Tradewinds Lodge Fort Bragg

Within minutes of arriving at the Beachcomber, I asked myself why not stay over another day and rest up my hands from the exciting switchback excursion. I have to say that despite exercises specifically to keep them in good condition, my hands remain the longsuffering victims of really long or arduous roads. So I did stay over and spent the day ...

Sometimes you just slow yourself down and it's a good thing. I had been very efficient in getting all my gear packed on the bike and was looking forward to the redwood highway when a couple started chatting in the Hiouchi Motel parking lot about this and that.
When we wrapped things up and I headed out onto rte 199 south I did not get more than 4 miles or so when I saw a woman out on the road ...

Well where do I start we had a great flight into San Fran it was very smooth and was actually ahead a schedule. That's where it ends we then needed to wait over an hour to get our luggage then take a 20 minute train ride to the car rental center only to wait another hour to get our car talk about your hurry up and wait. We then set out on our adventure to cross the golden gate bridge only to encounter the typical big city ...

... snaked down the road, only to see the smallest possible opening arched through a medium-sized redwood. I could not believe I was even going to attempt to drive our brand new minivan through , but darn it, I had paid my five bucks and I wanted a picture of us driving through a redwood, so we turned in our sideview mirrors and I went for it. Very, very slowly. Miraculously I made it—phew!! After this ...

... pictures
or description on these added dates.

Please see Venice, July 24th - "Taking a Little Time Out" - for the latest update following Astoria on July 17th.

I'll add this same description to each
of the added dates and locations to direct you to the next update.
Sorry for any confusion!!!!


Linda 7/25/09

... The water was completely clear and clean and as I said...no bugs. It was a great find. We got back in the truck ready to head south, out of the mountains and to the coast. Little did we know they are one in the same.

We knew that the coast was hilly and windy, so we were going to take the highway for some time before venturing over there. Well the high way was extremely twisted and curvy, so, not ...

We decided that Friday was Beach day and had already spotted a location to spend the day. We spent about three hours on the beach enjoying the waves and walking the shores. There were some cool cliffs and caves that we explored along with a small stream that emptied into the pacific. It was warm in the sun but with the cool breeze we actually had our sweatshirts on as we relaxed in the sand. We initially hoped to walk on the Pudding Creek ...

... wear it in England (expect many Wild West themed parties upon our return). Munchie got a Californian sunhat which also looks very nice. We drove through magnificent redwoods - the weather was very sunny today although still cold - early 60s. We reached the Avenue of the Giants and took a walk along the Founders Tree route (MJ HAD to wear his new hat and ended up looking like a cross between Clockwork Orange ...

... when they dance. I do like the Irish Dancing but sometimes it does look a little funny! I wore my new green cardigan to show my support - it also shielded me from the sun. I then walked back down Market st, past the area of tenderloin (which is where all the gangs hang out) and you really could feel it. The people that were on the street really looked quite scary, but I was safe as this was a man street in the middle of the day. There were also a lot of beggars, and people ...

... no money since Wednesday, could support a continuing drunk. Each morning Cotton waited for the saloon to open, holding a fist full of rain checks from the night before. He followed a routine: drink all day and sell a few cards for $1.00 each to raise food money and play pool. All the while his reserve stock of free drink chits was being replenished. At one point I noted eight rain checks remained in front of him and the stack continued to grow. Cotton had found his Heaven.