California, Oh! Calyfornia

On Sunday, May 24th, we arrived at our dear friends, Barbara and Mike, in Los Gatos, California. The odometer on my Z now reads 4,239 miles.According to my Garmin GPS, the short route from Hickory NC is about 2500 miles. Good thing Magellan didn't depend on my navigation skills. However, he was on a mission, we are on a leisurely peregrination.

Los Gatos, south of San Francisco, is in the heart of Silicon Valley. It is a wealthy city, or town, filled with Starbucks, art galleries, foo foo dining establishments, boutiques, dog biscuits on every corner, and more hair stylists then you can imagine. Yes, I did find a favorite hair stylist too. Actually, I have known Megan since she was a baby. While Peg and Barbara were out doing the "Zumba", I was taking photos for this blog, a much more practical exercise. Google "Zumba fitness".

The first pic is the Garden Inn at Los Gatos. Four great nights there, the next two are of our friends Barb and Mike with Peg and I, the last is Megan, (Barb's daughter who I have known as a baby and now cuts, or cut, my hair.







Homes are very expensive and I don't think the current economic condition has made any waves in Los Gatos. The automobile dealer right next to our lovely Inn, with its 30 or so cars, probably had a value higher then all the dealers in Hickory put together. Bentley, Bugatti, Maserati, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lotus were their main features. My good friend Peter, would have drastically thinned his wallet here.



We had a wonderful four day visit with our friends. We had great wine, great food (prepared by Mike one night and myself another night), and were able to meet some of their friends. We all know, when friends of many years get together, their are no secrets, only memories and laughs. We were even able to have breakfast with our good Hickory NC, friends, Pat and Dick, at the Los Gatos Cafe.

It was time for good-byes. Mike and Barbara are moving up to Penn Valley, California and had oodles of preparation before the movers arrive. We left them for Lafayette, CA to visit more family, but not before having lunch in Pleasanton, CA with a former business associate and friend, Sarah H, formerly with Bartlett Grain Company and now with Safeway Stores, in California. She was a great wheat trader, and I'm sure a boon for Safeway.

That evening we had a wonderful dinner at La Finestra's (www.lafinestraristorante.com)in Lafayette with my brother-in-law Bob, and his wonderful bride, Bobbie. "The Bobs". Many years ago Bob introduced me to Vincent Arroyo Vineyard and to Vincent himself. His vineyard is in Calistoga, California and his wine is so popular and appreciated that each year's production is sold out before it is bottled. http://www.vincentarroyo.com/. As a result, you never find his wines in retail stores or restaurants nor do you find it advertised in any wine magazines. He has a zero advertising budget as word of mouth over the years and repeat customers, like myself, insures that his production is sold out. This means, of course, you may have to have dinner at our house to taste his wine.

The Bobs, with Jewell.


Laura giving Peg a taste of their soon to be bottled 2009 Chardonnay.


Tasting wine with Laura, Vincent (blue shirt), and guests.


We left Calistoga on CA 128 north to Cloverdale where we had a great lunch of BBQ ribs at the Hamburger Ranch and Pasta Farm. They even had Carolina BBQ, or what they thought was Carolina BBQ. Andrea, our waitress, didn't talk me out of getting the hole rack and I could barely move afterwords. Believe it or not, we actually had cell reception out there.


The road from Cloverdale to Ft. Bragg, CA (not to be confused with Ft.Bragg NC) is a long, very long road filled with twisties through the mountains to the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino. We had dinner at a neat little restaurant where the Noyo River empties into the Pacific Ocean. Our table looked west under the route 101 bridge and we were able to watch the setting sun. If you are in the area, give "Silver's at The Wharf" a try. Their garlic clams over linguine was very good. (www.silversatthewharf.com)

Thr first four photos are the Mendocino area, including the town.





The view while dining at Silver's at the Wharf, looking under US 101.


Now you all know, I love driving the Tail of the Dragon, Route 28 through Western NC to TN, but route CA128 from Cloverdale to Mendocino is every bit as good a road to challenge your driving skills. Then we drove US 1, from Ft. Bragg to Leggett CA along the shore, through the mountains, and the incredible redwood forests. One thing I have learned, there is more then one, actually, many roads to challenge any sports car driver. From Hickory to northern California we have seen several, and I am sure as we continue you will hear about more. I would rank the route from Ft, Bragg to Leggett CA number one, the Tail of the Dragon as number two, and close to it, route 128 from Cloverdale to Mendocino. Maybe, on my final posting, I can rank my 5 or ten favorites and hear the responses of other drivers.

These four photos barely show the immense size of the giant redwood trees along the coastal forests.





Lunch in Eureka at the Cafe Waterfront, presently housed in a building with an interesting history.





This is a great example of the Victorian homes of the late 19th century. This one owned by a local lumber baron and now on the historical register.



View from our room at the Hampton Inn at Crescent City, California.



I just heard my good friends Bill and Bonnie from Statesville NC are once again seated in BMW Z roadster. Having owned two prior, after they sold their 02 MZ3, a short while ago, they could not stand being Z-less and now own a 2008 Z4 3.0. I wish Wild Bill and Bonnie could join us on this trip somewhere and drive some of these great Blue Highways.

June 1st, will be four weeks on the road. This morning to Oregon and the many beautiful roads, awesome sights, and great people we will encounter. We leave with 4,738 miles on the car.