Of Boiling Radiators and the Wide, Wide, West

Got a reasonably early start from China Lake. The driving was initially fraught with concern over plunging oil pressures, so I had one eye on the road and the other on the gauges.  There is not much between China Lake and Goffs, CA.  Not much but desert heat that got worse as the day went on.  So the gauges message was not about oil pressure, on which more later.

It was almost four hours to Goffs.  Not much there.   It has a historic restored schoolhouse, which was closed when I was there.  It also has a general store, closed some time ago, and in disrepair, even relative to the condition depicted in internet pictures.  I had hoped to capture "Goffs General Store" which was emblazoned on the second story facade.  Not to be.  Here it is today.

No residents were to be seen, though some live there, or nearby I think. 

On the West edge of town, there is a railroad switch with a sign that says West Goffs.  I'd have taken a picture, but it seemed a bit silly because I could run the length of town in about a minute.  There is no Welcome to Goffs sign, an oversight of the Chamber of Commerce no doubt.

At the West edge, I did take a shot of the view to the north, which is a about the same in any direction.

The remainder of the day's driving was quite slow, because on the climb east out of the valley of the Colorado, it was 107 degrees and miles of climbing.  Having been in Stuttgart, Deiter's designers had no concept of the conditions in the American west.  I was fortunate enough to be near a truck stop when the gauges started rising rapidly and the coolant began to spew.  No damage.  An hour wait, some new anti-freeze and on the road again.  I made a couple of other stops after long climbs to allow things to cool

The wait was worth it.  End point today was Sedona, AZ.  Words can't begin.... so...

Uncommon Challenges

This has been a challenging day involving a car with low oil pressure and a computer that will not download any more.

Will focus on those problems and post more tomorrow.

I did want to post two pics that show the beauty of Yosemite followed by two that attempt to capture the vastness of the Owens Valley to the East of Yosemite.

Resting on the Russian River

Today was Labor Day - and no travel of any kind was undertaken.  We spent the day hanging out at the Russian River with Sherean, Vanessa, and their wonderful circle of friends.  So I'll share just a couple of pics.

The weekend had a pirate theme and while there was no actual looting and pillaging, there were good intentions.  Here Sherean and some of her friends give a good "Yaaaaarrrr".

After the sun was high enough to warm the air a bit, our merry gang set sail.  I can tell you the locals were suitably fearful and locked up their sheep.

While it appears here that the Reverend Joe is preaching to the wayward, he is actually gathering orders for take out.

Bottom line..... Sherean is as lucky to have these folks as friends as they are to have her.

Tomorrow, on the road at 5AM - hoping to make China Lake by 6.

Wine Country

The trip east from the redwoods and fog of Monte Rio in the Russian River to the vineyards and sunshine of the Alexander Valley wine country was a study in contrasts.  Both ecosystems, and economic geography.  The area of Monte Rio I suspect is pretty dependent on tourism.  Just a few miles east in Guerneville, one enters the Russian River wine region and density of vineyards and contrasts of wealth increase as you drive into the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys, two major areas of the Sonoma Valley.  Top was up while still early in the Alexander Valley.  Top came down shortly after.

Lunch was at Willie's in Healdsburg and was delish.  I becoming spoiled by California eateries.  Healdsburg exists, apparently, to support the big industry, wine, and its accompanying oenotourism.  There is a downtown square that is vibrant and full of higher end shops and restaurants.  Not generally where I see myself shopping.

We made several stops at wineries and bought a couple of bottles - not much room in the car - nor, I suspect, will conditions be right in the car for the wine to travel well through the deserts ahead this week.

Last evening, in the neighboring town of Duncan Mills, there was much fun listening to the Fargo Brothers, a blues/rock rock band.  While some pictures were taken, I won't be publishing any in the name of good taste ;-) and because I fear my companions.  Many thanks to Sherean, Vanessa, and their many fine friends for the hospitality of the last few days.

There is no plan for the day today.  Repack the car for the eleven remaining days of the rolling sabbatical.  Check things out well because the heat of the next couple of days will be extreme.  The route tomorrow takes us to SFO, where I drop off MJ, then just me through Yosemite, then south, through the hot and dry Owens River valley.  Once a garden, now a wasteland due to the unrelenting water ravenousness of LA in the last century.  Next couple of days will be the toughest challenge for my 40-year-old wheels.  Wish me luck.

The Day Started Out Foggy

Foggy in a weather sense.  I was ready to go before most of El Granada.  North to the Russian River via the Jewel that is San Francisco.  Foggy in the City by the Bay though.  Even so, the Golden Gate is quite a sight.  Much more fun to walk across than drive, but today was a drive.

North along Hwy 1 leads through many little towns full of character and characters who like oysters.  Enough oysters to make an industry.  We had brunch at Rocker Oysterfellers.  As most California food, really tasty.  Thats MJ with the hat and our friend Jenny. 

Further North on the Sonoma County coast.  Could watch for hours, but if I did that at every stop, this would be a one year sabbatical.

Final destination was Monte Rio, a little town on the Russian River where we will just sit for a couple of days..... sitting interspersed with some winery exploration.  Russian River is known for its Chardonnay and MJ is known for her love of Chardonnay.

Monte Rio is mosty an intersection... with inns and small businesses scattered through the redwoods.  Cool, foggy, just plain relaxing.

Checking In From El Granada

Quite foggy today, maybe a quarter mile visibility.  Great evening last evening having dinner with our girls, Sherean and Vanessa, and Vanessa's sister Jennifer.  What fine young women.  There is hope for the future folks!

Yesterday, I had the car serviced, cleaned it up a bit and made arrangements for an alignment check today.  I managed to stop whatever I was doing long enough to snap a pic of the trusty car at Miramar, a point on the coast where the surf is inexorably taking down the coastline.  Nothing special about that, I guess, but it is a point where the street is now close to the surf at high tide.

You can see the point that extends out into the Pacific forming the bay and harbor.

The actual harbor is protected by the jetty, which at higher tide has some spectacular (and wet) displays of surf crashing agaist the jetty.

On the point is where there is an annual surf competition.  I walked out along the point as far as I could this morning, before the fog appeared, and took a few shots of the big waves out there.  Even at low tide, I could not get as close as I wanted.  The rocks were just too slick.

This surfer must be thinking uh-oh.  Actually, the surfers are fun to watch  Quite athletic and skilled men and women.

Tomorrow, MJ arrives for a few days.  The girls have invited us to go to the Russian River with them and their friends.  Honored that the old folks are so welcome.  We've partied a bit with that crowd before and the are great people who know how to have big fun.  Should be a nice weekend beginning with the drive up coastal Highway 1.

One of My Favorite Places

Since heading West four days ago, I have been covering highways and visiting places that are new to me.  Yesterday, though, I covered ground that is familiar.  I80 Westbound from Winnemucca - open freeway - top down. Before dawn (as always it seems).  Stopped for a pic of the Nevada landscape in the early light.

The run out of Nevada was open freeway fast, fueled by Doobie Brothers and other "get on down the road" music playing loud.  Haven't mentioned my media deck and speakers yet.  The media deck takes tunes from a flash drive - very convenient.  I have about 50 CD's on it.  I also made a "false floor" on the deck behind the seats to house dual woofers (and space for the fire extinusiher, etc) - so the tunes have some punch.  No..... it is not a boom-boom-boom car, but nice balanced sound - loud, which those who know me know I need.

Stopped in Truckee, CA, where mainstreet is a nice colleciton of cool shops - art and outdoors oriented.  Had breakfast at the Trukee Diner.  Next to the Amtrak train station and a piece of history in itself.  Pic from their web site. A great place full of local color and characters.  Wish I had an afternoon to hang out in Truckee, but not this trip.

Took Hwy 89 around the west side of Lake Tahoe.  Glorious.  No wonder the shoreline is lined with homes and businesses.  Somehow, though, it does not spoil it.  So, here is the tacky picure of the car at Tahoe.

On the way down from Lake Tahoe on Hwy 50, I was fortunate enough to find Mercedes of El Dorado along the highway.  They had the rubber exhaust hangers for the 40-year-old car in stock (gotta love Mercedes).  Picked up a couple.

Arrived In El Granada.  One of my favorite places on the planet.  Pacific coast - often gray, but always pretty. Have taken up temporary residence on the third floor of the Beach House.  With the window open, you can hear the foghorn on Pillar Point and the rigging of the sailboats clanking in the breeze in the marina.  Love it.  Here is the view from "my" deck.

The black specs are surfers.

Today will be a day to do laundry, service the car, fix the exhaust hangers and try to find an alignment shop.  The outside edge of the front tires are wearing quite fast.  Must be excess toe in (I would never drive mountain roads in a spirited manner).  Tonight will go out with Sherean and Vanessa, along with Vanessa's sisters and mother. If there is anything interesting to report tonight I will.