Family Pictures and San Francisco

We rolled into Modesto around 4pm yesterday afternoon after the most circuitous route known to man. Glen wanted to go by a scenic route.  He asked brother-in-law Marc and he said to go through South Tahoe and by Kirkwood.  Glen set the GPS on Rocinante with our destination's address and picked the route.  The problem with Rocinante's GPS is that it does not give a preview of the trips.  You have to completely trust where you are being taken.

MISTAKE. We hit every numbered route possible except the one we were trying to hit, no modern highways and, quite a few non numbered roads that were nothing more than questionable rural roads to nowhere. We never saw Kirkwood nor the hwy (88) it is on.  I am pretty sure even the locals did not know you could get to Modesto that way.  The GPS on my phone said the trip would take 3 1/2 hours, our trip took 6 1/2 hours  of sometimes pretty, sometimes scary and sometimes "are you kidding me?" roads. We did stop in South Lake Tahoe for a delicious lunch.

That behind us, we arrived to a wonderful greeting of smiles, hugs and kisses.  The next couple hours were spent on the couch looking at old family pictures and many memories.  The side by side pictures below are Glen on the left and 1 year old grandson Cove (aka Higgins as Glen calls him) on the right.  Quite a startling and cute comparison.

Today we traveled the 90 miles to San Francisco with John and Diane to take a double decker bus tour and eat some clam chowder at fisherman's wharf. It was a great day culminating in take home pizza and beer.  Sometimes it is the simply things that make the day.

Tomorrow after goodbyes that will be hard, we will continue to head south.

Glen approximately 1953, Cove Aug 2018

Looking at pictures with Uncle Johnny

Alcatraz in the background

John, Diane, Glen and Debbie

Double decker bus

Family Fun Times

The last day in Lake Tahoe we took a Lake Cruise. Fortunately, we choose the perfect day.  The sun was shining, no smoke in the sky and a nice 75 degrees.  Lake Tahoe is at the deepest point, 1600 feet deep.  It has enough water to flood all of CA to a depth of 14 inches.  And it is 99.8% pure.  I know you all needed those fun facts!

On the way to Reno we went through Virginia City, the most prolific mining town ever with the largest silver and gold recovery in the world. It is where William Randolph Hearst got his start. The Bucket of Blood Saloon got it's name after a shoot out left a mop bucket full of what looked like blood the next morning.

The last three days we have been with family in Reno, "The Biggest Little City in the World".  Gayle, Glen's youngest sister, her husband Marc and two children, Pierce and Tina, have been our hosts providing delicious meals and family fun.  Last night over Steelhead salmon and salads with  Kahlua cake to die for. We laughed and cried and enjoyed each others company immensely. The plan was to play Canasta, a favorite family game of the Higgins clan but, we never got around to it. The stories were flying and we all had a great time!

This morning I got a wonderful facial from Tina, and now we hit a couple of local Breweries.

Tomorrow morning we are headed for Modesto and Uncle Johnny and Aunt Diane.  More stories to re-tell and laughs to enjoy:)

Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe

Virginia City

Lake Tahoe Cruise

Gold Canyon, where Virginia City is.

Bike riding on a Saturday afternoon with Gayle and Marc

Welcome to Reno

The Fam Marc Gayle Pierce and Tina

A little personal business in Redding and then, Lake Tahoe!

Debbie needed to make a stop at the Social Security office in Redding.  If you have ever had to go in person to see them you know what the next couple of days was like....haha.  However, after getting there at 7:30 (they open at 9) to make sure I got to actually see someone that day, I was first in line for all the 'walk-ins' and was finished by 11am.  Fairly painless?

Then we headed east to the Reno/Lake Tahoe area.  The route was a new one for us, through Susanville and part of Lassen National Forest, very picturesque and no cell service. We are hold up in Harvey's Hotel/Casino in Lake Tahoe for a couple of days before going to visit Glen's sister, Gayle, and her family in Reno.  As we were driving into town we realized, "Hey, we spent our Honeymoon here 44 1/2 hears ago!".  Oh the memories:) Skiing with jeans on in freezing temps without any lessons or previous experience and sliding all the way down the run on my butt because I was too scared to stand up..haha.. that is fun, right? Not really but, the hot chocolate was good and it was the beginning of a 30 year skiing and Lake Tahoe connection including teaching all our girls to ski.

No skiing this time, it is one of the few times we have been here in summer.  It is beautiful.  Glen is on the golf course as I write this, I have a much needed mani-pedi scheduled in 20 minutes.

Tomorrow we have scheduled a Lake Cruise with lunch.  One of those things where you learn about the area, a history lesson of Lake Tahoe.  We like to do those tours in new places.  Although this is not a new place for us, surely we will learn and enjoy doing so.

This is Glen, i just got back from the best day of golf since the trip. Not because of the score, 96, but because of the new friends I made and the beautiful course on Lake Tahoe. Edgewood at Tahoe is in perfect condition and so fun to play, I loved the day, and was witness to my first hole in one on # 7 by my cart mate Buddy from Maryland.  Lake Tahoe brings back such good memories of friends skiing and summer backpacking trips. I miss, Chuck, Phil and Nancy, all three close friends who partied with us here and have passed away. They are remembered and missed.

Edgewood at Tahoe

Buddy and Glen after the hole in one.

Rocinante, at rest again, and getting jealous, she told me so.

CA here we come!

The Oregon coast did not disappoint this morning as we set out. Absolutely gorgeous scenery as we made our way to our first spot of the day.  Chetco Point, in Bookings Oregon, was well worth the stop.  We hiked out to a point that led to 180 degrees views and beyond. Plus it gave us a chance to stretch our legs and get the kinks out.

We crossed over to CA midday and I thought it funny to see a very large Cannabis sign along with the Welcome to CA sign.

Next stop was Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park. It boosts the tallest trees in the world.  It is the one of the few old growth Redwood Forests that have never been cut.  Some of them are 2000 years old.  I did not think it would be a big deal but, I was truly impressed. They were gigantic, the hike was fun.

Tonight we camp in Crescent City CA.

How did I do that?

Between Brandon Dunes and the Cali border

Chetco Point in Bookings, see Glen on a bridge in the middle?

Oh, there her is.

You can't tell but, I the tree I am sitting is hanging off a cliff.

Yeah, home at last?

This was directly across the Hwy from the Welcome the border sign.

Now that is a big tree!

I have always liked to climb trees, Haha.

This does not do the forest justice, It was majestic.

Farewell Bandon Dunes

The last day of golf, the Bandon Dunes Course

This little guy met me outside my room.

The view from my walk today atop the dunes along the course.

Pacific Dunes Clubhouse

I’m truly sad to say goodbye to Bandon Dunes tomorrow. This place is Bitchen, it’s Man Camp for golfers. 

The Preserve a 13 hole par 3 and Shorties the 9 hole par 3, and the 18 hole putting course, all complimentary play, I didn’t have time to play. What I can say is, I played 3 of the 4 courses

 and loved each one. 

Weather was 20-25mph wind, sunny and 64 degrees, caddie tells me to hit a 180yard club 140 yards or 80 yard club to go 110 yards, thank goodness for caddies, don’t second guess them they are right on. Oh my is my handicap going to drop like a rock, I played out of my shoes all three days. For those of you that know my game, and you will know I count every stroke, I shot 93,89 and 90. GHIN asked me “are you sure your score is correct it’s not your norm’ before I could post the 89.

Gary, Pat and Don let’s plan a trip for September or October next year, they tell me those are the best months. 

So long Bandon Dunes, we are off in Rociante once again “on the road again”

Beautiful ocean views and excellent golf.

The fog finally dissipated the day we left Pacific Perch Campgrounds below Yachat Oregon.  We could see the ocean and the beautiful views as we drove south towards Bandon Dunes. The Northern Oregon Coast is a must see for scenic drives. 

This write up tonight is all about golf, so if you are not a golfer you may have trouble flowing me. Bandon Dunes, on the Oregon coast, has been talked about and referred to me for years. It’s always been a word of mouth recommendation. I can tell you after only two days I recommend it. Hands down, my Pro at The Cliffs, Paul, was right when he told me to stop and play. The courses, service, caddies, rooms and restaurants do not disappoint the most particular visitor. Trust me, do it, if you are a golfer, this course needs to be on your bucket list. 

The internet and caddies are telling me that Bandon Links, just 7 miles south of us, is the course all of the locals and caddies play. We have one more day here to play the third of four courses then out on the road Sunday towards Reno to visit my sister Gayle and Brother-in-law Marc, by Friday.

The Pacific Dunes Course

Pacific Dunes Course

Old Macdonald Course and he holed it from here!

Driving to Brandon Dunes

First time we actually saw the ocean at our first campground, no fog!

One of many beautiful bridges

Let the golf begin!

My reward for doing the Beach Hike, no one but me on the beach for as far as I could see.

More pretty views

On The Road Again

Our last post was July 25 and we were heading to Colfax WA to help with a family emergency. Now it is August 15 and we are on the road again!  Our family is doing better, they are healing by the Grace of God, fighting their way back through PT in a rehab center and adjusting to a new housing situation.  Thank you so much for praying for us.

After a short stop in Kennewick WA at a Good Sam's Club camp ground to get a good nights sleep, we headed west along the Columbia River and the Columbia River gorge. The plan was to make it to the Oregon coast. The drive was relaxing and beautiful in spite of the horrendous amount of smoke in the air from the fires in Canada.

Stopping at Hyland Winery in the Willamette Valley could have had something to do with the 'relaxing' part of the drive. Haha.  Glen choose 'the best Pino I have ever tasted' while I went with a dry Riesling and a slightly oaked Chardonnay.  We shipped some home and brought some with us. Melissa and Joey, Katie and Nick please save a couple bottles for us when they come!

We hit the coast about 2 in the afternoon at Lincoln City Oregon. It looked like Venice, CA driving on Lincoln Blvd. We stopped at Tidal Rave about an hour south of Lincoln City for late lunch/early dinner. All we had eaton was two McDonalds breakfast burritos.  This place was standing room only at 3 on a Tuesday afternoon.  The food was great!  Green Seafood Curry for me and Crab Salad for Glen...Yummm.

Now we are at a small campground right on the beach 6 miles below Yachat.  Yep, Yachat. It is a very small town on the coast.  We went from smoke filled skies to fog filled skies, but we don't mind much.  We are breathing deeply the sent of the Pacific Ocean.  There is nothing like it, a bit of of a fresh fish/seaweed smell with salty air and cool breezes.  We are supposed to get sun for a few hours today and will get down on the beach for a good walk then. Can't wait.