My friend Bb

Hello Friends, I've been indoors, it seems all month long in Northern California with deluges of heavy rain. I'm happy to say we are officially out of the drought! My surroundings are gorgeous and green like Switzerland or Austria, complete with snow-capped mountains! I haven't been able to travel much, so I thought it would be fun to travel vicariously through my friend Bb. He will be posting soon through my blog on his fantastic trip to Italy and France. Stay tuned!

Sonoma Harvest: Cal Gal Travels- Moblog

Sonoma Harvest: Cal Gal Travels- Moblog: "My mobile blog on the go. Posting lots of photos while I'm traveling, hiking or on a daily walk. I'm inspired often by nature's beauty and w..."

Spring Lake

On Friday, I decided to walk somewhere else for a change rather than my usual route. I try to walk every day and like to mix up the routine once in a while so I don't get bored. (That way I'll keep exercising to stay healthy!) It had been a long time since I visited Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. After taking the kids to school, getting some coffee, (extra energy boost) and a protein breakfast (Dr.'s orders) my dog, Goldie, and I set off for the lake. Now, mind you, it's early Friday morning, middle of winter, I'm thinking it will be quiet, no one will be there.. Nooo such luck! I was surprised to see so many cars in the parking lot during the wee hours of the morning! There are three different entrances to the park. I chose the Howarth Memorial Park entrance which has free parking. Goldie and I joined the ranks of fellow dog walkers, joggers, bicyclists, mothers pushing strollers- folks of all ages walking. I couldn't believe how many people were there! Don't people work on Fridays anymore? My dog and I took the paved pathway named Kerfoot trail. The pathway route I took winds to the right by the water towers after a small incline, and heads toward the campground and then turns left down to the boat dock, around the loop and back to Howarth Park. In all, it's only about a three mile walk, unless you take a side trail. Please refer to map so you don't get lost! There are lots of dirt trails, so definitely bring a map if you decide to go off the beaten path. I brought my camera, which I had planned, and took tons of pictures of the beautiful lake, landscapes, and wildlife. Years ago I almost got stampeded upon by a herd of deer running through the woods and I didn't have my camera with me so now I am always camera ready! Spring lake is beautiful, the jewel of Santa Rosa. The lake's surface sparkled like silver in the sunlight. I found my peaceful space amongst the other people enjoying the park and took lots of pictures. The trail usually takes about an hour or less, but if you are like me you will want to putts around, enjoy the views, play, meditate and pray! (There is a big white cross on the mountain over looking you to remind you!) I love living in Sonoma County and know how Blessed we are to have this wonderful park in our own backyard. If you go you will want to spend more than an hour. If you are energetic you can fish, boat, catch crawdads, bird watch or swim in the lagoon next to the lake. Camping is also fun at Annadel state park, which is connected to Spring Lake Regional Park.
Bring your family and friends and have a picnic. I try to avoid the crowds so weekdays work best for me! ;) Have fun!

                                                        

         

http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pdf/maps/spring_lake.pdf

Saralee's Vineyard

Last summer we moved close to my old stomping grounds. I happily discovered, that you can walk through the vineyard off an old country lane and you can bring your dog! So part of my walking route usually incorporates the vineyard and it's bounty of wildlife, which my dog loves. This is where the wild turkeys like to hangout, which I talked about in an earlier post last fall. It's a pretty, little area and a good place to calm the mind and ponder life. Thank you, Saralee for letting us enjoy the vineyard!

Christmas City by the Bay

At long last I made a small trip to my hometown San Francisco for Christmas. I live really close to the city-just across the Golden Gate bridge, a hop, skip and a jump away, but like most Northern Bay Area Californians I am just plain lazy and don't bother to leave my little, warm nest and venture on over, or maybe everyone is broke like me! Anyway, we all hopped in the suburban, my husband and I, kids in tow, and set off for our journey across the bridge. The plan was first to meet my brother and his son at fencing practice in South San Francisco, drop his son off and head off to downtown SF Union Square and then proceed to act like tourists visiting the city for the first time. I of course would bring my iPhone and huge digital camera with me- okay, now I look like a tourist. If you are from here it is uncool to bring your camera... Anyway, it turned out that we actually met on the bridge under the first span heading out of Marin as they were only a few cars ahead of us which we discovered as we were busily texting each other-mind you neither one of us was the driver! Long story short, fencing was canceled and we, eight people total, played tourist in the city which was so amazingly beautiful. Palm trees wrapped in golden, glowing Christmas lights, very Cali style. There was a huge lit Christmas tree in the center of the square next to an ice skating rink chock-full full of ice skaters. Kittens were just waiting to be adopted (by me) in the store front windows of Macy's. Building windows were adorned with beautiful sparkling wreaths row by row. The city was magical, glittering for Christmas, and the crowds were joyously celebrating. We had fun, I took lots of pictures and especially loved the Beatles billboard on top of one of the buildings above the Square- a nod and a throwback to my 60's days in SF. We barely spent any money except for gasoline, parking and huge soft pretzels from a vendor. We had a great day in the city and on the way back home stopped at the Golden Gate Viewpoint to take in the beautiful evening city lights. What a perfect little trip!

Autumn Past

I haven't blogged in some time now, except for the occasional photo and one- liners sent from my cell phone on my moblog, calgaltravels.blogspot.com. This past summer we moved our family of six twice. It was incredibly painful, the economy hit our family hard, really hard, but...that's another story- you'll just have to read the book! :) Now that we have settled down and I have recovered, I am back to blogging! I really wanted to share with you my photos of autumn in Sonoma County, which is in Northern California (for those of you who might not know where I live). I love how the hot summer days here turn to cool, breezy autumn days, such a welcome relief! In October we had two, 100 degree weeks back to back, but we still managed to pull it off, "Thank you God!" I lived in Ohio through my teen years and what I miss most were the spectacular autumns. Californians experience fall but you might have to hunt it out! I have found some favorite neighborhoods and parks where I like to walk my dog Goldie and take in all the beauty. I find myself collecting brilliant yellow and gold leaves, fiery red and orange burnished oak leaves, acorns, berries, and like a kid, pick up the giant leaves bigger than my 24 inch TV screen and bring them home to wave and show off to my family. Here are some pictures I took on my morning walks.

Lake Sonoma

California listen up-we are no longer in a drought. Recently we checked out Lake Sonoma on the Yorty Creek end of the lake by Cloverdale. The lake was brimming right up to the grassy area covering most of the sandy beach! We are forecast to get even more rain this coming weekend which for me just means, more beautiful water in my favorite lake in Sonoma county. As I walked down the pathway to the beach I passed a fisherman who held up two lovely fish on his string. One, a sunfish big and juicy, the other a trout! This time of year if you are lucky you'll catch a trout because the water is colder in the lake. Usually it is considered a warm water lake given our mild climate and the warm springs that feed the lake so trout are found closer to the dam on the other side of the lake and swim deep. A couple of kayakers were paddling along the shoreline and a fly fisherman was practicing his cast on the lakes edge. This summer the beach will be packed with sunbathers and the lake full of happy kids swimming. Camping and boating on the lake will be fabulous as well. So yes,Cloverdale is a cool town having been recently named one of the 21 Coolest Small Towns in America and the lake is full!

Sonoma County Winter in Wineland

Here we are in the middle of winter in wine land yet signs of spring are popping up all around. The wild mustard plants are getting ready for their starring spring debut. The grape vines are still in their dormancy period but storing up nutrients for a a great display of grapes and leaves and good wine sure to come later!I took a walk with my dog Goldie down this picturesque country lane and here are some of the shots I took. Enjoy!~

Jack London State Park

We celebrated my Dad's 76th. birthday October 18  here at Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen,Ca. The park has to be one of the best places in Sonoma County to visit. Usually the vineyards are ablaze with all the fall colors you can imagine, this year you can see that fall arrived late and the leaves are just starting to turn! Hopefully next year I will time it right to visit this amazing place in it's full colorful glory.