Tag Archives: California

Cali Road Trip… Northward.

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After an incredible week with family and friends, we headed out of The Bay into Northern California and beyond. It was so good to see everyone… it gets a little lonely in the solitude out here in the woods. But after such a full week, we found ourselves ready for some isolation again!

Beautiful Nor Cal sky through the bus windshield
Road Dawg
Rainbow on the way to Shasta
Some troubles on the way……

We spent the first night in Mt. Shasta at the Woodsman Hotel. We were nervous about their reviews (eeek!!), but to our incredible surprise, we loved it! It is a very quaint, rustic motel that definitely makes you think of an old-timey mountain town. It’s not fancy, just cute. And very woodsy. Apparently there is new management, which probably explains why we got so lucky. We sat with Nick, the combo front desk man/bartender and had dinner and drinks and chatted. Everyone who works there are just good people. Mt. Shasta (only about an hour from where I went to college), is a wonderful community, surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes, and healing mineral water springs. The population is filled with outdoor enthusiasts, artists, healers. Tourism is an important part of their economy, which is hard to maintain during the slow seasons. I can see that the town really struggles waiting for the summer. So that’s my little plug… to visit Shasta!

Mt. Shasta
The Woodsman
Our bus in Shasta

From Shasta, you have a choice between the faster, but MUCH less beautiful route up I5N and the gorgeous (I’m talking– Klamath Lake, Crater Lake, a MILLION snow-covered mountains, surrounded by evergreens and finishing up through the Columbia River Gorge –gorgeous) route up the 97. So (obviously) we headed up through Central Oregon. We camped in Madras at Lake Simtustus on the Deschutes just above the Pelton Dam and upstream from Lake Billy Chinook.

Logging North of Kalamath, OR
Market South of Bend, OR
Rest Stop near Bend, OR
On the way down to Simtustus

OH MY GOSH. What an amazing place we discovered!! We got a spot right on the shore, but the lake front RV resort is terraced in a way that every spot has a gorgeous lake view. They had the cleanest facilities, little community golf carts for all to use, fishing poles to borrow and such nice people! I am practically drooling as I write this. It was a perfect location.

Camp on Lake Simtustus
Our home for the night!
Woodfired Flank Steak
Fireside
Glassy lake in the morning
Camp coffee
Community golf carts

Mitch caught a few fish, but they were all babies, so we didn’t bring home any dinner…

We finished the trip out by driving through the Gorge, Dalles to Hood River. Stopped for some wine tasting at Marchesi and had belated mother’s day sushi with Mom in Portland. A little more wine tasting at Vista Hills and 2012 barrel tasting at White Rose Sunday on the way home. We feel really lucky. Now back to the farm…

Marchesi
At Marchesi
Me in the Jeep, Mitch in the Bus.
Vista HIlls
Barrel Tasting at White Rose

Xo, K

Back From Cali… with Full Hearts.

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We are back! We had a fantastic trip north from Santa Barbara and were happy (ecstatic!!) to come home Sunday to our beautiful and well cared for home (we can’t thank you enough, Tara). It’s been raining (pouring!!) since we got here, which is a bummer, but gives us a good excuse to unpack and relax back into the swing of things here before feeling too bad about not doing any work around the farm. Besides, I can’t wait to share our adventures OFF the farm.

Last week, we flew into Santa Barbara to stay with my sister’s family. Words on a blog post can’t express how amazing it is to spend 5 nights with Melanie, Corey and Mckenzie in perfect, sunny SB. The usual fun we always have, was extra special to me because I ran my first half marathon! I ran slow. It was almost impossible. And I loved it (…starting about an hour after I finished). I ran from Santa Inez to Solvang through vineyards and lavender fields… ending with wine tasting and music! Tri-tip sandwiches and more music at Cold Spring Tavern on the way down. Yum.

Kill me!
(It wasn’t easy on the way down tho…)
Adjusted time was 2:49, which is almost 13min/mile.
These guys are bros. Since 18.
My sis!
Music at Cold Springs Tavern

We spent the weekend cooking, playing, swimming and having fun! We slept in the 1977 Airstream Argosy guest room and we were reunited with our own vintage beauty, our ’79 VW, which they have been babysitting since we left it there at Thanksgiving. One way road trips are definitely the way to go! Bye bye SB and fam. See you again soon (obviously)!

Next, we took the short drive to LA…. the longest possible way we could manage. We took the, conference call in the morning, pack slowly, wait for AAA to bring a new battery, HWY 1 via Malibu, arriving to LA in the height of rush hour long-way. So it took about 6+ hours. Ali asked me at 11am if we would make it by 5!! We didn’t.

But we did make it in time to have a reunion with 3 beloved friends who are all new residents of Los Angeles. Ali, Evan and Maddy… we love you!! And miss you so much. Thanks for the delicious food, drinks, coffee and company.

Malibu Seafood
Evan on grill!
Me + Maddy = ā¤
Tara, Ali, Matilda.
Awe… xo. Photo by Ali.

We hit the road the next day for the most utterly miserable part of the trip. The drive from LA to San Jose. It was so hot, windy, stinky and loooong (I mentioned the ’79 bus…).

Luckily! Eric, Zoe and Dylan equals… wonderful company, a gorgeous baby, martinis, good wine, (more) delicious food, hot tub and always a great time. We wish we could have stayed MUCH longer!

Middle of I-don’t-know-where…
Gross, stinky cows as far as you can see.

Actually, Mitch did stay! I rode the train to San Francisco to hang for the night with MORE good friends. Tracy, Emily and Michelle already had a night out planned so I was happy to be able to crash it without fussing with any plans! Thanks ladies!! After dinner, we acted like tourists and went to the Top of the Mark at the Mark Anthony, with incredible views of the city, both bridges and all the surrounding water. Beautiful! Next, the Tonga Room in the basement of the Fairmont, where they converted the hotel pool into a tiki lounge with a band playing from a floating stage, dancing and periodic indoor rain storms! A little cheesy, but totally fun!

Train ride to SF
The Mark Anthony
View at the Top of the Mark
Tracy and Koji!

Ok, this is part one. I think that’s about as long as I can hope to keep your attention. Part two will include the second half of the trip though Nor Cal, when we were on our own… camping, fishing, (more) wine tasting. We Instagrammed our way up, but there is much more to share! Thanks for tuning in!!

Xo, K