Hello folks,

I am writing this in a campground in Oregon, having left California to get back to Seattle.  We are planning to spend three days in Vancouver with Allen's son who lives there.  It was great to be in warmer climate, around Napa Valley for a few days.  it is a lovely, scenic spot where there are vineyards after vineyards.  We sampled a few, and hiked in the mountains near our campsite in A gorgeous Park called Skyline Park. We took a 4 1/2 hour hike to Sugarloaf Mountain, where we could see the whole Napa Valley below us and amidst many wildflowers of all different varieties.  We both even got some tan, as it was sunny and in the mid 70's.  California is no doubt the most expensive State we were in.  Gas and food were expensive, and even the cost of State Parks was high.(recently raised by the State to balance the budget.)Next, to Utah to see the National parks there!  Dee, the wanderer.

FW: We walked the bridge!

Across the Golden Gate Bridge +back, and not in a car!

We walked the bridge!

Across the Golden Gate Bridge +back, and not in a car!

A picture of the Redwoods!

Forgot to put this in the blog!

Just a note

We have just spent a great two days in San Francisco.  What a great city, starting with going over the Golden Gate Bridge.  We walked miles, and miles to see as much as we could.  We walked all over the Presidio, a large area which was a fort originally, like Fort Sumpter in S.C.  Now, it is green space where joggers, walkers and bikers utilize the area.  We viewed Alcatraz, with its forbidding guard towers on the Island. We walked all over Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, I went up in Coit's Tower to view the city in its 360 degree view. Yesterday, we walked all over The Golden gate Park which included a Science Museum, an art museum, a Japanese tea Garden, and the most amazing Botanical Gardens I have ever seen.  A big  thrill was to ride the Street car from Powell St. to Market Square, where all the big stores are situated, like Tiffanys, and Saxs Fifth Ave.   I wanted to stop at the famous nude male review playing at The Nob Hill Theatre, but Allen had no interest! Anyway, we walked the route we had just taken on the Street car, up and down, up and down, for the whole distance, stopping at Lombard Street which is the crookedest street in San Francisco! We leave this morning, after walking the Golden Gate Bridge, for Napa Valley and some good Vino! 

finally connecting-

We are in california, the Northern coastal area where we just did a long 6 mile hike into the Redwood Forest.  I don't have good cell phone coverage in this area, so my broadband device doesn't always work well, and I also need electricity versus just battery, to download pictures from Allen's camera.  We have some great pics taken in the Redwood Forest--these stately giants rise 360 plus feet into the sky and are about 10 feet or more across.  I felt like an interloper in their exclusive domain!  I think we will go down the coast here in California, as it is warmer, the weather has been in the 50's and 60's, then head back up to Washington to see Allen's son, in Vancouver, Audrey again in Washington, then who knows  where we go?  Miss you all--the Traveler!

A brief note today

After 6 days of a strong antibiotic, I am feeling much better.  I do get tired at night, but druing the day, I feel more myself.  i am trying to just walk SLOWLY--we are in a beautiful State park called Deception Pass State Park, and there are trails galore.  I walked the most I have done today--for an hour and 45 minutes.  Feel good, so I am on the mend. Stayed with Audrey last night, in the house she is sitting and slept with a large, black cat named POD, who kept me very warm curled on my left shoulder. Allen preferred camping to Easter dinner with Audrey and her friend, so we had a girls night out.

     We processed 9 surf birds today, in less than 2 hours, so Audrey is pleased with her novice helpers.  We will be here another week, need to get a total of 60 birds, and we have gotten 37. I hope the weather gets warmer and we get more sun.  It sounds warm in Maine and CT.! Ailing traveler!!