Back Home

We finally left Ventura at 9:30 AM and after a stop at Underwood Farm Market for veggies we were home at 12:30 PM.  Other than a lot of weeds the house was in good shape, thanks to good lawn and pool service.  We got partially unpacked then concentrated our efforts on enjoying our Riverside family.  Mary, Katie and Matt are here on a sleep over tonight as well.  I was able to grab a few photos of them in and out of the pool.

Mary Francis

Katie Ann

Matthew Jack

Katie, Matt & Mary in Pool

Mary in Pool

Katie in Pool

Matt in Pool

It is nice to be home but there is much to do in the next few weeks.   We ended up logging 13,415 miles, 9,515 on the Winnebago and 3,900 on the Jeep.  Guess what the most expensive cost of the trip was.  Yup!  We paid a bundle for gas, from a low of $3.80 to a high of $6.39 a gallon.  

Was it worth it?  You bet it was.  We had a great time and look forward to our next motorhome adventure.

Solvang

We arrived in Solvang shortly after eleven and after filling the motorhome for the last time this trip we headed for the Lutheran Home in Solvang to take our dear friend Olga Belgum out to lunch.  And what a great lunch it was at the Vineyard House in Santa Ynez where we sat on the patio and enjoyed the fine company and wonderful weather.

Olga and Mary

After lunch we went back to the Lutheran Home to visit with the other two ladies, Dorothy Cornils and Mildred Carlsen.

Olga, Mary & Dorothy

Mary, Mildred and Olga

Our tradition of spending our last night on the road at Rincon Beach north of Ventura was squelched when we found all sites taken.  We ended up at the Ventura Beach RV Park with no view of the ocean.  We tried to make up for it by going to Eric Ericsons Restaurant on the Ventura Pier for steamed clams and calamari.  It helped but it still isn't like camping on the ocean.

Tomorrow we will be home by noon.

On to San Simeon

On Wednesday morning we took a walk to the beach and I got a few good photos of the flowers and birds.

Flower in Sand Dunes

Long Billed Curlew

Since the day promised to be sunny we decided to drive down Highway 1 a very curvy but picturesque way to get to Southern California.  It probably took twice as long to get to the Paso Robles wine country but it was worth it.

Coast Scene

Coast Scene

We parked the Winnebago in a camp site at San Simeon State Park and took the Jeep over the hill to do a little wine tasting in the Paso Robles wine country.  On Thursday morning I got up early and walked to the beach with my camera and got some good shots.

Morning on the Coast

White Egret Reflected in the Water

After a great breakfast of scrambled eggs and french toast we drove south on Highway 1 to the 101 and then to Solvang to visit three lady friends from our time in West Lake Village.  We got a glimpse of Morro Rock on our way down.

Morro Rock

Pebble Beach

Monday morning we hit the road again.  This time we were headed to Marina on the coast north of Monterrey.  We sequestered our Winnebago in the Dunes RV Park in Marina and headed for the home of our good friends, Mike and Ann Lyon.  They convinced us to stay the night with them in their charming home at Pebble Beach.  

Mike, Mary & Ann at Lunch at Pebble Beach

Rose Cottage, Mike & Ann's Home

After lunch Mike and I took a walk to view the beautiful coast at Pebble Beach.  The scenery at the coast is stunning.

View at Pebble Beach

On Tuesday we drove down the coast south of Big Sur to Nepenthe Restaurant for lunch.  The scenery along the coast is fantastic and the restaurant had great views of the coast.  

Coastal View

View from Restaurant

On Tuesday evening we drove to Aptos and had dinner with good friends Patty & Fred Ohara.  As a bonus we got to see their grand kids Hunter and Mary and their mom Debbie who we haven't seen for a long time.  We also got to see Patty and Fred's son Jim.  The day was significant as Hunter mastered riding his bicycle.

After two wonderful days with good friends we settled in to a night of rest in our beach home, the Winnebago.

Campbell

We are just finishing a great weekend with Karyn, Todd, Lucia and Beckett not doing much more than hanging out, eating good food and drinking fine wine.  

Karyn & Beckett

Becket Loves Corn on the Cob

Beckett

Lucia

Lucia the Dancer

Tomorrow morning we will move the Winnebago to Marina, just north of Monterrey, for a couple of nights so we can visit friends in the area.

On to Campbell

We said farewell to Woodson Bridge RV Park at 7:30 AM and headed for Campbell.  The drive was only 200 miles so we arrived just after 11:00 AM.  The I 80 freeway between I 505 and I 680 is in terrible condition.  We were pleased to get on I 680 where you only have to contend with the narrow lanes and heavy traffic.

The balance of the day was spent getting re-acquainted with grand children Lucia and Beckett and an evening of wine, conversation and music at neighbors.  

Bend to Corning

We were on the road again at 7:30 AM this morning heading for Corning, CA.  We got a good look at Klamath Lake as we approached Klamath Falls.

Klamath Lake, Oregon

We filled up with the comparatively cheap Oregon gasoline in Worden and then entered California.  The view that greets you as you enter California on highway 97 is Mt Shasta in all its glory.  It stands proudly above the surrounding landscape daring you to stop and photograph it. We did.

We also had our closest animal encounter when a deer charged out of the woods in front of the Winnebago.  A quick application of the brakes and we avoided contact - barely.

Mt Shasta from the Co-Pilots Seat

Mt Shasta from the View Point

After a stop for lunch near Lake Shasta we continued down to Corning and were settled in to our campsite by 3:00 PM with the air conditioner running.  The temperature when we arrived was 102 degrees.  Our campsite is on the bank of the Sacramento River and is nicely shaded.  We have stayed here a couple of times in the past and enjoy the serenity of the river and shaded sites.

The Winnebago at Woodson Bridge RV Park

Mary Relaxing by the Sacramento River

Tomorrow we will drive the remaining 200 miles to Karyn & Todd's home in Campbell in the Bay Area.  It will be nice to see them.

Wine Tasting to Bend

Early Monday morning we pointed the Winnebago toward the Columbia River Valley in Washington State.  Our objective was the Horn Rapids RV Park in Richland, WA which we would use as a base for our brief period of wine tasting.

We settled in to the RV Park, had some lunch and then headed for Red Mountain the home of some of the greatest vineyards in the area.  We arrived to find most of the wineries not open and the one that was had lousy wine.  So it was back to the Winnebago for some relaxation and dinner.

Tuesday morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed for Prosser, WA.  This time we found some great tasting at Hogue Winery.  A fine flight of wines presented by a very qualified winery representative.  We then went to Canyon's Edge Winery where the tasting left something to be desired.  By then it was time for lunch at a picnic table right on the Yakima River.  A couple more wine tastings and we headed back to the Winnebago.

Wednesday morning we continued our journey south driving along the Columbia River before turning south toward Bend, Oregon.

Columbia River

As we approached our turn south on Highway 97 and then further south we got some great views of Mt Hood and some of the other volcanic mountains of the area.

Mt Hood

We arrived in Bend shortly after 1:00 PM, set up and had lunch before doing a bit of exploring in town.  Since we are here for such a short time we really won't have a chance to learn much about the area.  Bend is a big tourist destination with a lot of summer and winter activities.

Coeur d'Alene

Our drive from Oliver, BC to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho was reasonably uneventful.  The border crossing into the USA took all of 10 minutes.  We declared our accumulation of 23 bottles of wine, paid duty of $4.20 and waited while the agent did a cursory look through the inside of the motorhome.  We endured the smoke from a nearby forest fire for some miles and got a look at Grand Coulee Dam as we drove by.  

We arrived in Coeur d'Alene shortly after noon got settled in to the RV park and then took care of a few chores before going to see my aunt Lenore's new home.  Her recent back surgery helped to make the decision to move out of the multi-story house she has been living in for years.

Then, after a stop at the store, we headed for cousin Richard and Jill's house boat for dinner.  Threatening clouds caused us to remain moored for dinner which proved to be a good decision as we were treated to strong winds, lightening and a lot of rain.

Saturday morning Mary and I dedicated to washing the Winnebago and Jeep which now look like we have never been to Alaska (except for the broken windshield on the Winnebago).  Late afternoon found us back at the boat ready for an evening dinner cruise.  The weather was in our favor so we cruised to the "Rock" on Coeur d'Alene Lake where the Jurvelin's have a dock at which to moor the boat.  

The Houseboat at the Rock

Jill & Mary on the Houseboat

After dinner in preparation for a sit in the Jacuzzi we took a dip in the lake.  The water was very refreshing.

Jack & Richard in the Lake

How tough can life be to be able to go from a dip in the lake to a sit in the Jacuzzi on the top deck.

Mary & Jack in the Jacuzzi

Oh, did I forget to mention the beautiful sunset?  Is there any better way to top off a wonderful evening.

Sunset at the Rock

Sunday morning Mary and I attended church services at Richard & Jill's home church, Trinity Lutheran while they were off cheering their grandson, Simon, on at a Triathlon.  In the afternoon Mary attended a performance of Les Miserables with the ladies while Richard and I delivered grandchildren to Bible Camp at Lutherhaven.  

Cousins Samantha & Kinsey at Camp

Tomorrow morning will find us on the road again headed for the Columbia River Valley wine region for a bit more tasting.  

South Okanagan

Wine, wine, wine!  That's what this area of British Columbia is all about.  We settled in to Desert Lake RV Park yesterday morning and then went, you guessed it, wine tasting.  We tasted at Hester Creek Winery and then enjoyed a nice picnic lunch on their vine covered patio.  Then we tasted at Gehringer Brothers Winery and then to Tinhorn creek where we checked out the great view they have over the valley.

View from Tinhorn Creek Winery

On Thursday morning we headed for Okanagan Falls to begin our days adventure.  The scene at Vaseux Lake was beautiful with the mountains reflected in the still water of the lake.

Looking North on Vaseux Lake

Looking South on Vaseux Lake

As we entered Okanagan Falls we spotted an antique store and decided to check it out.  I ended up buying a couple of telegraph line insulators.  One from the mid 1800s line along the railroad and another from the telegraph line that went from Ashcroft to Dawson City.  I also purchased an old edition of Longfellow poetry.

Then we drove to the See Ya Later Ranch Winery.  Apparently the rancher who owned this property around the turn of the century married a French gal who ended up not enjoying life without amenities.  He returned to the ranch house one day to find a note from her saying "See Ya Later" left as she departed for a return to city life.

See Ya Later Ranch Winery

This winery had the best tasting flight of wines we have tasted and they have a vine covered patio restaurant overlooking the valley.  We decided to stay for lunch.

Mary at See Ya Later Ranch

The view from the patio was fabulous.  We didn't want to leave.

View from See Ya Later Ranch Patio

We did manage to accumulate a few bottles of wine from the wineries we visited.  We enjoyed the names of wineries like, Dirty Laundry, See Ya Later Ranch and Blasted Church.  The surprising thing is that the wines are generally very good.

Some of our Wine Acquisition's

Tomorrow morning we will cross the border to the United States and head for Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for a visit with cousin Richard Jurvelin and family.

North Okanagan

We decided to make the run down to the Okanagan Wine Country in one day.  Our departure from Quesnel was at 8:00 AM and we arrived in Kelowna at 3:30 PM for a drive of 365 miles. Last night, for the first time in almost two months, we packed away the down comforter and opted for a couple of blankets.  We are definitely out of the arctic.

This morning we went on our first wine adventure driving down the west side of Okanagan Lake with a stop at a couple of wineries, through Penticton and to the wineries on the east shore of the lake.  We tasted at seven wineries and enjoyed most of the wines.

Chardonnay Grapes on the Vine

Lunch time found us at Soaring Eagle Winery and a nice table on their patio overlooking the lake.

Lunch at Soaring Eagle

Vineyard at Dirty Laundry Winery

View from Lang Winery

View from Mission Hill Winery

Tomorrow morning we will move south to the Oliver area for another day of tasting.  There are 88 wineries just around Okanagan Lake.  Our only problem is deciding which ones to visit.