Bodega Bay

Yesterday was pretty enjoyable. We drove up to Santa Rosa to pick up Doris for a day out with her. The journey up was not the usual route I usually took when I came on business trips in the past, i.e., on the highways and interstate. Nuvi was set to choose the shortest route so it was 2 hours of a mix of Highway 680, cutting through Walnut Creek to rejoin 680 and then through small winding country roads in Napa. It was a pretty route but on narrow single lanes for a large portion of the way and took more time than I anticipated because of the many traffic stops.

First stop, lunch at a small modern Mexican fast food joint with the run of the mill mix of burritos, etc. Then off for a drive up to Bodega Bay. We turned off at Doran Beach where we spent an hour or so. We admired the emerald green water, romped a little on the fine grayish sand, tried to get close to a pelican who seemed very comfortable among the human species and climbed some large evil looking rocks to watch a family fish for crabs using a tomato sack, fish heads in the sack and a piece of rope. Cheap way to spend a Sunday morning with some nice catch to bring home for the dinner table. It was cold, mainly because of the relentless wind, although not as cold as Half Moon Bay was. I am just a bit flabbergasted at how some of the picnikers can withstand the wind chill with their singlets and bikinis. I was wrapped up in tee, a denim shirt and a UBC sweatshirt from my MBA days.

Then off to Tides Fish Market where we stopped for oysters and some fried calamari and fries. The oysters were very big, fresh and actually cheaper than the calamari, fries and clam chowder that the kids wanted. Not much there except for a lone seal by the wharf, a couple of seagulls and your typical weekend visitors. So we spend a relaxing hour or so just sitting and chatting.

By then, it was late afternoon so we went back to Santa Rosa for a nice Japanese dinner topped off with some Baskin Robbins ice cream.

Seems crazy to say this but apart from the one time we went up to Vacaville for some outlet shopping and then to Lake Tahoe in December with the family crowd, this was the only time we have driven up North to spend a day. In all the time we have been here, we have been mostly holed up at home and only driven around on errands mostly within the Tri-Valley. But it is expensive to live here and each time we leave the house means a fair sum of money spent whether on gas or food or something else. Sigh!

Dropped Doris off and took the fast route home on 101, 580, 24 and 680. The way I have always done it.

School ends Thursday. What are we going to do with 2 kids who have no plans for summer?