More from California

In San Fransisco, we rode out bikes across the Golden Gate bridge...

...and ate dim sum in china town.
We met our longtime friends, Sheila and Jeff in Monterrey.


Quite a site to see... and to smell.


The next morning we were all up bright and early to go tidepooling, since low tide was at 7:00 am. Near where we explored the tidepools was this lighthouse which is behind dunes and well inland.
The rocks were quite slippery with kelp, but none of us fell.

A Visit to the California Coast

The first day of our road trip was a long day on the freeway, listening to The Life of Pi on CD to keep us alert. We cut over to the coast at Grant's Pass. Shortly after arriving in California, we encountered the Redwoods. We just had to take a few minutes to walk a nature trail through an impressive grove.


I don't think they harmed any trees making this road...
On our way to the campground, we enjoyed some beautiful color over the ocean.
We spent our first two nights camping at Prairie Creek State Park. This is the park that contains the official tallest redwood - 379 feet. We didn't see it, but we did have a fun bike ride on small roads and trails, through the trees and along the ocean. the highlight was fern canyon.

After leaving Prairie Creek campground, we stopped at Patrick's point where we hiked along the coast and looked at the tidepools.


While at Humboult State Park, we took a long hike through the largest continual grove of Redwoods. Lunch was set on a large redwood over the creek. After about four hours among these huge trees, we felt very small, and our necks hurt a bit from looking up so much.
This is the coastline where Highway 1 begins. It's a slow drive, but who would want to go fast?
While staying at McKericher State Park, Dan went shopping for redwood for a guitar top. We learned that the most resonant guitar tops are made from redwood "sinker" wood, which comes from a log that has been salvaged from the bottom of a river or ocean.
This is where we ate lunch in Mendocino. The photo is taken from the deck where we ate. Not too bad. Mendocino has one of the most spectacular settings on the coast. Nice shops, too. There was a yarn shop...

Note the sea lions on the rocks, not an uncommon sight along this stretch.


One of the crazy roads along the Sonoma coast. It doubles back on itself a couple times.
After a week on the coast, we went inland in Sonoma County. We found the wine tasting especially nice in the Russian River and Alexander Valley areas. It wasn't crowded, so we were able to ride our bikes through really beautiful countryside. I enjoyed the gardens that were often found on the grounds of the wineries. Below, we are in the cave at Bella Winery. It was really cool, literally.

Currently we are in San Francisco, where we have taken a tour of Chinatown, eaten our way through a farmer's market, and visited Fisherman's wharf.

Remembering Grace Wilson

Dan's mom passed away at the end of December. Now in May, I particularly remember her as I enjoy the rhododendrons in full bloom. Grace had a yard full of rhododendrons and was a member of the rhododendron society. She also propagated her rhodies by taking cuttings. I will always think of her when I see rhododendrons.

The family had a time of remembrance in April.


We planted a "Wilsoni" rhododendron in her honor, in the Grace and T Wilson memorial park, across the creek from their former house in Normandy Park.
The gathering was held at Wesley Gardens, where Grace resided for the last ten years of her life. She was loved and appreciated by so many, and it was a joy to hear each one speak of her generosity, her positive attitude and her other fine qualities.

Here is the eulogy we wrote up in the memorial program:

Grace Ellen Miller was born on April 27, 1922 to Roy E. and Louise Miller, the youngest of three children. A Seattle native, she grew up in the Mt Baker neighborhood. Some of her favorite childhood memories were from summer vacations at Arch Cape, Oregon. After graduating from Broadway High School in 1940, she attended Iowa State College and obtained a degree in Applied Art in 1944. Grace met her husband, T Wilson while at Iowa State, through her older brother, Buck. Shortly after their wedding in 1944, Grace and T moved to Seattle where Grace worked briefly for Boeing while T began his long Boeing career. They moved into a small house in Normandy Park, where their three children, T, Dan and Sarah, were welcomed into the family. Their house expanded along with the family through several major remodels. Grace filled their spacious yard with rhododendrons and a menagerie of pets including ducks, geese, dogs, and even a billy goat. She loved to entertain friends at their home, often serving wonderful pies made with her homegrown berries. Grace and T had the opportunity to travel worldwide on business trips, visiting countries on every populated continent. Even so, Grace remained especially fond of the northwest coastal waters. With family and friends, she delighted in beachcombing and gathering clams and oysters. She enjoyed salmon fishing with her husband, often catching the most and biggest fish. After retirement, they spent their winters in Palm Springs, enjoying the sun and socializing with many old and new friends. Grace spent her last ten years, after T’s death, at Wesley Gardens. Even during several years of deteriorating health, she remained determined, cheerful and positive. Grace passed away on December 30, 2009.

Kauai, week 2

It has been great having two weeks in Kauai. We're not in a hurry to do anything, because there is plenty of time. We enjoyed Colin's company for most of the first week. Just before he left, Jim and Brenda came to join us. Here Colin and Jim are collaborating on an elaborate breakfast.



We had a wonderful meal at the Plantation Gardens restaurant. This photo was taken in their garden.

The building is a historical plantation house.
Monday was farmer's market day in Koloa. We walked away with three bags of fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy all week.

More snorkeling. Jim took this photo from below Dan.
This is one of the more colorful fish.
The wind really kicked up in the afternoon, giving us the perfect opportunity to go on a cliff walk. The waves were pounding into the rocks....
...with occasional surprise showers.
The spouting horn not only spouted, it moaned.
On Tuesday we took an excursion to the north shore. First stop was the Kilauea bakery. Never pass that up....
The wave action by the Kilauea lighthouse and wildlife refuge was even more dramatic than at Poipu. From the point, we were able to see up and down the north coast. With the borrowed binoculars provided, we enjoyed watching a large pod of dolphins and a number of seabirds.
At the end of the road, we sat on the beach and watched the breaking waves, each with a veil of spray behind it.
Dan and I walked about a mile up the Kalalau trail to a viewpoint down the Na Pali coast. Extensive trailwork made the trail much easier to negotiate.
It's hard to tell from this photo, but the wind was blowing at least 50 mph on this point. We stayed away from the edge, since the gusts could move you involuntarily.
What an idyllic place. This is where the Hanalei River meets the ocean.
Sunset on the north coast, over Hanalei Bay.

The full moon over Poipu.



In closing, we want to remind everyone how important it is to remember your sunscreen to avoid strange malignant growths...