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| Redwood forest |
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| Even Rock looks small! |
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| Trillium growing in the shade of the redwoods. |
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Redwood Forest
All I can say is go. Just go see this for yourself. You really can't get a sense of how BIG these trees are and how very tiny you feel surrounded by them. This is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in CA.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
The Other Coast
After a week on the road we went over the mountains and into Northern California. Then on to Oregon. The other coast. I spent a lot of time saying, 'We're from Portland. The other one.' (Somewhere in there we stopped in Chico, CA, but only for the night. No photos. Looked like a really nice college town but we were moving on!)
We stopped in Bandon, OR to stretch our legs and Florence, OR for the night. Then on to Cannon Beach and the final push to Seattle.
OK, the elk are an interesting story. You know I love taking photos of 'wildlife' like birds and animals. So, we're driving along Rt 101 in Trinidad, CA and lo and behold there is this herd of elk by the side of the road in someone's yard! It seems they live there. So, yeah, had to stop the car and take pix. Notice how I got the old pickup truck in the photo, too.
Next up - Redwood Forest.
We stopped in Bandon, OR to stretch our legs and Florence, OR for the night. Then on to Cannon Beach and the final push to Seattle.
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| No, this is not the only shirt I own, it just seems that way. (Actually, I'm wearing it right now, too!) |
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| Oregon coast |
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| Rock/rocks on the coast |
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| Roosevelt elk |
OK, the elk are an interesting story. You know I love taking photos of 'wildlife' like birds and animals. So, we're driving along Rt 101 in Trinidad, CA and lo and behold there is this herd of elk by the side of the road in someone's yard! It seems they live there. So, yeah, had to stop the car and take pix. Notice how I got the old pickup truck in the photo, too.
Next up - Redwood Forest.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Monday, May 19, 2014
Virginia City Home of the Ponderosa
OK, you know how old we are, right? If not you soon will! We HAD to go to Virginia City. Yes, home of the Ponderosa and the Cartwrights. Just about every place in town had the map from the opening credits. What not a lot of people know, though is that Mark Twain, then known as Samuel Clemens, got his newspaper start here.
The main street of town, C Street, still has the old boardwalk style planks. (Didn't see too many places to hitch horses.) The town is partly on top of the Comstock Lode. Most of the town burned to the ground in less than 2 hours in the 1870's. The local businesses built it back up in less than 2 years.
I do have to say this was not my favorite place on the trip. So much history here but just not my kind of town. If you're ever here, do stop into one of the saloons for a drink. Double the size of anything here and half the price. We paid $12 (including tip) for 3 drinks and snacks.
Oh, and DO take the trolley around town. It's a great way to see where everything is so you can explore the things you really want to see. (Without having to go up and down all the side streets like the one above in 90 degree weather!)
If we ever find ourselves driving through here again, I do want to go into one of the mines on a tour.
Another great motorcycle route... Rt 341 and Rt 342. Take a look on a map, it's all S turns.
Next up - we reach the other coast.
The main street of town, C Street, still has the old boardwalk style planks. (Didn't see too many places to hitch horses.) The town is partly on top of the Comstock Lode. Most of the town burned to the ground in less than 2 hours in the 1870's. The local businesses built it back up in less than 2 years.
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| C Street Virginia City, Nevada |
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| The first flight of stairs to our room at the saloon. |
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| The Millionaires' Club met here. |
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| Mine tailings down the road. An idea how steep the side streets are! |
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| Stinky and Bernice |
Oh, and DO take the trolley around town. It's a great way to see where everything is so you can explore the things you really want to see. (Without having to go up and down all the side streets like the one above in 90 degree weather!)
If we ever find ourselves driving through here again, I do want to go into one of the mines on a tour.
Another great motorcycle route... Rt 341 and Rt 342. Take a look on a map, it's all S turns.
Next up - we reach the other coast.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Friday, May 16, 2014
Mono Lake
This unbelievably eerie place is right on Rt 395 along the eastern edge of California. It's all 'normal' at the visitor center until you realize you haven't seen water this blue outside the Caribbean. After parking the car at the South Tufa Area and walking a short way on a boardwalk you start to feel like you're leaving Earth behind and standing on an alien planet.
OK, I took this right from the Mono Lake website to explain what tufa is: Tufa is essentially common limestone. What is uncommon about
this limestone is the way it forms. Typically, underwater
springs rich in calcium mix with lake water rich in carbonates. As the calcium comes in contact
with carbonates in the lake, a chemical reaction occurs
resulting in calcium carbonate--limestone. The calcium
carbonate precipitates (settles out of solution as a solid)
around the spring, and over the course of decades to centuries,
a tufa tower will grow. Tufa towers grow exclusively
underwater, and some grow to heights of over 30 feet. The
reason visitors see so much tufa around Mono Lake today is
because the lake level fell dramatically after water diversions began in 1941.
Next up - Virginia City, home of the Ponderosa!
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| Hm, did I turn off the water at the inn or not? |
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| Hurry up already, there are sticky bits on these shrubs! |
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| South tufa grove trail |
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| 'Pirate ship' formation at Mono Lake |
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| More tufa towers with Sierras in background |
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| So alien! |
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| Mono Lake tufa towers |
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| Tell me this doesn't look like a scene from Star Trek! |
Next up - Virginia City, home of the Ponderosa!
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
High Sierra
After Death Valley, we drove to Bishop, CA on the eastern slopes of the Sierras. So gorgeous! This weather and climate agreed with me, Rock not so much. No allergies for me, no asthma symptoms even tho we spent most of our 2 weeks at elevations over 3000 feet. Something out there did not like Rock, he was sneezing and his eyes were watering. Dang. Thought maybe we could find a place that agrees with both of us!
You're going to assume I've never seen snow before. Not true! It's the juxtaposition of the snow and the high plains that surprised me.
We drove up, up, up Rt 168 looking for a war monument. Missed it completely, drove right past it and kept going. 9000 feet up the road was closed due to snow and falling rocks. Should have had Rock lie down next to the falling rocks sign, why is it always too late when you think of these things? (BTW, there is a word for that - esprit d'escalier. Literal translation is 'stair wit' as in coming up with a witty comeback as you head down the stairs.)
60 degrees in town, 35 on the car thermometer when I took the snowball photo.
Sorry about the Ripley's-style photo of the lamb. It was just too strange to ignore. That someone would stuff it after it died was kind of strange as well.
What's truly amazing about driving out here is knowing not that long ago wagons loaded with settlers were making their way thru this same scrub land and over these mountains. How? It boggles the mind. We walked just a little bit out on these high plains and the brush is thorny and unforgiving and it grows so close together!
Next up - Mono Lake.
You're going to assume I've never seen snow before. Not true! It's the juxtaposition of the snow and the high plains that surprised me.
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| Rt 168 in Bishop, CA |
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| 9000 feet up. The road was closed due to snow. |
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| That's the road running thru the center of the photo. |
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| Just plain weird - a 2-faced lamb. Yes, another face on the other side of the head. |
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| Brands, branding irons and a barbed wire display. |
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| The old post office with the Sierras in the background |
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| Old railyard |
60 degrees in town, 35 on the car thermometer when I took the snowball photo.
Sorry about the Ripley's-style photo of the lamb. It was just too strange to ignore. That someone would stuff it after it died was kind of strange as well.
What's truly amazing about driving out here is knowing not that long ago wagons loaded with settlers were making their way thru this same scrub land and over these mountains. How? It boggles the mind. We walked just a little bit out on these high plains and the brush is thorny and unforgiving and it grows so close together!
Next up - Mono Lake.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Liberty Tool Company for Sale!
We went to Liberty Tool Co a few years back. (Chronicled here in the Tool Time Tour blog post.) It's an amazing sight to see! And now it's for sale. I know nothing about tools but I love this place. Maybe you want to buy it. I'll stop in and visit!
Check out the story and video here.
Check out the story and video here.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Death Valley Days
After leaving Vegas, we took Rt 160 to Death Valley, stopping off at Ash Meadows Natural Wildlife Refuge. We were just 'driving thru' but you really need days to explore these wonderful national parks. Just the idea that these are preserved places for us to enjoy is almost unbelievable. We hear this from guests from overseas all the time, they are amazed at how many parks and conservation areas we have to enjoy. These things don't exist everywhere. Go out and explore!
It doesn't look like much from here but the snow on those mountains is up to 50' deep! Roads from east to west in CA are closed in April because they haven't been plowed yet. Road signs let you know what's open and closed. Chains are required unexpectedly so you have to be flexible on where you're traveling.
It's not really easy to see how incredibly twisty and turny the roads thru Death Valley are. Suffice it to say I tried to do a video to show everyone and I had to stop, I was getting dizzy sitting in the car just trying to film! You are going from 190 feet below sea level to 8000 feet above sea level and back down to 3000 feet above sea level in the space of 30 minutes. UNBELIEVABLE! Great ride on a motorcycle, but not in the summer. Go in the spring or late fall!
But, seriously, go. Even if you've 'BTDT' this is a gorgeous country we've got here and you really should take a look.
Next up - High Sierras.
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| Along Rt 160 out of Vegas |
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| Rt 160 |
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| Water in the desert Ash Meadows |
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| Gunslinger cabin at Ash Meadows |
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| Gunslinger poem |
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| Heading into Death Valley on Rt 190 |
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| Zabriskie Point (hanging on for dear life!) |
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| Zabriskie Point Death Valley |
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| Zabriskie Point |
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| Zabriskie Point Death Valley National Park, CA |
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| Leaving Death Valley |
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| Eastern Sierras snowstorm |
It doesn't look like much from here but the snow on those mountains is up to 50' deep! Roads from east to west in CA are closed in April because they haven't been plowed yet. Road signs let you know what's open and closed. Chains are required unexpectedly so you have to be flexible on where you're traveling.
It's not really easy to see how incredibly twisty and turny the roads thru Death Valley are. Suffice it to say I tried to do a video to show everyone and I had to stop, I was getting dizzy sitting in the car just trying to film! You are going from 190 feet below sea level to 8000 feet above sea level and back down to 3000 feet above sea level in the space of 30 minutes. UNBELIEVABLE! Great ride on a motorcycle, but not in the summer. Go in the spring or late fall!
But, seriously, go. Even if you've 'BTDT' this is a gorgeous country we've got here and you really should take a look.
Next up - High Sierras.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
Winthrop Fogg Gets a Makeover
We've finished our last makeover room! Take a look...the Winthrop Fogg Room, now known simply as the Fogg, is looking bright and cheery with a calming gray on the walls and a pop of color on the bed.
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| Winthrop Fogg before |
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| Fogg Room after |
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Vegas, Baby
Just a couple of pix from our Vegas vacation. We were there for 2 days and really crammed a lot in! Including an hour or so throwing quarters at a mechanical horse racing table game. But, we got 'free' drinks!
Next up - we head to Bishop, CA via Death Valley.
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| Waiting in line for 'Pawn Stars' |
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| Old time cigarette machine redone to dispense tiny art works! |
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| Me and #1 son at Cosmopolitan. |
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| Excalibur |
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| Wild burros at Red Rocks Park |
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| Cactus |
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| Just hanging around at Red Rocks |
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| Red Rocks vista |
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| The lads looking over the rocks |
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| Desert tortoise |
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| Road Kill Grill Vegas |
Next up - we head to Bishop, CA via Death Valley.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
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