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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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Family vacation, then home 171003 - MN to CA - Day 7 SIL was up a lot earlier than expected after getting in at midnight west coast time. She had left MSP early AM, flown to VT for a meeting and then back to San Jose. Lot day. We went up the west side of the bay so we could cross the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped on the south end but there is only places for about 10 cars and they were full. So we crossed and stopped on the north end and took a few pictures. The best one of us four doesn't have any of the background in it. They wanted to stop at a winery but they weren't giving me, the driver, much notice. One had a side road right after the driveway and I was able to get that one ... only to find it closed, as a lot of them are on Mondays and Tuesdays. As we are leaving we see the Homewood Winery across street. It is a little one man operation, the people running the taste testing are not allowed in the work area, he does it all except sell. And sell they did, the others bought a case. A small bus arrived before we left and other was going to be there 15 minutes after that one. We just timed it right. A few miles down the road we saw a huge house on the hill, then another. They wanted to stop but I had missed it so this time we did a U-turn. At this one we had vine (or water for me,) and cheese. At this place they only bought a half a case. This one location was huge and very educational. Olga had lots of info. Soil, sun light, hills all effect the flavor. Finally we got to the motel :) We each went to our room and later walked to the Fume to eat, but firs they have a 'happy hour' with free wine and cheese. (Too much cheese for someone) Service wasn't real fast but would have been much slower if we had gotten there after the bus instead of before it. Food was great. BIL and I split a rack of ribs and neither of us ate it all. Ribs, cole slaw, scalloped potatoes were all good. Because of how we split the order, we also had garlic mashed potatoes, those were not quite as good. There is also a Brazilian steakhouse right in our parking lot, not sure we will be hungry enough any night to eat there. The motel we stayed at was the Napa Wintery Inn, it is part of the Choice chain and we paid for all three nights with rewards points. 171004 - MN to CA - Day 8 After our breakfast we went for a walk. And a stop at Peet's coffee ... We were off driving for the day, lots of windy road. First stop of the day was Alexander Valley. After taking a tour, doing some tasting, some buying, BIL and I walked up the hill to a cemetery and to see the view. Next was Bear Republic in Healdsburg where we had lunch. French Dip and French soup for me, burger for BB and the other two split a reuben. BB bought another T-Shirt and we were on our way to the next stop. Russian River, where they did some more tasting and we had pizza. Pizza only a couple of hours after lunch. Last stop of the day was Target, to get a cooler for some of what we had bought. Then we sat out front of the motel for a few hours before turning in. 171005 - MN to CA - Day 9 After breakfast we headed down to a local cemetery where with a lot of help from the help we were able to location one of the people from my family tree. Then off to the trains, we got there plenty early before the crowds. We waited and they boarded us by train car, we were in the last one. By the time we had made reservations, this was the only option of anytime, any day. Wish we had gotten out the back for a photo opp, but other than that it was a good trip. Feed us fruit, nuts, crackers on the way up, and a full meal on the way back. I knew I was not going to like there 'fresh greens' so I ordered the soup. Asparagus soup, really, really good. So was the little about of bacon, lots of bread. Pork wasn't bad either. The people on the train had taken a few pictures of us, but we only got the one before we boarded. Everyone was full and tired, but we ended up back at the first place we stopped Tuesday that wasn't open. The winery still wasn't open, bu the brewery was. And the guy from the winery across the street walked in while we were there. They might be in competition but they seem to know each other. Tonight was a harvest moon so BIL wanted to take some pictures. We started at the (fenced) school, but were afraid they would turn on the game lights right as the moon came up. We headed to another park but saw a vista before we got there. Because of the hills, we were able to see the moon a lot later than we thought. And while we were at the park we noticed a few guys walk to the top, look around but not at the view and then leave. BB finally looked the park up on the web and found it was a major 'pickup point for gays.' We got our pictures and got out of there. I had wanted a malt, but the place I had looked at didn't have them and our second choice closed before we got there ... they closed early. This one had 'cake shakes,' like Betty's Pies where they just drop in a piece of cake into a shake, but the doors were locked before close time. We ended up at Baskin Robin's. I was way to full to have gotten a medium. And still stuffed the next morning. 171006 - MN to CA - Day 10 Ate leftovers for breakfast then met the others down at the breakfast area. Once we were going we stopped at Peet's again for coffee and then at Shell for gas. Most of this route today we have been on before. No one wanted to stop at the vista point again today ... Dispatch called today or yesterday and asked if I could do a local ... "Nope, I'm still in California." Stopped in Emeryville at the Marriott to pick up a Hertz car. BB had to run and use the bathroom and I was just walking out when the car was brought out so neither of us noticed that the car was not full of fuel until much later. We moved all the stuff from the first car to the second car and we were off. I had looked at the map so I knew where I was going but did a couple of extra miles. Guess I didn't look a the map quite close enough, but I knew where I was going and could often see the bridges of the freeway so I wasn't really lost. Then I turned to soon before the airport so that also added a couple of miles ... and I turned in the wrong way at Hertz. But I got there, then BB had to pick me up, there is not anywhere for cars there so she had stopped at a CNG (Compressed Natual Gas) station and called me, once I was out she picked me up in the 'delivery' area. Back to the same In-And-Out burger ... should have timed it, traffic was backed up over a quarter of a mile to get in there. We just went thru the drive thru this time. Small burger with onions. Across the San Mateo bridge, we have been lucking out. On the bridges that only collect tolls one way, we have been going the other way ... three times on this trip. Traffic was slow and go, but we finally got to the Quality Inn in Medesto. A while later we went to Daman's for Mexican food. Early night, tomorrow will be a long day ... Tosemite National Park. 171007 - MN to CA - Day 11 Pulled out about 8 am west coast time. Filled with gas in Oakdale, CA. Arco, cash or debit only but a lot cheaper than most places. After a long and winding road, we got to the gate of Yosemite Nat'l Park. The ride up the hill was OK with BB looking at the site's ... until I mentioned there was not any guardrail. That changed the tone a little. This is a place that should be visited in two days. The first day stop at all the places you can, and the second for all the places you know you missed. First stop was just along the river. Second stop near an open field with open views to the hills. Third stop was at the waterfall, that is when we realized that the weekend was not a good time to come. We made a U-turn before we got into the parking lot and found a place to park on the street ... when we left we saw there was lots of places to park on the street. After a short line for the outhouse, we took some pictures of the falls. By then BB was hungry ... and after miles and miles of stop and go, slow and go traffic, there was no where to park anywhere near the food. Originally we had thought of bringing food, then looked up online and found there was food at the park so we didn't bring any. We stopped again for another short walk and found two mints in my back pack. We did stop a couple of more times before we got out of the park and stopped at a gas station. $26 for junk food, but it was lunch. We had planned on walking a mile or so at a few places, we only stopped at one before hunger took over. After we ate we did stop again a few places, mostly just to take a picture but we did stop by a lake for a short walk. Not sure how high we were but I do remember coming down to 9,000 feet and a few times going past 8,000 feet signs. The sky was hazy from the fires, there were signs that it was a 'controlled burn.' The largest wildlife we saw in the park were a couple of birds and a tiny squirrel. ... and we got to Gardenville, NV about 6:30, just before dark so all in all it worked out. Next time we'll try not to go on the weekend. The desk for the motel was hard to find, it is in a Casino, and the hotel desk doubles as the cashout area for the casino. You have to walk through the casino to get to the desk and you have to walk through the casino to get to the two places to eat. Motel is spread out with three buildings, ours is on the far side of a gas station from the others. Supper was at the Lakeview Coffee Shop and the night will be at the Super 8. 171008 - MN to CA - Day 12 We had coupons for either a free 'continental breakfast,' or $3 off of anything on the menu. We took the full breakfast, good food, but a waiting list even at 9 in the morning. (11 central time, so it was a late morning) We had enough fuel to get to Carson City where gas was cheaper. Arco is the cheapest ... or Golden Gate if you pay cash. Within a couple of miles of fueling we are at the edge of town and the speed limit is going up. We notice the car ahead of us pulling to the shoulder and then run over a post. As we past BB noticed something wasn't right so we stopped and called 911. I was breaking up on my cell (2 miles from town) but they finally said someone would be on there way. When I got over to the car the person was laying on their side in the front seat will drooling. As I tapped on the window asking them to open the window, they hit the gas and went a few more car lengths. Slowly they sat up and were slowly grabbing at things in the car. Finally / a few minutes later, someone else stopped. When they got to the car, the person inside finally rolled down the windows, and was convinced to shut the car off. (I hadn't thought about the fire danger in the dry grass.) Soon the cops got there and then the ambulance. They were quite sure the driver was on drugs, not ill. We filled out an accident report and were on our way. A few miles later we saw something neither of us had seen before, horse crossing signs ... and then a dead horse on the side of the road. From there things were less eventful. A stop at a rest area between Fernly and Lovelace. A stop for fuel in Battle Mountain, we don't get as good of mileage going 80. We did meet one of our buses and a number of RV's. With breakfast being late and lots of it, we weren't ready to eat again until 5 pm at Burger King in Wells. From there we got off of the freeway for the two hour trip up to Twin Falls, ID. Beautiful sunset. Tonight is at the Quality Inn in Twin Falls, I think we have been here before. There are not too many of these that are in two buildings. 171009 - MN to CA - Day 13 Left out of Twin Falls and turned the wrong direction, but had the GPS going so we just drove around the parimater of the mall before heading the correct direction. Over the huge gorge of the Snake River, someday we need to stop. Just checked and besides the visitors center we drive past, there is also at least one park. First stop of the day is in Idaho Falls at the Flying J for fuel. The next is in West Yellowstone at Erin's Deli for a sandwich. This is where we finally decided to go INTO the park. Skirting the parimater is the shortest northern route back to MN. Before we got to the park we could see the Grand Tetons. Missed one photo-op and none of the next op's were as good as the prior so we ended up with nothing. The original plan was to just 'drive thru.' Until we saw buffalo ... and hot springs ... and ... We did stop for a couple of walks, on one we had walked for a while before we saw a 'vista point' sign. 400 yards up hill, when we got to 200 we turned around and went back. Maybe next time. We each had different idea's of how we were going to leave. I thought to the northeast and BB typed to the east in the GPS. I didn't realize it until after we were committed. We did end up seeing snow and sheep on this route. This was the last day of the season some of these roads are open. Two years ago we were there on the first day some of the roads were open ... and there was snow both times. Check out route US-212 out of Yellowstone ... it looks like fun :) BB has decided she loves driving through the mountains, as long as we are at the bottom, not on some pass. At the continental divide there was an elevation sign ... and a snowman on each side of the sign. Another photo op missed. Lots of dead trees from a fire. There was a fire burning when I took the kids through in the early '90's also. Well after dark when we got to Billings at the Quality Inn. 171010 - MN to CA - Day 14 Breakfast at the Quality Inn in Bismarck is 'made to order.' And the cook knows how to make everything just right. Mmmm One quick stop at the Hathaway rest area before we get to Medora for lunch. We did drive past a few places before we found on that was open. Boots Bar and Grill is open in the off season, food was good. Just a burger but it was done right. Then to our third National Park this trip. Theodore Roosevelt ... soon to be renamed Prairie Dog National Park. Huge area's of prairie dogs. Also saw about 30 buffalo and a few wild horses. Stopped at a few vista's, did some walking, took some pictures. Two hours to Bismarck and the Kroll Diner. Patty melt and a good shake. The Comfort inn changed to a Quality Inn on Monday so we stayed at a Quality Inn. We've stayed here before, big place, always full, the price is right. 171011 - MN to CA - Day 15 This motel is the place that has the good bismarck's, but they were mostly chocolate :( Last day of the trip so we were in 'home' mode, few stops, just drive. First stop was in Moorehead at the rest area, second stop was the Arby's in Fergus Falls, then ... we stopped at a family cemetery and took pictures until my phone battery went dead (forgot about my camera until just now.) Final stop at the TA / Shell in Rogers and then home. |
