winifredcreamer

The wrong way to Portland: Music, Wine, Family

We planned an easy trip to Portland, driving from Eureka, CA to Grant’s Pass, OR on Friday afternoon and on to Portland on Saturday. We’d drive four hours each day. The road winds through the forests of far northern California, and straightens out in Oregon at Interstate 5. It’s been just long enough since weContinue reading “The wrong way to Portland: Music, Wine, Family”

Morris Graves Museum “Junque Arte”

I recoil slightly at the term Junk Art, as I don’t view my jewelry as junk at all. Our local museum, the Morris Graves Museum of Art has an annual Junque Arte exhibit, a juried show of objects made from reused materials. I entered two pieces and both were accepted. Since we traveled to ItalyContinue reading “Morris Graves Museum “Junque Arte””

The equinox hints at fall

I believed that September 21 was always the start of Autumn, but I am wrong. This year the fall equinox when night and day are the same length on the Equator, is September 23, in the middle of the night. The past few days have hinted that the seasons are beginning to change. I wentContinue reading “The equinox hints at fall”

Where to spend August

You can go anywhere in the world in April and May. (Springtime in Paris!) But where do you go in August, when everyone in Italy is on vacation, Europe is overrun with Americans, and it’s broiling almost everywhere? Eureka, California, is your answer. Summer didn’t really arrive until around the Fourth of July, and nowContinue reading “Where to spend August”

Fern Canyon walk

Fern Canyon is a natural gully of fern covered walls up to 50 feet high along both sides of a stream near Orrick, CA. The access road is five miles of unpaved gravel and dust. There are several dips over ruts from storm runoff, and two places where you drive through water in the creek.Continue reading “Fern Canyon walk”

Summer in California: the Fortuna Rodeo

June through September are the months of summer in Humboldt, but July has the best sun. The Fortuna Rodeo is a fixture of summer, taking place the weekend after July 4. Amanda and Jim are fans, so we went along, and they were right, it’s one of the best activities out here. Our choice wasContinue reading “Summer in California: the Fortuna Rodeo”

Celebrating a birthday in Northern California

It takes about 3 ½ hours to get to Santa Rosa from our home in Eureka. It’s a beautiful drive through redwood forests and the rural California landscape of dry pastures, grazing cattle, and grapevines. We recently made our monthly trip to Santa Rosa and while there, took some extra time to celebrate my birthday. Continue reading “Celebrating a birthday in Northern California”

Thebes to Athens (8)

Our final day on tour took us from chilly Arachova back to Athens. We saw beautiful snow-capped mountains off to the north as we headed south, then turned off the highway to visit one last Mycenean site. Gla, or Glas, was a large Mycenean fortress that was the center of a network of forts duringContinue reading “Thebes to Athens (8)”

Olympia to Delphi (7): Nafpaktos→Delphi→Arachova (Peloponnese to Mainland)

It rained overnight in Nafpaktos. I went out to the shore in the morning between showers, saw some fishermen heading home, and the remains of a Venetian fortress, but didn’t find any beach glass. We headed for Delphi to hear from the oracle. Delphi is located in rough country, a lovely drive when someone elseContinue reading “Olympia to Delphi (7): Nafpaktos→Delphi→Arachova (Peloponnese to Mainland)”

Peloponnese (6): Pylos to Olympia and beyond

Another beautiful day in the Peloponnese began the view out our hotel window over the water looking tranquil in the rising sun. Our first stop was the fortress of Pylos and the small museum. The view over town was gorgeous. The museum had a few lovely examples of the fine crafts that were traded inContinue reading “Peloponnese (6): Pylos to Olympia and beyond”