We both went to work on the 22nd and returned on the 25th. One day off and it was off to Napa for Jamie’s 50th birthday week! We checked in at our favorite hotel in Napa, the Best Western Elm House. I know, who would think a Best Western is the best hotel in town but this place is great. It’s more of a bed and breakfast. Tom and Connie, the owners put on an amazing breakfast each morning with…
Today Jamie and I played golf at a very nice but very difficult course. It was Jamie’s first full round of golf and she was quite the trooper playing her first time and really without having had any lessons other than a few I got her years ago. Most people would have gotten very frustrated but she hung in there and we had a great time. I shot a 98 so like I said, it was a tough course. After…
Today we took the drive through Pebble Beach and Big Sur. Both spectacular views and drives. The California coast is very different from the east coast with all the mountains and elevations overlooking the ocean. We stopped at two great restaurant overlooking the water, Rocky Point for lunch and Nepenthe for dinner. We were also amazed at the temperature variations and still can’t figure them out. Similar elevations, same distance from the water and the temperature went from 65 in…
Happy father’s day to me. Although I was stuck in training this weekend I had a nice father’s day. Since Eric lives in Boulder he came to stay with me Saturday night. We went to dinner then he stayed over. We hung out Sunday morning then I caught a flight home. Jamie picked me up and we played a round of golf with a very nice guy. He stopped over for a beverage then we barbecued a steak. A great…
We went to the Monterey aquarium today. Saw some playful penguins and sea otters, some scary and weird fish and eels and some weird jelly fish. Click on the picture above to see the rest of the pictures.
Today we walked around an area called Fisherman’s Wharf and then drove what’s called the 17 mile drive, a beautiful scenic loop around Pebble Beach golf course and the Monterrey peninsula. Fisherman’s Wharf is what you’d expect. A boardwalk area full of restaurants and shops. We stopped for a beer and clam chowder and watched the sea lions sunbathe. Then we drove half the 17 mile drive and ended up in Carmel by the sea, a small beach town and…
We finally moved on from Vandenburg AFB to Monterrey, Ca. We’re in a very nice campground right on a golf course. Apparently it’s part of a Naval post graduate school but you wouldn’t know this has anything to do with a military facility. It’s really a very nice place. The golf course is basically our backyard. Fortunately there’s a large net to keep balls from knocking my beer over. There’s also a farmer’s market right next door. Not sure when…
Numerous people told us about the Madonna Inn. In fact, my aunt and uncle stayed here over 40 years ago. It was built in 1958 and is one of those gaudy romantic places. It has 110 rooms all decorated differently and many make extensive use of local rock. The restaurant is even more gaudy done up in all pink. Anyway it was a very cool place. We stayed in a room called the Kona room, apparently the same room my…
Here are the pictures of the inside of the Hearst castle Click on the picture above to see the rest of the pictures.
Today we went to the Hearst Castle. It was pretty incredible. For those of you who don’t know who he was, his father was born relatively poor in Missouri and made it big by moving out west during the gold rush and finding silver. He left his fortune to William who is most known for his success as a newspaper owner which he inherited from his parents. He is also the grandfather to Patty Hearst who was infamously kidnapped in…
Not much to report but didn’t want to leave a big gap again. Last couple of days Jim went to work while Jamie went to Houston for a bachelorette party. Jim got home late Friday night while Jamie is staying in Houston til Sunday. So what to do?? Golf of course. Played 18 holes at two different courses. Am I addicted or what? As you can see from the pictures I even had a gallery. Two more days here then…
We were gonna go to the Hearst castle today but Jamie chipped her tooth and was able to get a dentist appointment at 8 am today (ahhhhh, Jamie doesn’t get up before 9!!). After her appointment, working 3 trips in 9 days and getting up early caught up with her and she needed to crash. Of course, that’s never a problem for me. Another day of golf? Sureee! So I played golf at another course near here that had high…
Tuesday we hit Santa Barrbara, about an hour drive south of where we were staying. We went to the Santa Barbara mission, a farmer’s market and the beach/pier. For those of you, like us, who don’t know what a mission is, when the Spaniards came to America they claimed the land and built missions (churches) for not only their own religious practices but also to convert any natives that were willing to accept their faith. This one was built in…
Monday we went to Solvang, a cool little Danish town just East of where we were glamping (as Ashley calls it). We walked around, had beer at an outdoor patio, ate at a great restaurant and, of course, got some pastries at a Danish bakery. It was a great side trip. Click on the picture above to see the rest of the pictures.