 A live report from Oklahoma. We got a somewhat late start Wednesday but still made Chapel Hill in time for an early afternoon lunch on Franklin St with Stephen & Lewis. We just met after Lewis' 1 o'clock class instead of before and lucky for us Stephen's 3 o'clock meeting was rescheduled. Several pieces of pizza later we head west again and make Nashville just before midnight their time. We would have been earlier except we were slowed down near the state line by a truck wreck, the mountain and the truck had a too close encounter. Happy smiles, fresh coffee and hot roasted pumpkin seeds greeted us. Well almost happy smiles. Donald was being gallant about his first lose in Scrabulous to Donny which had yet to actually take place as he had one more tile to play. But he played it while we were there and so his perfect record is a bit less so, still he made a great comeback and with a few more good letters the tide would have turned. They want us to stay over, but we decline. So Terri does the next best thing and sends us off with a supply of yummy looking cookies. Donny & I have been able to keep up our Scrabulous games while on the road with a nifty device he got us that lets the laptop pull in service just about anywhere. How many mindless things can I do on Facebook while putting off trimming threads on the hundreds of SandyBands I brought along. We are good with taking turns driving and napping or hanging out on line while 'off' duty. So far we have both driven in each of the four states we have progressed through. I had most of the shift through Arkansas and was amused at the adult mega store called X-Mart. More from the Rockies! | |
Friday, November 1, 2013
1 Sooner Rest Stop - Thursday Oct 11 2007
2 Get Your Kicks - Friday Oct 12 2007
I start seeing signs for historical Route 66 while finishing up our drive through Oklahoma. I tell Donny it would be a shame to not drive on a part of it anyway. The next town we approach is Clinton which boasts a Route 66 Museum. We get off and find ourselves on a part of the actual route. We are excited. The museum proves to be a good break in our marathon west. It is a great place and, as we find out, the only one worth seeing on the entire trail, which runs from Chicago to California. Our hostess has been a volunteer in the museum since it opened in 1995. She suggests the best book to buy and also the most informative DVD. All the proceeds from the modest admission price and gift shop sales go toward maintaining the museum.
Back on I40 we discover that it overlaps the original Route 66 and so we are still on the vintage trail. We are on day two of our trek west. My goal is Arizona by nightfall.Sat, Oct. 13th, 2007
Back on I40 we discover that it overlaps the original Route 66 and so we are still on the vintage trail. We are on day two of our trek west. My goal is Arizona by nightfall.Sat, Oct. 13th, 2007
3 Continental Divide - Friday/Saturday Oct 12/13 2007
We are still making good time although we don't reach Arizona by sunset. And thus we find ourselves at the New Mexico section of the Continental Divide after dark. We have discussed staying over here so that we can see the Rockies by daylight but decide to press on. We do stop long enough to snap a photo of this watershed.
Arizona is a dark blur (Donny is driving) but we have seen some amazing things in Arizona already so don't mind missing a few sights. Donny has thought to wake me when we reach Needles, California as I imagined it to be a neat town, instead it is a huge metropolis which might have some fun parts but none visible from I40. We reach what we think is a toll road but it turns out to be an agricultural inspection stop. We are asked if we have any fresh fruit, plants or such. We don't, but ponder what California doesn't want coming into their state from Arizona. Sure we are near Mexico but not that near, or so it seems to us.
We witness an incredible sunrise which lights up the surrounding desert in brilliant colors. We are at the end of I40 which has served us well. We are near the town of Mojave and are actually still in the Mojave Desert although we passed by the park portion in the dark. We decide to eat a leisurely breakfast as we are way ahead of schedule. We find a charming diner dedicated to old pedal cars of which it has a huge display. Breakfast is perfect, fresh salsa, huge omelets and steaming hot pancakes do the trick.
We are ready for the California leg of our road marathon.
Arizona is a dark blur (Donny is driving) but we have seen some amazing things in Arizona already so don't mind missing a few sights. Donny has thought to wake me when we reach Needles, California as I imagined it to be a neat town, instead it is a huge metropolis which might have some fun parts but none visible from I40. We reach what we think is a toll road but it turns out to be an agricultural inspection stop. We are asked if we have any fresh fruit, plants or such. We don't, but ponder what California doesn't want coming into their state from Arizona. Sure we are near Mexico but not that near, or so it seems to us.
We witness an incredible sunrise which lights up the surrounding desert in brilliant colors. We are at the end of I40 which has served us well. We are near the town of Mojave and are actually still in the Mojave Desert although we passed by the park portion in the dark. We decide to eat a leisurely breakfast as we are way ahead of schedule. We find a charming diner dedicated to old pedal cars of which it has a huge display. Breakfast is perfect, fresh salsa, huge omelets and steaming hot pancakes do the trick.
We are ready for the California leg of our road marathon.
4 Off the Trail - Saturday Oct 13 2007
After breakfast I pick up a copy of the local free rag and see that just down the road in Tehachapi is an auction of Jack Palance's estate. The auction is being held at his ranch, not too common to hold a celebrity auction on site, I later read online. It is a three day auction and today is day one. Let's go I suggest. Donny looks at me, his mouth saying how do we get there, his thoughts saying, you really don't mean this. Actually his mouth is saying both things, but being the cool guy he is, he is game for the detour and we are still ahead of schedule for check in time at the hotel.
I find directions online and we soon see ourselves about 10 miles into the desert at the Holly Brooke Ranch so named for Jack's two daughters. The crowd is manageable, the auction has not started yet. We park and wander around taking pictures and chatting with the gal selling programs. The auctioneers are from Pennsylvania and she is already missing her two small children, who are going to be mad at her for not bringing them along. School, she explains. Home school we suggest.
Seeing is enough for me, although if we had wanted to stick around we both would have bid on a kegaerater for Bill Rea. He's been wanting one and how cool to have one from a celebrity estate. Most of the stuff is just that, stuff like all of us have. Some of it even broken stuff. The things folks will buy.
The vintage cars are cool, but it is basically too much dead (pun intended) stuff.
Back on the road we hit our first spatter of rain on the entire trip, but it is not enough to clean the car up much. At last around 3 o'clock California time we reach our hotel, check in and collapse. We did it, we have driven from coast to coast with a few nifty stops even, in just a little over two solid days.
We rock!
I find directions online and we soon see ourselves about 10 miles into the desert at the Holly Brooke Ranch so named for Jack's two daughters. The crowd is manageable, the auction has not started yet. We park and wander around taking pictures and chatting with the gal selling programs. The auctioneers are from Pennsylvania and she is already missing her two small children, who are going to be mad at her for not bringing them along. School, she explains. Home school we suggest.
Seeing is enough for me, although if we had wanted to stick around we both would have bid on a kegaerater for Bill Rea. He's been wanting one and how cool to have one from a celebrity estate. Most of the stuff is just that, stuff like all of us have. Some of it even broken stuff. The things folks will buy.
The vintage cars are cool, but it is basically too much dead (pun intended) stuff.
Back on the road we hit our first spatter of rain on the entire trip, but it is not enough to clean the car up much. At last around 3 o'clock California time we reach our hotel, check in and collapse. We did it, we have driven from coast to coast with a few nifty stops even, in just a little over two solid days.
We rock!
5 Marathon Day in San Jose - Sunday Oct 14 2007
San Jose is a fun, lively town and downtown redevelopment has worked out well. There is a central park and lots of clean open walk throughs lined with trees, flowers and fountains. It reminds me a lot of Minneapolis but much smaller and more intimate.
The race actually ended at the park and started close by. It was a giant serpentine 13.1 mile loop and the weather could not have been better. Alas, it was only a so so running day for me and so my finish time was a dismal 3:31. But finish I did and it was a strong finish as I always save too much for the end but it sure is fun to sprint willingly across the finish.
Donny stayed with me even after we got separated at one water stop and I wasn't sure whether he was ahead or behind me but I was not worried about him. He caught up with me about 3 miles later and would not go on. He wanted to be sure I finished. I was running/walking but it was very sluggish, just over all malaise, nothing in particular. And I did get a good night's sleep too!
The fun part was that as a potential rock star I had a special bib as we all did. The color was different, we were yellow, elites were red and regulars were white. So all along the trail folks were waving and greeting the rock stars.
And at the finish the announcer called me by first name as I approached the final mat and said I was now a...Rock Star!!
The race actually ended at the park and started close by. It was a giant serpentine 13.1 mile loop and the weather could not have been better. Alas, it was only a so so running day for me and so my finish time was a dismal 3:31. But finish I did and it was a strong finish as I always save too much for the end but it sure is fun to sprint willingly across the finish.
Donny stayed with me even after we got separated at one water stop and I wasn't sure whether he was ahead or behind me but I was not worried about him. He caught up with me about 3 miles later and would not go on. He wanted to be sure I finished. I was running/walking but it was very sluggish, just over all malaise, nothing in particular. And I did get a good night's sleep too!
The fun part was that as a potential rock star I had a special bib as we all did. The color was different, we were yellow, elites were red and regulars were white. So all along the trail folks were waving and greeting the rock stars.
And at the finish the announcer called me by first name as I approached the final mat and said I was now a...Rock Star!!
6 Coastal California - Monday Oct 15 2007
Before we leave San Jose we take in the BodyWorld exhibit at the Tech Museum just down the street from our hotel. We do this later Sunday in the early evening. It is completely amazing. And it is more than just a display of disected bodies. There is Drawer Man, whose body is exhibited in the theme of drawers opening to show the interior of that particular body area. There is the figure skating pair in a death spiral pose that vividly demonstrates muscles at work, as well as the baseball player and skateboarder. There is Angel Woman and X-Woman so named because of the pose the figure resembles with her different layers of muscle exposed. There is Puzzle Man where everything is pulled apart on a plethora of fishing lines to help us better see interiors. On and on these informative and creative exhibits offer innovative ways to help us explore our bodies. This exhibit is actually BodyWorld II. BodyWorld is currently in Charlotte and is so popular that the exhibit has been extended until January.
Monday morning we pack and leave but not before we pick up a prescription for Donny kindly called in by Jeff to a local pharmacy. A tooth is misbehaving.
We decide to take the long cut via Route 9 through the smaller redwood forests to Santa Cruz and then head north to Half Moon Bay. The huge redwoods are much father north but these that we pass are still impressive and so very tall. It is a curvy road up and down the mountainside, making Colington Road a nothing. We pass many pumpkin farms and quaint small towns.
It is not long before we are in Half Moon Bay and follow directions to the cottage. We know where we are going this time, but last year we happened upon it by foot as this street is only two blocks long and dead ends for cars at one end. How did we ever find this place we marvel? It is right in the middle of the bay named Half Moon Bay and today we discover that the actual town is off of Route 1 to the east of where we are.
We have the best travelers' luck!
Monday morning we pack and leave but not before we pick up a prescription for Donny kindly called in by Jeff to a local pharmacy. A tooth is misbehaving.
We decide to take the long cut via Route 9 through the smaller redwood forests to Santa Cruz and then head north to Half Moon Bay. The huge redwoods are much father north but these that we pass are still impressive and so very tall. It is a curvy road up and down the mountainside, making Colington Road a nothing. We pass many pumpkin farms and quaint small towns.
It is not long before we are in Half Moon Bay and follow directions to the cottage. We know where we are going this time, but last year we happened upon it by foot as this street is only two blocks long and dead ends for cars at one end. How did we ever find this place we marvel? It is right in the middle of the bay named Half Moon Bay and today we discover that the actual town is off of Route 1 to the east of where we are.
We have the best travelers' luck!
7 Cottage by the Sea - Monday Oct 15 2007
We continue to enjoy and marvel at how we happened upon this spot. Last year we were driving down the coast and the name Half Moon Bay caught my eye, I remembered it from a book I had read and too it had a wonderful ring to it. And so we steered off course to take a look and happened upon the only street with housing right on the beach, all the rest of Half Moon Bay is public land or across Route 1. We walked on the beach and stuck around because of a tiny cafe that was open and offered a great view of the sunset about to happen. We took some pictures and moved on. This year in our search for a fun place to stay between San Jose and San Francisco, Donny used one of our pictures that showed an address to find the area again and located this cottage for rent.
Upon meeting Linda, the owner, and explaining our saga she too marveled at this fun story. She told us that the cafe was only open as such a very short time and is actually more of a long time gathering place for some of the world's best jazz musicians. It's a private club but very low key. Members can make their own coffee and enjoy the day time ocean view as well as jam at night when it suits.
Linda's husband, a world touring classical guitar player, Richard Patterson, hangs there sometimes as does she, a visual artist. They rent our charming cottage where it works and more often the gardens, which Linda created entirely herself from an overgrown meadow, for weddings of which there is one later today. Just the couple, an elopement of sorts.
Last evening we dined in Half Moon Bay proper at Cetrella's, now on my short list of favorite places to eat. I had the pumpkin special. Pumpkin soup, with roasted pumpkin seeds added; pork with rice, steamed pumpkin and spinach in a marvelous sage gravy; and for dessert a not too sweet pumpkin tart with a tiny scoop of pecan ice cream, house made.
Donny had the soup, free range chicken and three tiny scoops of white peach, pear and a red fruit sorbet, all house made.
We slept well, lulled to sleep by the chilling Pacific air.
Upon meeting Linda, the owner, and explaining our saga she too marveled at this fun story. She told us that the cafe was only open as such a very short time and is actually more of a long time gathering place for some of the world's best jazz musicians. It's a private club but very low key. Members can make their own coffee and enjoy the day time ocean view as well as jam at night when it suits.
Linda's husband, a world touring classical guitar player, Richard Patterson, hangs there sometimes as does she, a visual artist. They rent our charming cottage where it works and more often the gardens, which Linda created entirely herself from an overgrown meadow, for weddings of which there is one later today. Just the couple, an elopement of sorts.
Last evening we dined in Half Moon Bay proper at Cetrella's, now on my short list of favorite places to eat. I had the pumpkin special. Pumpkin soup, with roasted pumpkin seeds added; pork with rice, steamed pumpkin and spinach in a marvelous sage gravy; and for dessert a not too sweet pumpkin tart with a tiny scoop of pecan ice cream, house made.
Donny had the soup, free range chicken and three tiny scoops of white peach, pear and a red fruit sorbet, all house made.
We slept well, lulled to sleep by the chilling Pacific air.
8 Mavericks - Tuesday Oct 16 2007
No one was surfing today but just beyond the buoy (visible in some photos) is where the extreme surfers get towed out to ride the waves of famous Mavericks located just north of Half Moon Bay. It is hard to find a spectator spot as the best bluff is owned by the Air Force but eventually we get to a nice place to take some pictures. We try for the other side of the bluff but we cannot even see the buoy from the closest point we find which is the Moss Beach Distillery. This place has an interesting history of its own. It was big during Prohibition as a hang out spot and because of connections the owner had was never shut down.
It was a misty overcast day but we enjoyed exploring and then having lunch at a great organic eatery in downtown Half Moon Bay. Pumpkin was the soup of the day and it was completely different than last night's but also really good. Pumpkins are very big in California in the fall. There are pumpkin farms everywhere and pumpkins festivals galore. Pumpkins are used for everything, you can even get a pumpkin facial. And there is a wide variety to be had such as white pumpkins and Fairyland pumpkins. Half Moon Bay boasts home to the largest pumpkin grown in the state of California to date, 1536 pounds.
We finish our exploring early and head home. Now we are snuggled in our cozy cottage with the gas fire glowing content to snack on leftovers for dinner before heading out tomorrow for San Francisco.
It was a misty overcast day but we enjoyed exploring and then having lunch at a great organic eatery in downtown Half Moon Bay. Pumpkin was the soup of the day and it was completely different than last night's but also really good. Pumpkins are very big in California in the fall. There are pumpkin farms everywhere and pumpkins festivals galore. Pumpkins are used for everything, you can even get a pumpkin facial. And there is a wide variety to be had such as white pumpkins and Fairyland pumpkins. Half Moon Bay boasts home to the largest pumpkin grown in the state of California to date, 1536 pounds.
We finish our exploring early and head home. Now we are snuggled in our cozy cottage with the gas fire glowing content to snack on leftovers for dinner before heading out tomorrow for San Francisco.
9 Pacific Pumpkins - Wednesday Oct 17 2007
Pumpkin farms, pumpkin bath and body works, pumpkin sculpture, pumpkin specials on every menu, pumpkin decorations; it's plain to see that Californians have a love affair with their pumpkins.
We spend our final day in HMB exploring a bit more. Linda has told us the way to get onto the bluff staked out by the Air Force. It is by foot only but you can walk to Moss Beach or beyond. The height is dizzying but fun. You can see where erosion from those Mavericks waves has worked the edges in many places. It's a beautiful day for hiking. The sky has cleared and the sun come out. What a difference the sun makes in the temperature.
Before our hike we have headed to our favorite organic spot for lunch which starts off with what else but pumpkin soup. That with our huge organic sandwiches fortifies us well.
After playing on the bluffs and finding the cedar grove that Linda told us about, we stop at the local surf shop and are told that there may be surf this weekend. Still it's a half mile paddle out to the break so viewing is limited.
Eventually we figure we can head on to San Francisco. We have been asked to check in late and by the time we get to Grant Street it is around four. Still Joe, a good friend of the owner and only cleaning to help her out, is not finished. He tells us where the car park is and says he'll be done soon. We tell him no worries. We wander through Chinatown by car negotiating the one way streets to get to the garage which is close to the apartment but far by one way streets. Finally we are parked and we bid our time just hanging out in the car.
Our new home is right in downtown San Francisco, Chinatown is a block away. Union Square about two blocks away. The docks are close too. We are in the epicenter of everything.
We spend our final day in HMB exploring a bit more. Linda has told us the way to get onto the bluff staked out by the Air Force. It is by foot only but you can walk to Moss Beach or beyond. The height is dizzying but fun. You can see where erosion from those Mavericks waves has worked the edges in many places. It's a beautiful day for hiking. The sky has cleared and the sun come out. What a difference the sun makes in the temperature.
Before our hike we have headed to our favorite organic spot for lunch which starts off with what else but pumpkin soup. That with our huge organic sandwiches fortifies us well.
After playing on the bluffs and finding the cedar grove that Linda told us about, we stop at the local surf shop and are told that there may be surf this weekend. Still it's a half mile paddle out to the break so viewing is limited.
Eventually we figure we can head on to San Francisco. We have been asked to check in late and by the time we get to Grant Street it is around four. Still Joe, a good friend of the owner and only cleaning to help her out, is not finished. He tells us where the car park is and says he'll be done soon. We tell him no worries. We wander through Chinatown by car negotiating the one way streets to get to the garage which is close to the apartment but far by one way streets. Finally we are parked and we bid our time just hanging out in the car.
Our new home is right in downtown San Francisco, Chinatown is a block away. Union Square about two blocks away. The docks are close too. We are in the epicenter of everything.
10 Alcatraz Bound - Thursday Oct 18 2007
Lewis arrives late Wednesday night, well not too late. He and I stroll the neighborhood and get some okay food from the 7/11. Yes we are in downtown San Francisco but there is still a 7/11 as well as the requisite Starbucks on every corner.
Today finds us headed to Alcatraz for our first stop. The weather is great, sunny and cool. Alcatraz is intriguing and the island is a lot bigger than I expected. We discuss the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon with a park ranger and it sounds like a race Lewis could handle. The swim takes about 40 minutes for an in shape athlete.
After Alcatraz, we walk to Pier 39, first stopping at the aquarium to see the fish, including two huge walk through tanks that have bay fish in them. Then on to see the sea lions and their antics at the pier.
After we tire of the pier, I say that I think it would be fun to drive our car down Lombard Street, the legendary twisty turny street but Donny says let's walk it instead. And so we climb some legendary San Francisco hills to get to the start of Lombard or at least the twisty part which is one block long and then it's a quick trot to the bottom. Very quick for Lewis, he slides the sidewalk bannisters to the bottom.
We spot the Buffs truck, you know those folks that 'dress' the Survivor folks, taking the twists and turns.
On our way back to our car we pass a trolley turn around and get to see the action of everyone helping turn the trolley. Back on Embarcadero Street we pass a sourdough factory and decide it is our place for dinner.
After a great dinner we retrieve our car and head home ready to turn in and continue our tour of this enchanting city tomorrow.
Today finds us headed to Alcatraz for our first stop. The weather is great, sunny and cool. Alcatraz is intriguing and the island is a lot bigger than I expected. We discuss the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon with a park ranger and it sounds like a race Lewis could handle. The swim takes about 40 minutes for an in shape athlete.
After Alcatraz, we walk to Pier 39, first stopping at the aquarium to see the fish, including two huge walk through tanks that have bay fish in them. Then on to see the sea lions and their antics at the pier.
After we tire of the pier, I say that I think it would be fun to drive our car down Lombard Street, the legendary twisty turny street but Donny says let's walk it instead. And so we climb some legendary San Francisco hills to get to the start of Lombard or at least the twisty part which is one block long and then it's a quick trot to the bottom. Very quick for Lewis, he slides the sidewalk bannisters to the bottom.
We spot the Buffs truck, you know those folks that 'dress' the Survivor folks, taking the twists and turns.
On our way back to our car we pass a trolley turn around and get to see the action of everyone helping turn the trolley. Back on Embarcadero Street we pass a sourdough factory and decide it is our place for dinner.
After a great dinner we retrieve our car and head home ready to turn in and continue our tour of this enchanting city tomorrow.
11 San Francisco - Friday Oct 19 2007
I get my bib and chip from the Expotique and also some breakfast for the guys before we head out to do our walking tour of the city. Fortified with a great egg bagel and good coffee, we walk the 1/2 block to the main entrance to Chinatown which is at the corner of Grant and Bush. First on our list is to find the fortune cookie factory located in Ross Alley located between Washington and Jackson which run parallel to Grant and Stockton. I have neglected to write down any of this so memory is put to the test. We stop off a the oldest cathedral in San Francisco.
Then as we do not locate the factory but do see Hoit Tower at the top of Telegraph Hill straight ahead several blocks away, we elect to go there first. It was second on our list anyway. We are again climbing up some of San Francisco's finest (read steep) hills to reach our destination. The sights from Telegraph Hill and the top of the tower are wonderful. The Golden Gate sparkles in the distance. Alcatraz is easy to see too.
Back down the hills we find the fortune cookie factory. A very interesting set up and for a few cents we can officially take pictures of the ladies at work making the cookies and putting the fortunes inside.
Now we are headed to Nob Hill where the rich used to hang out and some still do. Again we have an opportunity to climb up some of San Francisco's steepest hills. The area is now too populated to see anything but buildings but these are old and ornate.
Donny had mentioned seeing the exhibit at the Asian Museum a few days back and now I suggest that this spot is about a dozen blocks away. The guys are willing but also willing to go back to the apartment. It is still early afternoon and so they agree that we can get to the museum well before closing. We do but the walk is through some of the lesser parts of the city. We are getting the full spectrum.
The Asian Museum has one of the largest collections in this part of the world. The displays are well thought out and beautiful. We finish our tour about five minutes before closing. The walk back seems shorter and I take the guys past the Nike Store where all the runners names are posted on a display window. My name is in a good spot near the top and in the middle.
Back at the apartment we check mail and such and make a reservation for dinner at the Stinking Rose, the famous garlic restaurant not far from our apartment that we passed on our way to Nob Hill. We also stumbled upon a great organic grocery near there and plan to go back before dinner to get snack food for later.
Dinner is great. Roasted garlic as a spread on bread for an appetizer. And garlic ice cream for dessert. Really. The three of us shared a bowl as it was just too intriguing to pass up, but we were a bit leery. It tasted good, sweet but not too and it did have garlic because you could detect a slight garlic after taste.
Tomorrow we are doing a driving tour.
Then as we do not locate the factory but do see Hoit Tower at the top of Telegraph Hill straight ahead several blocks away, we elect to go there first. It was second on our list anyway. We are again climbing up some of San Francisco's finest (read steep) hills to reach our destination. The sights from Telegraph Hill and the top of the tower are wonderful. The Golden Gate sparkles in the distance. Alcatraz is easy to see too.
Back down the hills we find the fortune cookie factory. A very interesting set up and for a few cents we can officially take pictures of the ladies at work making the cookies and putting the fortunes inside.
Now we are headed to Nob Hill where the rich used to hang out and some still do. Again we have an opportunity to climb up some of San Francisco's steepest hills. The area is now too populated to see anything but buildings but these are old and ornate.
Donny had mentioned seeing the exhibit at the Asian Museum a few days back and now I suggest that this spot is about a dozen blocks away. The guys are willing but also willing to go back to the apartment. It is still early afternoon and so they agree that we can get to the museum well before closing. We do but the walk is through some of the lesser parts of the city. We are getting the full spectrum.
The Asian Museum has one of the largest collections in this part of the world. The displays are well thought out and beautiful. We finish our tour about five minutes before closing. The walk back seems shorter and I take the guys past the Nike Store where all the runners names are posted on a display window. My name is in a good spot near the top and in the middle.
Back at the apartment we check mail and such and make a reservation for dinner at the Stinking Rose, the famous garlic restaurant not far from our apartment that we passed on our way to Nob Hill. We also stumbled upon a great organic grocery near there and plan to go back before dinner to get snack food for later.
Dinner is great. Roasted garlic as a spread on bread for an appetizer. And garlic ice cream for dessert. Really. The three of us shared a bowl as it was just too intriguing to pass up, but we were a bit leery. It tasted good, sweet but not too and it did have garlic because you could detect a slight garlic after taste.
Tomorrow we are doing a driving tour.
12 Day Tripping - Saturday Oct 20 2007
I scoot back to the expo to make sure I did not miss anything and pick up breakfast on the way back. The guys at Posh Bagels know me so well by now and my order that all I need say is give me the same as before.
After reading our fortunes for the day we head to the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito. Lewis does the driving and I am navigating. On our way to the bridge we see Lombard Street coming up and decide to take a turn down the twisty street. Donny is ready to take away our driving privileges but it's not really that scary. There are steeper streets in the city.
Back across the bridge we decide to check out the Presidio, which is huge. We find the Visitor's Center and discover the California Watercolor Society, a very prestigious group, is having their annual show here for the first time too. We enjoy the show and vote for our favorite works.
On our way to find the finish line for the marathon so that the guys can plot their trip there by car tomorrow, we stop for Lewis to put his toes into the mighty Pacific, in view of the Golden Gate no less.
We debate whether to go on to Half Moon Bay today to recover my left behind battery charger for the camera or tomorrow as planned. We call Linda but she is not home and so head back into the city for an early dinner and a movie.
Back at the apartment I try to find reference to a neat place with home cooking I had read in one of our pamphlets today. I cannot find it and google what I do know instead which is the street and that the cooking is very southern. FarmerBrowns comes up and has great reviews. It is on Mason Street which is not too far way and also near the movie theater.
We walk to Mason and find the restaurant. This part of town is getting a bit shady and the restaurant looks closed. Reviews have said not to be deterred. Donny tries the door, it is open. We enter another world. A world with sweet tea, Smithfield ham biscuits, corn bread, gumbo...the delicious food list is endless and the decor very swank. The table water is cucumber flavored. And the prices are reasonable. We eat well and have just enough time to get to the movie. Lewis wants us to see Across the Universe. We sprint for the theater knowing only the address. We go too far and turn around. All we see where the theater should be is a city shopping complex. We go in and locate the theater on the legend. It's on floor five. We dash up the escalators. We are in Nordstroms and see nothing else. We go back down and reread the legend. Nordstroms level 2, complex level 5. We go back up. We see nothing. We ask. Go back down and to the Bloomingdales side and take the elevator we are told. By now we have totally missed the start of the movie but just want to see the place. We follow our instructions and finally find the complex. We do rather feel that we have been in a twilight zone.
I am willing to go back to the later show but the guys think I should rest and they are surely right.
After reading our fortunes for the day we head to the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito. Lewis does the driving and I am navigating. On our way to the bridge we see Lombard Street coming up and decide to take a turn down the twisty street. Donny is ready to take away our driving privileges but it's not really that scary. There are steeper streets in the city.
Back across the bridge we decide to check out the Presidio, which is huge. We find the Visitor's Center and discover the California Watercolor Society, a very prestigious group, is having their annual show here for the first time too. We enjoy the show and vote for our favorite works.
On our way to find the finish line for the marathon so that the guys can plot their trip there by car tomorrow, we stop for Lewis to put his toes into the mighty Pacific, in view of the Golden Gate no less.
We debate whether to go on to Half Moon Bay today to recover my left behind battery charger for the camera or tomorrow as planned. We call Linda but she is not home and so head back into the city for an early dinner and a movie.
Back at the apartment I try to find reference to a neat place with home cooking I had read in one of our pamphlets today. I cannot find it and google what I do know instead which is the street and that the cooking is very southern. FarmerBrowns comes up and has great reviews. It is on Mason Street which is not too far way and also near the movie theater.
We walk to Mason and find the restaurant. This part of town is getting a bit shady and the restaurant looks closed. Reviews have said not to be deterred. Donny tries the door, it is open. We enter another world. A world with sweet tea, Smithfield ham biscuits, corn bread, gumbo...the delicious food list is endless and the decor very swank. The table water is cucumber flavored. And the prices are reasonable. We eat well and have just enough time to get to the movie. Lewis wants us to see Across the Universe. We sprint for the theater knowing only the address. We go too far and turn around. All we see where the theater should be is a city shopping complex. We go in and locate the theater on the legend. It's on floor five. We dash up the escalators. We are in Nordstroms and see nothing else. We go back down and reread the legend. Nordstroms level 2, complex level 5. We go back up. We see nothing. We ask. Go back down and to the Bloomingdales side and take the elevator we are told. By now we have totally missed the start of the movie but just want to see the place. We follow our instructions and finally find the complex. We do rather feel that we have been in a twilight zone.
I am willing to go back to the later show but the guys think I should rest and they are surely right.
13 Running Around San Francisco - Sunday Oct 21 2007
The weather is perfect and I feel really good. The guys get up to see me off and even walk me to the start just a few blocks away. I pace myself well or so I think and run the first 11 miles only walking up the steep hills. I have my nano and adjoining chip so I can tell the distance I have traveled but have no real idea of the actual time of day, save taking twenty minutes off of every course clock as that is how long it took my corral to get going, and that is just a rough guess.
We need to pass the 18 1/2 mile mark by noon (5 hours from the 7am start, but 4:40 for me as I do not corral jump like I usually do) to be able to complete the entire marathon. Otherwise you get side sifted to mile 22 and end up running 4 fewer miles. I really think I have about 30 minutes at least to spare because I am keeping track of this goal. Well, I get to the water stop just before the cut off which at that point I do not realize is the cut off, I just know it is close. All of a sudden the water people say that we have 2 minutes to reach the white truck up the hill (about a 1/10 of a mile) because they are going to close the marathon proper. Of course we all start sprinting. It is not a steep hill but we are at mile 18+. I get within a body length of the truck with about four people in front of me and others all around me and they say sorry no more can go through! I am crushed, sure you still get your finisher goodies but who wants a 22 mile marathon on their record? Some team in training coach beside me tries to tell his gals they did their best. We are all trying to figure out a way around the gate and at the same time very reluctantly heading down the hill on the adjoining road, when up the hill comes the 6:30 pace guy with his gals. They are not stopping. The cut off folks are saying sorry to him. His gals are saying that he promised that if they stuck with him they would make the cut off. He tells the gate people that he is on pace and to take it up with management and charges through. I jump into his posse and charge through too. And I keep on running still up hill taking no chance that they will change their minds and come running with fresh legs after us.
About a quarter of a mile later I pass some girl and she is asking her partner if they were the last and I say just about because the gate is now closed. 6:30 guy and his gals are still behind me. Never have I been so glad to be able to run four more miles. Later 6:30 guy passes me but I don't care.
I do a lot of walking, some running. I am close to last but don't want to be dead last. It is hot by now. The Great Highway which runs by the beach and is our final 3 miles (and also an earlier three going the other way) is rough to run on so I do walk a lot. I finish in close to my Nashville time so I am happy. I ran a lot more early in the second half (and it is a good thing I did) and just felt really good the entire race. Guys in tuxedos do pass out your Tiffany necklace in a box with the ribbon and a leather pouch to keep it in. A few steps later a gal hands you a tiny Tiffany's shopping bag to put the box in. And we also got a nice gals' style fitted dri-fit t-shirt. We are the rag tag last as all the really slower runners that had to take the cut off have already finished, even the course walkers. Donny & Lewis have taken their time getting there but still have about an hour to wait for me. It's a pleasant day so that's good.
Then we are off to show Lewis Mavericks and HMB and also get my battery charger. We want to eat in town but everyone is on the highway either going to the beach or going pumpkin shopping at the numerous pumpkin farms, so traffic is crawling. We elect to take Lewis on the the airport so we don't get stuck in traffic and cause him to miss his plane.
Later Donny and I actually find the movie theater again and see Across the Universe which we love.
14 Nevada - Monday Oct 22 2007
We sleep in and then while Donny packs I shop for cheap earrings in Chinatown. It is noon by the time we load the last bag and leave San Francisco. We sprint across California thinking several times that we are in Nevada only to realize that not quite is more accurate.
Finally around late afternoon we reach this flat but also mountainous state and zip along I-80 for miles and miles. Many exits flatly say No Services. We wonder what brings people to these places. Jobs? Homes? Where do they buy gas and food? Or did these mystery stops along the highway once have service stations and local groceries but do no more.
We finally find gas but not much lodging to choose from and decide to move on. It is getting on toward dark and Donny really wants to see the entire country we pass through this time, but towns are few and hotels too. We are amused that hotels here are reviewed on their convenience to local casinos.
Elko offers actual choices and some restaurants so here is where we stop. We check in and step next door to the Pizza Barn for dinner. It is definitely the local family hangout and we wonder what our food will be like. We are very pleasantly surprised at how good the veggie pesto pizza I have ordered is. The gal later tells us that they make their own dough daily. The crust on our pizza is thin and crisp and the veggies fresh. As we eat Donny notices a sign for the Ruby Mountain Brewing Company. Our friendly hostess tells us that it is located about an hour away. When we leave we buy a couple of bottles of one of their beers, Angel Creek Amber Ale, to take home with us. We also see that George Winston is playing a harmonica gig to support the Western Folklife Center this weekend right here in Elko. Interesting little town.
Finally around late afternoon we reach this flat but also mountainous state and zip along I-80 for miles and miles. Many exits flatly say No Services. We wonder what brings people to these places. Jobs? Homes? Where do they buy gas and food? Or did these mystery stops along the highway once have service stations and local groceries but do no more.
We finally find gas but not much lodging to choose from and decide to move on. It is getting on toward dark and Donny really wants to see the entire country we pass through this time, but towns are few and hotels too. We are amused that hotels here are reviewed on their convenience to local casinos.
Elko offers actual choices and some restaurants so here is where we stop. We check in and step next door to the Pizza Barn for dinner. It is definitely the local family hangout and we wonder what our food will be like. We are very pleasantly surprised at how good the veggie pesto pizza I have ordered is. The gal later tells us that they make their own dough daily. The crust on our pizza is thin and crisp and the veggies fresh. As we eat Donny notices a sign for the Ruby Mountain Brewing Company. Our friendly hostess tells us that it is located about an hour away. When we leave we buy a couple of bottles of one of their beers, Angel Creek Amber Ale, to take home with us. We also see that George Winston is playing a harmonica gig to support the Western Folklife Center this weekend right here in Elko. Interesting little town.
15 Grandpa X's Three - Tuesday Oct 23 2007
Donny just moments before he gets the news that S&S are on the parent track. Baby Ball is due in late May and both parents are a bit tired but otherwise doing well.
We are in Temple Square in Salt Lake City when we get the news. We have stopped here to do a bit of touring and also get some lunch (another delicious pumpkin soup). We take a short guided tour. The missionaries are all girls, one of ours is from Chile and knew no English before coming here a year ago. One of our stops is the Assembly Hall, one of the original buildings. At the time they only had pine to build the seats with and so workers hand painted each bench (and there are a lot of them) to resemble the much preferred oak. The pine supporting columns were painted to resemble marble. The domed Tabernacle, where the choir performs, has perfect acoustics. We heard a demonstration of a pin being dropped 170 feet away and then a nail. The difference is amazing and we can hear both as though they are miked. We also get to hear the organist practicing on the grand pipe organ. It has over 10,000 pipes and five keyboards with 0ver 200 ranks. In our small tour group is a honeymooning couple from Greenville SC. They know Beth, Dr Eubank to them, and Sarah and Theo.
Earlier in our trip we pass miles of salt flats along the Great Salt Lake Desert. We stop at the Bonneville Salt Flats where numerous land speed records have been set.
After Salt Lake City we take Route 6 through the western side of the Rockies. The scenery is gorgeous. We pass Soldier Summit 7,000 feet about sea level where the winters are generally brutal and summers can even produce snow.
We stop for the night in Price, a quiet mountain town. At dinner in the close by diner, Donny gets another local beer, this one is called Polygamy Porter. Have More Than One, is the slogan on the label.
We are in Temple Square in Salt Lake City when we get the news. We have stopped here to do a bit of touring and also get some lunch (another delicious pumpkin soup). We take a short guided tour. The missionaries are all girls, one of ours is from Chile and knew no English before coming here a year ago. One of our stops is the Assembly Hall, one of the original buildings. At the time they only had pine to build the seats with and so workers hand painted each bench (and there are a lot of them) to resemble the much preferred oak. The pine supporting columns were painted to resemble marble. The domed Tabernacle, where the choir performs, has perfect acoustics. We heard a demonstration of a pin being dropped 170 feet away and then a nail. The difference is amazing and we can hear both as though they are miked. We also get to hear the organist practicing on the grand pipe organ. It has over 10,000 pipes and five keyboards with 0ver 200 ranks. In our small tour group is a honeymooning couple from Greenville SC. They know Beth, Dr Eubank to them, and Sarah and Theo.
Earlier in our trip we pass miles of salt flats along the Great Salt Lake Desert. We stop at the Bonneville Salt Flats where numerous land speed records have been set.
After Salt Lake City we take Route 6 through the western side of the Rockies. The scenery is gorgeous. We pass Soldier Summit 7,000 feet about sea level where the winters are generally brutal and summers can even produce snow.
We stop for the night in Price, a quiet mountain town. At dinner in the close by diner, Donny gets another local beer, this one is called Polygamy Porter. Have More Than One, is the slogan on the label.
16 Colorado - Wednesday Oct 24 2007
We are amazed at the amount of desert land in Utah. I find at least four named deserts on our map. We get off of the interstate at Sego because there is a state road that parallels I-70 for about 15 miles. A sign tells us to turn around. All we see are a few trailers and deserted buildings. We try again at the next exit and ride for miles and miles on a barely maintained road. The scrub grass is easily gaining a foot hole on the road surface. We wonder how people survive here.
Back on the interstate we cruise into Colorado and almost immediately things begin to turn green. We see the Colorado River running alongside the road. When we pass high rocks I imagine that we are in a raft drifting through the Grand Canyon and that folks are looking down on us.
We finally find a Starbucks in Grand Junction and a really neat sandwich shop, Authentic Eats. I get an amazing sauteed hot veggie sandwich that has a goat cheese spread onto the homemade buttered and toasted bread. We buy two petite jelly jars filled with homemade cheesecake. There is an intriguing selection to choose from. I get us a Peach Mimosa and Southwestern Catcus. They turn out to be barely sweet and very good.
We pass Vail and Breckenridge. Snow is on the slopes and shady sides of the mountain. We cross the continental divide but see no marker this time.
We stop for the night at a Hoiiday Inn in West Denver. It has an interior courtyard with plants and winding walkways. Everything looks like outdoors but all is under a huge skylight type roof.
Back on the interstate we cruise into Colorado and almost immediately things begin to turn green. We see the Colorado River running alongside the road. When we pass high rocks I imagine that we are in a raft drifting through the Grand Canyon and that folks are looking down on us.
We finally find a Starbucks in Grand Junction and a really neat sandwich shop, Authentic Eats. I get an amazing sauteed hot veggie sandwich that has a goat cheese spread onto the homemade buttered and toasted bread. We buy two petite jelly jars filled with homemade cheesecake. There is an intriguing selection to choose from. I get us a Peach Mimosa and Southwestern Catcus. They turn out to be barely sweet and very good.
We pass Vail and Breckenridge. Snow is on the slopes and shady sides of the mountain. We cross the continental divide but see no marker this time.
We stop for the night at a Hoiiday Inn in West Denver. It has an interior courtyard with plants and winding walkways. Everything looks like outdoors but all is under a huge skylight type roof.
17 Live From Kansas - Thursday Oct 25 2007
The eastern part of Colorado is not nearly as verdant as the western. It is very flat and dry looking. We see Pike's Peak rising in the distance off to the south of us. I do not know this is what we are looking at until later. It is so impressive because it is snow peaked and just rises out of the flat lands. It is over a 100 miles away.
Kansas is more flat land, miles and miles of flat land, mostly farmland. Long irrigation systems can be seen everywhere, as well as windmills and small pumps. We guess these to be oil pumps but we are not sure as they are a lot smaller than the rigs you see in Texas.
We are now into 24 hour driving again as we want to meet the kids in Williamsburg Saturday afternoon and rather than arrive exhausted we are headed for sister Suzanne's home in Roanoke where we can crash and tidy up. It will be fun to see her house too as we have not had the opportunity to visit since she moved back from Phoenix.
These new plans are all Donny's idea. Really. I tell him that after 38 years of marriage we are beginning to think alike because, of course, this revised adventure sounds exactly like something I would cook-up. Or maybe he is reading my mind. I have thought about this exact end to our trip but have not said anything because it is a bit involved. We are having Virgil relay our Busch Gardens passes to Lewis' friend (and ours) Kent who will bring them along with him on Saturday. And Emily has to negotiate around Martin's soccer game and making the trip without Marty who is chained to the new theater with more annoyances to iron out than there should be.
We stop in Topeka for dinner and to refresh our coffee only to find that Starbucks and Panera Bread both have just closed for the evening. Fortunately some ladies are also looking for dinner at Panera and suggest that we try the Starbucks in Barnes & Noble only a few stores away. Coffee salvation and they even have some great soup and hot sandwiches so we do not need to go anywhere else for dinner. We stock up on four venti cups of coffee for the road. We have learned our coffee lesson. We have tried several times today to find a Starbucks (a good road trip stop because you know you are going to get a decent cup of coffee) only to be told by our Garmily and also Starbucks.com that none are to be found even close to our route. Plus it's night and so we know that we will not find any more real coffee until we get to St Louis.
Your road correspondent reporting vaguely in the style of Jack Kerouac.
Kansas is more flat land, miles and miles of flat land, mostly farmland. Long irrigation systems can be seen everywhere, as well as windmills and small pumps. We guess these to be oil pumps but we are not sure as they are a lot smaller than the rigs you see in Texas.
We are now into 24 hour driving again as we want to meet the kids in Williamsburg Saturday afternoon and rather than arrive exhausted we are headed for sister Suzanne's home in Roanoke where we can crash and tidy up. It will be fun to see her house too as we have not had the opportunity to visit since she moved back from Phoenix.
These new plans are all Donny's idea. Really. I tell him that after 38 years of marriage we are beginning to think alike because, of course, this revised adventure sounds exactly like something I would cook-up. Or maybe he is reading my mind. I have thought about this exact end to our trip but have not said anything because it is a bit involved. We are having Virgil relay our Busch Gardens passes to Lewis' friend (and ours) Kent who will bring them along with him on Saturday. And Emily has to negotiate around Martin's soccer game and making the trip without Marty who is chained to the new theater with more annoyances to iron out than there should be.
We stop in Topeka for dinner and to refresh our coffee only to find that Starbucks and Panera Bread both have just closed for the evening. Fortunately some ladies are also looking for dinner at Panera and suggest that we try the Starbucks in Barnes & Noble only a few stores away. Coffee salvation and they even have some great soup and hot sandwiches so we do not need to go anywhere else for dinner. We stock up on four venti cups of coffee for the road. We have learned our coffee lesson. We have tried several times today to find a Starbucks (a good road trip stop because you know you are going to get a decent cup of coffee) only to be told by our Garmily and also Starbucks.com that none are to be found even close to our route. Plus it's night and so we know that we will not find any more real coffee until we get to St Louis.
Your road correspondent reporting vaguely in the style of Jack Kerouac.
18 Through the Night - Friday Oct 26 2007
We have spent the night with our new friends Missouri and Illinois and an old friend, Indiana. I take over the driving after we pass St Louis. We both want a photo of the famous arch. It is not lit as we thought it would be but the city gives enough light to get a ghostly picture. We reach Louisville in time for a picturesque sunrise and rush hour traffic. But there are no bottlenecks today and we cruise on through.
Donny takes over a short while later and I settle in for a nap. I wake up as we are passing through Charleston. I call Suzanne to let her know where we are and then get up with Kenneth. We are hoping to take everyone out to dinner tonight for a fun family gathering.
The fall foliage seems to be slow this year. Many of the trees are still green. Global warming. But some have turned especially higher up. We decide to take state routes 311 down the mountain into Roanoke for a switchback short cut off of I-64.
19 On to Roanoke Saturday Oct 27 2007
We find beautiful fall foliage on Route 311 with its interesting switchbacks and tiny towns. We pass through one short underpass where the road has separate passes side by side. We have the nice stone side, the opposite direction has a metal culvert. A bit later on we see a stunning brick edifice that must have been a boarding dormitory for a girls' school. It is abandoned but still in good looking condition.
The rain slows us down some but it adds to the mystique of the mountain. Donny gives me the car about halfway down. It is tedious driving, but not harrowing.
We arrive at Suzanne's around 3 and 'check in'. Her house is in an older neighborhood with nice yards and turn of the century mid size homes. Most are being kept up well. There is a community business neighborhood about two blocks away that has a great movie theater and a useful assortment of shops. Her good friend Carol and her family live about four blocks away.
We have called Kenny while on the road about joining us for dinner. We get back up with him now and he and Penny will meet us at a mid point restaurant around 7. We get our tour of the house and freshen up. David comes in from work and we all pile into our car with Suzanne driving. It is still raining, they say this is the third day. As much as they are happy about having rain, they say enough is enough.
We have a great dinner and conversations with Kenny & Penny. After dinner Donny & I try to get Suzanne and David to go see Across the Universe which is showing at their local theater but David has a party to go to (cute guy will be there) and Suzanne is tired. She promises to take David this weekend.
Suzanne gives us her bed as she is worried about Donny fitting in her guest bed and it also has iffy slats which have already fallen out earlier today. We help her get them situated and we all settle in for the evening.
This morning Suzanne tells us the slats slide in the night and luckily the three kittens she has sequestered in the guest room were on the bed with her not under it. She just rolled over and went back to sleep, after a few choice word actually.
We are meeting the gang at Busch Gardens for fun this evening and more fun tomorrow with the kips.
Your back on the east coast gal.
20 Journey's End Sunday Oct 28 2007
We arrive at the hotel around 8 and get to see the grands before bedtime. Donny stays with them while Em and I meet up with the others at the gardens. We take in Never After which spooks us gals enough although the best spook job is done on Brittany and Jess while we are waiting in line and a ghoul comes up behind them and gets them good. Next we get in line for Griffon and end up being the 3rd to the last trip of the night. We get the front row of seats. Kent gets one outside end and I get the other. It really is a cool ride especially at night.
Sunday morning brings a great day for the park. It's on the slightly nippy side but sunny. We assemble more or less for breakfast and check out of the hotel. A short stop at Starbucks for real coffee and we descend en masse on Busch Gardens. This means five cars, eight adults and two children. We do not attempt to stay together exactly although Lewis spends much of the day floating between groups wanting time with everyone.
The kids have a glorious time playing on familiar rides and parts of the Land of Dinosaurs and experimenting with a few new rides. There is much discussion about roller coasters. And we actually discover on our way out of the park that Lydia is almost tall enough for the entry level roller coaster, so next year is ready to happen already.
Midday the guys leave the kips with Donny and myself and spirit Emily away to ride Apollo's Chariot which she has never done. They do it right, getting her a spot in the front car. She agrees with me, it is the best overall. Griffon is truly awesome but Apollo covers it all.
Around five o'clock all of our group save Lewis, Kent, Jess & Brittany head to our cars and the trip home. Stephen has ridden up with Lewis but will take Lewis' car home so that he can close the park with his buddies.
We are now on the very last leg of our huge continental loop. A striking sunset settles in over the sound and closes this adventure perfectly.
Your Howl O Scream gal signing off until the next adventure or event worthy of a report.
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