contrasted with the splashing whites of the rhythmic breakers. I walked along the trails in the misty morning, taking a few pictures as I explored the seaside, thoroughly enjoying the solitude. Before long, Jan and the Kids met me and we walked and scouted together.
Long and Winding Road
Soon BALY, our motorcoach, was lumbering along, heading north on Highway One. Slowly, we passed through Sea Ranch, Guatala, Anchor Bay, Pint Arena, Manchester, and Elk, Albion, Little River, and Mendocino. A park ranger had assured us that the drive north on Highway One would be easier than our travels in the past, however, he was wrong. We were met by a series of signs: “15 MPH Curve,” “7% Grade,” “Road Narrows,” “Road Work Ahead,” “Narrow Bridge,” 20 MPH,” “9% Grade,” “Slow and winding for the next 23 Miles.” When they said 15 miles per hour, they meant it. The road had more twists and turns than a Michael Jackson video.
Another Change of Plans
Hence, after averaging 20 miles an hour in challenging driving conditions we decided to call it a day early and pulled into a campground just before reaching Fort Bragg. Alas, they had no room for us, but the woman behind the counter gave us advice not to take Highway One north any farther, as it got much worse! Well, we could not imagine such a thing, but gravely accepted the warning as truth. I relieved Janny behind the wheel, and we turned east on California 20 for the 33-mile trek to Highway 101. The roads were almost identical to what we had experience the last couple hundred miles, but after a few miles the fog was replaced by sunshine and the chill replaced by warmth. Seven miles north of Willits we found a campground, Creekside Cabins and RV Park, and set up camp.
Saturday
North Again
It was a gorgeous day when we pulled out of our campground heading north on 101, also called the Redwood Highway in this part of the state. For the most part, this stretch of road was much, much better than what we had been accustomed to lately—hey, it was even four-lane in some stretches! Furthermore, the weather was perfect and the scenery was gorgeous. We enjoyed a wonderful drive through Laytonville, Leggett, Piercy, Benbow, Garberville, and Redway.
Avenue of the Giants
We took the Phillipsville exit onto the 31 mile scenic highway, The Avenue of the Giants. Holy Mackerel Momma! These are big trees! We slowly moved our big rig through the darkness caused by the shade from these huge redwoods. It was a zig-zag course with huge trees sometimes only a few inches from the road’s edge. Rays of sunshine blasted through holes in the canopy of leaves, emphasizing the contrast of the dark browns and greens with the brilliant light. We pulled over at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor center to see if we could camp there. They could only accommodate vehicles up to 33 feet, so we continued north on this trail of really big trees, oohing and wowing as we went. Highly recommended. www.avenueofthegiants.net
About seven miles further north we pulled into our new place of lodging, the Ancient Redwood Resort, just a little over a mile north of the village of Redcrest. After setting up at this brand new, big-rig friendly park, we had Ruebens and fries at the best restaurant in Redcrest (actually the only restaurant). Here we met the pup Jiggs, and we also checked out the redwood treehouse. Over lunch I studied the guide 101 Things to Do in Humboldt County and devised a plan for the afternoon.
Road Trip
Soon the four of us were in the car, starting on what I originally thought would be a two-hour trip. South of Redcrest but before reaching the state park visitor center, we turned west on Mattole Road and were soon in the 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest, home of many of the tallest redwoods on the planet, including the “Champion Coast Redwood” which is 370 feet tall, 17 feet in diameter, 52 feet in circumference, 1,000 years old, and weighing over 1,000,000 pounds. That’s a big tree. After walking over a creek and doing a little close-up exploring, we continued west. Eventually we were out of the woods and driving through the countryside. Luckily we were not driving the motor home, as it would have been quite a challenging experience, as now we were confronted with 10-mile-an-hour curves, loose gravel, one-lane bridges, big-time bumpy roads, and really steep inclines. However, the scenery made up for it. After an hour and a half from leaving the forest, we finally pulled into the town of Honeydew. I walked into the post office/general store and asked the locals the best way to return to our RV park. They confirmed there were three routes: back the way we came, or turn right, or turn left. After conferring with each other, the spokesman summed it up: “All the roads around here suck.” However, they all agreed that turning right was the most picturesque.
At this point I calculated that it might take us three hours or more to get back, but so be it. We turned right as directed and slowly made our way to another really little village called Petrolla. I knew it was a town as there was a sign. From here we angled northwest and were soon driving by the Pacific Ocean on a stretch called the Lost Coast. Big roaring waves pounding on the rocks, fog speeding along the banks, birds soaring above it all. This stretch had a wildness about it that is hard to describe. The road angled back into the mainland and up into the hills lined with flowers of all varieties and colors. Eventually we made it to the Victorian town of Ferndale, where we headed east and south on Grizzly Bluff Road. This stretch took us through the dairy shed for this part of the state and our scenery was made up of the green of hay fields spotted with the tans of Guernsey milk cows. Finally, at Rio Dell we picked up 101 South, flew down the road at 60 mile an hour and arrived back home in no time. Great trip and wonderful week.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
We took lots of good shots of our Kids this week, but my favorite is Maxwell, the big boy in his dad’s passenger seat.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents that might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
My favorite this week is “Enough Walking.” We had been out exploring the trails of Salt Point State Park when Mitzy just stopped and looked up at Jan—no more walking for this princess.
RV GOURMET: Rene’s Classic Mojito
When we were in LA, I mentioned the great mojito’s that our new friend Rene had prepared for us. Suzanne and David requested the recipe, and Rene was kind enough to share.
1 Teaspoon of sugar
2 oz Lemon juice
6 Mint leaves
2-3 ounces of white Bacardi Rum
Ice cubes
Club Soda
Take a long glass (Collins glass), put in the lemon juice and the sugar and stir. Put the leaves of mint (one sprig) and smash just enough to get the mint flavor. Add 5 or 6 ice cubes, then add the rum, then put in enough club soda to fill the glass. Stir gently and enjoy.
CAMPER’S CORNER: Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
This is just a gorgeous location. Since we dry camped in the overflow lot, I can’t comment on the campground, but the view alone is worth at least one night’s stay.
HEADLIGHTS
July 25 thru 27
Ancient Redwoods Resort, Redcrest, CA
July 28 to 30
Redwood National Park
July 30 to September 17
Up the coast of Oregon then ???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Maxwell
Favorite Photograph - Enough Walking
RV Gourmet - Rene’s Classic Mojito
Camper’s Corner - Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: Redwood National Park
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
Stop: Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
Stop: Creekside Cabins & RV Park, Willits, CA
Stop: Ancient Redwoods Resort, Redcrest, CA
(with a quick trip to Vegas in between)
Sunday
Ocean-side Walk
Once again it was windy, chilly, and gray as Jan and I walked the Pups out of the park and north along the ocean. While I did morning chores and packed, we listened to a few holes of the British Open.
On to the Airport
Just like the Sunday before, Jan and the Kids drove me the short drive to the San Francisco airport and dropped me off at the terminal.
On to Vegas
My plane landed into 112-degree heat, the kind that grabs you by the throat and tries to wrestle you to the ground when you first go outside. A quick taxi ride and I was checked in to the Bellagio, an over-the-top hotel among dozens of over-the-top hotels in an over-the-top city.
Dinner at Nobu
Five people from my client company took me and a client of theirs, who was also a speaker at their meeting, out to dinner at Nobu, a high-end Japanese restaurant known for the high quality of their cuisine. They were correct! We had at least ten palette-tingling courses and it was all wonderful. Highly recommended (if someone else is paying :’>>>).
Back at the Bellagio, my dinner mates went to the tables or to the clubs while I went back to my room—one tends to get a little wiser with age. :’>>> I took a soaker and hit the hay early.
Monday
I spent the day training the salespeople of my client, a software company, on how to sell services. A long day but a good day. I ended it with room service and a tub.
Tuesday
Photo Fitness Walk
During my past visits to Las Vegas when I came from Florida, because of the three-hour time change I would be up and out around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m in the hope of getting some exercise and some interesting pics. This early morning time proved to be the golden hours for seeing strange sights in Vegas, as many revelers were returning to their hotels in various degrees of intoxication (and sometimes dress). I’ve seen many a scene over the years that I dare not publish in a family blog! However, since my biological clock was set to Pacific Daylight Time, I didn’t get out and about until 5:30 a.m. Alas, all was pretty quiet on the strip—I shared the sidewalk with walkers/joggers and service workers heading out to start their day.
Workshop
My training session went as planned, and the feedback confirmed it was a success. I had lunch, took a cab to the airport, changed into jeans and tennis shoes, passed the security ritual, and did some work while waiting for my flight. The air travel part of the journey went off without a hitch, and to save Jan an evening shuttle, I took a cab back to our RV park by the sea.
Wednesday
Half Moon Bay
After working all morning, the family loaded up mid-afternoon and went back to our favorite destination in the area, Half Moon Bay. We picked up Jan’s new friend Zephyr, and went downtown for a cup of tea. Zephyr is a very interesting person. She has lots of experiences to share, as she has led a long life (she was married before WWII) and is inquisitive by nature. For years she taught the art of Tarot card reading, and she explained to us the basics and the process the devoted follow. Interesting. The three of us took the Pups for a walk down by the ocean with everyone enjoying the setting and the company.
The Distillery
On our way home, a sign advertising a restaurant called The Distillery caught our eye. It was off the road but smack on the ocean. This place earned a reputation as a prime spot for Canadian bootleggers during prohibition. The dog-friendly patio had two big fire pits roaring with people and pups gathered round chatting away and enjoying the ocean view.
We struck up a conversation at the bar with Victoria and Greg, a good-looking couple of upstate New Yorkers who transplanted to California five years ago. Check out their picture with Peter, our bartender. The food was wonderful. Jan had a huge bowl of clams and I had the seafood sliders. Highly recommended. www.mossbeachdistillery.com/
Thursday
Life Is Golden
We had enjoyed our stay in the Bay, but it was time to depart the land of the chilly fog and constant breeze. By 9:30 we were northbound on Highway One with Jan at the wheel and me at the maps. Instead of taking interstates around San Francisco, we stayed on Highway One (19th Avenue) all the way through the city. Yes, there were quite a few red lights and heavy traffic in some areas, but it was interesting to see the neighborhoods and small businesses. We passed through a couple of tunnels in the Presidio before connecting with Highway 101 and leaving the peninsula via the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge. Through the light fog we viewed Alcatraz off to our right, and then drove by the beautiful Sausalito. After a few minutes, the sun broke through the haze and we continued up past San Rafael, Novato, and Petaluma in good moods, free from the constant overcast.
Change of Plans
We had planned to stay in wine country, so I called to confirm availability at a campground at the outskirts of Rohnert Park, strategically located in close range of Napa and Sonoma. However, no sooner had I hung up, when we both looked at each other with the same question: “Do we really want to stop?” We both acknowledged that we’d rather continue on—besides when you think about it, in California most of the state is wine country!
Through the Countryside
Therefore, I made some quick navigational changes. My plan was to turn west at Santa Rosa and head back to the coast. Immediately at that exit was something else we had been looking for, a fuel stop that carried diesel and was big enough for us to get around. Jan pulled around back and I jumped out to help direct her into the pump and also capture the image of one magnificent pup, Maxwell, guarding his dad’s car from the passenger seat. We fueled up and removed ten days worth of salt spray from our windshield. Jan made the tricky maneuver to get us out and back on to the highway, and we were soon back northbound on Highway One. After two miles, we headed west on Bodega Highway. This road took us through some beautiful countryside complete with an abundance of brightly-colored flowers and the greens and browns of the groves of trees that were becoming more prevalent the more north we traveled. We made our way through Sebastapol, Bodega, and then picked up our old friend Highway One at Bodega Bay.
Seaside Saunter
The trip north from Bodega Bay rivals our earlier seaside jaunt from Morro Bay to Monterey in beauty and surpasses it in turns—that stretch of highway has more curves than a Vegas showgirl. However, Jan has honed her big rig driving capabilities and took this challenging stretch with ease. We drove through the quaint, artsy town of Jenner, and hugged the coast past the historic Fort Ross, finally stopping at our place of rest for the day, Salt Point State Park. The ranger at the park station was a pleasant, helpful young woman, who said we could scout around and try to fit into one of their campsites, or we could easily pull into the large overflow lot and dry camp for $5 less ($30 instead of $35). Since we were only planning on staying one night, we thought the overflow lot sounded simpler and more convenient. It turned out to be a great choice! Just one other rig in this very big lot, and we had a full view of the ocean from the front and from the side.
Seaside Hike
With hardly anyone else around, we let the Kids run free and we hiked along the shore. For two hours we strode among the flowers, viewed the relaxing seals on the rocks, and watched the passing pelicans before returning to our home on wheels.
Friday
Early Shoot
Being ten feet from the trailhead that leads to the ocean five minutes away is a tremendous benefit to the person wanting to take pre-drawn photos. More sleep, less hassle, and the ability to wait until the light is just right before heading into the day. I was up early, prepared my camera gear, and sipped on strong black coffee while waiting for the ideal time. As I looked out from my chair, I saw and huge expanse of dark gray waters contrasted with the splashing whites of the rhythmic breakers. I walked along the trails in the misty morning, taking a few pictures as I explored the seaside, thoroughly enjoying the solitude. Before long, Jan and the Kids met me and we walked and scouted together.
Long and Winding Road
Soon BALY, our motorcoach, was lumbering along, heading north on Highway One. Slowly, we passed through Sea Ranch, Guatala, Anchor Bay, Pint Arena, Manchester, and Elk, Albion, Little River, and Mendocino. A park ranger had assured us that the drive north on Highway One would be easier than our travels in the past, however, he was wrong. We were met by a series of signs: “15 MPH Curve,” “7% Grade,” “Road Narrows,” “Road Work Ahead,” “Narrow Bridge,” 20 MPH,” “9% Grade,” “Slow and winding for the next 23 Miles.” When they said 15 miles per hour, they meant it. The road had more twists and turns than a Michael Jackson video.
Another Change of Plans
Hence, after averaging 20 miles an hour in challenging driving conditions we decided to call it a day early and pulled into a campground just before reaching Fort Bragg. Alas, they had no room for us, but the woman behind the counter gave us advice not to take Highway One north any farther, as it got much worse! Well, we could not imagine such a thing, but gravely accepted the warning as truth. I relieved Janny behind the wheel, and we turned east on California 20 for the 33-mile trek to Highway 101. The roads were almost identical to what we had experience the last couple hundred miles, but after a few miles the fog was replaced by sunshine and the chill replaced by warmth. Seven miles north of Willits we found a campground, Creekside Cabins and RV Park, and set up camp.
Saturday
North Again
It was a gorgeous day when we pulled out of our campground heading north on 101, also called the Redwood Highway in this part of the state. For the most part, this stretch of road was much, much better than what we had been accustomed to lately—hey, it was even four-lane in some stretches! Furthermore, the weather was perfect and the scenery was gorgeous. We enjoyed a wonderful drive through Laytonville, Leggett, Piercy, Benbow, Garberville, and Redway.
Avenue of the Giants
We took the Phillipsville exit onto the 31 mile scenic highway, The Avenue of the Giants. Holy Mackerel Momma! These are big trees! We slowly moved our big rig through the darkness caused by the shade from these huge redwoods. It was a zig-zag course with huge trees sometimes only a few inches from the road’s edge. Rays of sunshine blasted through holes in the canopy of leaves, emphasizing the contrast of the dark browns and greens with the brilliant light. We pulled over at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor center to see if we could camp there. They could only accommodate vehicles up to 33 feet, so we continued north on this trail of really big trees, oohing and wowing as we went. Highly recommended. www.avenueofthegiants.net
About seven miles further north we pulled into our new place of lodging, the Ancient Redwood Resort, just a little over a mile north of the village of Redcrest. After setting up at this brand new, big-rig friendly park, we had Ruebens and fries at the best restaurant in Redcrest (actually the only restaurant). Here we met the pup Jiggs, and we also checked out the redwood treehouse. Over lunch I studied the guide 101 Things to Do in Humboldt County and devised a plan for the afternoon.
Road Trip
Soon the four of us were in the car, starting on what I originally thought would be a two-hour trip. South of Redcrest but before reaching the state park visitor center, we turned west on Mattole Road and were soon in the 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest, home of many of the tallest redwoods on the planet, including the “Champion Coast Redwood” which is 370 feet tall, 17 feet in diameter, 52 feet in circumference, 1,000 years old, and weighing over 1,000,000 pounds. That’s a big tree. After walking over a creek and doing a little close-up exploring, we continued west. Eventually we were out of the woods and driving through the countryside. Luckily we were not driving the motor home, as it would have been quite a challenging experience, as now we were confronted with 10-mile-an-hour curves, loose gravel, one-lane bridges, big-time bumpy roads, and really steep inclines. However, the scenery made up for it. After an hour and a half from leaving the forest, we finally pulled into the town of Honeydew. I walked into the post office/general store and asked the locals the best way to return to our RV park. They confirmed there were three routes: back the way we came, or turn right, or turn left. After conferring with each other, the spokesman summed it up: “All the roads around here suck.” However, they all agreed that turning right was the most picturesque.
At this point I calculated that it might take us three hours or more to get back, but so be it. We turned right as directed and slowly made our way to another really little village called Petrolla. I knew it was a town as there was a sign. From here we angled northwest and were soon driving by the Pacific Ocean on a stretch called the Lost Coast. Big roaring waves pounding on the rocks, fog speeding along the banks, birds soaring above it all. This stretch had a wildness about it that is hard to describe. The road angled back into the mainland and up into the hills lined with flowers of all varieties and colors. Eventually we made it to the Victorian town of Ferndale, where we headed east and south on Grizzly Bluff Road. This stretch took us through the dairy shed for this part of the state and our scenery was made up of the green of hay fields spotted with the tans of Guernsey milk cows. Finally, at Rio Dell we picked up 101 South, flew down the road at 60 mile an hour and arrived back home in no time. Great trip and wonderful week.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
We took lots of good shots of our Kids this week, but my favorite is Maxwell, the big boy in his dad’s passenger seat.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents that might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
My favorite this week is “Enough Walking.” We had been out exploring the trails of Salt Point State Park when Mitzy just stopped and looked up at Jan—no more walking for this princess.
RV GOURMET: Rene’s Classic Mojito
When we were in LA, I mentioned the great mojito’s that our new friend Rene had prepared for us. Suzanne and David requested the recipe, and Rene was kind enough to share.
1 Teaspoon of sugar
2 oz Lemon juice
6 Mint leaves
2-3 ounces of white Bacardi Rum
Ice cubes
Club Soda
Take a long glass (Collins glass), put in the lemon juice and the sugar and stir. Put the leaves of mint (one sprig) and smash just enough to get the mint flavor. Add 5 or 6 ice cubes, then add the rum, then put in enough club soda to fill the glass. Stir gently and enjoy.
CAMPER’S CORNER: Salt Point State Park, Fort Ross, CA
This is just a gorgeous location. Since we dry camped in the overflow lot, I can’t comment on the campground, but the view alone is worth at least one night’s stay.
HEADLIGHTS
July 25 thru 27
Ancient Redwoods Resort, Redcrest, CA
July 28 to 30
Redwood National Park
July 30 to September 17
Up the coast of Oregon then ???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
Comments
WEEK FOURTEEN: BANGKOK AND BACK
Sunday, July 18, 2010
CONTENTS
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Travel Tools and Toys - iBooks
Pups Across America! - Bangkok Street Pups
Favorite Photograph - Rearview Mirror
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: Wine Country
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
Stop: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
(with a quick trip in between)
Sunday/Monday
Above the Ocean
It was windy, chilly, and gray as I walked the Pups out of the park, south on Palmetto Street among the many-needing-sprucing-up houses just off the ocean. The neighborhood was clean and felt safe, but had seen better days. On our way back we took the quarter mile RV park trail that borders the cliffs above the Pacific. If I had wanted to talk to myself, I would not have been able to hear, as the waves roared each time they crashed upon the rocks below. Back at the coach it was morning chores, a shower, breakfast, and packing.
On to the Airport
Late morning Jan and the Kids drove me the 20 minutes to the San Francisco airport, dropped me off close to the Delta counter, and said farewell. The lines were short and I had time to hang out at the SkyClub and watch the first half of the Netherlands-Spain World Club final—it was 0-0 when I had to go to board my plane.
Over to Asia
Except for a rough landing, the flight to Tokyo was quiet and uneventful. I read Travels with Charley by Steinbeck on my iPad, listened to three podcasts, and was able to get a couple of hours sleep. We arrived a little early, so I went to the very nicely appointed Narita SkyClub, e-mailed Jan, responded to half dozen other e-mails, and caught up on this blog.
Travels with Charley
When visiting the Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, a few weeks backed I was intrigued when learning about his trip that inspired Travels with Charley, and I had committed to myself to read it soon. I read the entire book on the flight to Narita, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because:
The flight from Tokyo to Bangkok went equally well. I got a couple hours more sleep, and we arrived into Bangkok at 11:00 p.m. Monday evening—almost an hour early (Bangkok is 11 hours ahead of Eastern time). Sitting up front with no checked bags and short lines at both customs and immigration made things fast. The limo service person was where she was supposed to be, and soon I was in a cab zipping through the night streets and on to my hotel.
Simple Pleasure
My room was quite large and well appointed, and after a quick look around I saw the sight that, when traveling, always brings a smile to my face, a long, deep bathtub! I turned the tap on “hot” as I laid out my bags. I took a 30-minute soak that relaxed my muscles, eased my mind, and soothed away any stress that had accumulated over my journey. So far, so good.
Tuesday
I awoke at 6:00 a.m. feeling well rested and ready to get up and get going. Looking out from my small balcony, I was surprised how quiet things were for a city of ten million people. I took a shower, dressed, changed a $100 at the front desk, and then walked across the street for a breakfast buffet that was part of my lodging package. It included everything: Miso soup, lettuce salad, fried rice, pasta, beef cakes, pork sausages, chicken sausages, fried chicken chunks, real crispy bacon, some other kind of meat, fried potatoes, eggs-how-you-like-them, Corn Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, white bread and rolls, juices, fresh fruits, and several things that I’m not sure what they were. The coffee was black and stout, and after three cups I was ready to walk to Cambodia, write a novel, and coordinate the exchange of Russian spies.
Tour
My client was kind enough to arrange a city tour for me. At 9:30 my personal guide and a driver met me in the lobby and off we went into Bangkok traffic (wow, they know how to do traffic!). Our first stop was to see the Golden Buddha. Not a gold-plated, run-of-the-mill golden Buddha, but a five-ton, solid gold Buddha! Just amazing, and the story behind it is wonderful. It seems that Thailand has been at war with Burma off and on for forever, and the Burmese were notorious for burning Thai Buddha’s to melt down the gold plating then obfuscating with the gold. The Thais came across a very old plaster Buddha statue in a very old city that had been ransacked, and decided to transport it back to Bangkok. In the moving process a crack appeared on the statue, showing a yellow color underneath. After some careful examination, the Buddha was found to be pure gold, as the plaster was added as a decoy to fool enemies. The cover-up was also forgotten by the Thais! Without the travel and the crack it produced no one would have discovered the secret. Visitor fees to view the Buddha have raised enough monies for a new temple to be built to house and show-off this amazing piece of religious and cultural art.
Entrepreneurship
You gotta love this one. I didn’t see it coming but I like this guy’s ingenuity. Shortly after a tourist’s arrival, a stealth photographer takes a shot. By the time one is putting his/her shoes back on after visiting the temple, the photographer has processed the image, imposed it on a button with the title of “Bangkok 2010,” and shoves it (politely) into your hand as you head for the exit. For roughly $3.25, who can refuse? Well, it wasn’t the most flattering shot of me, and I don’t like buttons, but I now own this souvenir. I just love entrepreneurship....
Our next stop was the Royal Palace. I won’t try to describe it. All I can say is, Wow! It is amazing what can be built if you are the monarch and “own” all the assets of a country! We ended our tour by viewing the famous Reclining Buddha and the oldest temple in the country (Emerald Buddha Temple), in which 76 Buddha statues reside.
Traffic bad? Yes. Lots and lots of people? Uh, huh. Traffic heavy on the streets? Sure was. Hot and muggy? Yup. Worth the trip? Absolutely! Recommended.
Local Lunch
After I was returned to my hotel, it was time for some lunch. I decided that some local food was in order, so I walked several blocks in the heat until I found just the right place. I knew it was perfect because no one spoke one word of English, the whole family worked there, they had a menu with pictures, and they had chilled Singha (Thai beer) in their cooler.
Mom (I’m guessing) seated me, but she quickly turned over the task of waiting on me to the youngest daughter (I thought of her as Smiley). I pointed at the Singha to get started, and she stood by me as I started leafing through the 30 or so pages of slightly yellowed laminated menu. As I was studying dishes I’d never seen before, she must have gotten impatient as she stopped me in mid-page turn and pointed at a picture proclaiming “good.” Being very open to recommendations by experts, I stopped, smiled, and nodded my head—one of the day’s most important decisions of the day had been made. Trying to help the local economy, I said “egg rolls?” However, my comment triggered only a blank look and then the turning on of a fan. The breeze felt good; I left it at that.
When my lunch arrived, the presentation was impressive. A pot of browned steaming chicken (I’m pretty sure) with bright red peppers and other green vegetables was set in front of me. I dished some onto my plate and the whole family watched me taste the first bite (there was not another customer in the restaurant). It was wonderful, and I gave them an appreciative nod. However, three seconds later the heat of the peppers kicked in, raced up part my tongue, screamed through my nose, registering a four-bell alarm in my brain. As I quickly reached for my Singha, I gestured for another beer, triggering smiles, giggles, and knowing looks among the family members. I’m no lightweight when it comes to hot food, but maybe I was set up? Maybe just a little? :>>>
A nap, hot bath, some reading, and off to bed.
Wednesday
Photo Fitness Walk
Right after an early breakfast, I put on my tennis shoes, grabbed my camera, and headed down the busy street my hotel was located on. My plan was to get in some exercise, but also be able to quickly take advantage of any photo opportunities that might arise. My camera got a lot of looks, but most people were very cooperative about me taking their picture. Lots of fun, especially with the children seated on buses heading for school.
Work Day
At 8:30, two vans picked me up along with about 30 others to go the short distance to my client’s Asian headquarters. After introductions all around, the morning was spent talking about several key technical/operation issues in running a services business. Along with corporate, there were country managers and services managers from Australia, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Taiwan, and Thailand. At lunchtime we walked five minutes to a wonderful Thai meal served up family style. I led the afternoon session, sharing benchmarks and best practices of running a services business inside a product company. In order to “tropicalize” our discussion and make it more relevant, I shared a success story of an Asia-Pacific business similar to my client’s and fed back to them what I had learned about their issues from earlier telephone focus groups. In order to get their buy-in, we had several small group discussions and a few exercises. It’s a lot of work facilitating this kind of group, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
Time to Relax
I met with the Aussies at the Witches Brew, a bar close to our hotel for a couple of cold pints, and then we walked to another restaurant where we met up with the rest of our colleagues and the whole gang feasted on Thai food.
Thursday
While the country managers reviewed numbers, my client and I helped the services managers build their services plan for the year that had just started. Everything went well, and plans are being developed for phase two of my involvement. Productive business trip.
Bangkok Traffic
Have you ever observed how very large schools of fish composed of thousands of individuals have the ability to swim as one? They twist, turn, dive, and surface without ever colliding, in fact, without even touching. This comparison best describes Bangkok traffic. If similar roads with the same amount of vehicles were in a U.S. city, it would be total gridlock. Here, though, traffic flows (although sometimes very slowly) as one organism—kind of like the Borg. On a four-lane road there will be six to eight lines of vehicles moving back and forth with motorbikes zipping this way and that in every direction, the vehicles coming within centimeters of each other but almost never touching. There must be some sort of hidden communication built into the culture :’>>> I don’t know how they do it, but it works.
Thoughts on Bangkok
This was my first trip to Bangkok, but my impressions are highly positive. Wonderful people, great food, and lots of cool places and things to do. I’d go again in a heartbeat.
Friday
Fly Day
My car picked me up from the hotel at 3:30 a.m. (yes, that is a.m.) to take me to the airport. I thought that I had allowed very ample time, but after a crazy long line at passport control, a thorough security check, then another passport/mini-interview at the gate followed by another hand bag check of every piece of luggage of every traveler, the time was being eaten up. Furthermore, our departure time was moved up 30 minutes to 5:20 a.m. in order to allow time for re-routing in attempts to avoid the heavy winds and heavy rains from a typhoon that had just visited SE Asia. All in all, my schedule worked out well.
The flight to Tokyo went well, with just a few minutes of turbulence here and there. I finished reading an Embarrassment of Mangos, a book that Moreen and Brad had recommended. It is a great story of a Canadian couple that takes a couple years off and sails the Caribbean. Recommended. I also watched the movie The Book of Eli. Well done, but I found it depressing.
The flight from Tokyo to San Francisco was a good one as well. I enjoyed the movie Alice in Wonderland, but would recommend viewing it on a big HD screen to really show-off the visual effects. After a nice dinner, I got in a solid six-plus hours sleep and woke up right as continental breakfast was being served—it doesn’t get much better than that on long flights.
Greeting Committee
I zipped through customs and immigration and was soon met by my greeting committee, Jan and the Kids. Jerry was running back and forth in the car from front to back and Mitzy was turning inside out—you’d thought I’d been gone for months. I know how Roman generals must have felt when returning from a successful campaign. The rest of the day we hung out at the coach.
Saturday
Pacifica
Pacifica has lots of things going for it. It borders the ocean, has great weather, and is strategically placed close to many very cool places. However, Pacifica gives off a feeling of tiredness, like it no longer cares enough to keep yards tidy and buildings painted. Kind of like the child with good potential that never lives up to her promise. Therefore, to avoid this malaise, we jumped in the car and headed 18 miles south along the Big Water to the village of Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay
Jan and the Kids had scouted out this territory earlier in the week while I was gone, so Jan drove with confidence to the downtown area. We walked the Pups along the residences and businesses with their magnificent gardens of brightly colored flowers and the scents of vibrant roses. As we strolled the busy, vibrant main street, we stopped at a wine-tasting shop, complete with original paintings, sculptures, imported chocolates, and an assortment of gourmet olive oils. We met the owners, Bart and Mary, and quickly fell into conversations on wine, California, and past travels. After tasting some excellent wines, including some medal winners, we left our new friends with some perky sage olive oil in hand, a bottle of wonderful champagne, and a memory of a great afternoon. I highly recommend you go meet Mary and Bart in person. www.BarterraWines.com.
TRAVEL TOOLS AND TOYS: iBooks
Planning for long trips in the past, I used to anguish over what books to bring along. Bulk and weight were always considerations. How many books? What if I don’t like what I’ve brought? This is not an issue any more.
Although I’d bought the iPad on day one of its availability, I’d never read any iBooks on it, and this trip was the perfect excuse to try out this capability. The result is that I love it—great screen that is easy on the eyes and easy to use. Print too small? One click and choose the font size (and style you like). Tired of viewing in portrait mode? Just turn the iPad sideways and it automatically adjusts. Not sure the meaning of a word? Highlight it and hit the dictionary. Highly recommended.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
Jan caught some nice pup pics, including Poppy, and I was able to catch a few in Bangkok. My favorite is Bangkok Street Pups. Although their proud owner is not in the shot, he is behind the scenes trying to get them to pose for the camera. Pet Parents are the same the globe over.
Schedule Your Pup Shoot
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents who might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
This week you’ll see a mix of Bangkok shots and California coast pictures that Jan took—an interesting variety. My favorite is Rearview Mirror, one of Jan’s pics.
HEADLIGHTS
July 18 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Travel Tools and Toys - iBooks
Pups Across America! - Bangkok Street Pups
Favorite Photograph - Rearview Mirror
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: Wine Country
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
Stop: San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
(with a quick trip in between)
Sunday/Monday
Above the Ocean
It was windy, chilly, and gray as I walked the Pups out of the park, south on Palmetto Street among the many-needing-sprucing-up houses just off the ocean. The neighborhood was clean and felt safe, but had seen better days. On our way back we took the quarter mile RV park trail that borders the cliffs above the Pacific. If I had wanted to talk to myself, I would not have been able to hear, as the waves roared each time they crashed upon the rocks below. Back at the coach it was morning chores, a shower, breakfast, and packing.
On to the Airport
Late morning Jan and the Kids drove me the 20 minutes to the San Francisco airport, dropped me off close to the Delta counter, and said farewell. The lines were short and I had time to hang out at the SkyClub and watch the first half of the Netherlands-Spain World Club final—it was 0-0 when I had to go to board my plane.
Over to Asia
Except for a rough landing, the flight to Tokyo was quiet and uneventful. I read Travels with Charley by Steinbeck on my iPad, listened to three podcasts, and was able to get a couple of hours sleep. We arrived a little early, so I went to the very nicely appointed Narita SkyClub, e-mailed Jan, responded to half dozen other e-mails, and caught up on this blog.
Travels with Charley
When visiting the Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, a few weeks backed I was intrigued when learning about his trip that inspired Travels with Charley, and I had committed to myself to read it soon. I read the entire book on the flight to Narita, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because:
- The story about his camping trip across the country with his dog parallels our motoring journey.
- I love Steinbeck’s writing
- The year he traveled was in 1960, and it was great to compare his thoughts to the world of today, 50 years later. Amazing what has both changed and what has remained the same. Highly recommended.
The flight from Tokyo to Bangkok went equally well. I got a couple hours more sleep, and we arrived into Bangkok at 11:00 p.m. Monday evening—almost an hour early (Bangkok is 11 hours ahead of Eastern time). Sitting up front with no checked bags and short lines at both customs and immigration made things fast. The limo service person was where she was supposed to be, and soon I was in a cab zipping through the night streets and on to my hotel.
Simple Pleasure
My room was quite large and well appointed, and after a quick look around I saw the sight that, when traveling, always brings a smile to my face, a long, deep bathtub! I turned the tap on “hot” as I laid out my bags. I took a 30-minute soak that relaxed my muscles, eased my mind, and soothed away any stress that had accumulated over my journey. So far, so good.
Tuesday
I awoke at 6:00 a.m. feeling well rested and ready to get up and get going. Looking out from my small balcony, I was surprised how quiet things were for a city of ten million people. I took a shower, dressed, changed a $100 at the front desk, and then walked across the street for a breakfast buffet that was part of my lodging package. It included everything: Miso soup, lettuce salad, fried rice, pasta, beef cakes, pork sausages, chicken sausages, fried chicken chunks, real crispy bacon, some other kind of meat, fried potatoes, eggs-how-you-like-them, Corn Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, white bread and rolls, juices, fresh fruits, and several things that I’m not sure what they were. The coffee was black and stout, and after three cups I was ready to walk to Cambodia, write a novel, and coordinate the exchange of Russian spies.
Tour
My client was kind enough to arrange a city tour for me. At 9:30 my personal guide and a driver met me in the lobby and off we went into Bangkok traffic (wow, they know how to do traffic!). Our first stop was to see the Golden Buddha. Not a gold-plated, run-of-the-mill golden Buddha, but a five-ton, solid gold Buddha! Just amazing, and the story behind it is wonderful. It seems that Thailand has been at war with Burma off and on for forever, and the Burmese were notorious for burning Thai Buddha’s to melt down the gold plating then obfuscating with the gold. The Thais came across a very old plaster Buddha statue in a very old city that had been ransacked, and decided to transport it back to Bangkok. In the moving process a crack appeared on the statue, showing a yellow color underneath. After some careful examination, the Buddha was found to be pure gold, as the plaster was added as a decoy to fool enemies. The cover-up was also forgotten by the Thais! Without the travel and the crack it produced no one would have discovered the secret. Visitor fees to view the Buddha have raised enough monies for a new temple to be built to house and show-off this amazing piece of religious and cultural art.
Entrepreneurship
You gotta love this one. I didn’t see it coming but I like this guy’s ingenuity. Shortly after a tourist’s arrival, a stealth photographer takes a shot. By the time one is putting his/her shoes back on after visiting the temple, the photographer has processed the image, imposed it on a button with the title of “Bangkok 2010,” and shoves it (politely) into your hand as you head for the exit. For roughly $3.25, who can refuse? Well, it wasn’t the most flattering shot of me, and I don’t like buttons, but I now own this souvenir. I just love entrepreneurship....
Our next stop was the Royal Palace. I won’t try to describe it. All I can say is, Wow! It is amazing what can be built if you are the monarch and “own” all the assets of a country! We ended our tour by viewing the famous Reclining Buddha and the oldest temple in the country (Emerald Buddha Temple), in which 76 Buddha statues reside.
Traffic bad? Yes. Lots and lots of people? Uh, huh. Traffic heavy on the streets? Sure was. Hot and muggy? Yup. Worth the trip? Absolutely! Recommended.
Local Lunch
After I was returned to my hotel, it was time for some lunch. I decided that some local food was in order, so I walked several blocks in the heat until I found just the right place. I knew it was perfect because no one spoke one word of English, the whole family worked there, they had a menu with pictures, and they had chilled Singha (Thai beer) in their cooler.
Mom (I’m guessing) seated me, but she quickly turned over the task of waiting on me to the youngest daughter (I thought of her as Smiley). I pointed at the Singha to get started, and she stood by me as I started leafing through the 30 or so pages of slightly yellowed laminated menu. As I was studying dishes I’d never seen before, she must have gotten impatient as she stopped me in mid-page turn and pointed at a picture proclaiming “good.” Being very open to recommendations by experts, I stopped, smiled, and nodded my head—one of the day’s most important decisions of the day had been made. Trying to help the local economy, I said “egg rolls?” However, my comment triggered only a blank look and then the turning on of a fan. The breeze felt good; I left it at that.
When my lunch arrived, the presentation was impressive. A pot of browned steaming chicken (I’m pretty sure) with bright red peppers and other green vegetables was set in front of me. I dished some onto my plate and the whole family watched me taste the first bite (there was not another customer in the restaurant). It was wonderful, and I gave them an appreciative nod. However, three seconds later the heat of the peppers kicked in, raced up part my tongue, screamed through my nose, registering a four-bell alarm in my brain. As I quickly reached for my Singha, I gestured for another beer, triggering smiles, giggles, and knowing looks among the family members. I’m no lightweight when it comes to hot food, but maybe I was set up? Maybe just a little? :>>>
A nap, hot bath, some reading, and off to bed.
Wednesday
Photo Fitness Walk
Right after an early breakfast, I put on my tennis shoes, grabbed my camera, and headed down the busy street my hotel was located on. My plan was to get in some exercise, but also be able to quickly take advantage of any photo opportunities that might arise. My camera got a lot of looks, but most people were very cooperative about me taking their picture. Lots of fun, especially with the children seated on buses heading for school.
Work Day
At 8:30, two vans picked me up along with about 30 others to go the short distance to my client’s Asian headquarters. After introductions all around, the morning was spent talking about several key technical/operation issues in running a services business. Along with corporate, there were country managers and services managers from Australia, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Taiwan, and Thailand. At lunchtime we walked five minutes to a wonderful Thai meal served up family style. I led the afternoon session, sharing benchmarks and best practices of running a services business inside a product company. In order to “tropicalize” our discussion and make it more relevant, I shared a success story of an Asia-Pacific business similar to my client’s and fed back to them what I had learned about their issues from earlier telephone focus groups. In order to get their buy-in, we had several small group discussions and a few exercises. It’s a lot of work facilitating this kind of group, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
Time to Relax
I met with the Aussies at the Witches Brew, a bar close to our hotel for a couple of cold pints, and then we walked to another restaurant where we met up with the rest of our colleagues and the whole gang feasted on Thai food.
Thursday
While the country managers reviewed numbers, my client and I helped the services managers build their services plan for the year that had just started. Everything went well, and plans are being developed for phase two of my involvement. Productive business trip.
Bangkok Traffic
Have you ever observed how very large schools of fish composed of thousands of individuals have the ability to swim as one? They twist, turn, dive, and surface without ever colliding, in fact, without even touching. This comparison best describes Bangkok traffic. If similar roads with the same amount of vehicles were in a U.S. city, it would be total gridlock. Here, though, traffic flows (although sometimes very slowly) as one organism—kind of like the Borg. On a four-lane road there will be six to eight lines of vehicles moving back and forth with motorbikes zipping this way and that in every direction, the vehicles coming within centimeters of each other but almost never touching. There must be some sort of hidden communication built into the culture :’>>> I don’t know how they do it, but it works.
Thoughts on Bangkok
This was my first trip to Bangkok, but my impressions are highly positive. Wonderful people, great food, and lots of cool places and things to do. I’d go again in a heartbeat.
Friday
Fly Day
My car picked me up from the hotel at 3:30 a.m. (yes, that is a.m.) to take me to the airport. I thought that I had allowed very ample time, but after a crazy long line at passport control, a thorough security check, then another passport/mini-interview at the gate followed by another hand bag check of every piece of luggage of every traveler, the time was being eaten up. Furthermore, our departure time was moved up 30 minutes to 5:20 a.m. in order to allow time for re-routing in attempts to avoid the heavy winds and heavy rains from a typhoon that had just visited SE Asia. All in all, my schedule worked out well.
The flight to Tokyo went well, with just a few minutes of turbulence here and there. I finished reading an Embarrassment of Mangos, a book that Moreen and Brad had recommended. It is a great story of a Canadian couple that takes a couple years off and sails the Caribbean. Recommended. I also watched the movie The Book of Eli. Well done, but I found it depressing.
The flight from Tokyo to San Francisco was a good one as well. I enjoyed the movie Alice in Wonderland, but would recommend viewing it on a big HD screen to really show-off the visual effects. After a nice dinner, I got in a solid six-plus hours sleep and woke up right as continental breakfast was being served—it doesn’t get much better than that on long flights.
Greeting Committee
I zipped through customs and immigration and was soon met by my greeting committee, Jan and the Kids. Jerry was running back and forth in the car from front to back and Mitzy was turning inside out—you’d thought I’d been gone for months. I know how Roman generals must have felt when returning from a successful campaign. The rest of the day we hung out at the coach.
Saturday
Pacifica
Pacifica has lots of things going for it. It borders the ocean, has great weather, and is strategically placed close to many very cool places. However, Pacifica gives off a feeling of tiredness, like it no longer cares enough to keep yards tidy and buildings painted. Kind of like the child with good potential that never lives up to her promise. Therefore, to avoid this malaise, we jumped in the car and headed 18 miles south along the Big Water to the village of Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay
Jan and the Kids had scouted out this territory earlier in the week while I was gone, so Jan drove with confidence to the downtown area. We walked the Pups along the residences and businesses with their magnificent gardens of brightly colored flowers and the scents of vibrant roses. As we strolled the busy, vibrant main street, we stopped at a wine-tasting shop, complete with original paintings, sculptures, imported chocolates, and an assortment of gourmet olive oils. We met the owners, Bart and Mary, and quickly fell into conversations on wine, California, and past travels. After tasting some excellent wines, including some medal winners, we left our new friends with some perky sage olive oil in hand, a bottle of wonderful champagne, and a memory of a great afternoon. I highly recommend you go meet Mary and Bart in person. www.BarterraWines.com.
TRAVEL TOOLS AND TOYS: iBooks
Planning for long trips in the past, I used to anguish over what books to bring along. Bulk and weight were always considerations. How many books? What if I don’t like what I’ve brought? This is not an issue any more.
Although I’d bought the iPad on day one of its availability, I’d never read any iBooks on it, and this trip was the perfect excuse to try out this capability. The result is that I love it—great screen that is easy on the eyes and easy to use. Print too small? One click and choose the font size (and style you like). Tired of viewing in portrait mode? Just turn the iPad sideways and it automatically adjusts. Not sure the meaning of a word? Highlight it and hit the dictionary. Highly recommended.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
Jan caught some nice pup pics, including Poppy, and I was able to catch a few in Bangkok. My favorite is Bangkok Street Pups. Although their proud owner is not in the shot, he is behind the scenes trying to get them to pose for the camera. Pet Parents are the same the globe over.
Schedule Your Pup Shoot
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents who might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
This week you’ll see a mix of Bangkok shots and California coast pictures that Jan took—an interesting variety. My favorite is Rearview Mirror, one of Jan’s pics.
HEADLIGHTS
July 18 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
WEEK THIRTEEN: MARVELOUS MONTEREY
Sunday, July 11, 2010
CONTENTS
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Sheila, MoJo, and Cody Bear
Favorite Photograph - Humpy and Blue
Camper’s Corner - Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: San Francisco and beyond
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Stop: San Francisco RV Park, Pacifica, CA
Sunday
Cannery Row
We loaded up the Pups mid-morning and drove the Element a few short miles down to Cannery Row in Monterey. It had been over 20 years since we had been to this location made famous by a Steinbeck novel and it was fun to re-visit (somewhat) familiar ground. This time of day there were only a few folks out, so we strolled around at our own pace, looking out to sea, peering into shops, and checking out restaurants for future visits. This is a must if you are in the area. Easily worth a couple hours or a full day. Although we didn’t visit it this time, the aquarium is world-class. www.canneryrow.com
17 Mile Drive
After our walking tour we brought the Pups back to the coach, freshened up and drove the car to 17 Mile Drive. Just as we started this famous driving tour, the fog started coming in off the water. The first two scenic vistas on the motor trail were nothing but walls of gray, and I feared that our entire trip might be more of the same. However, as quickly as the fog had come in it moved out, and the remainder of our trip was clear although windy and a little chilly.
Because it was still morning, the traffic was light so we were able to stop and go from vista to vista at our own pace with no hassles with traffic. This drive was as pretty as I remembered, with white sand, blue sea, breaking waters, birds flapping in the air, and seals barking and grunting on the rocks. This is what I think of when I think of California.
Pebble Beach Lunch
It was late morning as we finished up the drive, so we pulled into Pebble Beach for lunch. Jan grabbed the last space in the parking lot and we walked into the lodge scouting out our meal-taking options. We selected the Stilwater Grill because we were able to get a table by the window overlooking the 18th green of Pebble Beach.
Here we watched foursomes of golfers make their last few shots of a probably memorable round. As the golfers reading this blog know well, Pebble Beach is hallowed ground to those who love the sport. It is probably in the top 10 “love to play” (bucket list) courses in the world for those devoted to golf. So picture this scenario: You and your three best golfing buddies have talked about playing Pebble Beach for years. After some serious procrastination you decide to do it, and lo and behold you get tee times for Sunday morning, July 4th! Besides the substantial green fees and the vitally necessary accessories purchased for the occasion, there is airfare for eight (you have to take the wives because you can’t leave them home on a holiday), rental cars, lodging at the exclusive Pebble Beach Lodge, dining charges from exquisite restaurants, and fees for deluxe spa packages (you can’t be out playing golf and expect the wives to sit around doing nothing, can you?). With that as background, visualize coming up the 18th fairway. You are playing the round of your life—you are tied with your buddies after 17 holes. A bogey will earn you 12 bucks in bets for the day but give you bragging rights for the next 50 years. Ninety-five yards out and feeling loose and confident with your trusty wedge in hand, you are halfway through your back swing when two young hooligans come running and hollering out from nowhere on to the green! The distraction ruins your concentration, and your wayward swing shanks your ball into the sand trap. Still shaken up and pumped full of adrenaline, you power your next shot not only out of the trap but over the green. Your shoulders sag as the truth sinks in…defeat!
Well, the above didn’t happen, but I thought it would make a good story :’>>>.
However, all golf aficionados would have been mortified if they viewed the crowds of people we saw totally ignoring approaching golfers as they continued taking group pictures right on the edge of the green (flashes popping) while a couple youngsters from their group played in the sand trap! Quite the show...
We both had the Grill’s special buffet and feasted on a variety of foods from sushi to ceviche to raw oysters to chilled jumbo shrimp to grilled sausages, baked halibut, oven roasted beef with special BBQ sauce, barbequed rack of lamb and on and on. This was the best buffet I remember having. Combining the cuisine with the view, the outstanding service, and the special holiday day, this was a meal to remember. I don’t know if it can be duplicated, but I’d sure try. The whole morning experience is highly recommended. www.pebblebeach.com.
Monday
Whales on My Mind
I had been thinking a lot about how much fun our whale watching had been last week in Morro Bay and decided to do a little research about whales in Monterey Bay. After about an hour on the Internet, I made up my mind that we needed to try it again, as Humpbacks seemed to love this area and there were Blue whale sightings all over the place. Plus there were about a dozen places offering whale tours—a good sign of a viable business meaning that there had to be lots of whales to keep getting people to sign up. By 7:00 AM I had us signed up for the three-hour, 10:00 tour at Randy’s Fishing Trips.
Marketing Call
Multi-tasking was called for, as I had several things to accomplish in a short period of time. While Jan drove us to the wharf, I participated in our Monday morning marketing call where we talked about upcoming workshops, training, and webinars, along with the technology improvements to both of my blogs. All is under the capable control of Suzanne and David, so no worries on my part.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Once we found a nearby parking lot and I fed enough dollar bills into the machine to keep us legal till 2:12 PM (I don’t think there is a free parking place in the county), we strolled our way down along the water toward the wharf. We heard the loud barking long before we spotted the seals lounging on the sand and the rocks—must have been at least 50 either sleeping, sunning, swimming, or strutting.
After enjoying the seal action for awhile, we walked down the wharf where the storefronts were busily preparing for the tourists, selling coffee, pastries, and a variety of sandwiches—the smell of fish competed evenly with the smell of Starbucks. I bet we passed at least six restaurants all touting their awards as the best clam chowder on the wharf. We signed in at Randy’s, stopped by the public restroom (always a good idea before a boat ride :’>>>), then boarded our seafaring vessel.
Whale Watching
About 50 of us passengers rode out of the harbor past more seals, motoring along at about 12 knots the four miles out to the first sighting. It was chilly (glad I had put on my long underwear and two jackets with hoods), the skies were overcast, and the seas were smooth, with only the gentle roll of four-foot waves. Three other whale-watching boats were out this morning, and like the good businessmen they are, they shared information as to where the whales were located.
Within 15 minutes of leaving the dock, we had our first sighting: two Minke whales. These are small, shy whales that we only saw in passing, but we saw them nonetheless. Right then I knew it was going to be a good sail.
Because of the relative rarity in these waters, our captain zeroed in on the Blue whales first and we quickly had two in view. They were really close to another whale watching boat and I got several pics of the whales and the boat in the same frame. We spent about 45 minutes following the spouts of the six or so giants, and we even saw one do a tail slap, which is very rare to see. Next, we targeted the Humpbacks whose spouts we saw all over the place. The Humpbacks were fishing in groups of two to four, so there was lots of action including multiple tail slapping. Over the course of the morning we probably saw 20 to 30 Humpbacks. Great fun. Also, I was able to capture an image of a Humpback and a Blue Whale in the same shot!
During all the whale action, Jan and I saw a very large bird fly past at deck level. The captain confirmed that it was a Black-Footed albatross. Way cool. On our way back we were also fortunate to see a pod of Risso dolphins. Check out the interesting markings in the photo.
Unlike many places that have to go out for hours to spot whales, in Monterey Bay (Morro Bay, as well) when the whales are in the area they are close—three to four miles out. Hence, it takes less time, is less stressful, and is very reasonably priced. Randy’s Fishing Trips was fine, www.randysfishingtrips.com, but I think you couldn’t go wrong taking any of the whale tours. I highly recommended whale watching in Monterey Bay.
Wharf Lunch
We ended our trip to Fisherman’s Wharf with cups of wonderful clam chowder (probably award winning :’>>>) along with fish and chips (fresh cod prepared just right). As we walked the wharf, I also had the chance to capture a half dozen action pup pics and a few more images of seals. Great trip.
Singapore/Thailand Call
In preparation for next week’s business trip, I had another Asia call, this week with managers in Singapore and Thailand. Different cultures view service and services differently, and customer expectations in parts of Asia are much different from those of North America or Europe. Hence, different approaches are required to meet customer needs, stay competitive, and yet profitably grow the business.
Tuesday
My early morning walk with the Pups was crisp, cloudy, and drizzly as we wandered around the nearly deserted fairgrounds. Mitzy and Jerry ran loose finding new sniffs and scaring up sea gulls.
Cannery Row Ocean Walk
Leaving the Kids in the coach, Jan and I drove down to Cannery Row, parked and did a one-hour walk first along the streets then along the Pacific. Harbor Seals and breaking waves on one side of us with quaint to gorgeous to magnificent homes on the other. Lots of pups and their parents were out taking their initial walk of the day.
Back to Work
I spent the bulk of the rest of the day doing consulting and training-related work.
Another Asia Call
I had my final client call of managers from Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. However, we had a bad echo in the WebEx technology that made clearly hearing next to impossible. We had to quit after 15 minutes of trying. When technology is good, it is very, very good, but when it is bad...
Wednesday
Frisbee Pups
Our camping neighbor, Marty, signed up for a pup shoot scheduled for 8:00 AM. His three pups love to play frisbee and show off their talents. Check it out in the Pups Across America section.
Computer Time
I spent the remainder of the day preparing for my next consulting engagements. Jan worked around the coach, ran some errands, than went off exploring with the Kids.
Pacific Grove
Late afternoon Jan drove me down to see the highlights of her earlier scouting trip. We first took the Pups for a nice walk along the big water in Pacific Grove, seeing a few boats and a few harbor seals in the water, with joggers, bicyclists, and pup parents walking their dogs on the path. We stopped for a glass of wine and some appetizers at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific (no parking fee), then Jan drove us on a stretch as pretty as 17 Mile Drive, going past the lighthouse and along a state beach. We admired the architecture that varied from Spanish, to Craftsman, to Cottage.
Thursday
Business
Once again my main focus was on my consulting business, with conference calls and program development my main emphasis.
Back to the Wharf
Late afternoon it was time for a break so we took the Kids down to Fisherman’s Wharf. The afternoon was overcast and chilly, and it appeared to have an impact, as there was a very light population of tourists walking about. After seeing all the sights on the wharf, we took a path in a park that adjoins the wharf and walked a couple of miles stopping to watch a couple of males seals vie for a female’s attention, pausing to admiring a passing handsome pup, and halting to admire a pet rabbit on a leash.
Friday
I walked the Pups in a light drizzle and formulated a plan. I had completed a project earlier in the morning, so work pressure was off. Although I’m sure that there are many, many more cool places to see close by, we felt as though we had seen enough in the immediate Monterey area. Furthermore, the expected inland temperatures looked good, in the mid-80s. Hence, we decided to take the drive to Pinnacles National Monument, about an hour and a half away. We completed all our morning chores by 8:30 AM and were in the car heading out.
Pinnacles National Monument
We followed Google’s suggestions and drove the 69 miles to Pinnacle National Monument north on Highway 1 to Castroville, then east on CA-156 through San Juan Bautista, then east and south through Ridgemark. We stopped at Flap Jack’s in Tres Pinos to buy sandwiches for later on, and met up with a Lab-Pit Bull mix named Remy. Quite a handsome nine-year old don’t you think?
Then we drove the few remaining miles past Paicines and parked by the ranger’s office at the Park. Inside I renewed our annual National Park Pass (the best $80 one can spend), picked up the brochure on the park, and got the skinny on what was going on in the area. The park is very quiet this time of year as temperatures often go into the 100s. Their biggest influx is in April-May when the weather is much cooler and the wildflowers are supposed to be magnificent. We drove the short distance to the Old Pinnacles Trailhead, and then headed over to Bear Gulch. I talked with another ranger as to which trail led to the highest probability of seeing one or a few of the park’s 26 California condors, and she recommended the Condor Gulch Trail that started directly across the road from where we parked. Since we had the Pups, Jan volunteered to stay with them, and I trekked the 1.7 miles up the trail that ended in an overlook of the canyon. Turning around, I saw four really big birds flying a really long way away over and among some really big rocks. I watched the condor’s soar for 10 minutes or so, admiring their grace and imagining the fun this almost extinct species was having. On my way down I spotted a pair of Peregrine falcons, taking advantage of the breeze, soaring over the canyon. I had never seen California condors or Peregrine falcons, so this was a pretty good bird-watching day for me.
While I was gone, there was excitement back at the base station. Jan and the Pups were taking a walk and saw something slithering a few feet away—rattler! Now being pros at dealing with this situation, all three of them calmly watched as the reptile continued on her mission. Nothing can bother this reptile-experienced trio :>>. This is a very interesting park and one that I recommend. www.nps.gov/pinn/
Deciding to take a different route home we turned south on 25 then angled southwest on G-13 to Kings City where we picked up 101 North then 68 West at Salinas taking us back home. Just another great day.
Jan’s Big Night Out
As occurred last week just after we had settled into our campsite, a flea market popped up within 100 feet of our site. I was tired after a long, fun day, and fighting off a scratchy throat. Jan had gone out and bought me some hot-hot Chinese soup, and I was quite comfortable hanging out and relaxing. Jan is not a big fan of Chinese food, so she went to the flea market food stands to score some tacos and other Mexican delights. She came back with a plate of tacos, a huge stuffed potato, and bag of roasted nuts, and a pair of new tights. After eating she decided that the $14 tights were such a good deal that she went out to buy another pair. An hour later, she came back with not only another pair of tights, but a signed poster from the band Recuencia Musical Dedurango! As the only blond in the crowd, she was quite a hit dancing and chatting with the musicians. That’s my girl! Got to YouTube and check them out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ku32sWFSjs&feature=related
Saturday
Up the Coast
Late morning, Jan pointed the coach north, and we drove the 109 miles on Highway One to our RV Park in Pacifica, just south of San Francisco. Gorgeous drive that rivals our trip from Morro Bay to Monterey. Ho hum...another RV park with a view of the ocean...we shall survive.
Just a wonderful week.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
Lots of good pups this week, but we had an especially fun time shooting our camping neighbor Marty’s three Frisbee-loving pups. Check out the photos of Sheila, MoJo, and Cody Bear.
Schedule Your Pup Shoots
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents that might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
Wow, this was a tough one for me this week. Because of the rarity of seeing both a Humpback and a Blue whale together, “Humpy and Blue” is my favorite is.
CAMPER’S CORNER: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
There are two distinct camping areas at the fairgrounds, and as I write this the lower level with room for 30 rigs is empty except for us. Man, we have the space! The good news is that it is full hook ups, lots of room to spread out, and plenty of space to walk the Pups. Furthermore, it is inexpensive by California standards, and you can pick up a few TV stations over the airwaves. Importantly, it is very close and convenient to most all the major sites. They lock the gates late at night, but during the day and evening anybody can come and go. All things considered, though, I’d recommend it as a good base to explore the Monterey area
www.montereycountyfair.com/facility-tour-a-rv-parking/rv-parking
HEADLIGHTS
July 10 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Sheila, MoJo, and Cody Bear
Favorite Photograph - Humpy and Blue
Camper’s Corner - Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: San Francisco and beyond
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Stop: San Francisco RV Park, Pacifica, CA
Sunday
Cannery Row
We loaded up the Pups mid-morning and drove the Element a few short miles down to Cannery Row in Monterey. It had been over 20 years since we had been to this location made famous by a Steinbeck novel and it was fun to re-visit (somewhat) familiar ground. This time of day there were only a few folks out, so we strolled around at our own pace, looking out to sea, peering into shops, and checking out restaurants for future visits. This is a must if you are in the area. Easily worth a couple hours or a full day. Although we didn’t visit it this time, the aquarium is world-class. www.canneryrow.com
17 Mile Drive
After our walking tour we brought the Pups back to the coach, freshened up and drove the car to 17 Mile Drive. Just as we started this famous driving tour, the fog started coming in off the water. The first two scenic vistas on the motor trail were nothing but walls of gray, and I feared that our entire trip might be more of the same. However, as quickly as the fog had come in it moved out, and the remainder of our trip was clear although windy and a little chilly.
Because it was still morning, the traffic was light so we were able to stop and go from vista to vista at our own pace with no hassles with traffic. This drive was as pretty as I remembered, with white sand, blue sea, breaking waters, birds flapping in the air, and seals barking and grunting on the rocks. This is what I think of when I think of California.
Pebble Beach Lunch
It was late morning as we finished up the drive, so we pulled into Pebble Beach for lunch. Jan grabbed the last space in the parking lot and we walked into the lodge scouting out our meal-taking options. We selected the Stilwater Grill because we were able to get a table by the window overlooking the 18th green of Pebble Beach.
Here we watched foursomes of golfers make their last few shots of a probably memorable round. As the golfers reading this blog know well, Pebble Beach is hallowed ground to those who love the sport. It is probably in the top 10 “love to play” (bucket list) courses in the world for those devoted to golf. So picture this scenario: You and your three best golfing buddies have talked about playing Pebble Beach for years. After some serious procrastination you decide to do it, and lo and behold you get tee times for Sunday morning, July 4th! Besides the substantial green fees and the vitally necessary accessories purchased for the occasion, there is airfare for eight (you have to take the wives because you can’t leave them home on a holiday), rental cars, lodging at the exclusive Pebble Beach Lodge, dining charges from exquisite restaurants, and fees for deluxe spa packages (you can’t be out playing golf and expect the wives to sit around doing nothing, can you?). With that as background, visualize coming up the 18th fairway. You are playing the round of your life—you are tied with your buddies after 17 holes. A bogey will earn you 12 bucks in bets for the day but give you bragging rights for the next 50 years. Ninety-five yards out and feeling loose and confident with your trusty wedge in hand, you are halfway through your back swing when two young hooligans come running and hollering out from nowhere on to the green! The distraction ruins your concentration, and your wayward swing shanks your ball into the sand trap. Still shaken up and pumped full of adrenaline, you power your next shot not only out of the trap but over the green. Your shoulders sag as the truth sinks in…defeat!
Well, the above didn’t happen, but I thought it would make a good story :’>>>.
However, all golf aficionados would have been mortified if they viewed the crowds of people we saw totally ignoring approaching golfers as they continued taking group pictures right on the edge of the green (flashes popping) while a couple youngsters from their group played in the sand trap! Quite the show...
We both had the Grill’s special buffet and feasted on a variety of foods from sushi to ceviche to raw oysters to chilled jumbo shrimp to grilled sausages, baked halibut, oven roasted beef with special BBQ sauce, barbequed rack of lamb and on and on. This was the best buffet I remember having. Combining the cuisine with the view, the outstanding service, and the special holiday day, this was a meal to remember. I don’t know if it can be duplicated, but I’d sure try. The whole morning experience is highly recommended. www.pebblebeach.com.
Monday
Whales on My Mind
I had been thinking a lot about how much fun our whale watching had been last week in Morro Bay and decided to do a little research about whales in Monterey Bay. After about an hour on the Internet, I made up my mind that we needed to try it again, as Humpbacks seemed to love this area and there were Blue whale sightings all over the place. Plus there were about a dozen places offering whale tours—a good sign of a viable business meaning that there had to be lots of whales to keep getting people to sign up. By 7:00 AM I had us signed up for the three-hour, 10:00 tour at Randy’s Fishing Trips.
Marketing Call
Multi-tasking was called for, as I had several things to accomplish in a short period of time. While Jan drove us to the wharf, I participated in our Monday morning marketing call where we talked about upcoming workshops, training, and webinars, along with the technology improvements to both of my blogs. All is under the capable control of Suzanne and David, so no worries on my part.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Once we found a nearby parking lot and I fed enough dollar bills into the machine to keep us legal till 2:12 PM (I don’t think there is a free parking place in the county), we strolled our way down along the water toward the wharf. We heard the loud barking long before we spotted the seals lounging on the sand and the rocks—must have been at least 50 either sleeping, sunning, swimming, or strutting.
After enjoying the seal action for awhile, we walked down the wharf where the storefronts were busily preparing for the tourists, selling coffee, pastries, and a variety of sandwiches—the smell of fish competed evenly with the smell of Starbucks. I bet we passed at least six restaurants all touting their awards as the best clam chowder on the wharf. We signed in at Randy’s, stopped by the public restroom (always a good idea before a boat ride :’>>>), then boarded our seafaring vessel.
Whale Watching
About 50 of us passengers rode out of the harbor past more seals, motoring along at about 12 knots the four miles out to the first sighting. It was chilly (glad I had put on my long underwear and two jackets with hoods), the skies were overcast, and the seas were smooth, with only the gentle roll of four-foot waves. Three other whale-watching boats were out this morning, and like the good businessmen they are, they shared information as to where the whales were located.
Within 15 minutes of leaving the dock, we had our first sighting: two Minke whales. These are small, shy whales that we only saw in passing, but we saw them nonetheless. Right then I knew it was going to be a good sail.
Because of the relative rarity in these waters, our captain zeroed in on the Blue whales first and we quickly had two in view. They were really close to another whale watching boat and I got several pics of the whales and the boat in the same frame. We spent about 45 minutes following the spouts of the six or so giants, and we even saw one do a tail slap, which is very rare to see. Next, we targeted the Humpbacks whose spouts we saw all over the place. The Humpbacks were fishing in groups of two to four, so there was lots of action including multiple tail slapping. Over the course of the morning we probably saw 20 to 30 Humpbacks. Great fun. Also, I was able to capture an image of a Humpback and a Blue Whale in the same shot!
During all the whale action, Jan and I saw a very large bird fly past at deck level. The captain confirmed that it was a Black-Footed albatross. Way cool. On our way back we were also fortunate to see a pod of Risso dolphins. Check out the interesting markings in the photo.
Unlike many places that have to go out for hours to spot whales, in Monterey Bay (Morro Bay, as well) when the whales are in the area they are close—three to four miles out. Hence, it takes less time, is less stressful, and is very reasonably priced. Randy’s Fishing Trips was fine, www.randysfishingtrips.com, but I think you couldn’t go wrong taking any of the whale tours. I highly recommended whale watching in Monterey Bay.
Wharf Lunch
We ended our trip to Fisherman’s Wharf with cups of wonderful clam chowder (probably award winning :’>>>) along with fish and chips (fresh cod prepared just right). As we walked the wharf, I also had the chance to capture a half dozen action pup pics and a few more images of seals. Great trip.
Singapore/Thailand Call
In preparation for next week’s business trip, I had another Asia call, this week with managers in Singapore and Thailand. Different cultures view service and services differently, and customer expectations in parts of Asia are much different from those of North America or Europe. Hence, different approaches are required to meet customer needs, stay competitive, and yet profitably grow the business.
Tuesday
My early morning walk with the Pups was crisp, cloudy, and drizzly as we wandered around the nearly deserted fairgrounds. Mitzy and Jerry ran loose finding new sniffs and scaring up sea gulls.
Cannery Row Ocean Walk
Leaving the Kids in the coach, Jan and I drove down to Cannery Row, parked and did a one-hour walk first along the streets then along the Pacific. Harbor Seals and breaking waves on one side of us with quaint to gorgeous to magnificent homes on the other. Lots of pups and their parents were out taking their initial walk of the day.
Back to Work
I spent the bulk of the rest of the day doing consulting and training-related work.
Another Asia Call
I had my final client call of managers from Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. However, we had a bad echo in the WebEx technology that made clearly hearing next to impossible. We had to quit after 15 minutes of trying. When technology is good, it is very, very good, but when it is bad...
Wednesday
Frisbee Pups
Our camping neighbor, Marty, signed up for a pup shoot scheduled for 8:00 AM. His three pups love to play frisbee and show off their talents. Check it out in the Pups Across America section.
Computer Time
I spent the remainder of the day preparing for my next consulting engagements. Jan worked around the coach, ran some errands, than went off exploring with the Kids.
Pacific Grove
Late afternoon Jan drove me down to see the highlights of her earlier scouting trip. We first took the Pups for a nice walk along the big water in Pacific Grove, seeing a few boats and a few harbor seals in the water, with joggers, bicyclists, and pup parents walking their dogs on the path. We stopped for a glass of wine and some appetizers at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific (no parking fee), then Jan drove us on a stretch as pretty as 17 Mile Drive, going past the lighthouse and along a state beach. We admired the architecture that varied from Spanish, to Craftsman, to Cottage.
Thursday
Business
Once again my main focus was on my consulting business, with conference calls and program development my main emphasis.
Back to the Wharf
Late afternoon it was time for a break so we took the Kids down to Fisherman’s Wharf. The afternoon was overcast and chilly, and it appeared to have an impact, as there was a very light population of tourists walking about. After seeing all the sights on the wharf, we took a path in a park that adjoins the wharf and walked a couple of miles stopping to watch a couple of males seals vie for a female’s attention, pausing to admiring a passing handsome pup, and halting to admire a pet rabbit on a leash.
Friday
I walked the Pups in a light drizzle and formulated a plan. I had completed a project earlier in the morning, so work pressure was off. Although I’m sure that there are many, many more cool places to see close by, we felt as though we had seen enough in the immediate Monterey area. Furthermore, the expected inland temperatures looked good, in the mid-80s. Hence, we decided to take the drive to Pinnacles National Monument, about an hour and a half away. We completed all our morning chores by 8:30 AM and were in the car heading out.
Pinnacles National Monument
We followed Google’s suggestions and drove the 69 miles to Pinnacle National Monument north on Highway 1 to Castroville, then east on CA-156 through San Juan Bautista, then east and south through Ridgemark. We stopped at Flap Jack’s in Tres Pinos to buy sandwiches for later on, and met up with a Lab-Pit Bull mix named Remy. Quite a handsome nine-year old don’t you think?
Then we drove the few remaining miles past Paicines and parked by the ranger’s office at the Park. Inside I renewed our annual National Park Pass (the best $80 one can spend), picked up the brochure on the park, and got the skinny on what was going on in the area. The park is very quiet this time of year as temperatures often go into the 100s. Their biggest influx is in April-May when the weather is much cooler and the wildflowers are supposed to be magnificent. We drove the short distance to the Old Pinnacles Trailhead, and then headed over to Bear Gulch. I talked with another ranger as to which trail led to the highest probability of seeing one or a few of the park’s 26 California condors, and she recommended the Condor Gulch Trail that started directly across the road from where we parked. Since we had the Pups, Jan volunteered to stay with them, and I trekked the 1.7 miles up the trail that ended in an overlook of the canyon. Turning around, I saw four really big birds flying a really long way away over and among some really big rocks. I watched the condor’s soar for 10 minutes or so, admiring their grace and imagining the fun this almost extinct species was having. On my way down I spotted a pair of Peregrine falcons, taking advantage of the breeze, soaring over the canyon. I had never seen California condors or Peregrine falcons, so this was a pretty good bird-watching day for me.
While I was gone, there was excitement back at the base station. Jan and the Pups were taking a walk and saw something slithering a few feet away—rattler! Now being pros at dealing with this situation, all three of them calmly watched as the reptile continued on her mission. Nothing can bother this reptile-experienced trio :>>. This is a very interesting park and one that I recommend. www.nps.gov/pinn/
Deciding to take a different route home we turned south on 25 then angled southwest on G-13 to Kings City where we picked up 101 North then 68 West at Salinas taking us back home. Just another great day.
Jan’s Big Night Out
As occurred last week just after we had settled into our campsite, a flea market popped up within 100 feet of our site. I was tired after a long, fun day, and fighting off a scratchy throat. Jan had gone out and bought me some hot-hot Chinese soup, and I was quite comfortable hanging out and relaxing. Jan is not a big fan of Chinese food, so she went to the flea market food stands to score some tacos and other Mexican delights. She came back with a plate of tacos, a huge stuffed potato, and bag of roasted nuts, and a pair of new tights. After eating she decided that the $14 tights were such a good deal that she went out to buy another pair. An hour later, she came back with not only another pair of tights, but a signed poster from the band Recuencia Musical Dedurango! As the only blond in the crowd, she was quite a hit dancing and chatting with the musicians. That’s my girl! Got to YouTube and check them out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ku32sWFSjs&feature=related
Saturday
Up the Coast
Late morning, Jan pointed the coach north, and we drove the 109 miles on Highway One to our RV Park in Pacifica, just south of San Francisco. Gorgeous drive that rivals our trip from Morro Bay to Monterey. Ho hum...another RV park with a view of the ocean...we shall survive.
Just a wonderful week.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
Lots of good pups this week, but we had an especially fun time shooting our camping neighbor Marty’s three Frisbee-loving pups. Check out the photos of Sheila, MoJo, and Cody Bear.
Schedule Your Pup Shoots
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents that might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
Wow, this was a tough one for me this week. Because of the rarity of seeing both a Humpback and a Blue whale together, “Humpy and Blue” is my favorite is.
CAMPER’S CORNER: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
There are two distinct camping areas at the fairgrounds, and as I write this the lower level with room for 30 rigs is empty except for us. Man, we have the space! The good news is that it is full hook ups, lots of room to spread out, and plenty of space to walk the Pups. Furthermore, it is inexpensive by California standards, and you can pick up a few TV stations over the airwaves. Importantly, it is very close and convenient to most all the major sites. They lock the gates late at night, but during the day and evening anybody can come and go. All things considered, though, I’d recommend it as a good base to explore the Monterey area
www.montereycountyfair.com/facility-tour-a-rv-parking/rv-parking
HEADLIGHTS
July 10 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica, CA
www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
WEEK TWELVE: A ROCK, A WHALE, AND A MARIACHI BAND
Sunday, July 04, 2010
New Travel Blog: I’m pleased to say that we’ve made some improvements to the travel blog. We switched to a new provider with a new format in an attempt to make it easier to read. I hope you like it. Also we added what many of you requested, a way to be notified by e-mail when a new blog is posted:
New Blog Entry Notifications
If you would like to be notified when a new blog entry is added you can either:
1. Go halfway down the right-hand side and enter your e-mail address—the system will make sure that it is secure. You only have to do it once.
2. Or...Go further down the right-hand side and click on the RSS button. Sorry, but if you subscribed on the old one via RSS you will need to do again (but only once).
Blog Comments
If you would like to know when people make comments, go to the bottom of the blog and sign up there either via e-mail or RSS.
Have Suggestions, Questions, or Comment?
Please post them in the comment section of the blog. Thanks for motoring along with us.
CONTENTS
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Charlie and Steinbeck
Favorite Photograph - Morro Bay Sunset
Camper’s Corner - Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: San Francisco and beyond
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
Stop: Morro Dunes RV Park, Morro Bay, CA
Stop: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Sunday
Out the Door Early
When I took the Little Ones out early it was just them and me, a dolphin and the sea. I watched a solitary dolphin fish swim back and forth over and over again as he/she fished for breakfast. Back at the coach it was time to get ready to motor.
Heading North
From our campground exit, Jan turned BALY right, heading north on the Pacific Coach Highway (CA 1) driving along the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains to our right. At Ventura we picked up the 101 for 40 miles with the rolling waves of the Pacific to our left. Just past Santa Barbara we headed west by northwest on the scenic CA 154. Brown and green mountains, vineyards, and the vibrant blue waters of Chumash Lake. Past Los Olivos we got back on the 101 for close to 60 miles of moderate traffic, good roads, and always something to look at. Through Santa Maria, by Nipoma, past Pismo Beach, and up to San Luis Obispo, where we turned on CA 1 again for the last dozen miles to Morro Bay. Right off the beach by the Morro Rock we set up camp at the Morro Bay RV Park. Although it was mid-afternoon in the summer, it was light jacket weather for us as we explored our home for the next few days.
Monday
5:15—coffee made, camera gear ready. I had been awakened by the hooting of an owl and was looking forward to getting shots of “The Rock,” the most famous site in this area.
Beach Run
The Little Ones heard me put my jacket on and rushed to the front of the coach, anxious not to miss out on an early morning walk. As the literature says is typical of this area, I was met with fog as I opened the door. Leaving the camera gear inside, I hooked up the Pups, walked through the park and took them out to the beach that adjoins the campground. Not much activity. I saw just one surfer putting on his wet suit, then running to the water. We walked pass the shore birds, and down at water’s edge I unleashed the Pups. No rattlesnakes or coyotes here! They both took off with Mitzy pedaling her little legs like a plow horse heading for the feed bunk, while Jerry shot off like a thoroughbred on a race track. They had a great time running at full gallop while occasionally stopping to explore the sniff of a fish carcass or some other strange marine object raised from the deep and brought in by the tide.
Back to the Beach
A little later Jan and I put on our jackets and took a walk down the beach. I took my camera and got a few foggy shots in while the surf roared in our ears. A large section of the beach is fenced off in an attempt to provide a safe and suitable nesting place for the Snowy Plovers.
Weekly Call
At 9:00 I had my weekly marketing call where we discussed upcoming workshops, webinars, articles, and social media. The rest of the morning I worked on tailoring a selling services training program for a client.
Shoot the Rock
After a couple of hours I needed a break. Checking the weather, the fog had cleared and almost all The Rock was visible. So I grabbed my imaging equipment and walked out to take various shots of the rocks, the people, and the shore birds.
Out to Lunch
We decided to do a little exploring, so we got in the car and headed east on 41, driving 15 minutes or so to Atascadero. We drove around a little then found a place for lunch called Sylvester’s Burgers. Their specialty was burgers—beef, buffalo, chicken, or vegetable. The nice thing was that they had outside shaded seating, and they were dog-friendly. Hence, the Pups were with us and got their fair share of our meals. It was a pretty drive there and back complete with small mountains, wildflowers in full color, some old gangster-looking cars that looked they had pulled over for a picnic lunch, plus some dinosaurs on display that made me think of BP executives pondering the fate of the small people :<<<
Exploring Morro Bay
Upon our return, we took a short vehicular tour exploring the town of Morro Bay. Like most places on the water, there was a touristy section complete with stores selling taffy and fudge. Deciding to walk the town later in the week, we went back to BALY. While Jan went for groceries, I took the Pups out once again for a walk along the beach.
Tuesday
Beach Run
I think I started something! About 5:30 a.m. both Pups got out of bed to tell me it was time to go out. I sensed they knew another beach run was in the plans. Taking my camera, we went out into the morning mist and back down along the water. Checking to see that we were far away from the three or four other people out walking, I let them off their leashes once again. Big smile across his face, Jerry was off like a cannon, running big circles and kicking up sand. He was just a pleasure to watch as his pent up energy fueled his long legs—it seemed as if he was flying. Mitzy also ran her hardest, although the end speed was considerably slower :’>>>.
On the Keyboard
Most of the rest of the day was all consulting/training work related.
Jo’s Return
Late afternoon our friend Jo drove up from LA—she just couldn’t get enough of us! After catching up on the last few days, we drove a mile or so to a seafood restaurant down by the fishing wharf. After a nice meal and sharing a bottle of Pinot Grigio, we went back to the beach and I took a few sunset shots. Pretty end to a nice day.
Wednesday
My early morning walk with the Pups was a misty one, just on the verge of light rain. Again the beach was mainly empty and the Kids enjoyed their run.
Hearst Castle
Mid-morning we left the Pups in the coach, and the three humans in our pack drove the Element north through Cayuga, Cambria, and on to the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, commonly known as the Hearst Castle. This place is quite the enterprise! Hundreds and hundreds of tourists from all over the world queued up to buy tickets for the movie documenting the background on the Hearsts, purchase souvenirs, eat, and of course take one of their tours. After we watched the half-hour movie, we loaded up on a bus and trudged up the mountain. This place is unbelievable! Over-the-top does not describe it, so I will not try. However, if you are anywhere near the area, it is worth seeing. www.hearstcastle.org
Cambria Lunch
By the time we finished up at the Castle, we were all hungry. So we re-traced our route south, stopping off at the village of Cambria for a tasty, leisurely lunch. From there we headed back to our campground by the sea.
Thursday
Beach Walk
I guess I’m falling into a pattern...out the door at dawn with the Kids into a cool morning, and then out on the beach for our walk. Mainly just us, a few birds, and the roaring, crashing waves all shrouded in a light fog.
Whale Watching
Jo stayed with the Pups at the coach, resting from a bad sinus condition, while Jan I and drove down to the harbor where we boarded a boat for a whale watching tour. Humpbacks are a normal visitor to the Morro Bay waters this time of year, but in the last few weeks they had been seeing blue whales, and Jan and I both wanted to take our chances at sighting one ourselves. As we got out of the protection of the harbor, the wind and the waves steadily increased. About a mile out we were in ten-foot waves and the captain told us that we may have to turn around for safety reasons and if that were the case we’d all get rain checks. However, he ventured on, and the size of the waves didn’t decrease, but they didn’t increase either. So, at one to two knots we rode up the waves to their crest, then down to their troughs. There were 22 of us in a 32-foot power catamaran, and the captain did a stellar job of finding the right angles and adjusting speed to keep most of the water in the ocean and minimizing the on-deck motion caused by the 15-foot swells. In spite of his prowess, over one-fourth of the passengers bowed over the railing or prayed into the white bucket, paying tribute to Neptune. Luckily we were not a part of this select group.
In spite of the rough ride, it was a glorious day to be out on the water. A fresh salt breeze and the deep blues of the Pacific lightened our spirits as we continued on our quest. After scanning the horizons for over an hour, the captain and a few of us sighted our first blow. The captain said because of the size and height, it had to be from a blue whale—the hunt was on. Because of the seas, we were limited to a couple knots of speed. Therefore, by the time we got close to where the whale had surfaced, she was back under the water, consuming krill out of our sight. A few minutes later she spouted again, however, she was quite a distance from our current location. We were instructed to keep looking in all locations as whale routes were totally unpredictable, but to pay close attention to the krill, layers of purplish burgundy so thick that the seagulls were able to stand on them. We would spot the blow, motor over, then sight the spout in another location. this went on several times. We were able to see the fins a couple of times, and once we were close enough to see this huge light blue body the size of an aircraft carrier’s landing deck come out of the water. Alas, I got no pictures that were keepers, but the memory is sure imprinted on my mind. A wonderful trip and a great deal at $30 per person. I’d recommend it. http://www.subseatours.com/whales/whales.html.
Australia Call
That evening I had a call with a country manager and service manager in Australia/New Zealand plus a couple of other execs from a client I’m working with to help improve their services businesses in Asia. Great group of people.
Friday
Sunny Stroll
Wow! We had sunshine for our morning walk! Just another beautiful day. Before hitting the road, we made one last trip down to the beach. Here we were fortunate to meet Boomer, a Jerry look-alike rat terrier, and Boomer’s wild two-year old female sister. They did the usual dog greeting consisting of a short stare-down combined with 360-degree sniffs. We talked briefly with their Pup Parent, then it was in the rig, heading north on Highway One.
Highway One North
We passed the pretty beaches of Cayucos again, drove by Cambria and up past the Hearst Castle. We had planned to stop at a vista point where the elephant seals had claimed the rocks. Sadly, though, there was no place big enough for us to park BALY, so we reluctantly drove on. In most places the highway was quite narrow, and tight curves were the norm. However, the magnificent view of the deep blue/turquoise Pacific, the waves crashing against the shore, and the brilliant colors of the flowers that adorned the roadside and hills more than made up for the 15-to-30-miles-per-hour trip. It was 122 miles of sheer beauty. Very highly recommended.
(Note: It would have been interesting to have recorded our conversation then have a qualitative researcher do a thematic analysis of what was heard. “Wow!”, “Gorgeous,” “Just Beautiful,” “Awesome,” and “OMG!” were probably repeated in the dozens.)
Flea Market Festival Friday
Reservations over the 4th of July were tough, but Jan set us up at the Monterey Fairgrounds. We met the camp hosts, Bill and Cat, their Irish Wolfhound female puppy, Darby, and a couple of rabbits (they have more critters that I’m sure we will meet later). We picked our site and were set up in no time. Luckily there is a strong Verizon signal for our MiFi. The good news is that directly across from our rig (I mean within 50 feet) are a couple of bounce houses and a Mexican flea market. A mariachi band was cranking out music, and the smell of tacos was in the air. After our couple of games of gin rummy we walked through the market, bought some mango and coconut juice, and some tacos for the whole family, which we took back to BALY and quickly devoured. Really good eating.
Saturday
First Exploration
Aside from driving in, parking, and walking to the flea market, we hadn’t seen much yet. So after doing some work on the computer, the Pups and I went out early to do some exploring. We pretty much walked the entire fairgrounds, among the other campsites, by the pavilions, and along the many walks.
National Steinbeck Center
Mid-morning we left the Kids in charge of BALY and drove east on CA 68 to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. The museum was very well done, showing the link between Steinbeck’s family and experiences and his works. The museum was broken down into themes around his most significant works using select verbiage from his books to tell his message in an interesting format. I’ve never read about his travel across the country with his dog Charlie, Travels with Charley, in a pick-up camper, but now I’m inspired to do so. Have any of you read it? I’d like to hear your thoughts if you have.
I’d highly recommend spending a few hours at the Steinbeck Center for anyone who admires his work. www.steinbeck.org
Mission Mission
After a wonderful lunch, we went exploring, heading out of town going NW on CA 183. Deciding we wanted a specific mission, Jan suggested that we go see a real mission, stating that one of the 21 missions in California was close. So at Castroville we hung a right and drove the short distance to San Juan Bautista to see the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. The town is old, quiet, and quaint—a real welcome change of pace from the bustle of the larger California metro areas. The self-guided tour was interesting, and we saw the church, chapel, graveyard, and gardens of this mission founded in 1797. Worthwhile time spent, and I’d recommend everyone in California visit at least one of the 21 missions founded in California that are along the 600-mile mission trail, El Camino Real. Here is the URL for the one in San Juan Bautista: www.oldmissionsjb.org
Trivial Question: Who knows what famous movie was filmed at this mission in 1957? Add a comment if you do.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
After seeing the Steinbeck Center and the exhibit around Travels With Charley, I thought it only fitting that a travel blog feature a famous traveling dog. Hence, I’ve included my picture of the picture of Charley and Steinbeck that is on display in the museum.
Schedule Your Pup Shoot
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
Know other Pup Parents who might enjoy this blog? Please spread the word.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
My favorite is Morro Bay Sunset. Anyone else have a comment?
CAMPER’S CORNER: Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
This is one of the prettiest parks that we have stayed in with the Pacific dominating every view. Full hook-ups, cable TV, whirlpool, and great trails that link up with the States. However, many of the sites are quite narrow, so hope for good neighbors and be creative about placing your picnic table and so on. Also, it is pricey and they have lots and lots of rules—many more than needed. Yet, because of the great location and the magnificent view, you can overlook the shortcomings for a few days. I recommend it. www.maliburv.com/
HEADLIGHTS
July 2 thru July 9
Monterey Fair Grounds, Monterey, CA
July 10 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Park, Pacifica, CA
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.
New Blog Entry Notifications
If you would like to be notified when a new blog entry is added you can either:
1. Go halfway down the right-hand side and enter your e-mail address—the system will make sure that it is secure. You only have to do it once.
2. Or...Go further down the right-hand side and click on the RSS button. Sorry, but if you subscribed on the old one via RSS you will need to do again (but only once).
Blog Comments
If you would like to know when people make comments, go to the bottom of the blog and sign up there either via e-mail or RSS.
Have Suggestions, Questions, or Comment?
Please post them in the comment section of the blog. Thanks for motoring along with us.
CONTENTS
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Charlie and Steinbeck
Favorite Photograph - Morro Bay Sunset
Camper’s Corner - Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading: San Francisco and beyond
REARVIEW MIRROR
Start: Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
Stop: Morro Dunes RV Park, Morro Bay, CA
Stop: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Sunday
Out the Door Early
When I took the Little Ones out early it was just them and me, a dolphin and the sea. I watched a solitary dolphin fish swim back and forth over and over again as he/she fished for breakfast. Back at the coach it was time to get ready to motor.
Heading North
From our campground exit, Jan turned BALY right, heading north on the Pacific Coach Highway (CA 1) driving along the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains to our right. At Ventura we picked up the 101 for 40 miles with the rolling waves of the Pacific to our left. Just past Santa Barbara we headed west by northwest on the scenic CA 154. Brown and green mountains, vineyards, and the vibrant blue waters of Chumash Lake. Past Los Olivos we got back on the 101 for close to 60 miles of moderate traffic, good roads, and always something to look at. Through Santa Maria, by Nipoma, past Pismo Beach, and up to San Luis Obispo, where we turned on CA 1 again for the last dozen miles to Morro Bay. Right off the beach by the Morro Rock we set up camp at the Morro Bay RV Park. Although it was mid-afternoon in the summer, it was light jacket weather for us as we explored our home for the next few days.
Monday
5:15—coffee made, camera gear ready. I had been awakened by the hooting of an owl and was looking forward to getting shots of “The Rock,” the most famous site in this area.
Beach Run
The Little Ones heard me put my jacket on and rushed to the front of the coach, anxious not to miss out on an early morning walk. As the literature says is typical of this area, I was met with fog as I opened the door. Leaving the camera gear inside, I hooked up the Pups, walked through the park and took them out to the beach that adjoins the campground. Not much activity. I saw just one surfer putting on his wet suit, then running to the water. We walked pass the shore birds, and down at water’s edge I unleashed the Pups. No rattlesnakes or coyotes here! They both took off with Mitzy pedaling her little legs like a plow horse heading for the feed bunk, while Jerry shot off like a thoroughbred on a race track. They had a great time running at full gallop while occasionally stopping to explore the sniff of a fish carcass or some other strange marine object raised from the deep and brought in by the tide.
Back to the Beach
A little later Jan and I put on our jackets and took a walk down the beach. I took my camera and got a few foggy shots in while the surf roared in our ears. A large section of the beach is fenced off in an attempt to provide a safe and suitable nesting place for the Snowy Plovers.
Weekly Call
At 9:00 I had my weekly marketing call where we discussed upcoming workshops, webinars, articles, and social media. The rest of the morning I worked on tailoring a selling services training program for a client.
Shoot the Rock
After a couple of hours I needed a break. Checking the weather, the fog had cleared and almost all The Rock was visible. So I grabbed my imaging equipment and walked out to take various shots of the rocks, the people, and the shore birds.
Out to Lunch
We decided to do a little exploring, so we got in the car and headed east on 41, driving 15 minutes or so to Atascadero. We drove around a little then found a place for lunch called Sylvester’s Burgers. Their specialty was burgers—beef, buffalo, chicken, or vegetable. The nice thing was that they had outside shaded seating, and they were dog-friendly. Hence, the Pups were with us and got their fair share of our meals. It was a pretty drive there and back complete with small mountains, wildflowers in full color, some old gangster-looking cars that looked they had pulled over for a picnic lunch, plus some dinosaurs on display that made me think of BP executives pondering the fate of the small people :<<<
Exploring Morro Bay
Upon our return, we took a short vehicular tour exploring the town of Morro Bay. Like most places on the water, there was a touristy section complete with stores selling taffy and fudge. Deciding to walk the town later in the week, we went back to BALY. While Jan went for groceries, I took the Pups out once again for a walk along the beach.
Tuesday
Beach Run
I think I started something! About 5:30 a.m. both Pups got out of bed to tell me it was time to go out. I sensed they knew another beach run was in the plans. Taking my camera, we went out into the morning mist and back down along the water. Checking to see that we were far away from the three or four other people out walking, I let them off their leashes once again. Big smile across his face, Jerry was off like a cannon, running big circles and kicking up sand. He was just a pleasure to watch as his pent up energy fueled his long legs—it seemed as if he was flying. Mitzy also ran her hardest, although the end speed was considerably slower :’>>>.
On the Keyboard
Most of the rest of the day was all consulting/training work related.
Jo’s Return
Late afternoon our friend Jo drove up from LA—she just couldn’t get enough of us! After catching up on the last few days, we drove a mile or so to a seafood restaurant down by the fishing wharf. After a nice meal and sharing a bottle of Pinot Grigio, we went back to the beach and I took a few sunset shots. Pretty end to a nice day.
Wednesday
My early morning walk with the Pups was a misty one, just on the verge of light rain. Again the beach was mainly empty and the Kids enjoyed their run.
Hearst Castle
Mid-morning we left the Pups in the coach, and the three humans in our pack drove the Element north through Cayuga, Cambria, and on to the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, commonly known as the Hearst Castle. This place is quite the enterprise! Hundreds and hundreds of tourists from all over the world queued up to buy tickets for the movie documenting the background on the Hearsts, purchase souvenirs, eat, and of course take one of their tours. After we watched the half-hour movie, we loaded up on a bus and trudged up the mountain. This place is unbelievable! Over-the-top does not describe it, so I will not try. However, if you are anywhere near the area, it is worth seeing. www.hearstcastle.org
Cambria Lunch
By the time we finished up at the Castle, we were all hungry. So we re-traced our route south, stopping off at the village of Cambria for a tasty, leisurely lunch. From there we headed back to our campground by the sea.
Thursday
Beach Walk
I guess I’m falling into a pattern...out the door at dawn with the Kids into a cool morning, and then out on the beach for our walk. Mainly just us, a few birds, and the roaring, crashing waves all shrouded in a light fog.
Whale Watching
Jo stayed with the Pups at the coach, resting from a bad sinus condition, while Jan I and drove down to the harbor where we boarded a boat for a whale watching tour. Humpbacks are a normal visitor to the Morro Bay waters this time of year, but in the last few weeks they had been seeing blue whales, and Jan and I both wanted to take our chances at sighting one ourselves. As we got out of the protection of the harbor, the wind and the waves steadily increased. About a mile out we were in ten-foot waves and the captain told us that we may have to turn around for safety reasons and if that were the case we’d all get rain checks. However, he ventured on, and the size of the waves didn’t decrease, but they didn’t increase either. So, at one to two knots we rode up the waves to their crest, then down to their troughs. There were 22 of us in a 32-foot power catamaran, and the captain did a stellar job of finding the right angles and adjusting speed to keep most of the water in the ocean and minimizing the on-deck motion caused by the 15-foot swells. In spite of his prowess, over one-fourth of the passengers bowed over the railing or prayed into the white bucket, paying tribute to Neptune. Luckily we were not a part of this select group.
In spite of the rough ride, it was a glorious day to be out on the water. A fresh salt breeze and the deep blues of the Pacific lightened our spirits as we continued on our quest. After scanning the horizons for over an hour, the captain and a few of us sighted our first blow. The captain said because of the size and height, it had to be from a blue whale—the hunt was on. Because of the seas, we were limited to a couple knots of speed. Therefore, by the time we got close to where the whale had surfaced, she was back under the water, consuming krill out of our sight. A few minutes later she spouted again, however, she was quite a distance from our current location. We were instructed to keep looking in all locations as whale routes were totally unpredictable, but to pay close attention to the krill, layers of purplish burgundy so thick that the seagulls were able to stand on them. We would spot the blow, motor over, then sight the spout in another location. this went on several times. We were able to see the fins a couple of times, and once we were close enough to see this huge light blue body the size of an aircraft carrier’s landing deck come out of the water. Alas, I got no pictures that were keepers, but the memory is sure imprinted on my mind. A wonderful trip and a great deal at $30 per person. I’d recommend it. http://www.subseatours.com/whales/whales.html.
Australia Call
That evening I had a call with a country manager and service manager in Australia/New Zealand plus a couple of other execs from a client I’m working with to help improve their services businesses in Asia. Great group of people.
Friday
Sunny Stroll
Wow! We had sunshine for our morning walk! Just another beautiful day. Before hitting the road, we made one last trip down to the beach. Here we were fortunate to meet Boomer, a Jerry look-alike rat terrier, and Boomer’s wild two-year old female sister. They did the usual dog greeting consisting of a short stare-down combined with 360-degree sniffs. We talked briefly with their Pup Parent, then it was in the rig, heading north on Highway One.
Highway One North
We passed the pretty beaches of Cayucos again, drove by Cambria and up past the Hearst Castle. We had planned to stop at a vista point where the elephant seals had claimed the rocks. Sadly, though, there was no place big enough for us to park BALY, so we reluctantly drove on. In most places the highway was quite narrow, and tight curves were the norm. However, the magnificent view of the deep blue/turquoise Pacific, the waves crashing against the shore, and the brilliant colors of the flowers that adorned the roadside and hills more than made up for the 15-to-30-miles-per-hour trip. It was 122 miles of sheer beauty. Very highly recommended.
(Note: It would have been interesting to have recorded our conversation then have a qualitative researcher do a thematic analysis of what was heard. “Wow!”, “Gorgeous,” “Just Beautiful,” “Awesome,” and “OMG!” were probably repeated in the dozens.)
Flea Market Festival Friday
Reservations over the 4th of July were tough, but Jan set us up at the Monterey Fairgrounds. We met the camp hosts, Bill and Cat, their Irish Wolfhound female puppy, Darby, and a couple of rabbits (they have more critters that I’m sure we will meet later). We picked our site and were set up in no time. Luckily there is a strong Verizon signal for our MiFi. The good news is that directly across from our rig (I mean within 50 feet) are a couple of bounce houses and a Mexican flea market. A mariachi band was cranking out music, and the smell of tacos was in the air. After our couple of games of gin rummy we walked through the market, bought some mango and coconut juice, and some tacos for the whole family, which we took back to BALY and quickly devoured. Really good eating.
Saturday
First Exploration
Aside from driving in, parking, and walking to the flea market, we hadn’t seen much yet. So after doing some work on the computer, the Pups and I went out early to do some exploring. We pretty much walked the entire fairgrounds, among the other campsites, by the pavilions, and along the many walks.
National Steinbeck Center
Mid-morning we left the Kids in charge of BALY and drove east on CA 68 to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. The museum was very well done, showing the link between Steinbeck’s family and experiences and his works. The museum was broken down into themes around his most significant works using select verbiage from his books to tell his message in an interesting format. I’ve never read about his travel across the country with his dog Charlie, Travels with Charley, in a pick-up camper, but now I’m inspired to do so. Have any of you read it? I’d like to hear your thoughts if you have.
I’d highly recommend spending a few hours at the Steinbeck Center for anyone who admires his work. www.steinbeck.org
Mission Mission
After a wonderful lunch, we went exploring, heading out of town going NW on CA 183. Deciding we wanted a specific mission, Jan suggested that we go see a real mission, stating that one of the 21 missions in California was close. So at Castroville we hung a right and drove the short distance to San Juan Bautista to see the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. The town is old, quiet, and quaint—a real welcome change of pace from the bustle of the larger California metro areas. The self-guided tour was interesting, and we saw the church, chapel, graveyard, and gardens of this mission founded in 1797. Worthwhile time spent, and I’d recommend everyone in California visit at least one of the 21 missions founded in California that are along the 600-mile mission trail, El Camino Real. Here is the URL for the one in San Juan Bautista: www.oldmissionsjb.org
Trivial Question: Who knows what famous movie was filmed at this mission in 1957? Add a comment if you do.
PUPS ACROSS AMERICA!
After seeing the Steinbeck Center and the exhibit around Travels With Charley, I thought it only fitting that a travel blog feature a famous traveling dog. Hence, I’ve included my picture of the picture of Charley and Steinbeck that is on display in the museum.
Schedule Your Pup Shoot
Please e-mail me at alex@PupsAcrossAmerica or call me at 239-671-0740 to set up a shoot when we are in your area.
Pass the Word
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FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH
My favorite is Morro Bay Sunset. Anyone else have a comment?
CAMPER’S CORNER: Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu, CA
This is one of the prettiest parks that we have stayed in with the Pacific dominating every view. Full hook-ups, cable TV, whirlpool, and great trails that link up with the States. However, many of the sites are quite narrow, so hope for good neighbors and be creative about placing your picnic table and so on. Also, it is pricey and they have lots and lots of rules—many more than needed. Yet, because of the great location and the magnificent view, you can overlook the shortcomings for a few days. I recommend it. www.maliburv.com/
HEADLIGHTS
July 2 thru July 9
Monterey Fair Grounds, Monterey, CA
July 10 thru July 21
San Francisco RV Park, Pacifica, CA
July 22 thru 24
Napa Valley?
July 25 to September 17
???
September 18 thru September 25
Kalamazoo, MI
September 26 to 27
Cincinnati, OH
September 28 thru October 2
Lexington, KY
October 4 thru 6
Asheville, NC?
October 7 & 8
Charleston, SC?
October 10 & 11
Savannah, GA
October 12 thru 14
Apopka, FL?
October 15
Return to Pine Island?
Going to be near? Look us up. Have some suggestions concerning places to see? We are open.