Day 7 Wednesday January 15

Breakfast spot

Breakfast spot's business card

     Bumbled out of Sugar at 9 am under a bright sun after shower; S could be heard cursing the shower but we ignored her as our own quarter dropped and hot water streamed down. Seeking library in Vallejo we u-turned into a fruit stand with attached taco truck, S had the Tacos de Conasta and I the tamales. Around the top of the Bay and into the Solano County Public Library for the update and downloads. Heading for Pinnacles after. Fog and sun.

     So having beat south through Sonoma and the wineries and on to the freeways back side of the Bay and after the library and Vallejo we established ourselves on state highway 25 and took a right into Pinnacles National Park which designation it richly deserves. With maybe 10 in camp before us we tried a greeting walk with B through our section of camp which went well. Couple of newer Sprinters in the other section including a Revel which we still mildly covet, but there is the issue with the size of the bed even though it raises and lowers electrically. S is now talking of a custom built configuration with side windows and a dining nook. The buzzards are sleeping in the big pine above us, but the condors remain in their high redoubt out of sight. Tomorrow calls for rain so we will probably move on toward Ojai for an 18th arrival as planned. The nice staff lady in the golf cart said last night it was 22º. Our little propane heater is nice and totally up to combating such foolishness.

Day 6 Tuesday January 14

talking on the wrist at Gaulala

looking the other way across the river into Gaulala itself

Sugarloaf

the shack at Porter Creek winery

Out of the river bottom, the creepy bay forest, Gaulala Regional Park Camp and across the road to the Russian totem poles and a walk to the ocean beach with its big dumping surf. Gurgled south on 1 to Bodega Bay with a quick stop in Jenner for Cheetos. Struck inland and quickly came to a young woman selling oysters from her farm. We only had 6, but you can get 50 for $70 - not shucked like ours though. Smashed through Sabastapol with the idea to find a vineyard. Found Fog Crest and had a deep and wide chat with the young man pouring forth there. He suggested on request the next spot, Porter Creek, which led to another round and a deeper and wider chat with Paul the tri-national (Scots, Israeli and somewhere else) who poured there. Loosely from there, S found a camp at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park run by Team Sugarloaf above and to the east of Santa Rosa. S made another nice fire and she took a walk while B and I napped. Ramen with a huge wad of fresh spinach drizzled with olive and sesame oil, really very good.