So, back to the trip. We left Redding this morning, driving up I 5, the Pacific Crest Trail, with impressive Mt. Shasta as our first destination. The snow topped peaks are beautiful. We stopped for photos, of course - from every angle.
Then we headed northeast on Hwy 97 to the top of CA, then east along the CA-Oregon state line on 161. After a morning of mountains and pine trees, we headed into a huge valley toward the Klamath Wildlife Refuge. We had the road to ourselves, so we could stop on a whim to take photos or just watch birds. On our drive into the refuge, we began our bird search in earnest. I hoped for eagles and magpies, but no luck on that. We saw an enormous bird that was probably a great blue heron. He was too far away for us to be sure. So big! We followed a great white heron for a while, then ran into a flock of yellow headed blackbirds - making Papa happy. Many families of cute little grebes swam in the open water areas, and we saw swallows, a big white pelican, and gulls.
There was no shortage of turkey vultures; we came across four or five of them eating roadkill lunch that used to be a beautiful little fox. EW.
Then came the big excitement of entering the Modoc Plateau and the Lava Beds National Monument. Lots of lava and more talk of subduction, volcanoes and such. The beat part was being questioned that we were both at least 62. Well, at least it was a good part. The lava was abundant! Nice visitors centers. The scenery and leisurely drive were good medicine.
Tonight we are in Alturas with a bunch of bikers. Dinner was in a Basque restaurant that really isn't. They do serve family style, but mostly the food was just deep fried everything. Papa loved it.
Tomorrow is Mt. Lassen then to Reno.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
International Encaustic Artists
So, because I am on vacation and have a little time, I will mention that between my April post and this latest flurry, I have been working on an exhibit of encaustic art, Consequential Fusion: Messages in Wax, now showing at Art Center Morro Bay. To see go to www.international-encaustic-artists.org. Sorry I can't put in the link. IPad does not want to do that. I think most of you reading this have seen it, anyway.
I am proud that we are able to host the show and pleased at the response. While preparing for the show, we were also making some needed renovations to the Art Center and I was working countless hours developing a promotional slide presentation about the center. All that is done now, and I am enjoying making my presentations around the community.
Now I have a mountain of boxes in my garage and dread the end of the encaustic show. We will have to move all the boxes back to the Art Center, repackage all the art, and ship. In the end, it will be worth it though. So far we have sold one piece. Let's hope for a few more. There is really wonderful stuff there. How I wish I could own several of those pieces.
After months of working nonstop, I am enjoying a few days away. Daughter, SIL and children were in Colorado when I was the busiest. I am happy they are back home, now, and am looking forward to a return to a little more normal schedule - whatever that is. When school starts, both children will get out at 2:30. What will I do with all that time?!
I am proud that we are able to host the show and pleased at the response. While preparing for the show, we were also making some needed renovations to the Art Center and I was working countless hours developing a promotional slide presentation about the center. All that is done now, and I am enjoying making my presentations around the community.
Now I have a mountain of boxes in my garage and dread the end of the encaustic show. We will have to move all the boxes back to the Art Center, repackage all the art, and ship. In the end, it will be worth it though. So far we have sold one piece. Let's hope for a few more. There is really wonderful stuff there. How I wish I could own several of those pieces.
After months of working nonstop, I am enjoying a few days away. Daughter, SIL and children were in Colorado when I was the busiest. I am happy they are back home, now, and am looking forward to a return to a little more normal schedule - whatever that is. When school starts, both children will get out at 2:30. What will I do with all that time?!
Just drivng
Yesterday we drove and ate. We left American Canyon, wound through Napa and the hills beyond, then entered the great valley, heading for Redding. Lots of eye candy.
Papa had the strange idea that I would do that fast food thing again. No way. I held my ground this time. Using Yelp I found a little Mexican place in Clearlake for lunch.
We had been looking forward to Korean food for dinner, but got there to discover they are closed on the weekend! What? Landed at a cute little bistro with sort of OK food.
We will see Mount Shasta today! And drive up to the Oregon border.
Meanwhile I finished reading Siddons latest, Burnt Offerings. As always, I enjoyed her descriptions and her twisted mind, but didn't feel the book had a very meaty plot, somehow.
Right now we are in our hotel in Redding; Papa is brewing my decaf while I catch you up on our progress.
Papa had the strange idea that I would do that fast food thing again. No way. I held my ground this time. Using Yelp I found a little Mexican place in Clearlake for lunch.
We had been looking forward to Korean food for dinner, but got there to discover they are closed on the weekend! What? Landed at a cute little bistro with sort of OK food.
We will see Mount Shasta today! And drive up to the Oregon border.
Meanwhile I finished reading Siddons latest, Burnt Offerings. As always, I enjoyed her descriptions and her twisted mind, but didn't feel the book had a very meaty plot, somehow.
Right now we are in our hotel in Redding; Papa is brewing my decaf while I catch you up on our progress.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Picasso
Another memorable day. Papa brought me a warm, lightly toasted, raisin bagel and decaf to my bed this AM. So spoiled.
We relaxed awhile, then drove from Morgan Hill to the de Young Museum in San Francisco - a relatively easy drive. Tillie the car girl led us right there but couldn't tell us how to find the parking garage. After we missed a turn she told us to take, we accidentally found the entrance we wanted. We must be doing something right.
We found our way to the right desk to pick up our reserved tickets and rent our audio tour equipment before making a quick stop in the cafe. We entered the Picasso exhibit right at our assigned time of 12:30... and....well..... it is hard to tell you how wonderful I thought it was. It is the traveling exhibit from the Picasso Museum in Paris, a collection of the work Picasso saved and wouldn't or didn't sell. I will not forget this day.
From the de Young, we drove across the Oakland Bridge and then on to American Canyon. We just finished another fabulous meal, and are settled in our hotel for the night.
All in all a great day. We made few wrong turns, got everywhere we wanted to go, saw wonderful art, and ate well. How could a day be much better. Now I am going to read the new Siddons book for a while. Tomorrow we head toward Modoc Plateau. Papa has high expectations. I will report.
We relaxed awhile, then drove from Morgan Hill to the de Young Museum in San Francisco - a relatively easy drive. Tillie the car girl led us right there but couldn't tell us how to find the parking garage. After we missed a turn she told us to take, we accidentally found the entrance we wanted. We must be doing something right.
We found our way to the right desk to pick up our reserved tickets and rent our audio tour equipment before making a quick stop in the cafe. We entered the Picasso exhibit right at our assigned time of 12:30... and....well..... it is hard to tell you how wonderful I thought it was. It is the traveling exhibit from the Picasso Museum in Paris, a collection of the work Picasso saved and wouldn't or didn't sell. I will not forget this day.
From the de Young, we drove across the Oakland Bridge and then on to American Canyon. We just finished another fabulous meal, and are settled in our hotel for the night.
All in all a great day. We made few wrong turns, got everywhere we wanted to go, saw wonderful art, and ate well. How could a day be much better. Now I am going to read the new Siddons book for a while. Tomorrow we head toward Modoc Plateau. Papa has high expectations. I will report.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Road Tripping continued
I learned all about conglomerate rock, subduction zones, anticline, and syncline as we headed toward Pinnacles National Monument. And Papa says that those pinnacles are what is left of half a volcano that was dragged from LA by the Pacific plate. Apparently after millions of years creeping, it is still moving part of an inch each year.
Our car registered 62 when we left home. When I was snapping pix of the peaks, the temperature was 97. Too much for us. We didn't linger. But we were duly impressed.
Lunch had been a square fish sandwich and fries near Paso Robles. Ugh. But Papa had done his homework and dinner was amazing at Maurizio's in Morgan Hill. We beat the crowd by just a few minutes. Seeking absolution for my lunchtime sins, I ordered "just" an appetizer and salad. Very good thing. My slab of polenta was topped with a bechemel sauce with gorganzola and mushrooms. My spinach salad was chock full of dates, cranberries, and gorganzola. Not light fare, but crazy delicious.
Now we are snuggled into a Holiday Inn Express in Morgan Hill and will head for the Picasso show tomorrow.
Our car registered 62 when we left home. When I was snapping pix of the peaks, the temperature was 97. Too much for us. We didn't linger. But we were duly impressed.
Lunch had been a square fish sandwich and fries near Paso Robles. Ugh. But Papa had done his homework and dinner was amazing at Maurizio's in Morgan Hill. We beat the crowd by just a few minutes. Seeking absolution for my lunchtime sins, I ordered "just" an appetizer and salad. Very good thing. My slab of polenta was topped with a bechemel sauce with gorganzola and mushrooms. My spinach salad was chock full of dates, cranberries, and gorganzola. Not light fare, but crazy delicious.
Now we are snuggled into a Holiday Inn Express in Morgan Hill and will head for the Picasso show tomorrow.
Road Tripping
Well, If I took time to catch up on my life in this post, I wouldn't have a minute to blog about now. So, suffice it to say I have been really really busy and now have escaped with Papa for a little vacay. And I needed it. I have been working almost 24/7. Retired?
Anyway, Papa took a geology class last semester. The more he learned, the more he wanted to take a drive to see some of California's geological wonders. Then I mentioned that the Picasso exhibit would be at the deYoung in San Fran.
I calculated when I could get away, Papa researched and planned, and here we are at the end of our first day on the road. Papa has many expectations for each stretch of our journey. I love just riding along, listening to explanations, and examining the scenery......imagining paintings. Anything more is frosting. No demands, no expectations.
So the first frosting today was a red tail hawk swooping down a ravine along Old Creek Road, giving us a marvelous view from above. Sunlight showed his colors to their best advantage, providing our first important nature moment of the trip - not long after left home. The second came as we drove parallel to 101 on deserted Indian Valley Road. As we headed north examining rock formations, an adorable roadrunner popped out of the brush and ran along in front of us. I almost got the camera out before a car came from the other direction, frightening him away.
What a beautiful drive through almost unspoiled territory. We didn't see the raptors and bobcats Papa had hoped for, but we did see ash throated flycatchers, western meadowlarks, acorn woodpeckers, and doves as our little road dipped and rose along the San Andreas Fault. Baked, golden, tree dotted hills surrounded us and finally ushered us onto highway 25.
Anyway, Papa took a geology class last semester. The more he learned, the more he wanted to take a drive to see some of California's geological wonders. Then I mentioned that the Picasso exhibit would be at the deYoung in San Fran.
I calculated when I could get away, Papa researched and planned, and here we are at the end of our first day on the road. Papa has many expectations for each stretch of our journey. I love just riding along, listening to explanations, and examining the scenery......imagining paintings. Anything more is frosting. No demands, no expectations.
So the first frosting today was a red tail hawk swooping down a ravine along Old Creek Road, giving us a marvelous view from above. Sunlight showed his colors to their best advantage, providing our first important nature moment of the trip - not long after left home. The second came as we drove parallel to 101 on deserted Indian Valley Road. As we headed north examining rock formations, an adorable roadrunner popped out of the brush and ran along in front of us. I almost got the camera out before a car came from the other direction, frightening him away.
What a beautiful drive through almost unspoiled territory. We didn't see the raptors and bobcats Papa had hoped for, but we did see ash throated flycatchers, western meadowlarks, acorn woodpeckers, and doves as our little road dipped and rose along the San Andreas Fault. Baked, golden, tree dotted hills surrounded us and finally ushered us onto highway 25.
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