May 01, 2002
Barrel Tasting
In March we went up to Guerneville in the Russian River area, for the annual Barrel tasting weekend. We went with a huge group of friends, and rented three houses right on the river. On saturday we piled into a small private bus and spent the day visiting wineries and sampling their wares. On sunday John and I drove down highway one to San Francisco, stopping at Jenna and Bodega Bay to walk and take photos. You can see photos of the wine-tasting day in my yahoo photos folder. Select the Wine Tasting 2002 folder.
Posted by at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2002
Tahoe and Montana
In December we were blessed with a visit from Rachel. We took her skiing in Tahoe, and managed to get to two resorts: Diamond Peak and Homewood. She stunned us all with her skill - the only incident being when she skied into a tree at the bottom of Homewood (she was moving slowly, and was lying on her skis at the time (?)).
John and I went back to Tahoe before Christmas, and skied Squaw, Northstar and Alpine Meadows. The snow was incredible, and John improved a great deal.
In February, we met Gary and Guy in Big Sky, Montana. The snow and weather were amazing, and Gary shamed us both into improving by videoing us. Montana was beautiful - we spent a day at Yellowstone viewing the wild beasts, and a morning riding at Big Sky.
You can view photos from these adventures in my yahoo photos folder. Select the December01-Januray02 folder. The slideshow will give you the best view.
Posted by at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2001
Utah
It's been quite some time since the last update... but for the Memorial Day weekend we travelled to Utah to visit some of the National Parks... Utah - May 2001
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
February 18, 2001
Sidney's Vacation
Feast upon the delectation that is: Sidney's Vacation 2001
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
January 01, 2001
Carmel
We travelled down to the Carmel highlands for a weekend away, and had a superb time. Our room at the Highlands Inn had a wonderful view of the pacific ocean. During breakfast Sam spotted small sputs of white water way out beyond the headland. Later, as the sun began to set, we sat on the deck with a glass of wine and used some binoculars to zoom out to sea. Whales migrating up the coast were passing just offshore, arching their backs above the water to breath.
On the way home from Carmel we made a flying visit to the Pinnacles.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
September 01, 2000
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye, Hertfordshire, although seemingly in the middle of nowhere is home to 40 second hand book shops.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
London
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Paris
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Cardiff
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Europe
We did europe american-style. Six towns and cities in two weeks. London, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye, Cardiff, Oxford, Paris, Grenoble, Paris, and London again.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Hereford
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Grenoble
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
June 01, 2000
Stuart & Susan & Ruth Visit
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
March 01, 2000
Russian River
We went to Russian River...
...and what a nice time we had.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Western USA Road Trip
Simon is John's younger brother. He works for Mute records in London,
and visited us in March 2000. We went on classic american a 'Road Trip'.
Thursday - Mountain View to Barstow to Las Vegas
Friday - Las Vegas to St. George via The Hoover Dam
Saturday - St. George to Bryce Canyon via Zion National Park
Sunday - Bryce Canyon to Salt Lake City via Panguida
Monday - Salt Lake City to David's House Montana
Tuesday - Montana and Yosemite
Wednesday - Livingstone, Montana to Winnemucca
Thursday - Winnemmucca to Home!
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
January 01, 2000
Tahoe
We went to tahoe...
..and what a nice time we had.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
October 01, 1998
The Merrells' Visit
In October John's parents came to stay for a fortnight. We had a fantastic time showing them around.
We went on a small road trip together. The first stop was Yosemite (you HAVE to look at the large version of this - it may be the best photo I've ever taken!) Yosemite was gorgeous. The trees were changing colour and the valley was not as crowded as we had anticipated.
Only one of the waterfalls was still running - Bridal Veil. The water is picked up by the wind as it falls, creating a misty veil.
The next day we headed into Sequioa National Forest to look at the giant redwoods. They are absolutley enorous.
We undertook a mighty 2-mile trek to see the largest tree - The General Sherman, and I took 2 more terrible photos!.
The Tunnel Tree.
The family Merrells.
AND - on the way home I wrestled a bear (I won - it ran off down the road).
We headed directly west from Sequioa until we hit the coast at San Simeon. After a tour of Hearst Castle, we drove through Big Sur to Carmel and then home.
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
May 01, 1998
Grand Canyon
Wrtitten by Sam.
The Grand Canyon was fantastic - I went there as a child, and was very worried that I would be disappointed by what I saw. But this was definitely not the case. It is incredible, beautiful and enormous. It is beyond comprehension (OK I'll stop now!) Go there - it's groovy, just book your accomodation well in advance, it's not cheap to stay in the park.
We arrived at the Canyon at sunset, it was glorious deep red and blue. We were so keen, we rose at dawn to see the sunrise (5:15 am). This was the best time to see the canyon - devoid of the hourdes. The air was fresh and crisp and the canyon was silent. Awesome!
This is the Eastern end of the Canyon, looking down on the Colorado as it emerges from the painted desert.
We followed the Kaibab trail down into the Canyon for about 1 1/2 miles, droppping over 1000 feet (1/5 of the Canyon's depth) Just as we started to descend, a mule train came up the path
This is the view from the trail - the trail was steep and dusty, the heat made it very hard work (especially the return journey)
This is me at the point we turned around. The start of the trail is above where I'm pointing
Wrtitten by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
CA, NV, AZ, UT
In May we set off on a week-long road trip. We visited four states (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah) and travelled approx. 2500
miles! We had a fantastic time, and saw some incredible sights. America is amazing - the sheer scale of the place and the vast
endless landscapes really took our breath away. The map shows our route (as close as I could get it). Just click on a place name, in
the table below to see our photos.
(1) Our first night was spent at Paso Robles, a small town 150 miles North of Santa Barbara. The most notable thing that happened was a terrible meal at 'Smokie's restaurant, where we drank beer out of boots and John consumed 1/2 a cow! The next day we set off for Palm Springs.We rested at Santa Barbara (2) for lunch, before tackling the madness of L.A.
(3) L.A. didn't look too enticing as we drove through. It was a grey day - but we saw the Hollywood sign.
(4) We spent the next night at Palm Springs. An Oasis in Mojave Desert, where the very rich come to play golf. We sought and found the Betty Ford Clinic, but our photo opportunities where thwarted by security cameras. The best thing about Palm Springs was the enormous wind farm that has been built there. It looks very surreal smack in the middle of the desert. Oh yeah - and we saw REAL tumbleweed, tumbling.
(5) We left Palm Springs the next morning and headed for Joshua Tree National Park
(6) From Joshua Tree we crossed into Arizona and drove to the Grand Canyon but not before a plane tried to land on top off us on the highway!
(7) We went the long way round the end of the Grand Canyon, and drove through the Painted Desert, crossing briefly into Utah
(8) The next night was spent in Las Vegas. It was seedy and sad, but the hotels are incredible. John's favourite was the Luxor
(9) From Vegas, we drove to Death Valley
(10) Then up through Owens Valley to Bishop, passing by Mount Whitney, at 14,494ft the highest point in the lower 48 states. We went in search of the Palisades Glacier at Big Pine
(11) Mono Lake sits in the middle of a volcanic tableland at the north of Owens Valley. We a stopped on our way, as we desperately searched for an open pass road through the Sierra Nevada. The mountains are still covered in snow. Some roads have now been closed for 6 months
(12), (13), (14) We made our way home via Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, and Berkley (where we had an incredibly insipid Indian while listening to a jazz trio(?))
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Joshua Tree National Park
zJoshua Tree National Park is brilliant! It covers two deserts - the Colorado and Mojave deserts, and is home to the weird and
wonderful Joshua Tree. It covers 80,000 acres, and was originally home to the Pinto Indians. In the 1930's settlers came and set up
cattle ranches and mined for gold.
It is frighteningly desolate, but the rock formations and trees also make it incredibly beautiful. We loved it! John even said that it was
'better than Brimham' so it must be good.
Shortly after entering the park we stopped and climbed one of the rock formations. You could hear the path clearing before you, as the lizards took refuge in the rocks. The view was fantastic.
The settlers built Barkers Dam, to provide water for their cattle and for mining purposes. It is now used by the park wildlife
John wanted a picture of his car in the desert, so here it is!
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Death Valley
Death Valley is bleak and frightening, it is the hottest, lowest place on earth. Settlers were trapped here in 1849 after thinking they had found a short-cut to the West coast. Only one person died. The air
temperature averages 120F and the ground can reach boiling point. The land falls to 282ft. below sea level.
The valley is barren and harsh. There are huge sand dunes in the Western end of the valley.
Of course we took the bear!
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
April 01, 1998
Camping at Manresa Beach
In late April we went camping. We stayed at Manresa Beach, just south of Santa Cruz, in a beautiful campsite overlooking the sea
We haven't camped for some time (years!), so we were pretty shattered after our night under the stars. But we had beautiful weather, and really enjoyed ourselves.
We went for a long hike into the Forest of Nisine Marks State Park to find the epicenter of the '89 earthquake. This is a great trail, through a beautiful forest
The streams were full due to the heavy rains
And the forest was full of these delightful Banana slugs.
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM