Day #21 Getting Familiar with the Olympia area

At Mickey and Lorrie's home I was given a choice of rooms, primarily because of bed options (hard or soft). The decision was easy when I spotted the headdress, a PEACOCK PROUD headdress, on the wall! Yay, Mary! My niece, a woman after my own heart! 

"What will it take to get us here? Goals and gumption and facing our fears. Peacock proud I stand today. Proud of you. Proud of me."

A quick tour of Olympia in the man cave truck was in order before Mick had to head to his shift at the state penitentiary, Shelton Prison. Lorrie and I spent the afternoon seeing the sites more closely.

Washington State's capitol building is in Olympia. 

(Add another one to my list, Tom!)

The Healer by Leon Wright

Washington State law requires art work in every area that receives state funds.

Lorrie and MK get a blessing from The Healer!

The Kiss

Mosaic of the Olympia waterways. NOTE the capitol building bottom, center in white surrounded by brown.

We watched the food chain at work for almost 45 minutes. Small chum/minnows, 3-4 inch fish, Pacific King Salmon (Chinook) and harbor seals fed or avoiding being food as we watched from a bridge within view of the capitol building in the center of Olympia. As many as four harbor seals were at work.

On Thursday morning we will be up and on the road early (5:30 a.m.) to get to the Amtrak station. Lorrie and I are headed to Vancouver, Canada, for a mini-adventure. I am not taking my computer and will post Day #22 and #23 in one post on Saturday. I will, though, upload a shot or two on Facebook during the excursion. 

Bon Voyage!

Day #20 From Lodi to Olympia - Through Oakland and Seattle

Cousin Diane and Jesse's Lodi home is decorated in a bold, southwest theme. I love it every time I visit and get to be IN it with them!

Check out the doors... Bold and beautiful! 

"Dare to be different. Dare to be bold!"

I used the two green doors. Olive green is the guest bedroom. Light green is the bathroom. 

What's behind the other doors, Cousin Diane?

Percussion instruments...no time to play this visit. :(

Tiki bar on the patio

And their dogs... 

Chico, not standing still, and Olive, standing still. :D

 I think Chico looks kind of cool with two tails and three front paws, don't you?

 And their three cats...

L.L., Sissy and Sheeba

That's Cousin Diane behind the reflection. She has an office in their home and works from there. Her day starts with East coast hours... 9 a.m. EST is 6 a.m. PST! Her work occasionally takes her to Seattle. It just so happens that we will overlap by a couple of days, so I am hoping to convince her to take me to her favorite Thai restaurant on September 5. (Mission accomplished! Plan and date set!)

Cousin Diane and Jesse

Jesse packing my suitcases into the truck for the trek to the Oakland airport. The Broncho will be rescued from the parking lot at Tom's on Wednesday.

Curbside drop off with a quick pic of the three of us to prove we were together!

The first of six one-way flights on Southwest for this adventure..... Can you see my reflection?

The welcoming committee in Olympia!
This is Bailey. He is a Louisana Catahoula Leopard Pound Puppy rescued a little over a year ago. Isn't he beautiful? Snickers is barely visible in the back. I will get a better picture later.

I am going to admit to doing something wrong today. Really. Like, it is a sin. I won't tell in the blog until the end of the journey if someone remembers to ask me.

CONTEST CORNER
Three people answered the contest question #1 correctly and have been given clue #1 to help them in their final guess, hoping to win dinner for two with me within 100 miles of their home, redeemable by October 2014. CONGRATULATIONS: Mickey from WA, Lorrie from WA and Carol from NY!


Peace!

Day #19 Goodbye to my Ford Explorer, Hello Lodi, CA, CONTEST update

Essential details are in order today: packing to leave Modesto and head to Lodi, signing over paperwork for Tom's inheritance of the Ford Explorer, fish tacos, new pedicure, and one last pool hour.

Lodi ( /ˈloʊdaɪ/) is a city located in San Joaquin County, California, in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473.
Lodi is best known for being the center of wine production (the "Zinfandel Capital of the World"^[2]), although its vintages have traditionally been less prestigious than those of Sonoma and Napa counties. However, in recent years, the Lodi Appellation has become increasingly respected for its Zinfandel wine and other eclectic varietals.^[3] National recognition came from the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Lodi." Nearby Woodbridge is the home of the well known winery, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. Mondavi grew up in Lodi, and Mondavi Winery is considered one of the most influential in the American wine industry. (Courtesy Wikipedia)

This valley between the Sierra Nevada and the Coastal Mountains is prime produce land. More than the grapes are harvested here. There are miles and miles of almond trees and Diamond is here.  Del Monte preserves fruits and vegetables for retail. It is no wonder that the most productive farm to school relationships, improving the quality of school lunches by serving more fresh and local produce, is here in this valley between the mountain ranges!

Tom's music corner

Breaking a sweat for my boy... another pot of soup, vegetable beef this time, and the third pan of homemade brownies this week!

 Tom picked me up for lunch as I had one last request before this departure - FISH TACOS, my first ever. Yummy.

 

Hugs goodbye for the car that got me through the Central New York winters with the four wheel drive option. I will not miss climbing up into and down out of it, nor miss the two doors when there are more than two people riding. I do like the hatch and the extra room with the back seats down. Many of my worldly possessions have been moved in this vehicle. Friend, Bob, has my wish list for my next vehicle that I intend to have by the end of October.

And a kiss, too. (Just a little one.) Tom has lived without a car for a couple of years. He is excited and appreciative to have more than his bike, two feet, or bumming rides to get around town. (Perhaps he will attract more ladies for a date or two now that he has wheels again.)

 

New pedicure for the next adventure!

The plan was for Cousin Diane and her husband, Jesse, to pick me up to take me to her home in Lodi, CA, just 45 minutes from Tom. Giving affirmation to my theory, "Own a car. Own a headache," Diane's car died in the parking lot at Tom's. But, we were not without quick options because we had Tom's (no longer mine) Explorer. So, the two door had back seat takers and off to dinner we went at Olive Garden, giving Diane's car a chance to cool off.

Dinner was great. Conversation was excellent. Despite the recommendations of their mechanic, the car did not start. (This had happened before and whacking the gas tank with a hammer to jostle the fuel filter was the first step ~ Tom provided the hammer as I don't travel with one!) 

So, the Ford Explorer, with Tom at the wheel, drove us North to Lodi. And, in Tom's words, "You know, mother, it's pretty appropriate to start and end this adventure with a road trip!"

Age and maturity have their advantages. There is no sense in getting upset when things don't go quite a planned. Breathe. Roll with the punches. Gather fodder for another story.

And I had extra Tom hugs!

CONTEST CORNER

CONTEST UPDATE, First Opportunity to Receive a Clue

In the Day#14 post, dated 8/23/12, I announced the contest and the complete details required for submission. The short version is: Guess how many views this blog will have by the end of my journey, October 11. Prize to winner: dinner for two at a restaurant within 100 miles of your home, redeemable not later than October 2014. Guess the total number of blog views without going over. The closest one wins. Guess exactly and theatre tickets will be added. There were 800 views as of 8/23.

Realizing it will be in the entrants best interest to WAIT until closer to the end of my voyage to submit their one and only guess, I will be adding opportunities for people to earn clues to assist them with estimating their final guess. The first three people who respond with the correct answer to the question with be given the answer to the clue.

Question #1 to earn Clue #1
 
Question #1: What was the starting mileage on the Ford Explorer when Mary Kay left Portville to begin the adventure?

Clue #1: The first three individuals who answer Question #1 correctly will be told the date that the blog views rolled over to a four digit number.

Answers to the question and the winners will be posted in the next CONTEST CORNER. REGULAR I

Day #18 Back in Modesto... matinee at the Gallo to see "The Sound of Music"

Easy drive back to Modesto before noon, laundry and a quick rest before heading to the Gallo Center for the Arts presented by MPO, Modesto Performing Arts, for their final production of The Sound of Music.

Wikipedia:  E & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines and is a large promoter of wines from Sonoma County. 

The Sound of Music is my ALL TIME favorite musical.Quick, how many songs can you name/sing? My sons will tell you that I sang much of the time when we were in the car traveling together. Musicals were a favorite and this show was a staple.

A woman sitting behind us, whom I would guess to be an octogenarian, is a retired kindergarten teacher in a small agricultural community not far from Modesto. One of her students had a full time body guard. His last name was Gallo. (This is true, but mind you the woman told Tom and I that everyone calls her "Boots!")

Notice Matt Cover's name, Tom's friend, who arranged the Les Miserables experience with us in San Francisco last Tuesday,

And Krista, who also went with us, played the lead, Maria. It really enhances the experience when I know people involved in the production. This production was sold out and was EXCEPTIONAL. Maria was OUTSTANDING.

Tom connecting with Matt in the pit following the matinee performance.

Beautiful Krista, the star, back stage after spending time with Matt's friend, the casting producer for Glee. He was encouraging and she was thrilled.

And, yes, I asked for her autograph!

Finally, Sushi at Osaca for the second time this week. Check out the caterpillar roll on the right! So pretty! Both Tom and Matt are happy, but exhaused.

And for those who are interested in learning more about Modesto, follow this link.

http://www.historicmodesto.com/about.html 

Tom has been here eight years now, moving here in the summer of 2004, following a girl he met on the internet. She had a mother quicker than I was who sent him a plane ticket before college graduation to come to the Modesto area to look for a job. The rest is history. (No, he is not with the girl anymore, but likes his job, friends, and church. I can visit more now than I could before.)

I will be heading to Cousin Diane's in Lodi Monday for a visit and she will get me to the airport on Tuesday as my adventure takes me to Seattle where I will visit with Mickie and Lorrie.

Good times.

Day #17 Tahoe - Oh my goodness!

Tahoe is AMAZING! And Mark Twain agrees!

Three months at Lake Tahoe, a smitten Mark Twain writes in his 1862 travelogue Roughing It, "would restore an Egyptian mummy to his pristine vigor. I do not mean the oldest and driest mummies, of course, but the fresher ones."

This "noble sheet of blue water," Twain rhapsodizes, is so clear "the boat seemed to be floating in air," and the air is "bracing and delicious … the same the angels breathe."

Our hotel, like many of the 100+ others nestled in the trees along the shores of South Lake Tahoe, has a chapel garden. So, we have wedding photos!

We have no idea who the bride and groom are and they have no idea they were being photographed by paparazzi Tom, sent on a photo shoot by the MaMa!

And look what Tom spotted in the parking lot! Yes, it is a PINK caddy - hybrid and responsible! (This one is for my daughter-in-law, Jessica!)

Wood carvers display their skills in the Ski Run Marina.

Hot air balloons, para sailing, fishing charters in a busy harbor on a gorgeous day.

After dipping my toes in the lake, Tom and I boarded the Tahoe Queen for a cruise to Emerald Bay. It is true that the water is sapphire blue. It is so clean that the bottom is still visible in water 50 feet deep. Lake Tahoe is the highest and largest and deepest alpine lake in the world. The mouth of Emerald Bay gets its name as the shallow waters coming into the bay are emerald green.

  Pictures before boarding.

Once on the top deck we were entertained by eight small ducks diving for brunch. It was like watching synchronized swimming.

Ready. Set. Go!

All gone.

Eight seconds later they start popping back up... very entertaining!

The captain sounded the horn. Flags are flying. Departure time.

The Tahoe Queen is truly powered by paddles only, one of the few!

The Wausau native indian tribe where the first inhabitants of this glorious land. This is Cave Rock, sacred to the Wausaus for marriage ceremonies and burials.

Snow still in the high peaks.

e

Peaks names after an explorer's wife, for her firm and perky breasts! Men are so predictable.

An osprey nest with young ones getting ready to leave soon.

Navigating the narrow channel to entry Emerald Bay.

The only island on Lake Tahoe is in Emerald Bay.

A Tea House built for a rich man's wife on the only island. Geologists say it is not possible that the type of rocks on this island were there and have theorized that the glaciers that formed the lake were so powerful that the top of a mountain was seared off and ended up in its current location.

After the cruise and a nice lunch, we headed to town to find the gondola. I found another travel companion. I liked her hat!

Ready in #47

The Heavenly Gondola ride. Going up!

And then Lake Tahoe from a different vantage point...

Views from the top (Can you spot the Tahoe Queen going out for her second voyage of the day?)

#7 Going down!

Back at the hotel for a nap and I experimented with Photoshop. I am pleased and feeling gratified with creative opportunities!

As you can tell, I like the "Glowing Edges" feature. The one different style is a pencil sketch tool.

Buffet dinner on the 18th floor of Harrah's, just over the Nevada state line.

 

$10 apiece in the penny slots entertained us for a half hour... once we found machines near the door and away from the smoke. Nevada still allows indoor smoking. Yuck.

Tom's quote for the day... "I'll be glad when you're gone, mother, so I can rest!" 

:D