Arriving to Wright’s Beach

After taking Mom to Vallejo for an acupuncture treatment we were on our way to the coast. This is a coastline of my childhood but it looks quite different from what I remember, that’s really no surprise! Our drive over was uneventful. It is wise to follow the standard route. John took us on a “shortcut” that was fine – paved road, in the very loose sense of the word – quite bumpy and rough, but we made it just fine. Our campsite (#8 at Wright’s Beach) is lovely. The sites are large with just a few bushes or trees in between but they are large sites with a table and a fire ring. We don’t have shade in our site and it was pretty warm when we arrived but there was a breeze so it felt quite nice. We have a panoramic view of the beach from our campsite. After setting up and relaxing a little bit we drove back to Bodega Bay and out to Bodega Head. How things have changed. It is still a small community but much, much larger than it used to be. I am surprised by all the boats in the marina, a very large marina. I called Mom from Bodega Head so she knows we have limited phone service and won’t worry about us. We headed back to town, John is hungry so we want to find a place outdoors so we can take Tony and not leave him in the car. The Tides has a small bar area with an unexciting outdoor area. I opted for the crab sliders and John had clam chowder and garlic fries. The young men sitting at the very edge of the railing had seagulls at their shoulders watching every bite! The waiter warned them not to leave their food for one second or it would be gone. The food was quite good, though the service was a little slow. I wonder why they don’t get better reviews. Technically we were “in the bar” though, not the restaurant. They did have fresh crab in the fish market inside. It was from Oregon and $35.98 a pound. I guess we won’t be having a crab feed any time soon. After dinner we went across the road to the only gas station we have seen to fill our gas can for the generator. Gas is $3.44 a gallon. Hard to believe since a friend of mine paid $2.49 in Maui last week! After we got back to camp we took a nice walk on the beach to see the sunset. The water is treacherous. In fact, the camp host said not to even get near it as they have had rogue waves and severe under toes. It certainly is churning and that is like I remember it being from my childhood. There were pelicans dipping for fish and a couple of seals out there too. Back at camp we sat outside for just a little while and then I got cold! What a great feeling! Time to go inside and read until bedtime.

Our Campsite

 

Sunset

About phone service: Apparently there is intermittent phone service here in our campsite, more OFF than ON. However, I noticed there was service this morning and I sent a quick email to Janice. By the time I tried to send a second email there was no further service. I can write a short email on my phone, leave it in my outbox and when service comes up again it will send it. Not very reliable! However, it also bring mail to my inbox that way so I will check a couple times a day. 

Where To Eat?

I thought when Janice and Mom came to visit us at Wright’s Beach we would take them to the Tides to eat. However, the reviews are poor! So I am looking for a new place. Will it be The Sandpiper or maybe The Blue Water Bistro or should it be the The Spud Point Crab Company or even The Birds Cafe? By the way, I ordered and we watched “The Birds” the other day so we would have the full effect of our visit!!! Decisions, decisions about dining!!! Maybe a bottle of red wine, cheese, and French bread? We’ll see! Anyway, I am excited to see some of these places from my childhood along the coast, which I have not seen for years.

The Napa Valley Wine Train

Today we took a lovely lunch time trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Before boarding we met an interesting couple from Dubai, I should say a family as there were 4 in this family. Too bad we didn’t see them after our initial meeting as they would have been interesting to talk to. We left Napa at the appointed time relaxing in the stuffed swivel chairs in the lounge car. We had our delicious appetizer with a glass of wine included in our package. Our appetizer was a large grilled prawn, calamari salad, seaweed salad, some soft slices of baguette, and three kinds of cheese; smoked apple wood, onion chive cheddar, and sage cheese.We added a Wine Flight along the way north up this lovely valley. We toasted Mom as we passed by her house around noon. This is a nice way to see the valley if you want to drink some wine and not drive! I love the quaint décor of the train, very period, even Renoir on the walls!

Renoir Reproductions

Appetizer

Wine Flight

Our first stop was the Grgich Hills Winery in Rutherford. I don’t know how many people got off, but I think they do a winery tour and tasting if they bought that particular tour. They will be picked up again as we head back on the return trip from St. Helena. Let first much people off. They will have dessert on the way back where we are sitting.

Grgich Estate

After arrival in St. Helena we were escorted to the dining car. Of course you are welcome to walk all over the train during the trip. There are dome cars and other places with different view. John did walk around a little bit. Our table was lovely. I had the beef tenderloin and John had the pork loin, both were delicious! Dessert was included and John got a candle in his crème brûlée!

Lunch Time

Happy EARLY Birthday John

 

Around Napa Valley

Since Mom has a caregiver today it is time for us to get out of the way and let them get acquainted and begin some sort of routine. Since we got a late start, our first stop was The Rutherford Grill for lunch! Yes, we recently ate here but I was so hungry for a steak! After seeing the menu I could not resist the ribs after all and John had a burger. We shared the most delicious heirloom tomato and Buratta cheese salad for an appetizer. That salad was one of the best things I have eaten in a long time. Tony was such a good boy at the restaurant (we ate on the patio) even though another very large dog was there growling at him!

Heirloom Tomato & Buratta Cheese Salad

After lunch we took care of some business at the St. Helena Public Cemetery and drove on for a short visit through Bothe State Park. It has changed so much in the past many years but it was interesting to see again. There were several empty sites, I wonder if it is always that way? It is a very economical place to stay in this valley! We picked up a brochure and noted the warnings for poison oak! Further north we crossed the threshold into Calistoga and drove by the house where I lived when Deb was born. Just a few miles further north we arrived to Tubbs Lane, the turn off for Old Faithful Geyser. We paid our entrance fee ($12 reduced from $14 because John is a veteran) and eagerly awaited the next eruption that was to happen in about 30 minutes. We were told the eruptions have been lasting up to 20 minutes since the Napa/Yountville earthquake about a year ago. We were not disappointed! Even if the area is very commercialized it was still interesting to see. They have cabanas and picnic tables, you can bring your own picnic and your own wine in and enjoy. Your entrance is good for all day. There are things for children like a small petting zoo and they are working on some gardens as well. 

Calistoga Old Faithful Geyser

Next we drove back to Calistoga and through the middle of town to pick up the Silverado Trail for our journey back. We figured we would try some sparkling wine tasting at Mumm Winery. I know they used to have a patio and that would probably work with Tony along, and it did! We had a delicious snack and wine tasting, Tony was even given a doggie bone for a treat!

Wine Tasting at Mumm Winery

On the way back to Mom’s we drove through the grounds of the Veterans Home in Yountville since John had never been there. When I was growing up some one of my friend's father worked there and their family lived there. It was sad to see so many vacant buildings and homes. Why can’t our Veterans utilize this property? They could rebuild, restore, and live here. I think it would be healing for many of our Wounded Warriors? During our meandering visit we were startled to see at least 6 deer feeding among the trees. Of note, on subsequent visits we saw more than a dozen deer and even a fox!  It was a nice, relaxing day. We are really looking forward to The Wine Train tomorrow.

Deer – Yountville Veteran’s Home

 

 

Distinctive Jaunt

This will be the first time our Casita has been officially on the road since last February. We would have been out and about a few times but due to our move we didn’t have time. Then Mom started with more health issues, we were with her for the last month. We were home just one week to catch up on things and now we will take our Casita up to Napa and park in her side yard. She has a half acre lot so it is not really a hardship. We will “live” in it there for a time until 24-hour care can be trained, established, and in place comfortably for her. Looks like we’ll have to forego the plans to go to NOLA in Oct/Nov as my sister made plans and we agreed not to be gone at the same time due to Mom’s health. Anyway, we got things somewhat organized yesterday, including new tires! We were able to retain one for a spare but the Casita is now sporting new “shoes” for the future!

Storage

It was sad for us to move our Casita to Derrel’s Mini Storage today. It is so nice to have it right by us at home. We tend to go out there at least once a week to check something or maybe just to wistfully think about a trip. BUT this is just one of the things we have to compromise on with downsizing. At least once we are settled in we should have more time to use it!!! This is nice covered parking and not too far from our condo.

Off Site

In less than a month we will be moving our Casita to off site covered storage. This is because we are downsizing and will not have a place to park it when we move to the condo. It is an uncomfortable feeling but it is one of the sacrifices we have to make now in order to have more time use it!!!  We are still toying with the idea of going FT in the Casita. Of course if we didn’t like it we could switch back, but it does seems so enticing!