L: We went to a little 'wild west frontier' museum place today. It was deserted, like a ghost town. You had to go into the little office to register on arrival and inside was a little old lady.
People are pretty polite generally I've noticed so in my best, most pleasant and polite English I greeted her with 'Good afternoon' - and a smile. She looked confused and said 'what, huh??'. I repeated my cordial greeting and she still couldn't understand me so Doug helped me out with a 'Hi there'.
She went on to say that they have visitors from all over the world but she's never heard someone speak this language - and could I understand any English, could I read English and could I write any English because I had to sign my name......
After she gave us a little introduction to the place she gave us a leaflet and asked again if I could read English - because she 'doesn't understand Swahili or whatever language you were talking - What language was that you were talking to me by the way??!'
'English' we replied - 'we are English!!' I just stopped short of telling her I was an English teacher, we were laughing that much!!
Funny...
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Sonora, Yosemite & Bishop
Sonora...
We entered the town of Sonora after a four hour drive from Napa. It also seemed to take us back in time 50 years or so.
What we didn't know was that the Sonora chapter of the Ford Model A Enthusiasts of America (or something like that) was having their annual meeting at the same time we were there. Ignoring the many, many old cars driving round the town was tricky. They were in incredible condition though, and a lot more characterful than the 4x4's thundering around.
Things got really odd when we got to Dorothea's Christmas store...
1. We got there in May.
2. It was open.
3. It's open All Year.
4. They were playing Bon Jovi.
5. The John Wayne Xmas decorations aren't, strictly speaking, that Chrismassy.
Anyway, we weren't here for Sonora. Which was a good job really - the room stank of either:
1. Lindsey's choice - exuberant air freshener use. OR
2. Doug's choice - Stale, old person urine. OR
3. Both.
We were here for Yosemite.
Now, we've both tried to find the words to describe it. Nothing seems to convey how impressive it is. So I think we'll have to just use:
ASTONISHING.
Ok, I know you're after more... it's just really hard to get across how unbelievably impressive it is.
Nature doesn't get much better or more breath-taking. I was genuinely lost for words - which doesn't happen much (or at all really). The odd thing about it is, the trees really get in the way of the views.
Now, I realise how stupid that sounds, 'the trees are part of it yada-yada-yada', but you can't really see much. The views really happen on the way into and out of the park.
The roads were by far and away, the windiest, steepest and the most 'squeaky-bum time' inducing we've ever driven on. They were also astonishingly smooth and well kept. Top Gear would have a field day on them.
Bishop
The hottest place we've been to so far... 32C at it's hottest. However, tomorrow we go to Death Valley, where it'll be 10C higher!
There's actually not much to see or do in Bishop. It's mainly (from what we've seen, anyway) hotels/ motels and places to eat.
We entered the town of Sonora after a four hour drive from Napa. It also seemed to take us back in time 50 years or so.
 |
| Sonora. 2012. No, really! |
1. We got there in May.
2. It was open.
3. It's open All Year.
4. They were playing Bon Jovi.
5. The John Wayne Xmas decorations aren't, strictly speaking, that Chrismassy.
Anyway, we weren't here for Sonora. Which was a good job really - the room stank of either:
1. Lindsey's choice - exuberant air freshener use. OR
2. Doug's choice - Stale, old person urine. OR
3. Both.
We were here for Yosemite.
Now, we've both tried to find the words to describe it. Nothing seems to convey how impressive it is. So I think we'll have to just use:
ASTONISHING.
Ok, I know you're after more... it's just really hard to get across how unbelievably impressive it is.
Now, I realise how stupid that sounds, 'the trees are part of it yada-yada-yada', but you can't really see much. The views really happen on the way into and out of the park.
The roads were by far and away, the windiest, steepest and the most 'squeaky-bum time' inducing we've ever driven on. They were also astonishingly smooth and well kept. Top Gear would have a field day on them.
 |
| Somewhere in this image is the road we drove. Incredible. |
Bishop
The hottest place we've been to so far... 32C at it's hottest. However, tomorrow we go to Death Valley, where it'll be 10C higher!
There's actually not much to see or do in Bishop. It's mainly (from what we've seen, anyway) hotels/ motels and places to eat.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Observations out of the Ordinary
I'd just like to mention that the first 'weird' thing I noticed as we drove out of San Fran was the amount of Mini Coopers on the road. I mean, of course there were load of SUVs and a good variety of Japanese cars too but I hadn't expected to see so many of the beloved little mini cars. This has been repeated in Napa and on the journey here to Sonora. They're everywhere!!
Roses - I think it's significant to say that among the vine growing areas there are roses everywhere - it's really beautiful.
The next 'weird' thing that caught my eye was in the covenience store two nights ago. Doug was buying some beer and as I waited for him my eyes wondered towards the magazines at the front of the counter. There were some soft porn titles but what reallly caught my eye were the Skunk Magazine and High Times titles :)
On the cover were features about smuggling from Mexico, growing your own and approaches to law enforcement!!! How this is legal I just don't know......... I almost bought it as a souvenir - if you're interested too then let me know and I'll post it out to you!!!
Roses - I think it's significant to say that among the vine growing areas there are roses everywhere - it's really beautiful.
The next 'weird' thing that caught my eye was in the covenience store two nights ago. Doug was buying some beer and as I waited for him my eyes wondered towards the magazines at the front of the counter. There were some soft porn titles but what reallly caught my eye were the Skunk Magazine and High Times titles :)
On the cover were features about smuggling from Mexico, growing your own and approaches to law enforcement!!! How this is legal I just don't know......... I almost bought it as a souvenir - if you're interested too then let me know and I'll post it out to you!!!
Wine and bikes DO mix!
Friday - bike ride day :) We had this booked for the afternoon but because we're still acclimatising to the time difference we are falling asleep about 9.30 pm and waking up about 6.30am, so we had plenty of time in the morning. This is not customary for us, as most of you know, to have such a surplus of free time between breakfast and lunch. Also, the clear blue sky and bright sun tempted us out without any delay. We decided to go to the Mumm winery in the morning. This was absolutely exquisite and we were sorely tempted by the stunning terrace setting to have a tasting after the tour. However we had to get back for the bike ride..........
A rep from the bike tour company collected us and when we arrived at the bike shop we met our two companions -Julie and Allen from New York, and our local guide Paul. We were soon on our way, through quiet lanes and picturesque spots, surrounded by vines as far as the eye could see -and lots of roses. Rose bushes everywhere - they're so pretty and really stand out in the brown/beige/green landscape.
We did have a quick rain shower - but hey, we're British so we coped!!
The first stop was a winery with a tasting room that resembled a large saloon bar and the guy behind the bar was very chatty and knowledgable. Doug and I tasted 5 wines -1 white and 4 red. This in itself is amazing enough as D doesn't usually like red wines-but these were $30 - $40 a bottle, so I guess the quality won him over! But the other thing is he also liked the only white on offer - a Sauvingnon Blanc - which he had sworn to hate for all eternity! We ended up buying one of those bottles - a snip at $23 - eeek!!!
Then it was back on the bikes to the next place.
It was completely different - down a side road, in the rolling countryside, past a few farm buildings and the ubiquitus rose bushes and we were brought to an unassuming breezeblock building, with some picnic tables outside under some trees, right on the edge of the vines. Another couple were already in situ and half way through their tasting - they would go on to get very involved in our trip, route, accommodation choices and where we were going to eat in San Fran 3.5 weeks hence!
So the guy who ran this winery was a wiley, charismatic guy - very genial. It was very rustic and laid back - no where near as commercial as the last place. We sat in the shade -as it had become quite bright and sunny once more, and chatted and tasted and discussed, and laughed and bantered and compared our opinions of the wine. The warm breeze played all around and I have to confess that everything felt all good in the world. :)
We then made a bit of a wobbly start again on the road but soon regained our composure to cycle back- about another 6 miles to the end of the route.
A thoroughly enjoyable day.
A rep from the bike tour company collected us and when we arrived at the bike shop we met our two companions -Julie and Allen from New York, and our local guide Paul. We were soon on our way, through quiet lanes and picturesque spots, surrounded by vines as far as the eye could see -and lots of roses. Rose bushes everywhere - they're so pretty and really stand out in the brown/beige/green landscape.
We did have a quick rain shower - but hey, we're British so we coped!!
The first stop was a winery with a tasting room that resembled a large saloon bar and the guy behind the bar was very chatty and knowledgable. Doug and I tasted 5 wines -1 white and 4 red. This in itself is amazing enough as D doesn't usually like red wines-but these were $30 - $40 a bottle, so I guess the quality won him over! But the other thing is he also liked the only white on offer - a Sauvingnon Blanc - which he had sworn to hate for all eternity! We ended up buying one of those bottles - a snip at $23 - eeek!!!
Then it was back on the bikes to the next place.
It was completely different - down a side road, in the rolling countryside, past a few farm buildings and the ubiquitus rose bushes and we were brought to an unassuming breezeblock building, with some picnic tables outside under some trees, right on the edge of the vines. Another couple were already in situ and half way through their tasting - they would go on to get very involved in our trip, route, accommodation choices and where we were going to eat in San Fran 3.5 weeks hence!
So the guy who ran this winery was a wiley, charismatic guy - very genial. It was very rustic and laid back - no where near as commercial as the last place. We sat in the shade -as it had become quite bright and sunny once more, and chatted and tasted and discussed, and laughed and bantered and compared our opinions of the wine. The warm breeze played all around and I have to confess that everything felt all good in the world. :)
We then made a bit of a wobbly start again on the road but soon regained our composure to cycle back- about another 6 miles to the end of the route.
A thoroughly enjoyable day.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Wine, wine and more wine...
Yesterday then... One word. WINE!!
Our morning was spent walking around downtown Napa. Which is a delightful old town - As you walk around, you feel as though you're wandering through a film. We watched the Napa Valley Wine Train go past, and stopped off at Ben & Jerry's for Elevenses (two large scoops of ice-cream at 11am isn't easy to eat).
The afternoon was all about the grape.
First up was Beringer. An old, old, old winery - it dates from the 1800s. Initial impressions were more than favourable. A stunning old building (a recreation of the Beringer's family home in Germany), lots of old, tall trees and a fair few vines.
The tour started well. Our guide Tim - a wirey, grey-haired chap with an astonishing knowledge of the wine-making process - had a little banter with me about my 'NY' cap (only worn becuase it's the only one I had). Then it was into the underground tunnels where the wines are kept at a constant, year-round 16C. We then headed to a tasting room where four tiny glasses of wine were poured. To go with the wines, we had a salty bread stick, some Swiss cheese, and a white chocolate apricot truffle. We were taught how to match wines with food (the red wine/ red meat, white wine/ white meat thing, isn't actually right - it's all about matching the wine to the taste of the food).
After the tour finished, we made a break for the car, and headed to the Mondavi winery.
If you're ever in the position for visit Napa, go to Mondavi. It's much more relaxed, open and generally 'better' than Beringer (nothing to do with me doing a good job of financing the place).
Our Mondavi guide, Robert, was a genial, funny guy with a knowledge that matched Tim's, but with a better way of expressing it. We were taken around the wine-making facilities (something that didn't happen at Beringer). The scale of the operation is mind-boggling, but without compromising the quality, taste and flavour of the wine. 400+ acres of vines, making a huge array of wines - from the affordable, to the aspirational. We got to taste some of the higher - mid-range wines (around the $50 mark) with a small, freshly baked mossarella ball, to compliment the wines.
Mondavi was by far the better of the two wineries. Not just because of the feel of the place, not because it was better value (although it was), but because they were more open and up-front about their processes. It was more 'fun' too.
We finished the day having a look at the Napa food festival that takes place every so often along the length of Main Street and some of the surrounding roads.
A (large) bottle of Mondavi was bought at a local store, along with some cable ties for the satnav (sitting in the window of the car was causing it to overheat)
Our morning was spent walking around downtown Napa. Which is a delightful old town - As you walk around, you feel as though you're wandering through a film. We watched the Napa Valley Wine Train go past, and stopped off at Ben & Jerry's for Elevenses (two large scoops of ice-cream at 11am isn't easy to eat).
The afternoon was all about the grape.
First up was Beringer. An old, old, old winery - it dates from the 1800s. Initial impressions were more than favourable. A stunning old building (a recreation of the Beringer's family home in Germany), lots of old, tall trees and a fair few vines.
The tour started well. Our guide Tim - a wirey, grey-haired chap with an astonishing knowledge of the wine-making process - had a little banter with me about my 'NY' cap (only worn becuase it's the only one I had). Then it was into the underground tunnels where the wines are kept at a constant, year-round 16C. We then headed to a tasting room where four tiny glasses of wine were poured. To go with the wines, we had a salty bread stick, some Swiss cheese, and a white chocolate apricot truffle. We were taught how to match wines with food (the red wine/ red meat, white wine/ white meat thing, isn't actually right - it's all about matching the wine to the taste of the food).
After the tour finished, we made a break for the car, and headed to the Mondavi winery.
If you're ever in the position for visit Napa, go to Mondavi. It's much more relaxed, open and generally 'better' than Beringer (nothing to do with me doing a good job of financing the place).
Our Mondavi guide, Robert, was a genial, funny guy with a knowledge that matched Tim's, but with a better way of expressing it. We were taken around the wine-making facilities (something that didn't happen at Beringer). The scale of the operation is mind-boggling, but without compromising the quality, taste and flavour of the wine. 400+ acres of vines, making a huge array of wines - from the affordable, to the aspirational. We got to taste some of the higher - mid-range wines (around the $50 mark) with a small, freshly baked mossarella ball, to compliment the wines.
Mondavi was by far the better of the two wineries. Not just because of the feel of the place, not because it was better value (although it was), but because they were more open and up-front about their processes. It was more 'fun' too.
We finished the day having a look at the Napa food festival that takes place every so often along the length of Main Street and some of the surrounding roads.
A (large) bottle of Mondavi was bought at a local store, along with some cable ties for the satnav (sitting in the window of the car was causing it to overheat)
Current milage: 112
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Waiting...
The trip here wasn't too bad - the flight (on BA) was pleasant enough, a little hot, but otherwise fine. Good choice of films too. I went for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - pretty good & Hugo - I got 10 minutes in and realised that a 5 inch, low resolution screen wasn't doing it justice. I stated to watch Sherlock Holmes: Book of Shadows, then I realised that I had a good version of Sherlock (Moffat's) on my tablet, and decided to watch that instead.
Then...
Then came the waiting.
Waiting at immigration for 45 minutes (due to the thorough, but heavy-handed security measures). Then, and this was baffling and infuriating in equal measure, waiting for 15 minutes for one of three lifts - that's THREE lifts - for everyone that is hiring a car. More waiting for the train to get to the car rental (a fun thing to do, but it really needs two trains - one going in each direction. It took seven stops between arrivals and car pickup!
More waiting for the car (little tip, don't go with Dollar - not because they're bad, but because they're VERY popular). 25 minutes later we were packing our bags into the back of a 2012 Ford Escape.
Then came my biggest fear - that the tech wouldn't work.
...
It did. Perfectly.
If you're after a great satnav app for your phone, go with Sygic. Apart from using the Incredibly. Clipped. British. Accent. That. Pauses. After. Each. Word it was great. We missed a turn, and we were rerouted before I even realised.
Maybe driving through San Francisco at rush hour wasn't the smartest move either (however, if we could've got through immigration/ car etc more quickly, we would've missed it). It was worth it though. The sight of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance as we crested a hill was more than worth it.
The drive to Napa was stunning as well. Huge hills and vineyards everywhere.
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Pant-wetting excitment - nearly
D: I'd like to point out that I'm writing this at 6.40 in the morning. Damn hayfever alarm clock - wakes me up at 6 whether I want to or not. So if it's rambling, or makes little sense, that's my Get Out Of Jail card.
Anyhoo...
See, we'll have - more-or-less - three seasons of temperature to play with. From the cooler coastal towns of Morro Bay, Monterey and San Francisco, to the hot inland places like Palm Springs, Las Vegas and Death Valley. For me, not a problem... jeans, t-shirt, shorts and a fleece. Done.
For Lindsey though... 'MARE!! Her planning, cleaning and ironing has already begun.
Add to this the impending delivery of flat-pack kitchen units that will be appearing and cluttering up the house for the final few days before we go, then it's a hectic couple of weeks, without much chance to sit back and actually think about the enormity of the holiday ahead.
Still... two weeks to go! Can't complain :)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)