Venturing Into The Great Unknown

What a great day we had. We ate a delicious breakfast of Eggs Benny for me and eggs and biscuit for my mum at Hank’s Creekside, we headed out of Santa Rosa. Our first stop was Calistoga, and we found ourselves travelling on an ‘interesting’ road that was quite curvy and hilly, but quiet at least. We arrived in Calistoga, looked around a bit, and then headed south down the Napa Valley towards St. Helena.

St. Helena is a cute little town with a great bakery. When we went to St. Helena two years ago, Model Bakery was sold out of their English Muffins, but this year we were able to get one as it was much earlier in the day. I can’t tell you if they live up to Michael Chiarello’s claim (on The Best Thing I Ever Ate) that “they are unlike any other”, as we were still full from breakfast, but we grabbed one to go and plan on sharing it tomorrow morning. We also stopped into the St. Helena Olive Oil Co. where I grabbed a bottle of lemon olive oil for my mum as a belated Mother’s Day gift. After a short walk around the downtown area we were again back in the car and heading south. We bypassed the city of Napa, as we find it just too ritzy and over-priced for us, and headed to Sonoma via Schellville.

Once in Sonoma we grabbed the first parking spot we could find, set my countdown timer on my watch for 2 hours (the length of time you can park for free), and headed to Basque Boulangerie for coffee and a small bite to eat. There I had my first Snickerdoodle, which I quite enjoyed, and my mum had a healthier snack of a poppy seed bun with brie. We then wandered around downtown, stopping in this shop and that shop – basically just being tourists. We visited Wine Country Chocolates in one of the quaint courtyards that are scattered amongst the mid-nineteenth century Spanish mission-style buildings, but decided not to buy anything. I also went looking for a bottle of wine for a friend of mine, but couldn’t find a white zinfandel with a cool enough name.

After Sonoma, we headed back towards Santa Rosa and detoured through Agua Caliente and Boyes Hot Springs. Both are tiny little hamlets, which I’m sure have hot springs, though we saw no signs of any. We also stopped in Glen Ellen and visited the Wine Country Chocolates tasting room in Jack London Village. This time, we gave into the chocolate and each bought a box of 7 truffles. I also saw a sign for Laurel Glen Vineyards, but unfortunately their tasting room is no longer open at this location. It would have been a perfect place to buy a bottle of Zin.

On the drive from Glen Ellen back to the hotel, I happened to notice that we were around Kenwood, and mentioned to my mum that we were near Figone’s of California Olive Oil Company, where we both bought some olive oil last year. Since my mum hadn’t been too enamoured with the plain olive oil in St. Helena, we stopped and she picked up a bottle of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for you non-foodies out there), and I grabbed a couple of small flavoured olive oil bottles to give as gifts.

Back at the hotel, we went over our Google/Wiki list and researched a few of the easier topics before we left for dinner at the Russian River Pub in Forestville. I had called and made reservations before I left Canada, just in case it was busy being a Friday night – I needn’t have as it was quite quiet. My mum and I both had chicken sandwiches, hers with pesto and Swiss (and salad) and mine with hot sauce and blue cheese (and fries). The food was unbelievable and the service was top-notch as well. One thing about the restaurant that I really liked was that the walls were all wood and people have signed their names and left messages and such in black marker. I also decided to leave my mark and used a Sharpie pen to sign my initials – if we go back next year, I will come prepared with a bigger Sharpie.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel and finished up the original wiki list and also what we had added to it over dinner. My mum decided to turn in fairly early, and I also need to get some shut-eye before the long drive we have tomorrow to Yreka. I have included a few pictures below from our adventures today…I hope you enjoy and I will talk to you tomorrow.

L

Baby Bacchus Statue, Sonoma, CA

Wine Statue in Sonoma

Flowering Hen and Chicks in Sonoma

Duck in Sonoma Park

Unknown Fruit Tree in Sonoma

Tex Wasabi Cowboy

What an awesome day. We started the day off fairly early and before even leaving the parking lot I was able to add a new bird to my bird list. It was an Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna). I tried getting a photo, but was unable as he didn’t stay around long enough for me to put all the luggage down that I was carrying and grab my camera. Then, while we were getting gas 20 minutes later, we spotted some Yellow-billed Magpies (Pica nuttalli). I was able to get a couple pictures that gave me enough information for bird identification, but were not “post-worthy”.

We had breakfast at Putah Creek Café in Winters, finding a parking spot right outside the restaurant. Not only was the food awesome, but the restaurant had some of the best customer service I have seen. One of the waitresses even went outside and helped a customer with a walker, cross the street from the parking lot to the café. The food was also awesome and was worth the detour. After breakfast we spent a few minutes walking around Winters while we let our food settle and then headed off to Petaluma.

After we left Winters, my GPS was being a bit of a pain and routed me back down to I-80 so I was unable to take the leisurely route I had planned through the bottom of Wine Country, and had to cut up from Fairfield on CA SR-12. We were still able to enjoy some of the back roads though as we headed to Petaluma. When we arrived in Petaluma, we fluked out again and found a parking spot less than a block from the Seed Bank. Both my mum and I had a list of seeds that we wanted, and although I was unable to find my most sought after seed (Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper) and wasn’t even able to find Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) and had to settle for some milder peppers such as habaneros and Thai chilies. My mum, however, found her number one pick – lima beans (yuck) – and also found a few gifts for my dad. After leaving the Seed Bank, my mum discovered an oriental gift shop across the street. For those of you that know me, you KNOW that I can’t resist…and I of course gave in to temptation. Although I did buy a couple things for me, I was able to find small gifts to give to several people.

After Petaluma we headed to Santa Rosa and had lunch at Willie Bird’s. We had originally planned on going there for dinner, but we both decided that it was not only more convenient for lunch, but that we both had a hankering for a turkey sandwich. One thing that I had forgotten, since we visited last year, was just how good the potato salad was. (On an aside, we sat in the same booth that we sat in on both visits to Willies last year). I was also able to get a picture of obelisk across the street that is made out of used bicycle parts and a picture of the stained glass turkey in Willie Bird’s window. By the time we were done eating, it was perfect timing to head to the hotel.

We relaxed at the hotel for a while and did out Google and Wiki research of the day before heading out to dinner. Since we had gone to Willie’s for lunch, I suggested Tex Wasabi’s for a light dinner. After driving around the block a couple times, we finally found a parking spot a couple doors down from Tex’s. Luckily we didn’t have to wait for a table and were seated in the same table as we were last year – I guess it was meant to be :). My mum and I shared an order of Vegas Fries (fries tossed in hot sauce and served with bleu-sabi) and an order of West Coast wings (which are coated in a jalapeño sauce). It was just the awesomest, and made me wish that I didn’t have to travel 1,100 kilometres to get Guy’s food.

After dinner we headed to pick up a couple of groceries and items that we needed and then returned to the hotel for the night. Now, full and dozy, I leave you all so I can get some shut-eye before we tour Wine Country tomorrow.

Talk to you all soon.

L

P.S. the above photo is a statue of the Tex Wasabi’s mascot that is next to the bar

Mount Shasta from I-5

Today was another long day, but a beautiful day for driving. After grabbing coffee and food for breakfast at Caveman Donuts in Grants Pass, we headed southbound. It didn’t take long before we were in California and after a short stretch of construction, we rounded a corner and saw Mt. Shasta in all her glory. This is the first time that we have actually seen the mountain from this perspective. Last year I was able to get a picture from the south through some trees – this is much better.

We stopped for a picnic lunch of leftovers at a rest stop near Willows at noon. Before we had even left the car we saw a bird that we didn’t recognize. I attempted to identify the bird, but after chasing the bird around for a bit with no avail, I decided to eat first. After lunch I again attempted to identify the bird, and eventually gave up when the bird was uncooperative. I got back into the car and was putting things away when the bird decided to perch on a fence near the car. I quickly grabbed the binoculars and both my mum and I took a look. My mum suggested that it looked like a kingbird, and I agreed. We looked at our Peterson and sure enough, it was a Western Kingbird…my first. I entered the date, time and location on my bird list and off we went again…south down the I-5.

Arriving in Sacramento around 3, we were able to easily navigate to our hotel, and checked in without issue. After getting up to the room, my mum and I decided to forego Dad’s Kitchen and just go to The Golden Bear for dinner. We stayed in the hotel until rush hour settled down, then headed downtown to eat. We found parking on the street with little issue, and walked about a block to the restaurant. We were happy to see several empty tables on the patio and found a table near the entrance. Both my mum and I decided on a beer to drink; I had the boneless hot wings and my mum had the California turkey sandwich. We were not disappointed. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and decided to have a lazy night.

With that, I will leave you all and turn in. Talk to you later.

L

Day 2 – Centralia, WA to Grants Pass, OR

Unfortunately I am a bit late posting our day’s itinerary, but we kept pretty much to plan. After a quick bite to eat at the hotel (last night’s leftovers) and coffees from the gas station, we were heading southbound on the I-5 by 8:30. The drive through the remainder of Washington was quite dreary, but not rainy, though Mt. St. Helens was shrouded in dense clouds (hopefully I will finally get a pick on the return trip this year).

We arrived at Otto’s Sausages (after getting lost several times – stupid GPS) in Portland, just after it opened. Mum grabbed half a veggie on rye and a small bean salad and I grabbed half a “kitchen sink” sandwich. We also talked to a person that had recommended Podnah’s BBQ Pit to us. Both my Mum and I had crossed it off our list on our first trip as neither of us like pulled pork, but we are both reconsidering and will possibly grab brisket instead.

We headed out of the city (with less snafus than the entry had), and soon found ourselves back on the I-5 South. We drove by Salem and Eugene, and ended up stopping for our picnic at Lynx Hollow Park, just south of Eugene. The sandwiches were as good as always (this is my third kitchen sink sandwich), and the sun made it a beautiful stop even though we had a cool breeze.

After about a half hour, we packed up and again headed south. We passed through several places that we had seen on previous trips and recounted some of our memories and mishaps. Just before we reached Grants Pass, we made a stop in Sunny Valley to take some pictures of the Grave Creek Bridge, one of the numerous covered bridges in Oregon.

By this time we were only about 15 minutes away from the hotel and were able to arrive perfectly in time for check-in. After checking in I spent the next 90 or so minutes on live chat with my phone company trying to stop the perpetual text messages that were telling me I was roaming and that I needed to get a roaming package (which I actually did have). In the end I gave up, actually my CSR closed the chat on me, and I decided to deal with it when I return to Canada and can actually call them rather than type my complaints.

By this time my Mum was getting peckish so we headed to Applebee’s for dinner. The food was not too bad, but I have definitely had better (at an Applebee’s), but our waiter left A LOT to be desired. A dinner with one appy (to share) and two entrees (one being a salad) took two hours from walking in the door to walking out. Slow doesn’t quite describe the speed that our waiter was moving at. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming that he is just new – if he isn’t he does NOT belong in the restaurant business.

We returned to the hotel after dinner and did some internet research. Topics of the day were: Harry Connick Jr., F. Scott FItzgerald, Sebastian Cabot, and the Bonnie and Clyde remake. Like I said before, we have random conversations when we drive.

Below I have included a picture of the Grave Creek Covered Bridge. I have also updated yesterday’s post to include a couple of pictures from dinner.

Grave Creek Covered Bridge

This is our first travel day. After a two hour ferry ride to the mainland, we will have approximately four hours of driving, in order to cover the 374 km to Centralia, Washington. That time does not include the inevitable wait at the border (which shouldn’t be too bad on a Monday) or going around Seattle (which will probably not be nice when we hit Seattle at 3pm – which also doesn’t allow for any delays caused by the construction around Seattle). I am hoping to arrive in Centralia around dinner time. Fingers crossed that it won’t be a late dinner :).