Surprising California!

We left Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA in Watsonville, CA, and headed north on the 101. I dreaded this drive because we had to go through or around San Francisco. We took a route just East of Oakland on the 680. There are tolls everywhere, so I worked to find a way that had only a single toll on one short bridge. All that planning paid off for that day. The drive was remarkable for what did not happen. We did not have a slowdown or construction issue. The traffic was just like driving around Houston without the 18-lane highways. It was one of the most pleasant drives we have had thus far. I am learning that California needs a new State Motto, Caveat Emptor. What you see is not necessarily what you get. It is an excellent place for surprises. 

We arrived at San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA in Petaluma, CA. We were pleasantly surprised by our beautiful campsite in Redwood Grove. Unfortunately, we did not get to spend much time at this campsite. (More on that later.) The small town of Petaluma was founded in 1858 along the Petaluma River to take 49ers into the mountains during the gold rush and carry dairy, produce, and poultry to the stores in the mining camps. The railroad sealed the future of this small town, and it survived the widespread destruction of the 1906 earthquake. Most important for our purposes, it is connected by Bus and Train to the Ferry Docks in Sausalito and at Larkspur. But you can also take a bus to the Financial District of San Francisco with no transfers. This was the perfect stop to explore San Francisco, the Golden Gate Recreation Area, and the Sonoma Coast. Sadly, we did not head into the Napa Valley but saw plenty of vineyards and wineries.

 

After arriving, we needed a day to sort out and rest up for a busy week ahead. Our Chill and Chore day included washing clothes, dealing with IRS on a letter we received, and planning our transit route for tomorrow. Of these three, the clothes were the most enjoyable. Marlene found a clean washateria, and all the machines appeared to be working, something new for us on this trip. Her estimate was within $.80, so we could give an older gentleman the card before we left. 

 

I also had to call the IRS and verify my identity before they would send our refund. After waiting on hold for 80- minutes, I finally got to talk with a real person. After spending another 45 minutes with them and enduring several periods of being on hold, I was able to satisfy them. Of course, it took digging through my records for 2021 and 2022. I am still trying to figure out why I brought those old records, but I am glad I did. She told me I was me and should get my refund in 16 weeks. Nope, I did not tell her what I thought of the IRS. Marlene, unfortunately, had to hear all about it. She got penalized twice!

 

Then we had to sort out the San Francisco transit systems. Yep, I said systems with an “s.” BART, SMART, Golden Gate Transit, Muni, and others were required to get into and around San Francisco. Fortunately, they have one card, called Clipper, that will allow you to pay for them all, and their App lets us plan our routes. It took several hours to figure all this out, and so we now have two Clipper Cards with $4 each on them. They refund all but $5 when you cancel the card, so we have them for the next time we visit LA or SF. Our wanderings began at the Petaluma train station (pictured above).

 

The next day we put our new cards to the test and took the train to the ferry before arriving at the San Francisco Waterfront. Once arriving, we walked up (and I mean UP) into Chinatown for lunch and then back down to the waterfront. We walked a mile to Pier 39, which is THE destination for San Francisco. We enjoyed the sights and sounds of the carnival-like atmosphere; roasting hot dogs from the carts, music from the rides and stores along the boardwalk, crowds using every language imaginable, and a cool breeze blowing off the water. We stumbled on a Magic Show that was starting. The Amazing Big Al Catraz was a fun entertainer with some good tricks. We stopped by to see the Sea Lions hanging out at the pier and several hundred other tourists. We walked up to Ghirardelli Square (the only disappointment of the day) and then caught a ride on a Cable Car up and down and up the hills of SF. We ended the day with a Ferry Ride back across the Bay. We got to Nakai in the parking lot in Petaluma, completely exhausted. We both did over 20K steps and climbed the equivalent of 14 flights of stairs. We had initially planned on coming back to SF the next day. But made a self-care decision and decided we would spend the next day in Nakai exploring Point Reyes.

 

We slept in and got on the road after lunch. But we enjoyed a beautiful drive to Point Reyes National Seashore through the dairy country. If you remember the "Got Milk" commercials from many years ago, this area produced much of that California milk and cheese. They have been doing so since the days of the 49ers. We drove out to Point Reyes and walked the cliffs and the lighthouse. The picture is the South Beach at Point Reyes. We did enjoy seeing the Elephant Seals hanging out at their beach. The Elephant Seals were one cove away from where Sir Francis Drake was supposed to have set in to repair his ship, The Golden Hinds. Another delight was the Yellow Bush Lupines, which looked like huge Yellow Blue Bonnets, and the wind-sculpted Trees. It was a beautiful and relaxing day.

 

We woke the next morning ready to face the crowds at Alcatraz Island. We rode the ferry to Alcatraz with a thousand or so of our closest friends. Once on the island, we joined several thousand other friends. The audio tour of the Cell Bock was great. In the days before SuperMax, this was the most brutal prison in the system. Of the three successful escapes, it is believed that they never made it to shore and freedom. There is still evidence of the main events of Alcatraz, the US Coast Guard Lighthouse, the Civil War fort, the Military Prison and Hospital, and the Federal Prison. The stories shared on the Audio Tape were both informative and meaningful. The rest of the island was on our own and involved walking up and down the hill several times. We saw the playground where the guards’ children played, steps away from Al Capone and Birdman Robert Stroud. We listened to the story of the island's occupation by the Indians when Marlene and I were in High School. But, after the ferry ride with several thousand of our friends back to SF, we were ready to get on the bus for a 1 ½ hour ride back to Petaluma. I am glad someone else was doing the driving.

 

The next day we had to choose between the Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast. The wine tastings were all by appointment, and the wine was more than I would have been willing to pay, so we decided on the Sonoma Coast, starting at Bodega Bay. Even though it was gray and cool, we had a great time. We saw beautiful seaside cliffs and small beaches bracketed by tidal pools. The wildflowers brightened an otherwise drab day. This was a new ecosystem for us, and Marlene picked up four new bird species for a total of 15 for April. We were tired and ready to head back. I glanced at Google Maps and saw Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. We knew we had one more stop to make.

 

This Museum and Research Center is located in the neighborhood of Sparky (Charles M. Schulz), the creator of Peanuts. It is across the street from the skating rink he built for his neighborhood and the café where he ate twice daily in his later years. The museum tells his story and the story of the creative process he used to create the Peanuts narrative. It was a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man and his life's work. The picture is of Marlene stepping into one of the exhibits and waiting to give Lucy her $.05. After nine months cooped up with me in Koko, I do not want to know what she wanted to ask Lucy. Alas, Lucy did not show up. We also got to stand in the shade of the Kite-eating Tree. It was a fitting way to end an enjoyable day.

 

For our last full day in Petaluma, we did our grocery shopping and gave Koko a much-needed bath. Then we started preparing for our next stop, less than 100 miles north of Petaluma. Crossing the Mendocino County line, we will head deeper into the Redwood Forest. We will stay at the Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort in Willits, CA.

 

As I mentioned before, one theme has kept coming up in my journal. I believe that the State of California needs to rethink its motto. It is "Eureka," meaning "I have found it!" referring to the gold rush. But I think a more appropriate slogan would be "Caveat emptor" or "Buyer beware!". This is not a negative statement about the state. It is an honest recognition that not everything is as it seems in this state. Many places we have been are quietly understated, while others have been wildly overstated. I have learned not to take things as presented. California is a place of great imagination, creative marketing, and quiet confidence. In short, it is a place built on surprises. No amount of planning will ever prevent us from being astonished by what we experience. This is a recipe for delight for wanderers if we can keep our anticipations and expectations in check. Each day has become an opportunity to see what unanticipated event awaits us. Caveat emptor! What you see is not necessarily what you get along the 101.

 

Glad you are along for the ride. I can’t wait to see what the road has in store for us in Mendocino County and beyond.

 

Bob