Dore Alley 2012

We had a great time at Dore Alley this year. Much better than standing in a booth all day being blasted by loud music and being looked at as if we were on display at the zoo!!!

We arrived there with Erich around 11.30am before it became too crowded and we were able to walk around without too much jostling. Lots of strange sights and some really good one's.  We bumped into our friend Dick K who had entertained us in his beautiful apartment the day before together with Jim and Terry who we met (again) Saturday morning for cocktails in the Twin Peaks. Saturday morning, Dore Alley weekend around 11.00 is becoming a regular habit!!! We were very sorry to see one of our favorite restaurants, Blue, had closed it's doors. No more Mac & Cheese supreme. Shame!!!

The weather was beautiful. I had to take our leather jackets back to the hotel because it was so warm. I got sunburnt on my forehead and shoulders which is quite a feat in San Francisco. It started to get busy and I stuck it out until 3.30 when I decided enough is enough. Good weather +Dore Alley = lots of naked and half naked men wandering around. We found the best place to stand and watch is right at the junction of Dore and Folsom outside Powerhouse. Great location for people watching. We also bumped into our (sometime) guest from Kansas City, Dean D. Altogether, a great and enjoyable weekend. Back to Palm Springs tomorrow, setting off around 7.30am.

San Francisco and Dore Alley

And so we arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge around 12 noon. Too early to check in to our hotel but we parked the car and went for lunch at Niemans.  Golden Gate shrouded in mist as you can see.

Vacation (continued)

Monday, July 23rd. We spent a lovely day driving up to The Sea Ranch. A beautiful if  nerve wracking experience for driver and passenger. Our friends Erich and Doug have bought a plot (actually a bluff) right on the edge of the Pacific. Here are a couple of photos we took. No building there yet but it will be spectacular.

 For those who don't know, Highway 1 clings on to the coast and twists and turns with precipitous drops at every turn. I think 25 miles took us 2 hours to complete. Well worth the trip and we are looking forward to visiting again when the house is built and the sticks have gone!!!

 Lunch at the sea Ranch Lodge was well worth the visit and so we headed home to Guernville.

Well, we WERE in Guenville a while back!

Here we are back in Palm Springs and I am so sorry to our regular readers for being so tardy in not posting regularly. No reason apart from  Guernville was difficult to get a clear wireless connection and even  San Francisco wasn't that easy using my Kindle Fire. Problems with connecting to the SM something or other ....

However, here we are, back safe and sound and will try to give you a potted history of our trip without being too boring. First of all, a big thank you for Dennis, AJ and Patrick for looking after the place while we were away for 11 nights.

We set off on Thursday, July 19th and arrived back July 30th. First stop .... Harris Ranch, Coalinga, CA for the first night. The best steak I ever had not to mention the Oysters Rockerfeller. Cost a fortune but hey, we're on vacation!!!! Opening the balconey doors first thing in the morning and taking in the aroma of the countryside and cowsh!! was a joy. AAhhhhh I love the smell of the country.

Set off heading for Guernville Friday morning 8.30ish..... through the vineyards of wine country and those who have been there know how beautiful it is. Sorry, no photos, I'm not the greatest picture taker. I'm getting in front of myself forgetting the interminable miles of nothing and our greatest pastime of counting tomato trucks!

Mapquest had us all over the map! Heading north circumventing San Francisco, went through Stockton stopping off at the local Target because Stuart forgot to pack his jeans .... missed a really important turning and hours later found ourselves in Napa for lunch! Not a bad place to find ourselves in for lunch. It could've been worse ..... Stockton heaven forfend!!! On and on we went giving our full confidence to Mapquest. It would have been a lot easier if we had bothered to consult a MAP before we left. We eventually arrived in Guernville around 4pm after a unexpected side bar to Santa Rosa where we followed the Guernville  Road which one would assume leads to Guernville? WRONG. Anyhow, we needed to fill up the tank and take a pee.

Up the hill to the hotel and believe me it isn't called The Highlands for nothing! Three times a day up and down that hill will give anyone thighs, buttocks and breath coming in short pants. The only time we used the car to go into town was that first night to load up with groceries and neccesities (gin, wine, tonic), and that is when we met the unsmiling staff of the (very expensive) Safeways market. It was bedlam. One tip .. don't go to Guernville Safeways on a Friday early evening you will be eaten alive!!!!!

More to follow ..........