The Sierra Mountains and Northern California
The Coastal Cities and Southern California
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We traveled with the following highways: 241, 91, 15, 395, 203, 120, 50, 28, 267, 80, 174, 20, 99, 32, 36, 89, 49, 12, 101, 280, 1, 92, 85, 9, 183, and 405?!
Use the links below to quickly navigate between the dates, or click on the photos for the Mountains or the Coast.
4.26.23 | 4.27.23 | 4.28.23 | 4.29.23 | 4.30.23 | 5.1.23 | 5.2.23 | 5.3.23 | 5.4.23 | 5.5.23 | 5.6.23 | 5.7.23
The Sierra Mountains and Northern California |
The Coastal Cities and Southern California |
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We got bread, cheese, salami, and lots of sweets at Schadt's Bakery in Bishop.
Plenty of snow in Mammoth Lakes.
After a good night of sleep at the Westin in Mammoth, we set out to Mono Lake.
Peace and calm!
Jim is pointing to the Black Island in the middle of Mono Lake.
After hours of driving on Highway 395 and crossing the border of the state lines, we arrived King's Beach, Lake Tahoe.
Jim can easily strike up a conversation with anyone on the pier.
Very clear water!
Jim was pleased with his selection of our temporary home, the Golden Dreams Inn, in Grass Valley.
Diego's Restaurant turned out to be a great place to eat, right across from the Golden Dreams Inn.
A law office for James in Nevada City!
Highway amongst all the snow around Donnor Lake.
The infamous Donner Lake near Interstate Highway 80.
We love this area for its tranquility.
Back to Lake Tahoe to get to Incline Village, Nevada. Very clear water!
Kayak anyone?
Plenty sports at the Incline Beach.
The Lassen Volcanic National Park was devastated by the Dixie Fire in 2021, with one-third of the park burnt to crispy black!
The visitors center was surrounded by snow piling high everywhere.
What to do first? Where to go next?
Who knew? Jim brought walking sticks!
We were not prepared for the slushy snow.
The scenic route was closed due to the heavy snowfall.
Another national park on our visited list (sort of).
More snow is coming this week, 4.30.2023.
The Peanut Butter Stout at the Timber House Brewery & Restaurant in Chester.
A painting by J. Hoft in 2006, after Renoir, hung on the wall of Diego's restaurant that prepared our lunch with Justin's family.
Justin's house in Nevada City.
Beautiful Dogwood getting some sun.
Daughter Evie is shy at the beginning.
Lunch was successful with salads, tacos, crepadillas, and white wine.
The Yuba River under the old Route 49.
Can you find Evie hiding behind Megan?
A beautiful family.
On the way to Sonoma, we say good-bye to Grass Valley and Nevada City.
Not much of a short cut, but Jim's wallet was found on this trail.
Not enough locks?
We found the Angkula Seo Suspension Bridge, over Deer Creek.
This bridge was built in 2014.
Pretty!
A side profile.
Snow melting water running down in Deer Creek.
Jim needed a little rest.
Watch Jim go!
Very strong bridge and not much swaying!
See Kaii run!
An interesting empty tree trunk.
Saying good-bye to the area.
One last look at this man-made beauty in the wild.
Beautiful dogwood to frame someone's house.
Bye, Nevada City!
The Inn at MacArthur Place is a comfortable new temporary home.
The grounds are carefully planted.
The Bridal Court at the MacArthur Place.
In town we go, by foot!
The Russian Stout was for Kaii. Delicious, of course!
Look at this front yard!
We visited Sandi, Jim's long time friend and tenant, at her beautiful Sonoma home.
Look at that red maple!
Jim likes this colorful house, even the kitchen cabinet (Sandi said it was too dark).
Sandi has lots of colors in every room and wooden toys by the front door.
Here is the front entrance of Sandi's home.
Driving through the Golden Gate Bridge.
Kaii's friends, Jane and Kurt, two retired architects, own this beautiful San Francisco home since 1980.
Jane prepared a delicious lunch and made Irish Coffee for us.
Garrick, Jane and Kurt's son, is an Olympian.
Hello, Jane!
Look at this Puya Alpestris (Kitty told me, of course), blue and turquoise, in the Botanical Garden in the Golden Gate Park.
A succulent garden full of tall plants.
Jane was sorry that she tore a little of that big leaf.
All the air roots are longer than any human being.
Yes, we need to plant some Wisteria in front of our house too.
The windmill is much bigger than it looked.
A rainy after on Post Street in San Francisco.
Dinner at the Anzu Restaurant
We start this San Francisco day with five stops: Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Presidio Park, Baker Beach, and Twin Peaks
This plaque can be found on the walkway at Pier 39 in San Francisco.
Jim is joining the famous San Francisco Seals.
The world famous Pier 39
All planters are blooming.
Look at the size of the grapes!
Jim likes to shop!
We are happy to be in San Francisco!
The Alcatraz
Jim loves the seals.
Who feeds them?
Chocolate heaven!
Did we get any chocolates yet?
A group of ladies from Milwaukee talking to Jim.
The site of Presidio has many uses currently, other than being a park. There is a Disney Family Museum here.
Where to?
Look at that view!
Ah, take all this in now!
Jim didn't want to come here at the first place?!
Stunning!
The history of this place
A bubble boy in the park
Rest a bit on this fancy seat!
Wow! Big pin cushions!
Here is the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Another stunning view of this area.
Care free birds!
Jim looks great here!
Kaii looks good too!
What's not to like?
Retirement is good!
Better angle?
We made it to the top of San Francisco, Twin Peaks.
Fantastic view and cool air!
Is that Market Street down there?
We love traveling and see new sights!
Can you tell Jim was cold?
Wow! Breath-taking!
A closer look
The tower on top of the hill that one can see from anywhere in San Francisco.
We drove on that windy road to get to the top.
A better weather day on Post Street.
The entrance to the San Francisco China Town.
At the bottom of the Bank of America building.
Dinner at "La Fusion", a Peruvian restaurant, Seafood Pot Pie and Braised Ribs. Yum!
From San Francisco to Saratoga, we took Highway 9, via the Big Basin Redwood Park.
Jim seems short here.
Kaii is shorter!
All that timber!
Lots of new growth from the burnt trunks.
We have arrived Half Moon Bay.
The beautiful golf course at the Ritz-Carlton.
Jim wants to come back and stay here next time.
The Seal Rocks
Another shot of the good view
Lovely grounds at the Ritz-Carlton!
Our home for the night, Inn at Saratoga.
The little creek next to the Inn has plenty of running water.
The Pirate Weekend Stout was delicious in the Orchard City Kitchen, an American tapas restaurant in Campbell.
A dip and chip dish to share.
Sliced beef with fried wonton skin?
Pan seared Cod with truffle and roe.
Carrot cake and orange sorbet as part of the desserts.
The Lee family
A different direction
On the way to Paso Robles, we took Highway 9 to Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, it was not a good stop. It was very different than we remembered.
The McQueens
Convivo, the restaurant in the Santa Barbara Inn, serves great Italian food.
Kitty had ribs.
May had seafood platter.
Jim had steak.
Cheese cake and chocolate cake to share.
Gelato looks yum!
We had so much fun visiting family and friends in this California Road Trip!
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