[A/S] Santa Rosa, CA - September 6, 2000

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,
Not enough has happened everyday to write.... so I'll write about the last 
few days.  When I last wrote I was in Trinidad, CA.  I was parked in what 
used to be an Elk feeding ground... actually still is to the Elk herd.

I had planned to go for a horseback ride, but I watched them line up the 
horses, like an elephant parade and load up the non riders..... the more I 
watched the more I knew I couldn't do that.

We went to the beach a lot, it was very near the campground I was staying in. 
Found out the beach isn't a good place to play Frisbee though.   Just ask <A 
HREF="http://members.aol.com/iluvbrady/tucker.htm">Tucker</A> .... he'll 
answer when he spits all the sand out. We found a neat beach, the road to it 
was horrible, the beach wasn't sand it was tiny rocks.  The neatest part was 
watching seven surfers catch the waves.  Reminded me of the movie Endless 
Summer. I sat on a piece of driftwood and was mesmerized. 

I took the dogs on truck rides through the state parks and looked at the 
redwoods.  I would have enjoyed walking the trails, but no dogs allowed )c:   
Then I got to the Trees of Mystery..... a big tourist trap.  BUT... for a 
mere $6.50 I could take the dogs and walk through the trees and even hear 
little tapes about the trees.  The walk took about 45 minutes, and dumped us 
directly into the gift shop... very Disney :p

You can't miss the place on 101, there's a huge Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue 
ox....

Saturday afternoon, the guy in the motorhome next door came over.  He was 
really nice, from Michigan, retired from General Motors... has been 
fulltiming for 5 years.
He invited me (us) over for dinner.... he got points for inviting the dogs, 
extra points for allowing them on the couch while he cooked (c:  It was fun, 
he loves fulltiming too.
 The next morning he wandered over for breakfast, I made French Toast.... we 
exchanged information and will probably see each other in Florida this 
winter.... the circle of friends keeps getting larger.

I left Sunday and headed for Santa Rosa..... I drove 100 miles, including a 
side trip to the Avenue of the Giants, and decided to stop for the night.  I 
pulled into the Benbow Resort campground.  The guy said, $34.00 a night and 
I'd have to unhook because the space was too small for truck and trailer..... 
I said, "Buh bye" I drove another 6 miles and found a little campground in 
the redwoods owned by a nice young couple.  They charge $17.00.... it was in 
Garberville.  I loved it there. 

The next morning we pulled out after I did a little shopping int he 
campground store... I had a choice of taking 101 or highway 1 along the 
coast.  I wasn't sure which I'd take until I got to the choice... I chose 
101.  It occurred to me that the person I was going to visit in Santa Rosa 
works and she would be heading back to work on Tuesday...better if she was 
home when I arrived.   

I arrived... she was home.  I did a masterful job of backing the trailer in 
her driveway if I do say so myself.  It's a one car driveway.... her neighbor 
who owns and Airstream said it couldn't be done (c:  I have water, power and  
phone line out here... and AOL is a local call!! I'm in heaven.

Santa Rosa is much bigger than I thought...sprawling... heavy traffic.  The 
little neighborhoods are charming though. Teri and her late husband have 
lived here for 29 years and also have a small farm in Healdsburg.  We took a 
ride out there Sunday afternoon. 

Tuesday  I hung out.  I got a haircut, in downtown SR, by someone who must 
have trained in Gold Beach....I keep telling myself it'll grow back.  )c:   I 
went to Calistoga. I had been there many years ago, it hasn't changed much.  
Still a great little town.

Today Teri and I went to Sonoma.... we met a friend of hers for lunch and a 
day of window shopping and hanging out in the town square.  We took my 2 dogs 
and her Border Collie.  It was a delightful day.  I could live in Sonoma in a 
heartbeat.... of course the Prize Patrol needs to find me first.  Run down 
fixer upper shacks are $400,000.00.  It and Jackson Hole are the most 
expensive places I've been to... more than even Bainbridge, WA.  It's beyond 
me how young couples can afford to live here... 

The weather has been glorious..... blue skies, a breeze. Tomorrow we head for 
the coast.  Not with the trailer... just with the dogs.  Bodega Bay and who 
knows what else...

Hunter