Night Out

June 19, 2013

Our first night  officially out and about here in Cloverdale. Love the Mexican Food.

In Cloverdale

                We’ve been taking walks around the neighborhood before Ari goes to the office.  It’s been so lovely in the cooler part of the day before the world wakes up. The birds sing and this morning we saw the sunrise and a couple of big jackrabbits in a nearby park. I wasn’t quick enough on the camera to capture the rabbits but I did get these:

On To Cloverdale

June 15, 3013

Saturday

                This was the last day of Ari’s training, and was a shorter class.  We went to lunch with Bruce and his wife Sharon. They are really down home, nice folks.  I am glad for the connection. Mr. Johnson has been in the business for a long time. 

                Today was laundry day & while it was washing we did a bit of shopping at a nearby store in preparation for tomorrow’s drive. We found a fun taco place Chipoltes for dinner.  Life on the road.

Tomorrow we head towards Cloverdale and have yet to determine whether or not to visit with Ari’s sister on our way there. I am mostly packed.

June 16, 2013

Sunday

                We rescheduled our visit to the bay area to visit my sister in law, so our chosen route to Cloverdale was California State Highway 29, a relatively short drive from Sacramento. The scenery on this route always fascinates me. There are so many different varieties of vegetation down here including palm trees, lemon trees, vineyards, and fields of sunflowers.  There were two lakes along the way as well, Lake Berryesa  http://www.usbr.gov/mp/berryessa/facts.html and Clear Lake.

                We checked in at 2:30, did a little food shopping and ended our day with burritos at the nearby restaurant, El Molcajete.https://foursquare.com/v/el-molcajete/4bbf9f962a89ef3bc53fef88/photos

Clear Lake

Route 29

Ashland to Sacramento

                

June 10, left China Bend around 6:00 am, that night at the Dalles, OR

June 11, drove from The Dalles to Ashland

We arrived in Ashland Tuesday night after a long day of driving. Our room wasn’t quite ready yet but when it was a shower and a nap was definitely in order, then off to the pub (The Black Sheep) for some food and libations before the play, Cymbeline It was a great play and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The theatre troupes at the Shakespeare Festival do such a wonderful job. It was a bit chilly, though, colder than I had expected. I was glad I had worn my jacket, neck scarf and socks.

                The next day’s drive was not quite as long and I had my turn at driving the California freeways. I took the first shift from Ashland. We got an early start so the traffic was not bad so I actually enjoyed the experience. Driving the freeway is one of the things in life that I have wanted to accomplish and now I have. I still don’t like city driving though, as it makes me anxious.

                We found the Crown Plaza Hotel in Sacramento & checked in early. The problem was that in our room the internet was not working which simply would not do, so we got moved to a different room…..and here we are. It is a suite, actually, with two rooms so that Ari and Mr. Johnson can do the class.

                Sacramento is so big and the area we are at is not that appealing; too much traffic and not much beauty but it is what it is and all part of the job. I am thankful.  Here in this room it is clean, cool, and comfortable. I can read and write freely and it is a great opportunity to get caught up on some writing projects.

                

First Day...China Bend to The Dalles, OR

                We left China Bend  around 6:00 this morning.  Had lunch in  Kennewick Wa around 1:30 at the Ice Harbor Brew Pub. Great sunny day, I drove for a little bit. So far the trip has been fun. Lovely views of the river along the way. Awesome rock formations along the road the further south we got, past the tri cities area. Not used to being in the city. There is so much hustle and bustle. I am just a country mouse at heart. A travel blog is harder to keep than I thought, mainly because I am so tired at the end of the day and by the time we are settled in for the evening I can hardly think straight. We are both hungry and tired but don’t have the heart to go driving again to eat. The cost of being here out in the world is always surprising although it shouldn’t be. But this is part of our job, so be it, and it must be done. All is well for the first day of travel. We’ll both feel better after showers and a good night's rest.