Eureka California

Today is re-packing day. There isn't a lot to pack but we do have some stuff out and about in the hotel room. We took it quite easy today knowing we had a long drive in the morning to get back down to San Francisco.

It was quite overcast today and a little cooler than it has been. We decided to drive out the the coastline to see what was there. The ocean seemed quite rough this morning, with large waves breaking.

Of course there were seagulls around, as well as very small shore birds that loved flying around in a large flock.


After walking the beach for a while, we headed back into town.

Like most of the towns in this area Eureka is noted for their restored Victorian homes and buildings. A lot of the buildings in town have been restored or are in the process.




We hope that you have enjoyed our visit to the Northern part of California. Tomorrow we spend the night in LA prior to boarding the Amsterdam.

Cheers!

Northern California

After our guided tour yesterday, we are both in awe of the Redwoods. They are so majestic and absolutely beautiful. Today we decided to strike out on our own, and drive south to see another part of the forest. A few miles south of Eureka is a road that parallels Route 101 called Avenue of the Giants.

What a stunning drive that was. Redwoods even larger than what we saw yesterday. It was well worth the time spent to drive down to there. On our way back, we noticed a road that went out to the West and then North towards Eureka, and we decided to check that out.

A twisty, winding road that rose slowly up into the mountains with fantastic scenery along the way.

After a couple of hours in the mountains, we started to descend. Towards the bottom, we came upon the coastline and the Pacific Ocean.

The road went along the coast for about 5 or 6 miles, and then back up into the mountains, finally arriving at a little town called Ferndale. Ferndale is known locally as the "Victorian Town". There are numerous buildings and houses that were built in the 1800's in the Victorian style, and have been restored.

Finally arriving back at our hotel around 5pm, we went out to an Irish Pub for dinner. Tomorrow we will stroll around the historic district of Eureka, and take it easy. We will have to be on the road Tuesday by 6am to drive down to San Francisco.

Cheers!

The Redwood Forest

Today we were off on a guided tour of the Redwood Forest. What a delightful day it was. The sun was shining but the temperature stayed in the mid to high 60's throughout the day, which made for some great photo opportunities.

On the way North from Eureka where we are staying, we saw one of the local natives and stopped to take his picture.


It's very difficult to really show the reality of their size, but this picture at least tries.


Further into the trees, the sun was shining down through them providing an interesting picture.


And finally, to attempt to show just how big some of the trees were, here is Sharon standing next to one.


After leaving the forest, we headed back South and made a few stops near the ocean along the way and managed to see some seals lounging on rocks and playing in the water. All in all it was a wonderful day and we are very tired and still recovering from our jetlag.

Tomorrow we will drive down to an area called the Avenue of Giants that is supposed to have even larger Redwoods.

Until then, our best to all!

In Eureka California

After rising at 3am this morning and getting around to catch a 7am flight out of Dulles, we are safe and sound six hours North of San Francisco in the heart of the Redwood Forest area. We both are a little jet lagged and trying to stay awake for another hour or so but we may not make it.

We meet our local guide at 9am tomorrow morning and will spend the day exploring the local area. The weather is supposed to be in the mid 60's with partly cloudy sky so it should be a great day for taking pictures. We definitely will see the Redwoods, and hopefully some sea life and maybe an elk or two. I will post a few of our better pictures tomorrow night.

More to come tomorrow, our best to everyone!

Cheers!

Cabin Assigned and Bags Packed!!

Nine days to flying out to San Francisco, and all is right with the world! We got our cabin assignment the other day (down in the cheap seats =8^0), and we have finished packing our bags. We have three checked bags weighing 44, 44, and 30 pounds respectively, one carry on, and the camera bag.

The bills are on auto pay, the cats have seen the vet, and our granddaughter has been briefed. I think that this will be a very looooonnnnnggggg nine days! We are really excited about this cruise and are looking forward to seeing the islands, Australia, and New Zealand.

We have a very active roll call going with around 30 people and we all feel as though we have known each other for ever. We have private tours booked for most of the ports at prices considerably less than the ships tours.

My next post will most likely be from Eureka California, near the Redwood Forest.

Cheers!

Bill and Sharon

Baggage

We have had a "duh" moment. After weighing our regular bags, we found that typically they weigh around 10.5 pounds each. Then a week ago, the wife noticed my inline skate bag in the trunk of the car, which just happens to be a rolling duffel bag. So I emptied it out and weighed it, and it came in at a svelte 8.3 pounds! That means we can pack another 2 pounds of clothes!! Whoopie!!!

So we got to looking around, and found out we had two additional duffel bags, all of which weigh around 7-8 pounds, and they have become our primary checked luggage bags.

It is looking like we will be able to get by with three checked bags, one carry on bag, plus my camera bag, and still have room left over, yea, yea, yea!!!

So with 12 days to go before we fly out to San Francisco things are getting somewhat frantic, trying to ensure that we have the necessities. We plan on making a last minute shopping run to Ralph's which is right across the street from our hotel in LA to pick up our last minute things for the cruise. We are really getting excited and are really looking forward to seeing Australia and New Zealand.

Cheers!

Where is my bed?

I came home this afternoon from teaching an inline skate class (thus the forum name "sk8teacher), wandered back to the bedroom and my bed was missing!

It had been replaced by this huge mound of clothes! Given the weight of our bags (right around 10.5 pounds each) that only gives us less than 40 pounds of clothes in each.

So my DW is frantically trying to figure out what to take. Me, I decide that discretion is probably the way to go so I walk across the hall to my home office and flip on my computer.

Not long after I hear a frustrated cry (I recently bought a scale for weighing luggage). What's the matter I ask nicely? "I am up to 85 pounds and I haven't packed my hair stuff, undies, socks, etc."

How are you weighing this stuff? I take a few things on hangers and hook the scale to them.

Now we all know that hangers are not that heavy, and I'm thinking that I know she had a lot of clothes out, but I really didn't think that she had 85 pounds of just clothes.

So off to the bedroom I go, and I say "show me how you are weighing your clothes". So she takes 4 or 5 things (mostly blouses), hooks them up to the scale and shows me the reading, "See it's 45 pounds"!!

Sweetheart (I say in my best, calmest, and most sincere voice), that's 4.5 pounds, not 45 pounds. You know those 5 gallon jugs of water that we have? Those weigh about 41 pounds, these clothes only weigh 4.5 pounds.

OH GOOD she says, NOW I CAN PACK MORE CLOTHES!!!!

Cheers,