Day 3 - May 9th

Well - I'm at least partially back from my near death experiences with strokes, bike crashes and pnuemonia (or bronchitis, maybe). I'm prepared to forge ahead with past due posts and pictures from earlier days. This may be chronologically challenging for some of you trying to follow the blog. Just remember how much more difficult it is for me to try and keep track. Especially with the Xanax factor taken into account.

May 9th found me 3 days out of LA and looking for a little non-ranch action. Not that the ranch isn't nice but I heard Hearst Castle was about an hour and a half away (straight out to the Pacific from Paso Robles). I was on my way but not before stopping at We Olive in Paso Robles to load up bring your own containers with locally made olive oil. On the way to the Castle I passed about 200 wineries. Similar to the drive in from the 5 freeway to Paso Robles. Nice, nice drive.

They offer 4 tours of various portions of the house and grounds, I took the next available as is my wont. It was the upstairs living quarters, including WR's bedroom and the kitchens and pools. It was supposed to last 70 minutes and cost 20 friggin dollars. I wrote a 40 page term paper on WR Hearst in college, so I have more than a passing interest in him and his exploits. I ponied up the cash.

After a five mile hair raising tour bus ride to the site it was pure opulence. Ridicuopulencery. Our guide - I will call him Goofy - was almost supernaturally knowedgeable about the grounds and the Hearsts themselves. Tossing off prices and dynasties and Houses of Tudor's, he knew everything. Weird. The place is beyond description. Go and mock or go and don't. But it's f'in amazing.



Oddly, perhaps because of Citizen Kane, I always thought San Simeon was an ego booster and useless creation. But according to 'Goofy', Hearst built the estate to house his art collection and always knew it would become a public entity in it's future life. Huh. I still think he had a big head. Check out the gold faucets in the kitchen.


Check this indoor pool with 24K inlaid gold floors and walls:

On the way home I stopped at San Simeon State Beach to say goodbye to the Pacific and headed back to the ranch. But not without a few beers in town first -

including a stop at Firestone Walker Brewery a beer I have liked
for a long time.

After a long day I got back to the ranch before sunset and while coming up their road was confronted with a very big weird looking bird. I rolled down my window thinking 'what the hell is that?' Then I heard it... "gobble, gobble" - I freaking pack (clutch, murder?) of turkeys were all around me in the fields talking to each other not the least bit skittish. I was overcome with a memory of my childhood in NY - a similar gang of Turkeys thing. I didn't have a gun this time and got spooked. I headed home Turkeyless.

Music to drive by: Morcheeba
Miles covered: 139
Roadkill count: 1 (small squirll)

Up next: leaving the ranch and heading day 1 Yosemite Valley

Update - for those following my stroke like syptoms - MRI is clean. No tumors, lesions, or strokes. As a bonus the symptoms have disappered completely.

Now for the bad news - I just bought a GT Aggressor Mountain bike to fill some space on my new Yakima rack system. Tuned it, added some accessories and rolled it out as a test (helmet on thank god). Molly followed me for about 3 houses and then ran under the front wheel.

I had foot clips on and no gloves. Went down HARD on my newly Hospital sanctioned left side. Road rash, ripped flesh and embedded gravel. Broknen $60 helmet (with blood). Loss of motion of an entirely different kind. 2 days of gauze and ow's. 2 more and I might try and ride that bike again.

Or sell it.

Molly Dog did some lake swimming this AM. First time ever. She continues to raise herself to every situation. Such a good dog.

I will go back and post Yosemite when my left hand become functional.

I lost my cellphone yesterdat. At&t promises replacement by Tuesday... Maybe I'll stop bleeding by then.

Blog Update - medical issues are preventing me from keeping this blog up to date at this time. Day's 5 & 6 (yet to be blogged) have left me seriously concerned for my general welfare. Something is very wrong with me right now and happily it's not mental! There has been an emergency room visit and there is likely to be more once I reach Bolulder, CO - somewhere where I at least have a base of friends and some time to figure out what might be wrong. I'm still keeping notes and will update when I feel more physically well. Keep tuning in!

Matt

Day 2 - May 8

Today was really what this trip is all about. I did nothing. Slept late, read a book, hiked, watched some birds, made an excellent dinner from only what I could find in the house. 60 mile round trip to grocery store gets the creative pantry/freezer using juices flowing. Spicy wild boar sausage ragu with papardelle, salt cod brandade made with local olive oil and garlic toasts. Last seasons fresh/frozen next door neighbor's peaches rendered unto a cobbler. A bottle Paso Robles wine. Not too shabby.

Day 1 - May 7

Well it's time for some catch up posting. I have been out of cell and internet range for 8 days! And no TV either! Crazy!

Day 1 found me leaving Mountain View (The Compound) around noon - never to return. I snapped a few last pics of the view from the backyard, said goodbye to Wes and Patrick and the cats and hit the road.

The car was packed but not well and I knew there would have to be a repack and reassessment of what I brought when I reached my destination. That destination being Stokes' Family Ranch about 40 miles from Paso Robles - deep in wine country.

I had neglected to instruct myself in the use of my new GPS navigation unit - which led me astray right off the bat when I tried to tell it I wanted to go to REI before resuming my trip. I ended up taking the 5 instead of the 101 and missing a much prettier drive. I had a list for REI and if I had followed I would have spent about $300 - geez! I broke down and only spent $50 on some MSR cookware and a belt.

The drive was uneventful - and I got to the ranch (after 30 miles of beautiful, curvy, empty, one lane, tar and gravel roads) about 6pm. 260 miles give or take with the REI detour route.

Elaina had dinner ready - morrocan chicken with olives and cous cous. Yum. I took a tour of the grounds and was ready for bead by 9. Stressy day.


Molly Dog was a trooper - a true car lover. She sat up for all the curvy roads watching out the windows. She took to the ranch and resident dog Josie. I let her loose right when I pulled up and she was never farther than what felt about 3 feet from me the entire time. Someone has some abandonement issues.




Nice ranchy, ranch:

Surprising addition of specific date & location

The image above shows my just now reserved/purchased camp site in Yosemite. Yosemite Valley adjacent Lower Pines Campground from Sunday to Wed coming up. Cripes - I just created a schedule for myself! Yosemite gives what it will and I took what I could get. Early May and some campgrounds are already sold out until the fall. Unreal.

I don't have much to say about $20/night for tent camping plus $20 entry fee for the park. Couldn't they just do some logging to offset the costs? $20/night and no TV? Motel 6 is looking not too shabby.

Can't access the Park's weather info. I sure hope it's not like cold and stuff. I brought 2 t-shirts, flip-flops and a pair of jeans. That qualifies as winter weather gear in LA. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Update: Research shows that even Yosemite - America's Pterodactyl Broach of National Parks - has internet access.

Elaina may very well live in a parallel universe where AOL never existed. Hey - that sounds pretty nice actually!

Trip eve post

It's the night before I'm finally on the road. Many delays, endless packing and storage unit trips.

First up, a shake down trip to southern Monterey county ranch country. Long time family friend Elaina has kindly offered a few days lodging at her central valley spread. A seriously remote and rural spread. Elaina warned there is no cell service out there. 'No cell service', I asked - 'where is it you live exactly? Canada!?' Though daunted I remain resolute I will prevail despite potentially having to use a land line. I bet it's not even fiber optic. The upside is she has no internet service either. Canada? Nay. More like the dark side of the moon.

Molly Dog is moaning incessantly about no text messaging and especially no boingboing.net. I sympathize with the tech savvy yet decidedly soft and spoiled LA hound. She'll soon learn the road makes no promises it isn't prepared to break.

I hope to use these days to clear my mind of thinking of everything in terms of what size box it will fit in.

And of course time for the planning of the next leg of our ART, Yosemite National Park.