Gary and Judy drove North and Ed and Sarah drove West and we all met in Healdsberg in Sonoma County California. We both started out independently. Gary and Judy braving the traffic on I-808 through the heart of the East Bay from San Jose through Oakland and San Rafael to get to 101. Ed and Sarah running the I-80 gauntlet through Napa and Sonoma. Gary and Judy pulled off the road at the Dry Creek road underpass to get a good look at the map and Ed and Sarah pulled in right behind. We couldn’t have planned it more exactly if we had tried. We found a lovely campground and parked ourselves in one of the assortment of sites available. We are nearly the only campers. We later found out that this campground has no water, no electricity and only port-a-potties. No wonder it only costs $5 a night. Still it is a beautiful campground and we are enjoying it.

That very afternoon we cruised down to the Lake Sonoma Winery and tasted their wines and watched the sun set from their veranda. On Tuesday we did a more through job of tasting wines. So many wineries, so little time! We did find several that we liked and even bought a bottle of Clos du Bois, 2001 Merlot.

Wednesday we all drove in Ed and Sarah’s car over to Bodega Bay on the California Coast. With Ed driving and Gary riding shotgun with the GPS and Topo USA playing on the laptop computer. We revised our route several times as we found short cuts and long cuts and alternate routes. We looked in on several campgrounds and sized them up for the Arcturus. This is low season for them, and we could have our pick of sites just about everywhere. Surf was heavy along the coast this day. On the beaches the waves were spilling over about ten foot high and crashing on the rocks and sand. In Bodega Bay we found two crabs to bring home with us. In a few minutes they will grace our table along with the new bottle of Merlot. Our philosophy is Merlot goes well with anything.

Both of the days have been sunny and warm, the nights cold, crisp and clear. We did some great star watching and Howard is going to be so pleased with us. We found M-31 and M39 and about froze our tooshes off. Each morning we have frost on the picnic table.

Thursday we will part ways. Ed and Sarah will return to Portland Oregon and Judy and Gary will find their way back to Gilroy California. Who will come and visit us next?

Thank you Ed and Sarah Daugherty for joining us this week. It was fun.

Love to all, Gary and Judy