Back On The Road Again

It felt great to get Tranquila back on the road again.

Buck's Lake

Our swim was very brief, after all, it is still May. 

A couple of days later we had snow on our back deck!

The 17 mile drive out of Quincy wound through a wide valley of peaceful pastures dotted with yellow spring flowers.  Images of horse and cattle ranches, a small white clapboard school house, and a child playing on a swing hanging from a pine tree evoked distant memories of the fifties. A feeling of "life is good" and a sense that world is a safe place came as necessary respite after watching the early morning news on television. Living in a small hamlet is a gift, and one we dreamed of for years. A dream come true, for which we are thankful everyday.

Ahhhh, Spring.

Lazy Days for Lamas and Longhorns.

Longhorn Scottish Hairy Cow - Wow!

As we climbed higher in elevation towards Buck's Lake we passed hillsides covered with Mountain Dogwood. Breathtaking. All this, and trout too, 42 miles from our front door.

Mountain Dogwood

One more reason we will return...

More Fun Awaits at Campsite #3

And more Y U M !

And beach sunsets with deer friends.

Oh Yeah, we'll be back.

Our Other Life

Life is good aboard El Tiburon in Mexico.......

 but, I am starting to miss traveling in Tranquila.

It's time to take her home to the Sierra.

Time to Migrate South

Someone has to play....

And someone has to blow the snow, my hero.

Winter Fun, blowing snow and snowshoeing close to home. We have started to miss Mexico, and El Tiburon, and Tranquila. So, A little time well spent in Morro Bay on Tranquila before we migrate further south.

One of our favorite places Morro Bay State Park.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 

We'll be back to Tranquila the first of the New Year.

Until then, Enjoy the Holidays!

Counting Our Blessings

Giving Thanks at Judy's in Cayucos, California

Old friends, witty conversation, delicious food, and plenty of California sunshine.

The Perfect Thanksgiving Sunset.

My City By The Bay, SAN FRANCISCO

A bit anxiety provoking, but no problema in reality.  

We usually sail under THE GATE in dense fog amidst blaring horns, but his time, going over THE GATE was a different kind of Glorious entry to our City-By-The-Bay. The Crossing, with Tranquila in tow, wasn't as intimidating as we had imagined, especially early on a Sunday morn. We had heard the toll cost had increased, so we were ready for the $6.00 fee. YIKES, it turns out we paid $6.00 per axel. $24.00. So worth it! Especially on her 75 birthday! 

H O M E  SWEET  H O M E

I left my heart in San Francisco 

High on a hill, it calls to me. 

To be where little cable cars 

Climb halfway to the stars! 

The morning fog may chill the air I don't care! 

My love waits there in San Francisco 

Above the blue and windy sea 

When I come home to you, San Francisco, 

Your golden sun will shine for me!

Tony Bennett  Words By Douglass Cross and Music by George Cory 1954

We stayed in San Francisco long enough to visit the "Palace of Flying Arts" (that's what Hana used to call it), enjoy an Italian dinner with my family in North Beach, and watch an America's Cup match race from the Marina Green.

The Palace of Fine Arts

America's Cup

Then it was time to continue our journey south.

Our familiar backyard, Half Moon Bay.

 Another familiar backyard, The Rock from the Morro Bay Yacht Club.
We had a way too short visit with Hana, and enjoyed hanging out with old friends 
Judy and Reg for an evening.

Spark had a play date with a little Vizsla girl he met at the 
Wine Country RV Resort in Paso Robles.

An Anvil Cloud lurks ahead of us as we drive past Santa Ynez

Next, we moseyed on down the way to Santa Barbara for an annual birthday celebration with my Virgo Twin Connie and her husband Chris. The next night we BBQ-ed an Arrachera with boating buddies, Nick and Jessica, at El Capitan. Then it was time to hit Flying Flags RV Park in Buellton and button up Tranquila for a couple of months while we return to our sailing lives aboard El Tiburon. 

WOW!
Much to our surprise and joy, we arrived at Flying Flags RV Park in the middle of a Vintage Airstream Jamboree. Very fun for us to see so many beautiful old gals all dolled up, with their owners all enjoying cocktails and sharing stories under colorful awnings  with pink flamingos standing watch.

PInk Flamingos seem to be standard equipment on vintage airstreams.

WAAA!

 It was very hard to leave our girl all alone between 2 big rigs.

Nighty Nighty Tranquila, Sleep Tight.

As difficult as it was to leave Tranquila behind, we are really excited to 

return to El Tib and Mexico. 

 Adobado (Spicy Pork) Tacos is only one reason we are missing Mexico.

We are not only excited about getting El Tib back out to sea, but look forward to exploring nooks and grannies in Ensenada, as well as heading out to indulge in a bit of wine tasting in Ruta del Vina, Valle del Guadalupe.

 First stop, 10 miles outside of Ensenada, Vinas de Garza.
Watch out Napa Sonoma, this rustic elegant winery knocked our socks off.

Homeward Bound

A Grand way to celebrate our Homecoming to San Francisco Bay Area

Our favorite spot in Tomales Bay to stop for Oysters.

Tamales Bay Oyster Company Shack

 Ah Shucks.....at Samuel Taylor Campground in Olema.

Only a dozen more left to shuck.

Fruits de Mer

We love Tomales Bay. We love the oysters, we love the hiking, we love the Cowgirl Creamery, and we love the camping. We also loved meeting up with old Rio Americano High School friends, and we loved visiting our Mexico sailing friends from Salt Shaker at Camp Run Amuck. 

It was the P E R F E C T re-entry back to our City-By-The-Bay, 

where we left our hearts over 2 years ago.

A new friend we met along our Tomales hike.

 We took a day trip (what a drive!) 

to Sea Ranch for a long walk and de-lish lunch.

 Sea Ranch on a clear day looking north.

And it appears Spark enjoyed making a new "friend" at Sea Ranch.

Another day we drove to Sausalito to walk some of our favorites docks in the world, 
where we acknowledged our True Natures as Gypsy Sailors.

Spark LOVES Sausalito too!

Then off to Molly Stone's for some camping supplies.

A Foodie's Paradise.

Back at Camp

Molly Stone's Crab Cakes served with Cowgirl Creamery Barrata, Roasted Tomatoes and a crisp and zesty Sauvignon Blanc.

A great way to celebrate our homecoming.

What's not to LOVE about coming home to San Francisco Bay Area?