Novata to Sacramento

We packed up and moved on today as planned finally getting hold of the RV Park we were trying to book - we are staying here till the 28th due to a commitment.  The park is a 55+ age and was originally a mobile home park that is being converted - very neat and tidy with plenty of space - best of all it is only $130 per week.

A couple of shots as we are leaving the San Francisco area.

This one took my fancy - it faces a main freeway so not much privacy!

We had to keep up with the locals tonight and set the table tonight - Daryl is a whiz on that BBQ.

Napa to Calistoga

Today we slept in:)

About ten o'clock we decided we had better make a move and thought we would head out to Napa to have a look around.  We did this in 2009 but it was only about half an hour away and we thought we would take another look to see what had changed over the last 6 years.

Viansa Winery

First stop above - very nice but a little too early for us to start tasting.  We move on and about 200m down the road Daryl pulls in again.

Much to Daryl's disappointment, the cost of a flight for this one was $1500 or $800 for the one below - no flight today sorry.

So we set off again, still heading for Napa and find the town via the GPS....after much walking around we eventually find the Visitor Center and what we are looking for. 

They have made a nice new area downtown encompassing a river walk and so we find some lunch from a local bakery and sit on the river walk to enjoy.

Next stop BV wineries where we sample some tastings and purchase a red.

On to V.Sattui where we had lunch in 2009 - the place was lovely as ever but so crowed it was crazy.

Picked up some cheese for our crackers.

Crazy busy - they need to expand!!!

Had to do the tourist thing.....think they have changed the sign since last time.

Further down the road we called into the Castle Winery which we also visited in 09 but never went into the actual winery at that time due to the cost.

The place was very busy also - much busier than last time and parking was at a premium - we got directed right up a and behind the winery down by the vats.  Daryl jumped out to use the men's and as I waited I wandered in thru the doors where they were wine tasting to have a look around. Daryl followed me in and we had a look around noting there was some tours going on.  

Unwittingly we had just walked in the back door & got in for free.

As we wandered around we found the torture chamber - interesting, luckily we are happily married.

Dungeons

 Daryl tried out the spiky chair but didn't realise it actually was spikes ha ha... didn't stay seated long.

The Rack

That would give anyone a hang over

 

Moat and all

We left thru the front the entrance and went on to Calistoga where we found a local park (Pioneer) to have some cheese and crackers before heading over to Petaluma Outlets for a quick look around.

Petaluma - Salute to American Graffiti

We have settled in at Novata and spent the afternoon yesterday checking out the local area and visiting Costco again...

Today we headed for Petaluma which Daryl had found out was having their annual American Graffiti Car Show (what a surprise...how long have we been here...).  The day was nice being a bit warmer in land and up around the 68F so perfect for walking around.  

Some of Petalumas lovely old Victorian Houses

Daryl chatting up Candy from the movie.....

So we spent a few hours just wandering around and people watching before running into Neil & Maryanne McAllum who were over there helping out with friends.  Its a small world & Kiwis are everywhere - we are such travelers.

Daryl with John Milner's hot rod.

It wasn't all cars - there were a few others things...... like the carpet python we just had to touch.. and of course this guys friends worked for Weta workshops & apparently lots of them had never come home because they love NZ so much.

A spot of lunch at the Corkscrew Wine Bar with front row seats

Daryl posing with the cop car from the movie

And there were some interesting people out and about......but I don't remember this guy in the movie!

And he was working it too

After this excitement we headed up to Santa Rosa to look around finding a huge mall before picking up some steak for tea tonight and heading back to our trusty camper.

Trip 4 - Here we come Alaska or that's the plan anyway.....

2015 - Newly married & on our Honeymoon:)

After our whirlwind wedding, a week of bliss followed by the week from hell with Daryl's father passing away, we have made it back to the USA - having booked the ticket last year on a special deal.

We arrive in LA to 26/27 degrees and a beautiful sunny day - blissful.  Duane collects us from the airport as he was in the general vicinity dropping off other kiwis to head home and we take one of his trucks back to Bakersfield with a warning they had a dust storm about a week earlier.

Daryl unwrapping our baby - just like Christmas

We find our baby tucked up behind his shed in her sleeping bag and set to work unwrapping her only to find an inch of dust inside having entered thru the range hood vent - yuk!  The afternoon was spent cleaning her up and down.

Next day we pulled down all the blinds and curtains and washed them too - then up on the roof to clean up all the vents etc.

Ready to roll

View from base camp - the foxes stayed shy this time.

Base camp - aka Duane's

4 days later we are ready to hit the road again at last - again many thanks to Duane and his hospitality.

Guess who crashed the party - Noddy

A couple of happy couples

 So we head off for Napa thinking this will be central for a few days exploring the area.  Having checked out the parks yesterday, we choose one showing 21 sites available - no problem.  We phoned half an hour before arriving to be told - yes they have 21 sites but they are all reserved!!!  Crap, on the road in torrential rain where we couldn't see the lanes in a six lane highway, towing a trailer and no where to go....hmmm good start.  A quick phone call finds a place in Vallejo (Tradewinds) for the night and we grab it quickly.

Crossing Benicia (Carquinez) Bridge with San Fran Bridge in the background.  $20 toll.....

So here we are - our first camp for 2015......we hop on the net and have booked a nice camp for 3 days about 3/4 an hour north so it will be a late start tomorrow and a short drive to our new home for a few days.

Bakersfield to New Zealand

We head back to Bakersfield knowing the temperature will be over 100 every day until we leave.  The drive through Paso Robles is pretty with vineyards everywhere. The day was easy and we decided to head for Riverbank RV Park where we have stayed several times before so we can plug in and have air conditioning while we sort out of bags etc.

We have a few things to do before heading home to NZ, a couple of days to sort these out and organise our packing to come home.  We touch base with Duane and arrange to catch up & have dinner with him.  No surprise we need another suitcase to get home - all that shopping for the grand kids!!!
Duane had a spare and we borrow that - once again we can not thank Duane enough for his help and hospitality.

Guess who had to climb into the car to load it on & off the trailer each time!

Again, we pack everything up and clean our baby down, cover her up (in over 100 degree heat - the boys were dripping), park the RV, trailer and Dodge up and head on our way over the Grapevine into LA.

We drop off the vehicle and taxi to the airport where we spend a few hours in the Koru lounge before our flight home.  We are not looking forward to going home and I have a new job to start.....life is changing.