winifredcreamer

Mendocino at last! June 9, 2015

It wasn’t exactly the drive from Chicago to Mendocino that made us so happy to arrive. After all, we had wonderful stops along the way and saw all kinds of things. It was the unsettled nature of travel. Both of us enjoy new places, but we do not enjoy being on the road indefinitely. IContinue reading “Mendocino at last! June 9, 2015”

Rural California

Reading the newspaper you wouldn’t think there were any small farmers or ranchers left in California–it’s all sprawling cities or thousand-acre farms. Driving from Petaluma to Mendocino, we passed through, and were surprised by, rural California alive and well. Small farms and ranches extended from Petaluma to the coast.

California means wine.

We had a free day before moving into our house in Mendocino, so we did what all visitors do in California–taste wine! We drove to Sonoma, visiting the Robledo Winery on the way there, and then we visited the Walt tasting room off the Sonoma plaza. What lovely wine, and enjoyable conversation. It was aContinue reading “California means wine.”

Idaho–Reno–California!

We left Twin Falls, Idaho, crossed that beautiful country and stayed overnight at the Nugget Casino in Reno, NV (June 6). The Casino was not particularly inviting, especially considering I don’t ordinarily gamble. Too much smoke. We had a nice dinner at the oyster bar, however, and the room was a bargain compared to anythingContinue reading “Idaho–Reno–California!”

Where to see wildlife in the Rockies

By the end of our visit to the cabin in Bailey, CO we had seen a remarkable list of birds and animals. We’d been on a hike in the nearby Pike National Forest, visited a quarry to hunt for amazonite crystals and eaten everything from elk to quail. What we discovered is that the bestContinue reading “Where to see wildlife in the Rockies”

Animals of the mountain cabin

In addition to all the birds and other wildlife outdoors, when you look around a cabin constructed of pine planks you might see: A brown bird sitting on a brown egg? Or you might see a sad bird: You might even imagine yourself lying on the bottom of a lake watching a fox swim byContinue reading “Animals of the mountain cabin”

Bailey, Colorado; May 31-June 1, 2015

We arrived at Mark and Marcy’s cabin in Bailey, CO, overlooking a small lake. On the way in we saw a herd of mule deer: The setting of the cabin is idyllic, the porch stretches from east to west and you can move your chair from one sunny (or shady) spot to the next allContinue reading “Bailey, Colorado; May 31-June 1, 2015”

Alliance, Nebraska

The goal of our route through Nebraska was to see Carhenge, in Alliance, NE, which we did. We stayed overnight at to Grandma Lala’s B&B, a lot more memorable than the Red Roof Inn we stayed at in Council Bluffs, IA last night. Our room had a cherub theme: As we drove from Alliance, NEContinue reading “Alliance, Nebraska”

Fabulous Nebraska

Driving across Nebraska on this sunny, cool day, we crossed lots and lots of open land, some farm fields, some grazing land with cows everywhere. Our destination was Alliance, NE and CARHENGE! It looks a bit like Stonehenge from a distance, but from up close it’s a car collection, spray painted gray, welded,Continue reading “Fabulous Nebraska”

Go West!

After our comfortable time in LaGrange, we packed the car for our trip to California. It was a bit more crowded than we expected. Even though Jonathan took the car to the Toyota dealership (again) at 7 am, he was able to return home with a new headlight and we were packed and on theContinue reading “Go West!”