From the Fat and Broke to the Rich and Famous

Today's blog is backward- last pictures taken are shown first, I am sure it is due to some technical glitch, not because I loaded then backward.

 

 Would you believe this is the indoor pool at our motel??  OK would you believe this is the pool at the Hearst Castle, 100 ft long, 50 ft wide, 10 ft deep, took the tile guys 6 years to set all the tiles (floor to ceiling as well as the bottom of the pool.

   One room school house for the workers, castle on top of the hill,  construction lasted 28 years and they never did finish.  The Hearst Family gave it to the state in 1958 and it is now a CA State Park. ( That charges $30 to visit)

 The Sebastian's worked for the Hearst Empire now operate the local General Store, Post Office, Wine Store and Restaurant all in one building.  Great lunch.

                                         The outdoor pool--- 375,000 gal large with Roman Columns (From Rome, Italy) Really-torn down there shipped then reassembled.  Nice to have lots of money.

 Would you believe the entrance to our motel?? OK this is the front entrance to the castle.

                                                    Seals on the beach

                                               Larry sunning himself on the beach (Elephant Seal)

                                                                           Judith

                                             Still traveling CA#1 with lots of beautiful scenery.

                                           Every time I stopped this crazy lady runs out and cleans the windshield--then wants money.  Can't understand it.

                                              Coast homes overlooking beautiful coast line.

                                            Light keepers house is really up on a hill--must be a light house somewhere.

   This really is the pool where we stayed Wed night.  1920/30's resort hotel that came to belong to the US Government then turned over to the Navy, it currently serves as housing for officers attending the Navy Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA

This is the main portion of the old resort hotel and the West wing, the East wing burned before the US Government took over, we stayed on the third floor,  with a view of the Monterey Bay.  The building also serves as the Headquarters for the Navy Graduate School.

From San Francisco to Monterey

 

San Francisco visit draws to an end with or last day doing the "SIGHTS".

                                A visit to "Lands End" park was in order.

                           We also visited the botanical gardens, things were just beginning to bloom.

                                             Looks like I have gained a bit of weight.  We departed the San Francisco area Wednesday and traveled to Monterey, which is on the coast about 125 miles South.  Monterey grew into a city when canning fish became popular, there were 17 fish canneries at the peak, but today the area is best known for a couple of golf courses,  Pebble Beach and Spyglass, both on the ocean with spectacular views.

                    Judith and I were able to have lunch at the Pebble Beach course here is the practice putting green.

     We had lunch at the Gallery which overlooks the practice putting green and the Tee Box for  Hole #1.  We watched foursomes teeing off for about an hour and half and at $500 per person they still seemed to be having a good time.  The course was beautiful.

                                             #1 Tee Box, dog leg right

                                                  Lunch over looking the 18th Green.

                                             18th Fairway approaching the Green, Ocean on the players left

                                                You can see the water a little better in this shot.

                                       They tried to keep the rednecks from Alabama off the course but we prevailed.

                                          Just one of the fish Canneries, now house all kinds of shops from antiques to sock shops.  Tomorrow we continue down the coast and will visit the Hearst Castle.

Sat 8 Mar-Death March Across Golden Gate Bridge and other tourist tales

Still no luck posting photos.
Another great weather day, 72, not much wind and lots of sunshine.  Judith and I went to the Farmers Market this morning, lots of folks shopping, eating and looking around and prices I could not believe.  Large eggs (from contented chickens I am sure) $11 a dozen, sweet potatoes $1.50 a pound, lots of other bargains.  Beautiful flowers and the price was almost reasonable.
  We went to Pier 39 and walked around, 150 stores to spend your money, no outlets stores, no Home Depot or Lowes, I may be having some kind of withdrawal.
  Then on to the Golden Gate Bridge, 1.2 miles each way, hundreds of bikes, runners and walkers, all in a hurry, but the weather was beautiful, sunshine and great visibility with little wind.  It was a great walk with lots to see, sail boats everywhere, large ships moving under the bridge and some idiot flying a helicopter back and fourth under the bridge.  After the great views from the bridge walking around the neighood won't be the same.
  Tomorrow will be a take it easy day, we are within walking distance of the Chapel then a visit to China Town, and home early.  

Alabama Tourists Terrorize San Francisco

I have lots of great pictures but you will have to wait until I get home or move to a different location, Wu-fi here is terrible.
  Downtown San Francisco, bought the trolley, at least I thought I bought it, but they wanted it back when I got off, turned out the cost to ride on the trolley might have purchased it not long ago.  Prices are so high I could only afford a half cup of coffee. Had a great time with the other tourist from around the world, turns out the San Francisco folks can't understand Lower Alabameese any better than Chaniseese.  but never mind, we won't starve because they will not let you leave if you still have some money.\
  Saw great sailing ships, old WW2 subs, ferry's that were used in the early 1900's, bought another trolley, went to the chocolate place Gearedellies and we ate $15 worth of ice cream and I left hungry, it was good though.  Visited the curviest street town, its one way-down hill with traffic lined up to drive down, only thing they don't charge for.
  Visited Nob Hill where the rich folks lived at the turn of the century, turns out when the 1906 earthquake hit these buildings fell down just like the poor folks homes, but they did a great job of building back--just really crowded, houses have common walls for the entire block, a house 30 ft wide will have 3 apts 10 wide, 50 ft deep and 3 stories tall, with rent of $3000 a month.  makes me glad I live in Alabama.
  Headed back tomorrow to the farmers market, can't wait to see what a California Farmer looks like that has eggs that come from a contented hen.  Understand Alabama has joined 7 other states in a law suit against CA because CA says any eggs sold here has to come from chickens that can spread their wings without touching anything.  NATURAL is the way to go out here---you should  see some of the natural folks--makes you proud to be an American.

Will try to post pictures tomorrow--of a CA Farmer.

6 March- Back in Civilization, San Francisco

We have continued down the coast and have finally arrived at San Francisco.  Have our senior BART pass and have taken the beginners course on how to read the schedule and tell which train is which, so tomorrow we are off to downtown.
  We took the ferry from Sausalido to San Francisco this morning and took lots of pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and "The Rock" but for some reason they won't post.  I will work on that tomorrow.
  We have climbed the tallest light house on the West coast, seen lots of Giant Redwoods, hiked for miles, been lost in the forest and been on the BART.  So far a great trip, oh yes I have learned everything about orchards.
  More tomorrow

27 Feb 2010- A visit with long lost friends, Chico, CA

A visit to the area around Chico, CA allowed us to renew a friendship from the 70's.  We visited J Knight and his lovely wife Judy who live in their almond orchard near Chico, CA.  J tends/farms 1400 acres of almonds and walnuts, looks and talks like a orchard farmer but under it all is still the old J Baxter Knight I knew long years ago.  Judith and I had a great visit and had the short course on almonds and walnuts.  Did you know that English Walnuts are grown from a Black Walnut root with a English Walnut shoot grafted to the root, well did you know that the almonds trees are in full bloom and look a lot like cherry trees? I have a hundred "did you knows" that I will share with sometime but not on line. 

Its good to renew friendships, talk about old times and tell war stories,in the future I will remember that friends may be separated by many miles but friendships can endure through space and time.

Ask me something about almonds or walnuts.

 

 

    J Knight Orchards has a nice ring and no the yellow equipment dies not belong to the state highway department.

 Haulers, harvesters, shakers, I can't remember which this is but its big and yellow and works in the orchard.

   These are walnut trees, the dark portion on the bottom of the trunk is the Black Walnut root with the English Walnut grafted portion on top.

  Almond trees are in full bloom, a beautiful sight.  J leases/rents bees to help with the pollination but the almond honey is bitter--go figure.

                                              1400 Acres is a lot of trees.

                                                        J Baxter Knight, Farmer Extraordinary.

                                            J trying to explain the facts of almond blossoms.  (To Judith)

           J, Judy and Judith, beautiful new home in the background beside the good looking Ford truck.

   Several almond varieties, some grafted to peach tree roots, provides a smaller tree that is more manageable in the orchard.  I will be expecting a call from someone to come work in the orchards because of my vast knowledge.  Almond is spelled amond because they have to shake the "L" out of them to get the almonds.  (Almond Farmers Joke)

26 Feb 2014, Crescent City, CA to Red Bluff, Beaches, giant redwoods, mountain hiway

Rained most of the day but it was still beautiful.  We started down US 101 headed south and the ocean was churning and the tide was high-made for beautiful sights and sounds .

 

                                    A large river flows into the ocean creating large sand/mud bars along both sides of the river.

                                                   Judith is still cold.

                                       Remember the picture of the car in the Giant Redwood (from grade school).  We found the tree bud had to remove the mirrors to get through. Tree is approx 785 years old, damaged by fire so when they cut this area in 1967 this tree was left.  The opening is 7'4" wide and 9'6" tall, 18 ft in diameter and 185 ft tall.

                                     Only scrubbed the side once.  My ground guide was not paying attention.

                                           Really large trees!

                                          This giant redwood is 38 ft in diameter, that's me standing at the base, I am smiling.

                                                                      Elk taking a morning nap.

                                                         Logs, logs, logs no pulpwood.