Prunedale to Nice, California – 10/15/2014

OCTOBER 15, 2014 (Wednesday)

On the road again! Yahoo!!!! Michael has been working so hard and now it’s done. We got finished what we could and will try to complete other things when we go back next year. We are officially on the road until at least April (with a few days back in Prunedale for a doctor appointment in November). Excited. We’re even talking about going up to St. Louis, Chicago, and parts North in March 2015.

This morning our wonderful daughter bought us breakfast. Very nice. It’s going to be strange not having her with us on the road. Today we drove to Petaluma, California to see some friends Michael has known for over 37 years – Henry and Florence. I’ve only known them for 25 years. Such nice people. Henry and Michael worked together at San Quentin. He is 85 now, and Florence is 86.

We left Prunedale around 10:00 AM and headed up to Santa Clara. Michael was driving the truck back for Aaron that we had borrowed. It sure came in handy for all the projects we did.

I bought it new in 1989.  It has over 255,00 miles.  Great Toyota 4X4, so utilitarian!
I bought it new in 1989. It has over 255,00 miles. Great Toyota 4X4, so utilitarian!

We got a short but nice visit in with Aaron, Arla, and the grandpuppies. They’re all doing great.

Riku, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and a very sweet dog.
Riku, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and a very sweet dog.
Merlin, Aaron's dog since the 9th grade.
Merlin, Aaron’s dog since the 9th grade.

 

 

 

 

Aaron showing us his new triathlon bike and demonstrating the "arrow" position.
Aaron showing us his new triathlon bike and demonstrating the “arrow” position.
Carbon fiber fork and handle bar post.
Carbon fiber fork and handle bar post. It is a Litespeed Tachyon.
Arla's bike, an Eddy Merck.
Arla’s bike, an Eddy Merckx.
Aaron and Arla.
Aaron and Arla.

 

 

 

 

AKA, "The Boy".
AKA, “The Boy”.

We left and drove up 101 and over the Golden Gate Bridge to Petaluma.

The old dirigible hanger being dismantled.
The old dirigible hanger being dismantled.
Past NASA Ames Research.
Past NASA Ames Research Center.
SFO control tower.
SFO control tower.
Golden Gate National Cemetery is huge.
Golden Gate National Cemetery is huge.
Lots of old cars on the road.
Lots of old cars on the road.

 

 

 

 

Up 19th Avenue, through the city.
Up 19th Avenue, through the city.
Our first glimpse of the Golden Gate.
Our first glimpse of the Golden Gate.
A Volvo 544!
A Volvo 544!
The mix of landmarks, water and fog is always great in San Francisco.
The mix of landmarks, water and fog is always great in San Francisco.

IMG_4082

Heading North through Marin County.
Heading North through Marin County looking back over the bay.
So much water front.
So much water front.
Houseboats and float planes.
Houseboats and float planes.
A glimpse looking back again.
A glimpse looking back again.

 

 

 

 

Edie and I have always admired the lines of this building.
Edie and I have always admired the lines of this building.

 

We stopped in Petaluma to have linner at a local Chinese restaurant close to Henry and Florence’s home.

Turned out to be a very good place.
Turned out to be a very good place.
Edie got a lunch special that started with soup.  Had an interesting vinegar, beef mushroom flavor.
Edie got a lunch special that started with soup. Had an interesting vinegar, beef mushroom flavor.[/capt

[caption id="attachment_13831" align="aligncenter" width="605"]I had a Wor Won Ton Soup with a side of rice. I had a Wor Won Ton Soup with a side of rice.

Edie had Lemon Chicken with rice.
Edie had Lemon Chicken with rice.

We got to meet their two sweet dogs and caught up on happenings in everyone’s lives for the last few years. So good to see them. They both look really good. We didn’t want to tire them out but we did want a good visit since it’s been five years since we last physically saw them.

Florence is so quick, this is the only picture we got of her.
Florence is so quick, this is the only picture we got of her.
Henry was the Captain when I started at San Quentin.  His nicknames from the guard-line were "Hammering Hank" and "Wylie Coyote."
Henry was the Captain when I started at San Quentin. His nicknames from the guard-line were “Hammering Hank” and “Wylie Coyote.”
My dear friend Henry.
My dear friend Henry.

We left around 5:00 PM and headed North. I had gotten us a room at the Worldmark Clear Lake on bonus time (around $60.00 for a one bedroom).

We got into some pretty awful traffic near Santa Rosa but we were able to use the diamond lane so it helped. It was a lovely drive to Nice, California to the Worldmark Clear Lake Resort.

We headed north up 101 and it didn't take long to get into the beautiful countryside.
We headed north up 101 and it didn’t take long to get into the beautiful countryside.
We headed east after an hour or so and got into even more country settings.
We headed east after an hour or so and got into even more country settings.
Vineyards tucked away all along the way.
Vineyards tucked away all along the way.
Decent road, highway 175.
Decent road, highway 175.

Crested the summit after a lot of climbing and curves.
Crested the summit after a lot of climbing and curves.
Our first view of Clear Lake.  It is huge.
Our first view of Clear Lake. It is huge.
Checkin at the Clear Lake Worldmark.
Check-in at the Clear Lake Worldmark.

We were quite impressed with the resort. It was beautiful. It looked and felt like an old Spanish hacienda. Our room was huge and had a fireplace, washer/dryer – quite lovely.

Lobby.
Lobby.

Nice building.
Nice building.
Nice pool with hot tub around the corner.
Nice pool with hot tub around the corner.
In our room, ahhh, sanctuary, a nice clean bed!
In our room, ahhh, sanctuary, a nice clean bed!
Nice roomy bathroom.
Nice roomy bathroom.

Standard washer and dryer for Worldmark, one of Edie's favorite aspects.
Standard washer and dryer for Worldmark, one of Edie’s favorite aspects.
Nice big living room.
Nice big living room with a dining area off the kitchen.
Nice standard kitchen.
Nice standard kitchen.
Living room included a murphy bed, fireplace and flat screen.
Living room included a murphy bed, fireplace and flat screen.

Patio set.
Patio set.
Nice barbecue.
Nice barbecue.
Pleasant lake views from the patio.
Pleasant lake views from the patio.

We had heard the Clear Lake Resort wasn’t that great but we decided we want to go back and spend more time.