Snow Buzzards Find Snow- in Issaquah, WA!

Happy girl

Somewhere along the route through southern Oregon the warmth stopped its journey north.  Still wearing our desert clothes we were spotted in a bakery in Bandon, Oregon, as "tourists."  An older woman wearing long jeans and a wool sweater strode up to us and identified our tan but shaking knees.  "You've got to be tourists," she remarked.  Pointing to the group of warmly dressed gray hairs at a window table she continued, "We haven't worn summer clothes in over two years."  The happy group waved at us looking like a joint advertisement for AARP and REI.  The coastal town had a warm feel about it despite the cold temperatures.  After sharing one cinnamon roll and one cup of coffee we were encouraged to take a to-go cup of coffee.  "Free refills, you oughtta take advantage," the cashier chirped.  So we did and vowed to return.  After leaving Bandon we gave Sevi a beach break at the Oregon Dunes near Florence.  All three of us tromped sand back into the car.  

Our first rain

All was quiet as the Snow Buzzard mobile speed north
on I 5.  Each of us contemplated the impact of our decision to return to the Pacific Northwest in early April.

WELCOME BACK, SNOW BUZZARDS.

We weren't surprised by the dark clouds above the Seattle skyline nor the puddles in our driveway but postponing a dog hike in nearby Issaquah a couple of days later because of snow made us seriously question our re-entry timeline.  

Pointing a Finger at a Redwood

Babe and Friend

Much of the Redwood Highway hasn’t appeared to change since we traveled this route 35 years ago.  The redwood trees are still spectacular, tie-dye clothes and sand candle shoppes appear along the road. You can still find towns that     advertise trees you can drive through,  road signs warn that trucks may tip over at speeds above 30 mph and you find interesting entrepreneurial combos like the Laundromat/Smoke House we saw in Laytonville.  I could tell that DB was eager to find a roosting spot when he refused to take more than a picture stop at a couple of stupendous roadside attractions.

Buzzards on the Fly to SF

Visiting Kiddos in SF

After breakfast with Tad at Sally's, a super tasty restaurant and deli at the base of Potrero Hill in SF, the Snow Buzzards continued north over the Golden Gate Bridge leaving behind at bit of their hearts and taking with some fresh memories of a pleasant weekend on the bay. We stopped for gas in Hopland, CA, on the Redwood Highway and saw that the old Hopland High School was now a wine bar and tasting room.  Excellent priorities!

Since closing up Casa Verde and departing the land of sun and sand for the land of rain and moss we've been delighted that the sun has decided to accompany us. Our first lodging after Desert Center was a hip little oceanside town north of Santa Barbara on Highway 1.  Morro Bay offers restful beach bungalows, local oysters, and a dog friendly beach.  We tried all three.

Sevi doing the happy run

Sleep tight sleepy town

There was a slide blocking Highway 1 so we cut inland for some greenery and pinkery, fields of artichokes and roadside swaths of ice plants.  This part of SoCal is mighty inviting: lots of surfers and bicylists and a little glassblowing factory in the town of Harmony, pop. 18.  The rueben sandwich we shared was disappointing but the coastal views of cliffs where farmers tilled above massive surf beaches made up for the Whale's Inn lunch.

Tad and Julienne are perfect hosts.  Julienne gave us use of her studio apt, complete with Murphy table and ready to make morning coffee.  Tad organized a pizza dinner in our honor with friends at Goat Hill Pizza with drinks before at Boomers.  Sevi was taken on a Bernal Hill hike and beach play dates with Ziggy.  But even before all this we were treated to Friday night gourmet sausages and beer and Saturday morning breakfast at the Sunrise Café in the mission.  Of course,  Tad and I made a coffee run to Philz where Phil himself greeted me with “You’re just like Santa;  you come once a year and we’re happy to see you.”

Julienne continues to play soccer and her Saturday game was conveniently at the base of Potrero Hill.  It brings back memories watching her play with Joyce Ohgi in the same positions they played together in middle school.   

Distributing oranges at half time

 Sunday brunch was dim sum delight and the evening meal was at Sara’s beautiful home in Oakland.  After DB’s Kauaiian pulled boar sandwiches prepared by Tad we sat around the campfire on Sara’s deck under her 500 year old live oak tree and retold the story of the Dew Claw Man who escaped from Alcatraz. 

Dim Son and Dim Dad

Julienne and Sara 

Happy Feet