With the shear drop off it’s a wonder they even have to put up signs. And yet…we saw people climbing right past these signs.
Straight down into foamy waters…
California Coast
Items to Pack
Think about packing these items next time you get ready to travel somewhere:
Mesh laundry bags: They come in handy in your suitcase for keeping smaller items, like socks all together. Plus it’s easy to see what’s in them. You don’t need to spend a fortune on them, either. Go to a dollar store where they often come in packs of three sizes.
Calculators: While you’re at the dollar store, pick up a couple of cheap calculators. Use them to figure everything from your tips to the exchange rate.
Plastic table cloth: These inexpensive items are great with kids. Use them on the beach when you’re having lunch and really don’t want sand in your food. Or cover a not-so-clean picnic table or use one on a bedspread to keep it clean.
Glow in the dark key chains: Again, these work for kids as well as adults. They give off just enough light to find your way to the bathroom.
Flowers in Healdsburg
Cowgirl Creamery
If you are visiting Point Reyes, CA…you are in for a treat when you stop by the Cowgirl Creamery.
Not only will you get to see cheese being made…they give samples.
Like the sign says…today it is Red Hawk. This interesting cheese tastes similar to an intense tangy Brie.
What kind are you looking for? I’ m sure it’s there somewhere.
In 1997, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith opened Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes Station, a picturesque postage-stamp-of-a-town on the coast about an hour north of San Francisco. They started with an old barn, made it beautiful, put in a small plant for making hand-crafted cheese, bought organic milk from the neighbor, Straus Family Creamery… and before long the world found them! From the beginning, they wanted to make delicious, artisan cheese, to be environmentally responsible, and they also wanted to support their cheesemaking friends in being sustainable land stewards. Today, Cowgirl Creamery continues to make just a small collection of cheese — four, soft aged and three fresh, totaling about 3,000 pounds per week. However, their circle of cheesemaking friends has grown like wildfire and they now distribute extraordinary artisan cheeses from over 200 of America’s and Europe’s most prized producers.
In 1997, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith opened Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes Station, a picturesque postage-stamp-of-a-town on the coast about an hour north of San Francisco. They started with an old barn, made it beautiful, put in a small plant for making hand-crafted cheese, bought organic milk from the neighbor, Straus Family Creamery… and before long the world found them! From the beginning, they wanted to make delicious, artisan cheese, to be environmentally responsible, and they also wanted to support their cheesemaking friends in being sustainable land stewards. Today, Cowgirl Creamery continues to make just a small collection of cheese — four, soft aged and three fresh, totaling about 3,000 pounds per week. However, their circle of cheesemaking friends has grown like wildfire and they now distribute extraordinary artisan cheeses from over 200 of America’s and Europe’s most prized producers.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
In 1595 the Spanish galleon San Agustin ran aground at Point Reyes. They thought this was an island, not a dangerous point amid stormy seas and numerous rocks. Seeking shelter from a storm this was the first recorded shipwreck on the west coast.
Point Reyes was named by Sebastian Vizcaino. He sailed along the California coast in December 1603 and called it Punto de los Reyes or Feast of Three Kings.
A lighthouse was assigned to Point Reyes in 1855 but construction was delayed for fifteen years. Fourteen more shipwrecks occurred during that delay.
The lighthouse is a 16 sided, 37 foot tower anchored to the carved solid rock terraces with large bolts. The lens, 24 bulls eye panels, produced a white flash for mariners once every five seconds.
Point Reyes was not an envied lightkeeper assignment as regular winds of 40 mph, gusts of up to 133 mph, and as much as 2,100 hours of fog annually are common here. Point Reyes is now maintained by the National Park Service and is part of the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Yes, you can climb ALL the way to the lighthouse…all 308 steps with several sloped concrete areas mixed in. A sign at the top reminds you of these 308 steps and equates it to climbing a 30 story building. Okay…that puts it in perspective.
And yes, it is worth the effort.
Point Reyes, CA
Considered to be one of the foggiest and windiest lighthouse stations in the US is Point Reyes. This view is from the hike down to the lighthouse.
Rugged coastline and numerous rocks have presented problems for fishermen and boaters for centuries.
Windswept, trees don’t grow upright along this coastline.
Budget Ideas
Leaving on vacation for a few days or a few weeks?
Think about the environment and your budget before you leave the house. Your house can actually save you money if you unplug all those appliances that say in “ready mode” and suck electricity while you’re gone.
Lower the hot water heater temperature to “vacation.” Make sure the heater or the air-conditioner is at money saving settings. The house doesn’t need to be heated or cooled as much while you’re gone.
Half Moon Bay Images
Traveling Pets
Traveling with your pet this summer? Here are some things to think about…
Get a clean bill of health
Schedule a veterinary exam shortly before your trip. Most airlines require a health certificate and proof of vaccinations issued no more than 10 days before your flight, says Paul Mann, the founder of national pet service Fetch! Pet Care.
Pick up airline miles
JetBlue adds frequent-flier miles for pets traveling in the cabin to their human companion’s account, and Continental offers them for animals riding in the cargo hold.
Look for fee-free hotels
There’s no need to pay extra to keep your pet with you once you arrive, Mann says. Some properties charge a security deposit, but chains including Best Western and Marriott allow most pets to stay for free. Kimpton Hotels throws in freebies like fresh dog treats baked on site.
Leaving Your Pet at Home
The American Pet Supply Association projects that spending on pet-care services such as boarding and day care could climb 6% to $3.4 billion in 2009. Here’s how to get the most for your money:
Start with a sitter
Kennels and other boarding facilities can offer social dogs a great vacation, but most pets will be happier staying in familiar surroundings, most veterinarians say. Leaving pets at home with a sitter can put them more at ease in your absence and is more economical, too. For example, Petaholics, a New York-based pet-care firm, offers both sitter and kennel services. The company charges $40 a night to board a cat, but a 30-minute daily visit from a sitter costs half that, and includes feeding, litter box maintenance and cat playtime. (The sitter also picks up the mail, waters plants and takes out the trash.)
Check references
Choose a caregiver that’s insured and has a good reputation, Mann says. Ask other pet owners and your veterinarian for recommendations. Also schedule a visit — in-home for sitters, on-site for boarders — before traveling, so you can make sure your pet will be safe and comfortable.
Break down charges
Whether you opt for a kennel or a sitter, have the company spell out what’s included in the rate, Saunders says. You may be able to negotiate a lower rate if you forego extras like mail pickup or daily grooming. Negotiating can also clarify which option best suits your needs, she says. A kennel that includes a full day of activities might be a better deal for an active dog than a sitter who charges extra for taking hour-long walks and playtimes instead of half-hour ones.
Dig for discounts
Sitters and boarding facilities offer reduced rates. AAA members save 10% on the services at Fetch! Pet Care. Beverly’s Pet Campus outside Indianapolis offers a print-out coupon good for a discount of $4 per night (an 18% discount) when you book a stay of five nights or longer.