Today we had adventure. More than we wanted. We started out today in the truck wanting to go to 1) the visitor's center for the geothermal plant, and 2) Bridget wanted to stop at a craft store in Cloverdale. One that is listed on Trip Advisor.
We started out around 10AM. The GPS said we would be there shortly after opening, around 11:07. We went happily along. I was enjoying looking over the vineyards. Grape season must be over, and their leaves are coloring. My knowledge of vineyards comes from the Bible. I know that they will need pruned, just like we need pruned. God is the vine, we are the branches. Some people wonder why bad things happen, some things hurt, but we learn. I know going through my divorce made me stronger. Enough philosophy......
It was interesting how some vineyards put up decorative trees on the ends. There were those tall, skinny shrub like things. A few had planted beautiful burgundy colored trees. One small place had scarecrows, like the ones you find at Michael's, on each end of a row.
I started to take notes of what I was seeing and thinking because picture taking along the windy road wasn't feasible. I saw palm trees and prickly pear cactus. Both things that warm my heart in California. The rivers we passed were quite low, lots of rock showing. I collected a lot the day we went into the redwoods and forgot to post the pictures of them. Another day. We went from the land of vineyards to the land of big, fat, black cows. I was thinking how much fun it would have been on the Ural.
Then suddenly the GPS of the truck pointed us left. Yes, we left. We left good road and civilization. The sign at the beginning of the road said one lane road for 12 miles. We were on Ida Clayton Road. Spectacular scenery. For you motorcycle enthusiasts, check out this ATVrider article https://advrider.com/f/threads/discovering-ida-clayton-road-sonoma-lake-counties-ca.1158267/
We were on Ida Clayton Road. 36 minutes, 12 miles, one lane. Little did I know until I googled it, that it went along the side of Mt St Helena's. Not the one in WA state, but a volcano no less. You'll hear more of it later in the blog.
This was one end of a big vineyard at the top. It took me too long to get the camera open for a better view. The next pic is the view on the way down. It turned to gravel and the truck started dancing.
Googling this road I found it is listed as a great place to go to bird watch. Then at the bottom of their page are these warnings:
Finally we made it to 2 land paved road. Still windy. We ended up at the Geothermal Visitor Center. It had a display on how everything worked. Outside we were standing beside this gray and green thing. I said, Hey! Let's see if there is a geo-cache around here. Sure enough! I was inches away from one. You can see it in my hand. Had a very small log inside to sign.
Here is a picture of a turbine that the steam turns to make power. I learned that when the steam is cooled some of it is put back into the ground to turn into steam again. They even use treated used water from the community to make steam. There was a map of the US inside that showed places where this kind of energy could be produced. They explained how one can tap into the rocks to make fissures to create this power. I never thought of it that way. Alaska was colored in gray meaning it hadn't been researched there, but they had a dot and green square where Chena Hot Springs is near Fairbanks. The owner powers the hotel and ice chapel and green houses with thermal water. We dragged friends there this summer because it is a favorite spot. Wasn't as exciting at 80 degrees above zero, it's more fun at 10 below.
We searched all over to find a hot springs you could get to and see. Any hot springs are all in spas where you have to pay $$ to get inside. Not like Chena, you have to be a paying hotel guest at the spa.
Oh, pictures out of order---this is a petrified wood fireplace inside the gift store. Here is one of the first trees I saw. A hard, rock tree. They were all blown one direction. From MT St. Helena. The literature here said it was a volcanic eruption, but I read on line that it wasn't a volcano, but just had fissures that exploded out. Made me think of the fissure #8 in Hawaii and all it did this year.
Not only did it have petrified wood, but the Tubbs fire in 2017 came through here and there were burned trees all around, as you can see in the above picture. I have another favorite tree. The Manzanita tree. Look at the lovely bark.
Here's one that burned in the fire. Here's another stand of trees that were definitely affected by the fire. I couldn't get a picture of the burned pine trees.
Back to a petrified tree. The Queen Tree.
Here is another example from the fire. This is a Manzanita tree again. You have to look very close. The right side of it is green, the left side has brown leaves, and the bottom middle is burned.
Burned sign and petrified wood laying around like Petrified Charley found it.
Pieces at the exit. Hard as a rock.
As we were driving back to 101 I noticed on the windy road several places where new homes were being built. And I saw more and more. I realized they were replacing the homes burned in the big fire. Some were very nice homes at vineyards. You could see that some people were living in RVs on their property. You could see ghost swimming pools. Then when we hit flat ground there was a whole community re-building.
I had wanted to stop at a craft store that was listed in Trip Advisor in Cloverdale. It is the town our RV park is near. It is about the size of the kitchen and living room of our RV. Turns out any money collected goes to the Senior Citizen group there. It was like a Goodwill craft store. Yarn for a dollar! Crochet books for 2! It looked like a lot of leftover yarn people donated. I found some good items, though. Walking back to the car I saw this tree. White bark. I think I saw olives???? growing on it?
So, that was today. Tomorrow we go to Santa Rosa for groceries, dog food, and maybe I'll make Richard stop at Michael's. lol. See you all later!
We started out around 10AM. The GPS said we would be there shortly after opening, around 11:07. We went happily along. I was enjoying looking over the vineyards. Grape season must be over, and their leaves are coloring. My knowledge of vineyards comes from the Bible. I know that they will need pruned, just like we need pruned. God is the vine, we are the branches. Some people wonder why bad things happen, some things hurt, but we learn. I know going through my divorce made me stronger. Enough philosophy......
It was interesting how some vineyards put up decorative trees on the ends. There were those tall, skinny shrub like things. A few had planted beautiful burgundy colored trees. One small place had scarecrows, like the ones you find at Michael's, on each end of a row.
I started to take notes of what I was seeing and thinking because picture taking along the windy road wasn't feasible. I saw palm trees and prickly pear cactus. Both things that warm my heart in California. The rivers we passed were quite low, lots of rock showing. I collected a lot the day we went into the redwoods and forgot to post the pictures of them. Another day. We went from the land of vineyards to the land of big, fat, black cows. I was thinking how much fun it would have been on the Ural.
Then suddenly the GPS of the truck pointed us left. Yes, we left. We left good road and civilization. The sign at the beginning of the road said one lane road for 12 miles. We were on Ida Clayton Road. Spectacular scenery. For you motorcycle enthusiasts, check out this ATVrider article https://advrider.com/f/threads/discovering-ida-clayton-road-sonoma-lake-counties-ca.1158267/
We were on Ida Clayton Road. 36 minutes, 12 miles, one lane. Little did I know until I googled it, that it went along the side of Mt St Helena's. Not the one in WA state, but a volcano no less. You'll hear more of it later in the blog.
Notes: 1. In this area and similar locations there have been reports of violence related to marijuana-growing. Remember that areas away from the main road are private and not open to the public.
Who was Ida Clayton anyway?Finally we made it to 2 land paved road. Still windy. We ended up at the Geothermal Visitor Center. It had a display on how everything worked. Outside we were standing beside this gray and green thing. I said, Hey! Let's see if there is a geo-cache around here. Sure enough! I was inches away from one. You can see it in my hand. Had a very small log inside to sign.
Here is a picture of a turbine that the steam turns to make power. I learned that when the steam is cooled some of it is put back into the ground to turn into steam again. They even use treated used water from the community to make steam. There was a map of the US inside that showed places where this kind of energy could be produced. They explained how one can tap into the rocks to make fissures to create this power. I never thought of it that way. Alaska was colored in gray meaning it hadn't been researched there, but they had a dot and green square where Chena Hot Springs is near Fairbanks. The owner powers the hotel and ice chapel and green houses with thermal water. We dragged friends there this summer because it is a favorite spot. Wasn't as exciting at 80 degrees above zero, it's more fun at 10 below.
We searched all over to find a hot springs you could get to and see. Any hot springs are all in spas where you have to pay $$ to get inside. Not like Chena, you have to be a paying hotel guest at the spa.
At this point we were pretty hungry, so we decided to drive to a quaint little town called Calistoga. On our way we saw advertised, "Old Faithful." A real geyser! It was a small geyser, a petting zoo, and advertised as a very restful place to visit. For $15.00 each. Nope, didn't do it.
Richard looked over at the GPS and said, "Looks like more windy road." Just as we hit the windy road we got behind a few slow trucks. I got all excited when I realized they were carrying grapes.
We arrived safely in Calistoga and found a place for lunch. I had a salad-chicken, Napa Valley cabbage, cilantro, peanuts, arugula, more greens. The chicken was phenomenal! They killed the salad in the citrus dressing---way too much, made my eyes water. Richard had a fabulous burger. I got a taste, even a little bite of cheese.
Next stop was the Petrified Forest. Richard was, "Been there, done that, I'll wait." So on I trudged alone. First was a stop at the gift store. Lots of cool rocks awaiting me, but I didn't buy anything! Good me! Starting out on the path I see this sign.......If I leave them alone, they'll leave me alone.
Oh, pictures out of order---this is a petrified wood fireplace inside the gift store. Here is one of the first trees I saw. A hard, rock tree. They were all blown one direction. From MT St. Helena. The literature here said it was a volcanic eruption, but I read on line that it wasn't a volcano, but just had fissures that exploded out. Made me think of the fissure #8 in Hawaii and all it did this year.
Here's one that burned in the fire. Here's another stand of trees that were definitely affected by the fire. I couldn't get a picture of the burned pine trees.
Here is another example from the fire. This is a Manzanita tree again. You have to look very close. The right side of it is green, the left side has brown leaves, and the bottom middle is burned.
Here is a picture of Mt St Helena, where they say the volcano or fissures or whatever happened to cause the petrified forest. That is where we were climbing for 12 miles, 36 minutes.
Pieces at the exit. Hard as a rock.
I had wanted to stop at a craft store that was listed in Trip Advisor in Cloverdale. It is the town our RV park is near. It is about the size of the kitchen and living room of our RV. Turns out any money collected goes to the Senior Citizen group there. It was like a Goodwill craft store. Yarn for a dollar! Crochet books for 2! It looked like a lot of leftover yarn people donated. I found some good items, though. Walking back to the car I saw this tree. White bark. I think I saw olives???? growing on it?
So, that was today. Tomorrow we go to Santa Rosa for groceries, dog food, and maybe I'll make Richard stop at Michael's. lol. See you all later!
Comments
Post a Comment