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 ..........

Well ! Here we are!!! Guernville CA-after all we said about not coming back

This is all I could write whilst we were in Guernville .. not the best of connections!!

Summer Holiday!!

I was suddenly reminded of a song from the 60's .... Sir Cliff Richard, Summer Holiday (it's a movie AND a song)

We're all going on a summer holiday,
No more working for a week or two.
Sun and laughter on a summer holiday,
Will make your dreans come true! For a week or two!

OK, Its not Irving Berlin

Not complaining .... it is H O T!!! 98 degrees at 6.30pm

And then .... 2 days later ...... humid, humid, humid. Not to worry. Spectacular lightening in the mountains last night. Spots of rain today just to spite me after doing my usual wash down this morning. Rain in the desert is not pretty .... I needn't have bothered getting the car cleaned. Moan, moan!!!!

This weekend is the final hurrah for the season for us. Full, full, full. I can't say why or what event is happening but we are one of the local 'overflow' hotels!!!!! (Strict instructions!).

We are getting ready for our vacation leaving here Thursday 19th . Dennis AJ and Patrick move in on Wednesday. We drive north Thursday morning spending the night at Harris Ranch then continuing up to Guernville Friday morning.  Dore alley 29th!!!!!! Woooh hooh!

July 4th, 2012

Whoever thought of putting July 4th on a Wednesday needs shooting with a musket!! Anyway, what started off as mediocre reservations turned into  'not too bad', ending up 80% full last night with some people staying over the weekend and new arrivals today! Hoorah!!!!!! Most people staying are from California but we also have visitors from Vancouver, New York and Salt Lake City. The cross was put to good use!

We had our usual great view of the Palm Springs fireworks display from the balconey except this year we had the least number of people up there with us!!! Anyway, we oooohed and aaaahed as usual. Great show Palm Springs!!!!!