June 27, 2011
One of several doorways and archways throughout the beautiful gardens at Filoli.
It was a beautiful day and we were off to Filoli. A lot of you may not know where, or even what, is Filoli, so I will explain. The Filoli estate is situated in Woodside on 654 acres just south of Crystal Springs. It was built between 1915 and 1917 by Mr. and Mrs. William Bourn who made their fortune from the Empire Gold Mine in Grass Valley. William Bourn named the estate Filoli. For years nobody knew the origin of the name until a close of associate of his realized it was taken from a credo often quoted by William Bourn – “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life”. They lived there from 1917 to 1936. Mr and Mrs William Roth bought the estate in 1937. William Roth died in 1963 and in 1975 Mrs Roth donated the whole estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The house has 43 rooms and the formal garen consists of a number spaces which are joined but completely different.
(Click on the photos for larger versions)
As it was a Friday and Filoli does not open until 10:00 am, we didn’t leave until after 9:00 am, hoping the traffic would be light. The traffic on 280 was OK but heavier than at 6:00 am on a weekend morning. Approaching the turn off at Edgewood Road and Crystal Springs we spied a finger of fog clinging to the top of the Coastal Range. Canada Road had a few cyclists on it but much less than you would find on a normal Saturday.
The reason we have come to Filoli is because I spotted a half price deal on the Daily Deal offered by the San Jose Mercury News. Armed with the printed ticket I was surprised that neither the guy at the entry kiosk or the two ladies on the admission desk had seen one before but the latter knew about it. Tom and I were each given a sticker which allowed us admission to both house and garden. We were also told of the guided tour starting at 10:00 which is included in the admission price. It sounded interesting but not for us as I like to wander around and discover places on my own and Tom likes to stop frequently to take photographs. Outside we had seen a lot of schoolchildren gathering but they were off on a nature walk which is docent led. These nature walks are available on a Saturday for everybody.
We watched a short video about Filoli before setting off on our own; Tom with his camera and tripod and me with a handy guide book and map which were handed to me when we received our stickers and my trusty IPad. As most of the guided tours go into the house first, we headed for the garden shop and the gardens themselves.
Through the first doorway to this garden with the reflecting pool.
Stepping through a doorway, the first view of the gardens amazed me. In front of me the sunken garden, with its rectangular pond and formally laid out flower beds, took my breath away. I left Tom taking photos and walked through the sunken garden to the swimming pool. Everything looked immaculate from the water in the pool to the trees lining the walkways and the brick paths. At the far end a docent, Ed Carlson, greeted me and for a few minutes we chatted about England and Filoli. He was sitting in the shade of the pavilion and I could tell that he really enjoyed his volunteer job.
From there I meandered across the old tennis court – now a concert area I’m guessing – and through the woodland garden. As I walked from section to section it was like going from one room to another, each area being completely different. Each was a new experience. I walked through an archway, past the bereft daffodil meadow with its bare beds, and found myself in the rose garden. Here I sat for a while on a bench, enjoyed the comparative peace and quiet and spoke to some hens which wandered past. It was also here that Tom and I crossed paths for a short while.
My period of contemplation was over and I walked through another archway. For some reason I could not work out where I was. As I studied the map, a docent spotted me and asked if she could help. She pointed out on my map where we were and soon I was on the right path. The High Place was my next destination and to get there I needed to walk through the rose garden. In the distance I saw Tom and we exchanged greetings as me passed on parallel paths. On my way I walked through an interesting knot garden and the impressive cutting garden. Fragrant sweet peas and an assortment of colorful blooms were at their peak, others flowers were newly planted and a few beds had been prepared for a future planting. The High Place was not really that high but it was windy. A convenient bench with a semicircle of stone pillars behind commanded a wonderful view along a yew tree walk towards Crystal Springs, though I couldn’t see any sign of the lake.
Lavender, lavender, lavender at Filoli
Time to make my way to the house via the fruit garden and along the Upper Terrace. Here I spotted the glint of blue on a bird which flew across my path. Was it a Western Bluebeard? Taking a small detour I found a short wall to sit on while I waited and watched. Nearby I saw a nesting box on a short post and, sure enough, before too long both parents flew backwards and forwards to the nesting box to feed their young. I was enchanted to discover they were Western Bluebirds. I lost track of the time I sat there and studied them but eventually guessed it was time to go and find Tom.
I discovered him sitting of a bench in a shady little courtyard. We made our way to the front entrance of the house and entered through the main door. Not only did we have a map of the house with a description of the rooms but the self guided tour was well signed inside and each room displayed a board which fully described the room. The guide book informed us that ‘The goal of furnishing the House has been to furnish it as it might have been when the House was occupied.’ but the overwhelming impression to us lesser mortals would describe it as over furnished and far more opulent than what we would call a family home.
As we walked through the different rooms – reception, dining, drawing, trophy, flower rooms, and the kitchen, butler’s pantry, library, study and ballroom, we noticed interesting things. In the kitchen there was a servants’ call board and a dumbwaiter whilst in the trophy room there as a huge book containing beautiful paintings of plants grown at Highgrove; which is the home of Prince Charles. It was huge and encased in a glass cabinet. Only one page could be seen which was a pity because I would have loved to turn the pages. When we were in the library, the docent pointed out an anomaly in the wood block floor. He told us to stand in one spot and observe the light and dark shades of the wood. Then he directed us to stand where we could see the same section from the opposite direction. What appeared dark before was light and vice versa. It was obviously due to the grain of the wood but fascinating nevertheless.
Only the downstairs is open to view. Apparently the upstairs is not furnished and, because there is no fire exit, it does not conform to code. As it was way past our lunchtime, it was time to head home. It had been an interesting visit but, for me at any rate, the gardens were more impressive than the house.
June 27 2011 | Special Places | 2 Comments »
June 16, 2011
Rick's Cafe in Los Altos, California
Finding ourselves in Los Altos, we decided to find somewhere for breakfast. Some roads in the town center were closed due to road works; several intersections were being improved. We parked on Park street and waled into the center. We wandered around the town, which has cute and interesting shops. On State Street, we found Rick’s Cafe. It looked acceptable so we decided to give it a try.
Rick’s is a large cafe and at 9:15 on a Sunday morning it was also crowded but we didn’t have to wait too long before we were shown to our table. We were led through the cafe to the back area which turned out to be a covered patio. At the entrance we passed a coffee roaster so at least the coffee should be good.
We had been to Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve but it had been a disappointing visit. Although we had arrived there soon after 8, the car parks were already nearly full. Consequently there were a lot of people on the trails. The trouble with the preserve is that most of the trails start at the narrow eastern end where most people park. We walked so far and then turned back. Tom was having great difficulty setting up his tripod. One day we will make our way to the quieter western end where, I understand, there is a small parking lot.
Even though we had not worked up an appetite, we were still hungry. Looking at the large menu we found a great deal of choice. I looked for oatmeal and found it under the ‘Lighter Choice’. It was listed as Quaker rolled oats so unfortunately not steel cut. The price was listed as $8.25 so not cheap. It came with either bananas or strawberries; I picked the latter. Tom ordered bacon scramble $10.45. Of course he ordered coffee as well which was $2.49. A coffee pot was placed on the table so he could help himself. A jug of water was also on the table. Tom tasted the coffee and smiled – it was good.
Although there were no pictures or photos on the wall there were plenty of plants growing. The patio area was more like a hot house with semi tropical plants towering up to the ceiling.
The food when it arrived was not very inspiring at all. Tom’s hash browns looked a bit anemic and he said everything was barely warm. My oatmeal came in a small round bowl along with smaller ceramic bowls containing brown sugar raisins, butter and sliced strawberries plus a small stainless steel jug containing the milk. Like Tom’s scramble, my oatmeal was not at all hot. The best part of my meal was the strawberries. Both our meals came with a bagel but by the time I’d finished my oatmeal, they still had not arrived. I had to call the server over to remind her. Eventually they arrived with butter on the side. The butter looked grainy and more like cottage cheese. The jam was really good though because it came in pots and not individual plastic containers.
Walking through the cafe to the restroom, I noted not only the plethora of water colors on the walls but also how noisy it was. There were only two single restrooms, one for women and one for men. Considering the size of the place they were inadequate in my opinion. I had to wait sometime before I could get in. No complaints about the restroom itself. Nice tiles on the floor and walls and one painting on the wall. It was also clean and the water hot.
All in all, don’t think we will be back. The food was not impressive at all and for the prices they charged we would expect a little better quality.
June 16 2011 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
June 6, 2011
San Martin Cafe on Monterey Highway in San Martin
Today is Memorial Day and we were on our way to San Juan Bautista and Pietra Santa Winery. San Martin Cafe was recommended by a work colleague and we decided to give it a try. First of all though we rang to make sure they were open as a lot of places do not open on public holidays. San Martin Cafe does not have it’s own website but it is featured on Yelp which fortunately showed the telephone number.
We took the scenic – though the road condition is atrocious – route along Monterey Highway. Driving through Morgan Hill they were preparing for a Memorial Day Parade and we passed several veterans in uniform. There were no signs for San Martin, which is a very small town, but we kept our eyes open. Just before San Martin Ave we spotted it on the right hand side. It is your typical old style highway diner. Blink and we would have missed it.
One reviewer on Yelp called it a ‘hole in the wall’ but it is a little more than that. Granted it is small but it has a reasonably sized section at the back. The front part was full but we were escorted to the back, where all the chairs were on the table. The three of us moved the chairs at one table and we had the place to ourselves for the whole of our meal.
Our server was very quick, efficient and friendly. When he saw my IPad he told me that they have wi-fi and gave me the login. From the front we heard the happy babble of the other customers but we had peace and quiet where we sat.
The menu definitely has a Mexican flavor. Tom chose the Two-Egg Chile Verde for $9.00 with beans, flour tortilla and hash browns. I was pleased to see oatmeal ($3.95), so that was my choice.
The back section where we sat was very pleasant. On the walls were a few, small pastoral scenes and one larger picture of a floral walk between water. Also on the wall were framed copies of a couple of newspaper reviews of the San Martin Cafe; two wooden black and white animals (a cow and a pig); and an amusing wooden cutout of a tent and an outhouse on a trailer and a sign saying ‘Redneck Camper’. There was also a television screen on the wall which was not on fortunately.
We didn’t have too wait long for our food. Tom’s plate was full to overflowing. My oatmeal came in a small, shallow, round bowl on a chipped plate. Two plastic containers with lids held minuscule amounts of sugar and raisins but, on the plus side, the generous amount of milk came in a nice stainless steel jug with a lid. There was not a huge amount of oatmeal but it was good. Tom couldn’t clear his plate. When asked for his verdict he said it was pretty good though he was not impressed with the coffee.
I liked the restroom. Like the the rest of the restaurant it was unpretentious. It was clean and bright. There was one small framed picture on the wall and a sign saying ‘Gone Ropin’. On a shelf were some scented sticks. One nice touch, the cover round the light switch had a horse and foal painted on it. There was a window in the room but the transparent glass had been replaced with two mirrors.
On the way out, while we waited to pay, I checked out the front part. Here they had about a dozen paintings depicting head and shoulders of guys wearing cowboy hats.
San Martin cafe is certainly another option for breakfast on our way to San Juan and we will be visiting again.
June 06 2011 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
May 16, 2011
Pietra Santa Winery outside of San Juan Bautista
Several people have asked us where our favorite places are in the Bay Area and our suggestions of places to visit either for themselves or for ideas as to where to take visitors. Recently my daughter Lizzie and her husband Ric visited from England for a couple of weeks. We thought it would be a good idea to write about where they went while they were here to give some ideas to those people.
(Click the photos for larger versions)
They arrived at the tail end of an extremely wet period on a Friday night. The next day rain was forecast and in fact it poured with rain for most of the day. We could have gone into San Jose and paid a visit to The Tech Museum or taken them to the Monterey Bay Aquarium but we decided on a trip to San Juan Bautista. Our first stop there was at Vertigo Coffee at 81 Fourth Street in San Juan, where we all enjoyed a cup of their speciality hot chocolates. If you like hot chocolate you have to try their Marilyn Monroe with coconut or their Charlie Brown with peanut butter. Neither Tom nor I like peanut butter but Lizzie chose the Charlie Brown and we had to taste it just to see what it was like. To me it tasted more like a Snickers Bar, and therefore I liked it, though I will stick to the Marilyn Monroe in future. Also they have started carrying Bistro Blends Balsamic vinegar which is the best balsamic we have ever tasted and can thoroughly recommend it.
We would have liked to take a walk around the shops in San Juan and the Mission but it was raining too hard. Lizzie and Ric have been here before and know a whole day can be spent here enjoying the sights. Instead we drove into the foothills to visit our favorite winery Pietra Santa. After tasting their selection we bought a couple of bottles of their Signature Chardonnay (my particular favorite), one bottle of Pinot Grigio and one of their Sangiovese.
The next day we took a trip to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The weather was better than the day before bit still a little chilly and overcast. We had breakfast at Bab’s Delta Diner in Suisun City before taking tour favorite route to the old Chinese town of Locke via the ferry to Ryer Island, the ferry to Grand Island and drive across Grand Island to Walnut Grove. In Locke we visited the restored boarding house, the Dai Loy Museum and the old schoolroom followed by a walk around the residential area. Of course, every visit to the area finishes up with a vanilla malt in Mel’s Mocha and Ice Cream in Walnut Grove.
Liz at Crissy Field during their bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
On the Monday Lizzie and Ric travelled on the train to San Francisco where they stayed for three nights at the Villa Florence on Powell. They spent one day shopping in Union Square; one day cycling and one day walking. For the cycle adventure they rented bikes from Blazing Saddles and rode around the bay, through Crissy Field, over the Golden Gate Bridge, into Sausalito and back to the city by ferry. The walking tour took in Chinatown, Coit Tower, North Beach, the Marina, the Wave Organ near the the Golden Gate Yacht Club, Fort Mason, Giradelli Square and the Hyde Street cable car back to Powell.
I picked them up, plus all their shopping bags, from the San Jose Caltrain Station on the Thursday evening. The following day I wasn’t working so the three of us took a trip to the coast. As they have never visited Franklin Point, it was the obvious place to head for. It was an interesting day. First of all the 10 foot high tree stump which marks the beginning of the trail to Franklin Point was gone. We found it lying on the ground and noticed the bottom was rotted through. Then we had to wade through 2 feet of water because part of the trail was flooded. It didn’t end there. We had to take a detour to get to the bench because the tide was too high; Lizzie found a necklace partially buried in the sand; I met up again with the guy Tom and I met on our last visit; when we tried walking back along the beach we got soaked when a wave came in much higher than we expected and finally we had a difficult climb to get back to the trail. It was a wonderful day though and we finished our visit by having lunch in Duartes Tavern in Pescadero.
Liz and Ric admiring the view from the top of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.
The next day was Saturday so the four of us drove to San Francisco to cover some of the sights that Lizzie and Ric didn’t get to see during the week including Golden Gate Park – where we visited the De Young – and Haight/Ashbury.
On the Sunday we drove up to Healdsburg in the Sonoma Valley. It was a beautiful day and what could be better than a trip to Healdsburg and to visit a couple of wineries. Lizzie and Ric have never been to Healdsburg so we knew they were in for a treat. The drive up was magnificent and, being early on a Sunday morning, traffic was light. At 8:30 we were driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco sparkled in the sunlight.
We stopped for breakfast at The Lighthouse Cafe in Sausalito where we had a short wait but it was pleasant standing outside in the sunshine and playing with a puppy which was tied to a lamp post a table became available. Our table was in the window so we enjoyed the view. Afterwards, on our way back to 101, we stopped to look at the houseboats juste to the north of Sausalito.
The drive up to Healdsburg, though pleasant, was not exciting. In Healdsburg it was nice to get out of the car and stretch our legs. I love strolling around the cute little town, with its shady tree lined square, irresistible boutiquey shops and inviting restaurants. Lizzie bought a bag, Tom bought a birthday card for his grandson and I pounced on an old sign for my son.
The vineyard outside of Johnson's Alexander Valley Wines. Kind of a funky laid back winery with lucious Zinfandels.
It was time to head for the wineries. First we drove to Alexander Valley and our favorite winery - Johnson’s Alexander Valley Wines at 8333 Highway 128. Johnson’s is a small, family run winery set some way back from the road. We were greeted by Comet, a yellow lab who led us to the tasting room. In his mouth he carried an extremely well chewed tennis ball which he dropped in front of us and looked up at Ric with imploring eyes. Ric responded by kicking the ball so Comet could chase after it. We were told Comet would happily play that game all day long. Leaving Ric to amuse the dog, we retired into the cool tasting room to sample the wines. There were only three to sample and they were all reds. We ended buying two bottle of their late harvest Zinfandel before heading off to the next winery. If you like your wineries high class and a bit over the top then Johnson’s isn’t the place for you. Some of the reviews in Yelp are pretty bad but we think those reviewers just don’t get it. This is a laid back winery down a dirt road through a vineyard with some great Zinfandels. Our next stop was the Hop Kiln in Dry Creek Valley, another favorite or ours. Since our last visit they have redesigned the tasting room with more space for displaying their mustards, sauces, and dips which were produced locally. As there was no space at the counters to taste any wines, we sampled the other goods for sale and bought a jar of their Sweet Garlic Mustard. Later we drifted over to taste the wine when a gap appeared and came away with two bottles pf their Pinot Noir. To round off our visit, we walked to the lake and sat at one of the picnic benches where we contemplated the beautiful view and enjoyed the warmth of the sun before heading back home.
There were only a couple of days left of Lizzie and Ric’s vacation and they spent it getting around our neighborhood by walking and shopping. All to soon it was time to take them back to the airport for their flight home and it was sad waving them off. Next time they visit there will be a host of new places for them to discover.
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May 16 2011 | Neighborhoods and Special Places | No Comments »
March 29, 2011
Eddie's Restaurant in Los Banos, California
Today we are visiting the legendary Eddie’s Restaurant in Los Banos for the first time. It is one of the breakfast places on our list so this will be the start of our adventure today.
Of course I checked the opening time before we left – 6 am Monday to Saturday – so we were surprised when we arrived at 7 am to find no cars parked outside. At first we thought maybe it wasn’t open but we thought wrong. Inside there was just one other customer. It was not as big as I expected though of to the side we spotted a closed off area.
It looks as though nothing has been changed inside for some time. The present owners have been running Eddie’s for 30 years but the previous owner ran the diner for about 20 years. Round the edge there were booths. with table and chairs in the middle plus six chairs at the counter. The predominant color was brown.
There were no specials and the menu was your run of the mill selection. There was one amusing feature on the menu, the sides were printed sideways. The server, who wore denim shorts, was very friendly. I ordered the oatmeal ($3.95) with a bowl of fruit ($2.95). Tom asked for a short stack of pancakes with sausage on the side. I also ordered a cinnamon bun to go ($3.95). I’d read that they were also legendary because they are 10 inches wide.
Now for the decor. Once again it was not eye catching. There were a number of framed family color photographs displayed on the walls plus a large black and white photo taken many years ago of two young girls. There were also a few framed articles from newspapers. The only other item on display was an old sign for Eddie’s.
We didn’t have to wait too long for our food and it was hot. There was plenty of oatmeal in a green bowl and a full jug of milk. I enjoyed the fruit but the oatmeal itself looked runny and almost tasteless. Tom’s verdict on his pancakes – they were fluffy and chewy so good. The sausage was also good but the coffee was mediocre.
As for the restroom, it was nothing special either. Both the entrance hall and stall were tiny. No pictures adorned the walls. A large vase of artificial flowers stood on a table inside the stall, which I almost knocked over when I when I turned around. And one last comment, the water was cold.
Would we come back again? The server was a plus and Tom enjoyed his pancakes but, to be frank, we were a little disappointed. Maybe we will come again but we won’t go out of our way.
Eddie’s Restaurant
401 Pacheco Blvd
Los Banos, CA 93635
March 29 2011 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
March 14, 2011
One of the views from Franklin Point
Every once in a while we have to visit Franklin Point to enjoy the utter tranquility of the place. See previous posts here, here and here. It was a last minute decision because we had other plans for this weekend, which were thwarted. We were going to Nevada City to look over a couple of possibilities for our biennial family get together for Christmas this year. The trip had to be postponed due to weather conditions. Highway 20 is closed five miles south of Nevada City due to snow and an avalanche warning.
In San Jose the sun was shining brightly but even here there is a chance of snow. It was forecast that snow could fall at sea level which does not happen very often here. Tom did tell me this morning that snow actually fell in San Francisco last night on some of the highest points but didn’t settle.
On the east side of the Santa Cruz mountains we could see a little bit of snow on the peaks but as soon as we passed over the summit we saw lots of snow, especially in the shaded areas. Tom called it a light dusting. It certainly looked pretty, giving the view a Christmassy appearance. It was a bright day with no hint of fog. Once again we could see Monterey in the distance.
American Abalone Farms. The abalone are raised in those covered tanks.
There was more traffic than we were used to on Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz. A lot of folks on their bikes were already up and about. A smattering of rain drops hit our windscreen. We agreed beforehand that if we ran into rain, we would turn back. Ahead there were no clouds in the sky so we carried on.
Just north of Davenport we spotted a sign advertising farm raised abalone for sale. At Davenport Landing Road we turned left and American Abalone Farm is a short drive down. There were lots of buildings which were obviously where the abalone are raised but we couldn’t see inside as plastic sheeting covered the outside. Stacks of pipes were stacked up and we could hear water being pumped. The abalone are raised in tanks where fresh sea water from the nearby ocean is pumped and they feed on fast growing kelp.
We followed a sign which took us to the farm shop and a very personable young man greeted us. We asked how old abalone had to be before they could be eaten and were told 3 – 3.5 years. I looked at a chart on the wall showing sizes abalone from hatching up to 3.5 years. Tom remembers a time when you could wade into the water and pry abalone off the rocks. Nowadays they are protected as commercial farming very nearly wiped them all out and now a license is needed to harvest them. I have never eaten abalone before though Tom has consumed a lot in his lifetime. At American Abalone Farms they sell fresh and frozen abalone. We bought four small frozen tenderized steaks ready to be cooked for $20. It sounds expensive but it was worth the money so I could taste them.
Further along the coast we passed a lot of cars parked along the road. This is where Scott Creek flows into the ocean and a favorite place for surfers. Today they were out in force.
Margaret waiting for me on the beach at Franklin Point.
Our main destination, Franklin Point, is a few miles beyond Ano Nuevo. There were no other cars parked on the gravel pull in next to the landmark tree stump. Maybe we would have the place to ourselves. The trail was a little muddy. Thank goodness for the raised boardwalk in a couple of places otherwise we would not have got through. In fact, one of the boardwalks is new or at least it was the first time we had seen it. The roped trail between the last two dunes now has a lake on both sides. In the middle, the sandy path had been breached but someone had put down a few bits of wood and it was easy to cross.
Where the trail ended, the recent storms and high tides had eroded the descent to the beach and it was impossible to walk down. I shuffled down on my bottom. Tom was some way behind as he had stopped along the trail to take photos and I had carried on without him. I knew he would have trouble getting onto the beach with his tripod so I sat on a nearby log so I could help him when he arrived. He also shuffled down on his bottom. I wondered though how we would get back up again.
Elephant seal at Franklin Point. When this guy had his head down resting he looked like a rock.
Once again I strode ahead, with the bench on Franklin Point in my sights. I heard Tom call me back and wondered what he had seen. It was a young male elephant seal lying on the beach. If he hadn’t called me back I would have tripped over him. Wow! This put us in a bit of a dilemma. How were we going to get past him as he was between the bluff and the ocean and you must stay at least 25 feet away? We decided to climb up and walk over the bluffs. It took us a little time and we both took different routes. I know you are not supposed to go off the trail but we did follow trodden paths. I kept my eyes open for any more stray elephant seals but I saw none. I did see paw tracks though. Bobcat or mountain lion I wondered? It made me realize just how vulnerable we frail humans are. I didnt want to run into either animal so I sang as I walked to warn any animals that I was coming.
I saw an interesting plant with runners and small clumps of leaves every so often. To me it looked like a strawberry plant. Then I saw lots more of them and tried really hard not to trample any of them. A bit further on I saw a white flower on one of the clumps of leaves and can confirm that they are wild strawberries. I wonder if they grow here naturally or whether they have been planted to improve the stability of the dunes.
Eventually I found a way through to the trail which led to my favorite bench. From a distance I could see Tom had already reached it and wondered how on earth he had beaten me. As I approached the bench along the boardwalk I realized it was not Tom at all but a stranger who was happily sitting there eating his breakfast. I looked back and saw Tom making his way along the trail to the boardwalk.
Wetlands on the way back from Franklin Point.
Sitting on the bench and soaking in the view was bliss. There was a chilly breeze but the sun was out. I chatted with the man when he finished his breakfast. He had walked along the trail from the south and had passed a couple of elephant seals on the way.
The views were as amazing as ever. Looking back I could see another group had arrived at the beach with children. I hoped they wouldn’t get too close to the elephant seal. Fortunately they gave it a wide berth. There were no pelicans today, which is unusual but we spotted a group of cormorants standing guard on a rock offshore.
Looking back to the beach I noticed that the elephant seal was gone but wasn’t sure whether he had made his way back to the ocean or had hauled himself further up the beach. At least we could walk back along the beach without disturbing him.
Later, as we made our way back, we discovered a trail the to the ocean the elephant seal had made. We also spotted another elephant seal at the top of the beach. This is the first time I have ever seen elephant seals here and it is an amazing sight. To avoid the difficult climb up to the trail we took a shortcut over the bluffs and along the edge of the small lake.
We debated whether to go back the way we had come to Santa Cruz or whether to drive back although Pescadero. The tempting thought of a fresh baked artichoke garlic bread from Arcangeli’s and goat cheese from Harley Farms was too strong to resist. We also bought a ollieberry pie in Arcangeli’s. Tonight we are going to enjoy a real Coastside meal with abalone followed by ollalieberry pie and ice cream. We might even have room finish up with bread (if there is any left by the time we get home) and goats cheese. Mmm, mmm.
Once again we have enjoyed another wonderful day. There is nothing like California with its never ending choices of places to visit and even if we have been to a place before, it is always different each time we go back. I feel so lucky to be living here.
March 14 2011 | Special Places | No Comments »
March 10, 2011
Crop dusters on the way to Fresno
It was 5.45 on a Saturday morning and we are setting off for Fresno. Our normal route is 101, 152, I-5 and then through Firebaugh to 99. This time we are taking a different route, first stopping for breakfast at Eddies Restaurant in Los Banos and then taking 33 south, driving down the middle the San Jonquin Valley.
The temperature was just below 50 degrees and we were hoping it didn’t rain. It was still dark but we could see one star (Tom said it was probably a planet) twinkling in the night sky. The sun began to rise and the mountains became more defined. As it became lighter, we could see more and more detail. Then the sky turned pink above the peaks.
By this time we were driving along Highway 152 through rich farmland and passing signs advertising fruit stands – all closed as we passed of course. Then we reached the foothills and started to climb. On either side of the road the green hills dipped and rose. Casa de Fruita, with all it’s lights ablaze, shone like a beacon.
One of the peaks we saw as we turned onto 152, was the one we spotted when we were having dinner at the Faultline in San Juan Bautista last year. We hoped to pass near enough to it so we could identify its location and hopefully discover what it is called but alas we were disappointed. Every so often we spotted it and then lost sight of it again. Eventually we lost sight of it completely and even by looking back I could not see it.
San Luis Reservoir
Many times we have travelled this road and passed the sign for Dinosaur Point. This time we decided to investigate. As soon as we turned onto it, Tom realized that this was the old road he used to drive on to get to the Central Valley back before the San Luis Reservoir was created and the B.F Sisk Dam built in 1967. The road led to a boat launch on the reservoir. The level of the water was to the brim due to the amount of rain we have had recently. It is the first time for several years we have seen so much water.
Back on 152 again we drove the short distance and pulled into the Romero Visitors Center and the overlook. The gate was closed because the Visitors Center was not open yet. We parked the car just outside the gate and had a wander around. From my vantage point looking down onto the water, I could see several fishermen precariously standing on the side of the hill at the waters edge. Out on the water were several groups of birds and a beautiful egret flew by. I even saw a fish jump. On the other side of the water I saw a wind farm. Even though I was experiencing a chill breeze, none of the windmills appeared to be working.
After breakfast in Los Banos, we carried on driving east along 152 and turned right onto 33 a few miles outside Los Banos. Just before we drove through Don Palos we passed a diner called Barb’s Breakfast & Brunch on our right. Next time we are down this way we will try it out. The sign outside Don Palos informed us that there were 5,000 lived residents there.
In the distance we saw a crop duster which was flying low over the ground towards us. Just before it reached us it banked and turned back. I have never been that close to a crop duster before and hoped that we wouldn’t be be overcome by whatever he was spraying. Along the way we passed several huge concrete buildings dotted here and there. Some still seemed to be thriving businesses but a lot looked abandoned like one with ‘Farmers Rice Crop; still barely readable painted on the side.
It was a very pleasant ride through territory we have not seen before. In the distance we could see the snow capped Sierras about 90 miles to the east. The fields were freshly plowed and not showing much sign of anything growing yet. Off to the left we saw a hawk hovering, waiting to pounce on its unsuspecting breakfast. Sheep and lambs were grazing in several fields which is a rare sight in the area.
Almond orchard blossoms
Approaching Firebaugh I saw two small decrepit houses raised off the ground on blocks of wood. Soon after that a full sized metal sculpture of a buffalo in a garden. Normally we drive into Firebaugh on W Nees Avenue from I-5 and then on Firebaugh Blvd towards 99 and Fresno. This time we saw the industrial side of Firebaugh with the N.F Davies Drier and Elevator grain store to the north and lots of other businesses. I always considered Firebaugh a relatively small place but now I realized it is quite large.
Less than 10 miles south of Firebaugh we drove through Mendota. A large sign informed us that it was the ‘Cantaloupe Center of the World’. South of Mendota we turned left onto Highway 180 and past the huge Spreckles Sugar factory which dominates the landscape. It was only open from 1963 – 2008. The fields on either side of the road for a few miles were just scrub land and hard pan. Slowly the scenery changed. First we saw a feedlot and then the orchards began. What a beautiful sight – rows and rows of trees with white blossom, which I think were almond trees. We stopped so Tom could take some photos. He wandered down amongst the trees and called me over. As I got out of the car I could vaguely discern a sweet smell from the blossom which became more and more intoxicating the closer I got to the trees. Looking through the trees I could see the blossom falling and laying on the ground like snow.
We turned north on Lassen towards Shaw. The road became narrower and there were more almond trees. Grape vines started to appear and in several places some very old and abandoned vines. Along the road, which was less busy than both 33 and 180, were bee hives. We passed more and more houses and soon we were on Shaw and rapidly the countryside was no longer visible as shops and urban life took over.
We have found a new route to Fresno which cuts out the boring ride down I-5 and will come this way again.
March 10 2011 | Further Afield and Special Places | No Comments »
March 7, 2011
Heavenly Cafe in Scotts Valley
On our way to the coast the hunger pains struck and we had to find somewhere to eat. Out came the trusty Garmin and we discovered Heavenly Cafe in Scotts Valley. It was after 9 and the car park was full so we were prepared for a wait.
Outside there is a large outside eating area on a patio with a nice view. In the summer time it would be a great place to sit because there were plenty of trees to give shade. Today it was far too cold.
The outside looked a bit ramshackle but the inside was very warm and welcoming. There were a couple of benches but nobody was sitting so we didn’t have to wait long. In the entrance, lots of photos adorning the wall distracted us; a series on Cobra Day, when apparently there was a gathering of the iconic sports cars at the Heavenly Cafe, plus several signed photos of sport celebrities.
I was surprised at how small it appeared to be inside because the building looks big from the outside. There were just 12 tables and no booths or seats at the counters. Later, on my trip to the restroom, I realized there was another large seating area on the other side where there were quite a few customers.
All the tables had blue checkered plastic cloths. One wall was just windows so it was nice and bright. Another wall was covered in large paintings all with little labels which presumably gave information of title, artist and price but the labels were too small to read from where I sat. As we walked to our table, displayed on the wall in front of us was a large wooden painted cut-out of a white haired lady holding a pie and full glass in one hand and what looked a fluffy cloud in the other. To reinforce the name of Heavenly Cafe, there were a couple of angels and Cupid statues.
Our server was young and cheery. Looking around I noticed that all the servers were young. Tom ordered one of the specials – Dungerness Scramble for $8.95. As usual, I went for the oatmeal which was described as organic ($3.00). The toppings came as extras raisins 50 cents, walnuts $1 and fruit for $1. I went for all the extras.
My oatmeal came in a small round green bowl on a blue plate and it tasted delicious. The fruit bowl had sliced strawberries and bananas. All was delicious. My only adverse criticism being that there just wasn’t enough. Tom’s Dungerness Scramble looked amazing with lots of chunks of the crab. He said it tasted as good as it looked.
The restroom was reasonable. In the stall were four pictures, two with a Japanese flavor and two of flowers. There was also a small table with vase of artificial flowers inside the stall. In sink area, two pictures with a 3-D effect and a water color plus another vase of artificial flowers. When I came out of the restroom, a noticeboard caught my eye. On it were displayed pictures colored by children of the cut out lady in the restaurant. Her name is Sophia apparently and the cloud was designed to have a menu written on it.
We really enjoyed our visit to Heavenly Cafe and will certainly come again.
Heavenly Cafe
1210 Mount Hermon Rd
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
March 07 2011 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
February 20, 2011
Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay
This is our first trip for a couple of weeks as we have been inundated with storms. Tomorrow the storms will return but today there is no rain and, in fact, the sun is shining. We had not made any plans to go anywhere because we were not sure exactly what the weather would be like. First thing this morning it was foggy and we were resigned to another day inside but at 9 the sun came out so we immediately got our gear together and set off.
We decided to head towards the coast. Our last visit to the ocean was in January when we visited Año Nuevo. Today we are heading further north to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay. We could see snow on the tops of the range of mountains to the east and a mere dusting on the peaks of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
It is nice to see the sun again after so much rain and we are going to make the most of it today. Of course the rain is much appreciated both for watering our gardens and to fill our reservoirs for the coming year. Skiers are ecstatic due to the heavy snow falls in the Sierra Nevadas. One amazing change we noticed since our last drive along 280; the brown hills are now a luscious green.
I never tire of the drive from 280 along 92 to Half Moon Bay. There is always a lot of interesting things to look at. Today we had little more time to study the sights as the traffic was slightly heavier than we are used to due to our late start. So what is so interesting I hear you ask? Well, there are nurseries selling a variety of plants and one place where they specialize in roses. Huge metal prehistoric sculptures are displayed for sale at several places and one where they have wooden carvings of animals. We also passed grape vines and the La Nebbia Winery. One thing that caught my eye today was a full sized, brightly painted, yellow, wooden pony covered in different colored hearts. A sign nearby advertised pony rides. There are also tree farms and fruit stands along the way, though some of the latter were not open as it is too early in the year.
We bypassed Half Moon Bay and turned right onto Highway 1. As we left home before we’d eaten breakfast, we were both hungry. Our first attempt to find something to eat was thwarted. The Miramar Beach Restaurant was closed. It doesn’t open until 11 am on Sundays. The tide, we noticed, was very high and came right up to the sea wall.
One of the older boats in Pillar Point Harbor
Plan B for breakfast was the 3-Zero Cafe adjacent to Half Moon Bay Airport. There were a lot of cars in the car park and we knew we would be in
for a wait. Sure enough it took 25 minutes before we were led to a table but we spent the waiting period people watching so time seemed to pass pretty quickly. The servers were bustling around trying to negotiate through the mass of people inside the door to get to the cashier but they were very cheerful. Our table was right at the end, so it was isolated and we were sitting in the sun. It was a good place to be. There were people sitting and eating on the patio. If we had chosen to eat out there we would have been seated sooner but we decided it could possibly be a little chilly. Our order was taken quickly but it took nearly half an hour to serve it but it didn’t surprise us. Tom had Crab Cake Benedict (13.95) and I had Crab Benedict (11.95). Both dishes were OK but we were disappointed with the potatoes.
Just some rope in a half submerged dingy at Pillar Point Harbor
After breakfast we headed for Pillar Point Harbor and took a wander down the pier. This is a good place to buy fresh fish straight off the fishing boasts and we were on the lookout for whole fish – Tom has a recipe he wants to try – but we were out of luck. There were boats selling their fresh caught wares but Dungeness Crab was the seafood being sold. It has been a good year for Dungeness Crab but we were not in the market for it. We took a stroll down one of the floating wharves to take a closer look at the ships. Flashy modern boats for pleasure fishing were tied up alongside the rusting commercial fishing boats. The sleek and shiny ‘Tuna Tales’ next to the ‘Kiwi’ was a case in point. The three fishing boats selling crab on this particular wharf were the ‘Cricket’, the ‘Ani-K’ and the ‘Maggie’. I stood and watched the ‘Tern’ moor on an adjacent wharf and admired how skillfully it was done.
As we were unsuccessful in our quest for a fresh whole fish, we visited the Princeton Fish Market nearby. They did have whole fish but not what we were looking for. We ended up buying some sea scallops and a couple of calamari steaks. To round off our meal for tonight we stopped at a fruit stand on HW 92 and bought some asparagus from Mexico and a pound of brussels sprouts. Then it was home to San Jose, where the weather was cooler than at the coast. Another wonderful day.
February 20 2011 | Special Places | No Comments »
February 20, 2011
Caltrain Station in San Francisco
Something Tom and I have been wanting to do for sometime is to take our bikes into
San Francisco and take a ride once again along the Embarcadero. Today is the day. The weather forecast is warm (unlike on the east coast and in the Midwest where they are experiencing some of the worst winter storms in decades).
(Click on the photos for larger versions)
We left home at 7 am, with the bikes firmly attached to the bike rack, and drove up to Milbrae. We did consider taking the train all the way but the journey takes one and a half hours, so we compromised by driving part way. This will be the first time we have taken the bikes on Caltrains, so it will be an adventure.
AT&T Park and Giants fans lining for Fan Fest Day
The whole train experience was not too bad. Parking was easy and at the weekend there is no charge. To buy tickets we had to take the elevator up. Round trip tickets to the city were $8 each. Then it was down in another elevator to the platform. We had a fifteen minute wait for the train. I noticed that there were quite a few fellow passengers wearing SF Giants apparel so we asked someone if there was something special going on at AT&T Park. Indeed there was. Today is Fans Fest day and were told the train would be packed.
On Caltrains, the first and fourth carriages are for bikes. We got into the first carriage and there were a lot of bikes but we managed to squeeze ours in. Upstairs there was a single row of seats on both sides. There was just one on each side so Tom and I sat separately. At each stop, more and more Giants fans boarded the train. That is going to be one excited gathering, all of them eager to celebrate the Giant’s success in the World Series.
Note from Tom: Baseball is quintessentially American. But the nerve of us calling it the “World Series”. I know it doesn’t make much sense but the game, in person, is wonderful. Our San Francisco Giants are the best of the best and it’s the first time this has happened in over fifty years.
At the terminal we waited until most of the passengers had disembarked before we left the train. The platform was a mass of grey, orange and black. As it might be some time before we find another restroom, I decided to pay a visit at the station. Fifteen minutes later I made my way back to Tom. Once on King Street, we walked our bikes on the sidewalk looking for coffee. There was a line outside Starbucks so we walked on. The crowds outside the ballpark filled the sidewalk. We did plan to take a ride round the back to take a look at the park but it was impossible to get through the people.
Looking across the bay to the Port of Oakland
We stopped for coffee at Cafe Pasquita. It was a good choice. even though it was right opposite the ballpark, it wasn’t crowded. We sat at a table in the window so we could keep an eye on our bikes. The seats were white leather and comfortable. Tom had his usual black coffee and I had hot chocolate. Then it was back to pushing our bikes. On the other side of the road the line of fans stretched almost to the Bay Bridge. At Townsend we crossed the road and attempted to get to the back of the ballpark but once again we were thwarted. Just too many people. Tom stopped to take photos and I found a convenient seat and got out my iPad. Nearby there were some fitness fanatics exercising under the watchful eyes of a couple of trainers. A sign informed me that they are members of Body Mechanix. Looks like far too much hard work for me! It was hot sitting there with the sun beating down. It is turning out to be a glorious day.
Pier 14. Just sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time. Life is tough.
Our next stop was almost under the Bay Bridge between Red’s Java House and the Hi Dive bar. Tom pointed out the old clock on the front of the Hi Dive with it’s neon sign advertising Belfast Water. The seat I sat on had a clear view of the cranes at the Port of Oakland on the other side of the bay.
Some of these old haunts will have to make way for the redevelopment coming when San Francisco hosts the America’s Cup races in 2013.
Once past the Bay Bridge we stopped again. We noticed two new buildings and I went to investigate. They were brand new restaurants – Waterfront and Epic. They both look worthy of a visit when we are up in the city for an evening meal. Tom took photos of the huge bow and arrow sculpture. The backdrop behind it were high rise buildings.
The Embarcadero in San Francisco and the sculpture called Cupid's Span
Just before the ferry building we halted again at the end of Pier 14. At the beginning of the pier were some paintings on tiles of assorted watercraft. The pier is lined with single, metal swiveling chairs. While Tom took photos I sat on one of the chairs and it was fun. With very little effort on my part I was revolving at great speed. I bet the kids love these seats. You get a remarkable 360 degree view of the bay. From there I had a good view of the ferry building and the farmers market which is held every Saturday.
There is a new sculpture on the Embarcadero called ‘The Raygun Gothic Rocketship’ which is part of a revolving display of sculptures which are displayed at this spot. This one is by a group of artists and the sculpture was placed in position by Five Ton Crane (5TC). There was a stand nearby called Local Earth with a time table displayed which gave the impression you could travel to Mars, Jupiter 3, Centaurus, Pluto and Europa.
Cycling past the Ferry Building we noticed that the stalls are now not only behind the building but in front as well. It is a very popular place to be on a Saturday and there were many people busily shopping. Street entertainers amused the crowds. It was about here that three stretch limos passed us with an escort of police motorcyclists. I wonder who is in town?
Transamerica building taken from Pier 7 along the Embarcadero in San Francisco
We took a detour along the waterfront on a public promenade, passing various ships including the paddle-ship ‘San Francisco Belle’ and the ‘Hornblower’ dinner cruise ship. Further along we rode out onto Pier 7 with its rough timber plank walkway. At the end were benches so I once again sat down and started typing. There was a lot going on. Pilots boats were moored at the adjacent pier and we watched one pull in and moor up. A fire boat passed by and a noisy jet ski screamed round the pier. Cycling back towards the Embarcadero there were good views of the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower.
We cycled as far as the turning for North Beach. There we turned round and made our way back to the train station, taking a couple of short detours along the way. Tom was searching for a good spot to get a photo of the Transamerica Pyramid but all to no avail. There was a lot of traffic around. As we passed the Ferry Building, the clock struck 12. It sounded a lot like Big Ben. There was still a large crowd outside the ballpark and more people turning up as well. A lot of fans though were making their way home. The combination of people and traffic was a bit chaotic.
As we were hungry, we stopped again at Cafe Pasquita. This time we sat outside under an arcade. It felt good to get out of the sun. We sat there enjoying a sandwich, listening to the loudspeaker from the ballpark and watching the people walk by. The journey from there back to Milbrae went smoothly.
What an absolutely fantastic day we had. The weather was unbelievable and we saw lots of intriguing, amusing and downright beautiful sights.
February 20 2011 | Neighborhoods and Special Places | No Comments »
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