Mendocino Adventure 2004
To celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary we were debating where to
go for our vacation. Theresa has been interested in exploring the exotic culture
and food at Thailand. I have been fascinated with exotic Tahiti, especially with
excellent snorkeling opportunities. It would have been a major bummer if we
could not agree and then would spend our anniversary apart. J
Fortunately we feel sorry for our 9-month old miniature schnauzer Hansel if we
had to leave him home for 1-2 weeks. So instead of Thailand or Tahiti, we
decided to go to tide pool at Mendocino, especially it’s been close to 8 years
since we have last been here!
Sunday (5/30/2004)
On Sunday after we packed up, went to church, and ate lunch at a Chinese
restaurant on College Ave. at Berkeley, we were on our way to Mendocino. It
would have a three-hour trip. However, we decided to take plenty of breaks. I
enjoyed an ice-cream cone at the town of Boonville. We then visited two
picturesque wineries at the heart of Anderson valley. Navarro
winery ( http://www.navarrowine.com/main.php
) is a postcard-perfect winery. We tasted a few glasses of Chardonnay and
Sauvignon Blanc. We also stopped at Husch ( http://huschvineyards.com/
) before arriving at our home for the next seven days.
On the way back home one week later we did pack an picnic lunch. Eva of Navarro
Winery even insisted on carrying Hansel again! Hansel left another heart-broken
lady at Philo. :-)
I found Chef Baliene (http://www.mfwvacationrentals.com/chez_baleine/index.htm
) on the Internet. The primary reason for renting this place was that we were
able to bring Hansel. We were very impressed with the place. It’s located at
Caspar, which is located half-way between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. This makes
going to restaurants, shops, parks, and beaches very convenient. The living
areas are spacious and comfortable. It has a 180-degrees panoramic view of the
Pacific Ocean. Though we did not cook, but the professional Dynasty stove has 7
burners with a built-in grill. Last that week I did get the chance to make some
scones in the convection oven. One of the most unique features of the house are
the three greenhouses adjacent to the living room and master bedroom. It’s
very comfortable to sit there after soaking in the Jacuzzi. Oh yeah. We have
been enjoying soaking in the Jacuzzi in the morning before showering or after a
strenuous hike in the afternoon.
We can see and hear the pounding surf right in front of us and the Point
Cabrillo lighthouse in the distance. Though
we were not in Tahiti nor Thailand, but this pretty darn good J
Oh yeah, what’s the best feature of the house that was never mentioned in the
guestbook? Why, the broadband Internet access, of course J
I hooked up my laptop right away and was able to access all the Mendocino
tourist information that’s on the web. It’s a good thing that I did not
bring my work laptop because then I would have been tempted to check my work
e-mails--not!
For dinner that evening we went to one of our
favorite restaurants Restaurant 955 Ukiah (http://www.955restaurant.com/default.html
). Café Beaujolais is more famous, but we always feel that 955 Ukiah has an
excellent menu also. I enjoyed a Seafood Menagerie, and Theresa enjoyed a sautéed
prawn dish. We also enjoyed a very rich and decadent chocolate dessert.
Monday (5/31/2004)
Next morning we woke up to another sunny, clear, and gorgeous day. I had been
checking the weather forecast. We were getting absolutely spoiled. It was going
to be 4-6 days of sunny weather. Hansel enjoyed bird-watching every morning.
Actually he really enjoyed observing the resident geese.
After a morning of reading and relaxing, we headed into
Mendocino. Though we are not followers of the Atkins diet, but we decided that
we were in the mood of a juicy hamburger at Burgers Mendo. The hamburger was
delicious and juicy. The serving of garlic fries was huge. There were probably 4
potatoes in that bag of fries. Theresa preferred her fries to be thin, but I
thought the fries were excellent: crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Even though it was Memorial Day, all the shops were open.
We explored the quaint and rustic village with all sorts of interesting shops.
Theresa even did a little shopping at the “Corners of the Mouth” organic
food collective (http://www.localharvest.org/food-coops/M4451
). We joked that if Theresa never met me, then she would have been living at
Mendocino in a commune, working on ceramic potteries, and shopping at this
organic grocery store all the time J
This is about the 5th or 6th time we have been to
Mendocino. We always go to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden (http://www.gardenbythesea.org/
). There are always interesting plants and flowers blooming. The best thing is
that Hansel gets to follow Rondo’s footsteps—I guess that’s paw
prints—and enjoy this dog-friendly jewel of a botanical garden. To fuel up for
the short walk I first enjoyed a single scope of handmade mocha almond fudge
ice-cream at Cowlick’s in the Garden, while Hansel enjoyed a bowl of cool and
refreshing water.
View of the coast at the Botanical Gardens.
We enjoyed a sumptuous meal at the MacCallum House ( http://www.maccallumhouse.com/
) I’m a sucker for duck breast. The menu stated “PAN SEARED LIBERTY FARM
DUCK BREAST: duck confit bread pudding, blood orange reduction, roasted beets,
Humboldt Fog…” I was not disappointed. Somehow we made room for a light and
creamy “HONEY TANGERINE SOUFFLE: Grand Marnier caramel, candied citrus
peel.”
We then got home in time for a glorious sunset. I don’t know what kind of
Tahitian sunsets we would have been seeing; however, this sunset at Mendocino
was outstanding.
Tuesday (6/1/2004)
After breakfast and a long soaking in the Jacuzzi we drove to Noyo Harbor for
lunch. Though we were disappointed that Sharon’s by the Sea did not allow dogs
to eat on the outdoor patio, but we were able to enjoy a delicious lunch at
Nemo’s Fishmarket and Grill. Theresa and I traded and each ate half of a fresh
salmon and half of a fresh crab sandwich.
After lunch we drove a short distance to the Glass Beach on the north end of
Fort Bragg. We had been here before. However, my memory must have failed me. I
did not remember that it is a very scenic spot to enjoy the waves and surf. We
had a nice 45-min hike. At the end of the hike Hansel was tired from hiking
under the sun that he insisted to lay underneath a tree for several minutes,
just like what Rondo used to do.
Fortunately he was able to quench his thirst when we got
into town and found a bucket of cool and refreshing water waiting for him
outside of Paws, which is a specialty store for dogs and cats at Fort Bragg. We
also bought some hot and sweet Mendocino mustard and Red Pepper Jelly at a store
called Hot Pepper Jelly.
I know it sounds crazy. Most people go on vacation to
relax. I go on vacation to clean windows! The panoramic view windows at the
vocational rental house have been sprayed with salty water. So I bought a
squeegee, sponge, and Windex at the Coast True Value hardware store and a garden
hose nozzle at “Out on a Limb.” I
got to clean windows after we got back to the house. The view looked even
better.
We were able to bring Hansel into all the stores. All the
store keepers were very friendly. However, I know Hansel was getting tired of
window shopping. At one point he was yawning in a book store. We ended our short
exploration at Fort Bragg by buying breakfast for next morning and two cookies
at the Mendocino Cookie Company.
We had dinner at Moose Café. I had a great salmon dish. We also enjoyed the
view of the garden and the streets from our table by the window. It was another
outstanding dinner. We had lemon mousse for dessert.
Wed (6/2/2004)
We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary today. Theresa enjoyed a
bran muffin, and I enjoyed a chocolate croissant. Hansel took the morning
napping and relaxing. Somehow he knew that he was going on the longest hike that
day.
We bought a couple of sandwiches. Theresa had a vegetarian artichoke sandwich,
and I had a Poor boy sandwich. We ate it on the beach at Russian Gulch State
Park as we saw three kayakers coming ashore.
After lunch we went on a 7-mile hike to the waterfall at the park. It took us
nearly 3 hours by hiking on the Fern Canyon Trail and then the Falls Loop Trail
(counter-clockwise). It was a fun hike. At one point we started on a trail but
were blocked by some fallen branches and several large tree trunks. We decided
to turn back. It was a smart move as we realized that we were actually on the
wrong trail.
We were able to enjoy the waterfall by looking from the top and then the bottom.
We relished the waterfall all by ourselves for a few minutes while munching on a
pecan torte. For the first time in his life Hansel got to learn how to drink
water from a plastic bag. He is a very quick learner. I guess if you were
thirsty you would also find ways to drink water. Theresa also got the chance to
break in her new hiking shoes and hiking poles that she bought at REI. They all
worked wonderfully. The best part was that Theresa did not get any blisters. I
also enjoyed my new half-height Montrail hiking shoes that I bought at REI.
Theresa and I are law-abiding citizens. We usually try our
best to follow public laws and regulations. However, today we violated the “No
Dog” sign on the trail. We figure that Hansel is leashed, under control at all
times, and we cleaned up after him. Fortunately he did not get busted!
Hansel really enjoyed the hike. He did come home and took a
long nap afterwards. Theresa and I were happy that we got to clean up and relax
in the Jacuzzi. The hot water with the soothing jet can do wonder to our aching
feet J
On this special day Theresa was especially surprised by a vase of 20 long-stem
red roses waiting at the front door when we got home. 20 years. It just seems
like yesterday that we got married. It’s been a wonderful 20 years. We are
looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together. We are truly blessed
to have each other!
The most famous restaurant in the area undoubtedly is Café Beaujolais (http://www.cafebeaujolais.com/
) We decided to celebrate this special occasion with a half-bottle of French
Champagne (Billecart Salmon, Brut Rose, Mareiul-sur-Ay, Champagne, France).
Normally we are not big Champagne drinkers, but we really enjoyed this bottle of
Brut Rose. Theresa raved about her salmon: “Oven steamed local wild king
salmon, served with a red wine reduction sauce, creamy cabbage & leeks and
white rice.” I savored my halibut: “Fresh Alaskan halibut, pan seared and
served with mango salsa, black beans and coconut rice.” I like the way
desserts are called ‘Of course!” We had Passion Fruit Crème Brule. What a
great way to conclude the celebration of our 20 years of marriage with many more
years of passion to come! We liked the restaurant so much that we made a dinner
reservation for Friday dinner also!
Thur (6/3/2004)
This morning we were greeted by a family of deer. At home they are considered as
pests since they leave droppings in our yard. We are also in the process of
finishing the side-yard in order to protect our future roses from the deer. Here
at Chef Baliene they are considered very cute J
We picked up our lunch at Tote Fete Carry-out Cuisine so we can have a picnic
later during our hike. Today we hiked along the Mendocino Headlands. It was a
very exhilarating hike on the coastal cliff. We also had an outstanding view of
the Mendocino Village. Half-way on the hike we saw this big wooden bench. It’s
the perfect place to enjoy our lunch.
We then continued our hike.
We saw several interesting tunnels in the rock that were cut by the waves. Too
bad we were not able to go swimming there. It would have been interesting. We
then walked into town. We revived ourselves by having a blended cold coffee
drink called “cookies and cream.” We then did some window shopping by
visiting some of the quaint stores. In particular Hansel enjoyed visiting this
store that had a couple of shopkeepers who used to own Miniature Schnauzers.
Hansel in fact provided some “pet therapy” to this lady who just lost her
beloved Miniature Schnauzer last Friday. They enjoyed playing with each other.
We concluded our exploration by asking someone to direct us to this Chinese
Temple Kwan Tai.
Before dinner we soaked in the Jacuzzi again. This time we even brought Sunkiss
to the green house. She really enjoyed being outside. However, she did not care
much for a bird of prey that flew over-head sometimes.
For dinner we went to “Sharon’s by the Sea” at Noyo Harbor. Pasta with
fresh sea scallops was not one of Theresa’s favorite meals on this trip.
However, I enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder and fresh crab dinner salad. We also
split a chocolate mousse for dessert. We did enjoy sitting by the window that
has a good view of the Noyo Harbor and a boat named Lady Irma II.
Fri (6/4/2004)
Today we decide to hike at Van Damme State Park. The park ranger was nice enough
to tell us that if we park outside the park at the beach parking right across
the street we get to save $4 on parking. We took the offer. There was a sign
that required dogs to be on leash. However, we came to the trail head and again
saw the sign that said no dogs allowed on trail. Well, again we decided to
disobey the regulation.
We then hiked for about 1.5 miles along the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail. We crossed
the stream 7-8 times. Unfortunately we came to the 1.5-mile marker and found
that there was no easy way for us to cross the stream without getting wet.
That was the place where we enjoyed our lunch. I had a roast-beef sandwich. I
think I would have liked Theresa’s shrimp and avocado sandwich better.
After hiking back to the parking lot, we also decided to explore part of the
beach. Hansel enjoyed hiking up and down the rocks. Perhaps in his previous life
he was a mountain goat! He is always very energetic and playful.
While Theresa was getting a pedicure and manicure at Southern Exposure I had the
opportunity to explore Mendocino Village for 1 hour and 40 minutes with my
camera.
At Mendocino you can never take too much pictures of the water towers J
I did also visit the Mendocino Art Center.
I also walked by the Headlands Inn, which is a Bed and Breakfast Inn that we had
stayed 19 years ago after we first got married.
We had our second dinner at Café Beaujolais. Theresa enjoyed “Broiled Niman
Ranch beef filet, sliced and served with sauce au poivre, sautéed baby potatoes
and green beans.” I had the salmon. We also enjoyed a bottle of “'02 Santo
Stefano, Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy.” It was very bubbly, sweet, and
festive. Of course, we split a Chocolate Pots de Créme & whipped cream. It
was delicious. We probably could have one for each of us.
We have been so busy and tired on most evenings. This
evening we had the opportunity to watch a Netflix DVD that we brought.
“Frequency” was a very absorbing science fiction crime drama. It was so
exciting that Theresa did not even fall asleep. We both enjoyed the movie very
much!
By the way, I just love to have my laptop with broadband
Internet access on this trip. I got the opportunity to research for our next
vacation to Africa. I researched about the new digital SLR camera that I’ll be
buying next year. I even got to install Google’s Adword for African Elephant
Conservation Trust. Now when people use Google to search for “elephant” or
“elephants” they will see AECT as one of the sponsored links! Pretty cool.
Sat (6/5/2004)
Today was our last full day at Mendocino. For breakfast I
made chocolate-chip scones! I got to use this great Dynasty oven. The heavy door
of the oven could have been made into an armored tank.
After a leisurely breakfast we decided to have lunch--yes, food is an important
part of our vacation J--
back at Nemo’s Fishmarket and Grill. Theresa enjoyed a salmon sandwich,
while I savored a bay shrimp sandwich. Hansel was wondering if he was going to
get served also—at least he was given a cup of water. He was hoping for a bowl
of clam chowder though.
We then drove to Mackerricher State park.
It was very foggy at first.
Nevertheless we enjoyed walking north along the beach. You should have seen
Hansel. He had such a great time exploring, smelling, and tasting. You would
think that he is a fisherman. Theresa called him our salty dog.
For Mass on Saturday evening we went to St Anthony Catholic Church at Mendocino.
The priest was very personable. The mural of the crashing surf at the front of
the church was very powerful and realistic.
Theresa was especially impressed with the simple and modern stained glass
windows.
The manicurist that did Theresa’s nails told her about two restaurants at
Albion. We could not get a reservation at a reasonable time at the Albion River
Inn. Instead, we had dinner at Ledford House. The food was great, and the
180-degrees panoramic view was even better! Theresa thoroughly enjoyed her half
of a roast duck: Half of a roasted duckling with a blackberry zinfandel sauce,
the breast boneless and the leg"en confit". I had roasted rack of
lamb. For dessert we had chocolate pudding cake with vanilla ice-cream.
Delicious.
We then drove back to our vocation home along the scenic highway 1, just in time
to enjoy another spectacular sunset. Though we were not in Tahiti nor Thailand,
but this is as good as it’s going to get!
Restaurants
Beaches and Parks
- Mendocino
Coast Botanical Gardens
- Glass
Beach, Fort Bragg.
- Russian
Gulch
Next Trip
- Window
cleaning squeegee!
- Duraflame
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