Back Home, Watching Wilton Court

Monday: (08/30) I unloaded some items from the car, things we bought on our trip. My best treasures were a 4’ reach pruning nipper. I even tried it out on the wisteria and it works nicely. I also got a 3” trench shovel. I have a 4” shovel but having the 3” saves removing 25% of the dirt for a trench and I have some trench needed for the rear lawn sprinklers. Then I had to go down the street and check out what they accomplished in my absence. Quite a lot. They completed the first floor concrete walls and had most of the deck place to pour the second level floor. Today they were removing the last of the wall forms and pouring the front, ground level floor. I got my breakfast from Tacos El Grullense, some nice steak rancheros. Back home I repotted all the fuchsias we bought on our trip. I also did some trimming and cleanup in the yard. It was a late breakfast so no lunch. I also made a run to the market. Lou and Dawn were out this morning for appointments. Lou made steak soup for dinner.

Tuesday: (08/31) Leftover steak rancheros over a tortilla for breakfast. Ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. I spent a lot of time watching the Largo Concrete crew installing the rest of the second floor deck. They got it all in so I expect they will be installing the rebar tomorrow. The floor is 15,000 sf. After lunch I made a couple of trips to the city mulch pile and laid mulch over the top of my newest garden around the artichoke plants. Stuffed squash for dinner.

Wednesday: (09/01) Yogurt with granola for breakfast. Chinese food from China Bistro for lunch and leftovers for dinner. I had a dental appointment in the morning and also had to “supervise” the construction going on down the street.

Thursday: (09/02) Granola and yogurt for breakfast. Tomato, ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. Hamburger for dinner. More project “supervision” today. I also dug and installed the last rear lawn sprinkler pipe near the oak tree.

Friday: (09/03) Granola and yogurt for breakfast. I worked in the yard pulling weeds and trimming plants. I also harvested my corn and removed the plants. Tomato, ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. I picked all my corn today. All cobs were undersized and most incomplete kernels. We did have enough for dinner tonight as well as a single serving for later. We each had three little cobs. We also had roast chicken and baked potatoes. Lou and Dawn were out for an appointment and did some grocery shopping as well.

Saturday: (09/04) Lou made breakfast burritos for breakfast. I designed a new hike and scheduled it for next Tuesday. I also scheduled a doctor's appointment for Thursday. We developed a water leak in my newest garden plot. I dug out the water line before it went under the new garden and installed a shutoff valve so the rest of the yard can still have water. When it dries out I’ll find and repair the leak. Lou cleared a space in the garage and I moved the new small chest freezer to where our washer used to be located. Lou and Dawn picked up lunch from Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City. I took Lou to Kaiser for a visit in the evening. Leftover lasagna for dinner.

Sunday: (09/05) Granola and yogurt for breakfast. Dawn found a Teeter exercise machine in Clovis, about 180 miles away. Price and value made the trip worthwhile. We arrived about 1245 and loaded it onto the Jeep's hitch rack. After that we got gas at Costco then visited Lou’s niece Rene nearby. Lunch at Togo’s sandwich shop in Fresno. Then we headed off toward home. Home about 1900. Bologna and cheese sandwich for dinner.

Monday: (09/06) Morning tea in the yard. I made corned beef hash and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I tinkered a little in the yard trimming and weeding. It was a warm day so I retired into the RV early. Lou made a Waldorf pear salad for lunch. She used the Asia pears from our tree. Roast chicken with rice and artichokes for dinner.

Eureka For The Humboldt Fair

Sunday: (08/22) We delayed breakfast and prepared to roll. We departed about 0825 heading North toward Eureka via Highway 280. Traffic was light and he headed through San Francisco on 19th Ave to the GG bridge. We stopped in Petaluma at the Friedman Brothers Hardware store. After leftover corned beef hash and cottage cheese for breakfast, we explored the store. Of course we found lots of interesting stuff we’ll need to get as we pass through on our return. We continued on after a stop for gas and lunch from the snack bar at Costco in Ukiah. We pulled into the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds and settled into our site. After a quick walk around the fairgrounds we had leftovers for dinner.

Monday: (08/23) We explored the area today. I walked around including the North end of the waterfront trail. Lou and Dawn were busy exploring the thrift stores. They picked me up for a late lunch just before 1400. We had lunch then returned to the RV. Our visit turned into afternoon naps. In the evening we took a walk with the RV Park manager and visited many of the cats around the stables learning each of their names and particulars like age and habits. We also learned about several of the horses including one that had sleep apnea. It rested it’ head on the stable door, fell asleep and woke with a start when it’s head pressed too hard on the door. We also met a couple of the deer that live around the stables. Lou made scrambled eggs with red peppers and mushrooms for breakfast. We had lunch at the Soup Company restaurant. Leftover chicken artichokes for dinner.

Tuesday: (08/24) Granola and diced apple for breakfast. I took a short exploratory hiker in the Community Forest next to the Fairgrounds RV Park where we’re staying. Looks like a really nice place for a longer hike. The forest goes for miles either way from the Fairgrounds. We headed out after noon and stopped for lunch at the Golden Harvest Cafe. Then we were off to Ferndale to see the Humboldt County Fair. It was, unexpectedly, free admission day. Due to to covid times, there weren’t too many people there. Also not too much to see. Usually this is a great country fair so it was rather disappointing. We finished looking around a little after 1500. We returned to Eureka and looked around one of our favorite hardware stores, Pierson Building Center. They have a great tool shop as well as an excellent nursery. Back home it was leftovers for dinner.

Wednesday: (08/25) Granola and banana for breakfast. Our morning endeavor was to visit the Winco market where we over bought groceries. Back home, we had tamales for lunch. Lou and Dawn then went out thrifting including all the way up to Arcata. They stopped for gas at Costco on their return where they spotted a 2007 short tall Sprinter van for sale. Basically what I’m looking for but I’d actually prefer a lower mileage, not diesel van. Perfect otherwise. Only $8500. I had remained at home relaxing. Leftovers for dinner.

Thursday: (08/26) French toast and sausage for breakfast. I headed off about 1000 for a walk in the McKay Community Forest, also known as the Eureka Community forest. It’s an 18000 acre preserve adjacent to Eureka. There is a trailhead for it next to the Redwood Acres Fairground where we’re staying. I hiked out one side and back the other. Most of the trail is primitive or logging road. There are lots of trails but no trail markings and finding the proper route is a challenge. There is a lot of beautiful forest, quite amazing considering it is surrounded by a lot of residential areas. I could hear nothing except the forest on my hike. There is logging underway in the preserve, not today but as recent as the day before yesterday. My return route passed through several patches that were being logged. I was back about 1330. After a shower and a sandwich for lunch I relaxed the rest of the afternoon. Lou and Dawn were out shopping and thrifting. Tamales for dinner.

Friday: (08/27) I made ham and eggs with pan toast for breakfast. We headed off to Arcata today. While Dawn explored the book stores, Lou and I explored the hardware and Coop market. We all had lunch at the Slice Of Humboldt Pie shop. Started with desert and then meat pies. After lunch I headed out to the Arcata Marsh for a walk around the ponds and slough. Lots of nice blackberries by the trail. The march is part of the sewer treatment facility for the city. Really a nice nature sanctuary though. Back home we had macaroni and cheese for dinner.

Saturday: (08/28) Leftovers macaroni and cheese for breakfast. Pizza and a donut for lunch at Don’s Pizza and Donut Shop in Arcata. I checked out the Arcata farmers Market. Later I took a short walk in the Arcata Community Forest. I stopped by the Slice Of Humboldt Pie shop and bought some day old hand pies for Lou and Dawn. I had chili for dinner.


Sunday: (08/29) Leftover French toast and sausage for breakfast. We were on the road by 0900 to return home. We stopped in Ukiah for gas and lunch. Another stop in Santa Rosa for Dawn to see the Schultz Gift Shop and Lou and I to take a nap. Another stop in Redwood City for gas, then home. Lou made Shepherd’s pie for dinner.

Prep To Get Out in The RV

Thursday: (08/19) I made corned beef hash and eggs for breakfast. Another slightly bad air quality day so we stayed inside mostly. Chopped salads for lunch from the Corner Bakery Cafe nearby. Lou made polenta with shrimp for dinner.

Friday: (08/20) Lou made waffles with home grown blueberries and blackberries and bacon. I received the test results for my ultrasound and had a phone appointment with my urologist. They scheduled a procedure in a couple of weeks and an x-ray. We all went out , visited Walgreens to return and buy some stuff. We stopped for lunch at A Good Morning. Dawn was dropped off at a bookstore while I got my x-ray. The construction project down the street was busy today. Doing shot-crete and painting the vapor seal sheeting. Also a crew removed a telephone pole that was holding up the project. And another crew nearby removing a tall tree. They only got the tree half down. Lou grilled some squash with baked potato and burger patties. For dinner. Only a little work done restocking clothes in the RV and putting some things away. I also finally removed the drill press I had bolted to my workbench outside the shop. Someday it might rain.

Saturday: (08/21) Final preparations to leave in the RV tomorrow. Time to purge the RV of a lot of stuff that migrated in during our occupation. I installed the drip lines for the other half of the Swing garden where Lou planted some broccoli and another tomato plant. I also installed the drip line for the artichokes in the front yard. Granola and banana for breakfast. Dawn’s squash chicken soup for lunch. Dinner from Harry’s Hofbrau.

Tinkering In Shop

Wednesday: (08/18) Granola and diced apple for breakfast. I removed the one piece of form that was used on the concrete a couple of days ago. I also moved the two planters back into position on either side of the porch. I also cleaned off my shop work bench putting things away and throwing things away. Also a little interior shop reorganization. I also attended my usual Wednesday webinar. I managed to get out for a short spin on my ebike to Grocery Outlet. A sausage sandwich for lunch. Leftover bean noodles and steamed red peppers for dinner.

Windy Hill OSP, Razorback Hamm's Gulch Loop Hike

Tuesday: (08/17) The usual hike breakfast from Happy Donut. I led a hike at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. We hiked up Razorback and back on Hamm's Gulch trails stopping for lunch at the top. It was a nice cooler day, compared to recent days, with a nice breeze. In fact, our lunch break at the top was cut short because the breeze was too much and it was cold and a little foggy. 9 other hikers joined me. My hikes 

Water Line To New Front Garden

 Wednesday: (08/11) Lou made ham steak and eggs with avocado for breakfast. I attended my usual Wednesday webinar. I did a little work outside digging out to expose the pipe I need to connect for the new garden faucet. Lou and I headed off to Lowe’s for some pipe fittings I’ll be needing. We also visited a new gas station in Sunnyvale where the gas is a dollar cheaper than our nearby stations and 30 cents less than any others near it. The GasBuddy app is handy sometimes. Then more relaxing. Leftovers for lunch and dinner.

Thursday: (08/12) Granola and banana for breakfast. I hooked up and tested the water line to the new front garden. Then backfilled base rock by the porch where I removed brick tiles and connected the water line to the garden. I’ll be pouring concrete over that. Then I loaded the car with 13 buckets of dirt and headed off to the dump. On the way home I picked up concrete at Lowe’s to pour tomorrow. Back home, I put away all my tools and supplies from the project. Super Taqueria burrito for lunch. Tuna green salad for dinner.

Friday: (08/13) Granola and a banana for breakfast. A nice family drive up El Camino Real. We stopped for lunch in Millbrae and Neal’s Cafe. We then continued North then West to Pacifica and Down to Half Moon Bay. We stopped at several nurseries and bought plants for the garden. Chili beans and sausage for dinner.

Saturday: (08/14) Bacon (Jerky) with fried eggs and toast for breakfast. I heard pork prices were going to skyrocket so I bought several bacon jerky packages. Actually cheaper than bacon itself and ready to eat. A nice morning tinkering in the garden and rear yard. I cleaned off my shop outside workbench that has collected junk from several recent projects. In the afternoon I went to Kaiser for an appointment. I spent some time on Amazon ordering material for the drip system. In the evening I scheduled my Tuesday hike for next week. Leftovers for lunch. Lou made artichoke chicken over mashed potatoes for dinner.

Sunday: (08/15) A relaxing Sunday morning watching the morning TV shows. Then outside for some tinkering in the yard. I intended to pour my concrete but instead digging out the opposite side of the front steps and drilling and setting pins in the edge of the concrete to connect the new and old took up enough of the day to think it was too hot to be out. Lou made ham and eggs for breakfast. Lou made a green tuna salad for lunch. Leftover chicken over rice for dinner.

Monday: (08/16) Granola and banana for breakfast. I mixed and poured the concrete for the former flower beds adjacent to the front porch. I completed the final finishing and cleanup about 1400. Then I gave myself a beard trim and a shower, then relaxed the rest of the day. A hot dog sandwich for lunch. Lou made bean noodles with mushrooms and a guacamole and pico de gallo sauce for dinner.

Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Hike

Tuesday: (08/10) The usual hikers breakfast from Happy Donut. I headed up to Los Trancos Open Space preserve to led my hike exploring this earthquake geological site. Evidence of the 1906 earthquake and movement on the San Andreas fault just below is all around. We hike on down to Foothills Preserve, almost. A tree had fallen across the trail and it was basically impossible to go around or through due to a lot of poison oak in the area. We were stopped just 1000’ or so from our turn around point anyway. A 6 mile hike instead of 6.6 miles. It was a warm day and one hiker was having trouble getting back. Back home I had cottage cheese and fruit for lunch. Dawn made spaghetti squash with meatballs for dinner.

Got A Look At The Ekko

Wednesday: (08/04) Granola and diced apple for breakfast. I attended my usual Alphasoftware webinar this morning. After a quick sandwich I went to Kaiser for my annual checkup. Nice quick in and out. Back home I opted to continue my relaxing day. Lou and Dawn made Shepherd’s pie for dinner.

Thursday: (08/05) We went grocery shopping first thing stopping at Smart and Final and Nob hill markets. Back home I prepared a ham egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. I worked all day on rototilling and mixing compost with the screened dirt. I made three trips to pickup 18ea 5 gallon buckets of compost from the city compost pile. I need to make one more compost run to complete the treatment then add some steer manure and cap with wood chips. No lunch. I put pork chops , potatoes and sauerkraut into the slow cooker for our nice dinner.

Friday: (08/06) Granola and banana for breakfast. I made a run to get a load of compost from the city pile. I mixed it into the new front garden spot. I was about half a load short of having a good soil mix so I made another trip for a half load and added it and mixed it in. Then off to lunch at Los Altos Taqueria for lunch on my way to Lowe’s. I got 10 bags of steer manure and back home, added that to the soil. After a good final mixing then some cleanup I called it garden spot. I put away all my tools and enjoyed a good shower. Time to relax. Leftover Shepherd’s pie for dinner.

Saturday: (08/07) I made corned beef hash and eggs for breakfast this morning. I drilled a path under this sidewalk by the garden and installed a couple of pipes, one for a faucet and another for a drip circuit. I finished the pipe but not the end connections, It required two trips to the hardware store. I also picked up two artichoke plants from Summerwinds nursery. I had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. Leftover pork and sauerkraut with potatoes for dinner.

Sunday: (08/08) Lou fried some eggs and added leftover corned beef hash for breakfast. I almost completed the pipes for the faucet for the new garden, It turns out the water pipe is dry so I need to hook up the pipe near the main valve for the house and be sure it is capped at the side of the house where it should have been hooked to the back yard. I put it in before I put in the sidewalks and intended to take the water to the backyard directly and not through the house piping. Evidently i never got to completing that project. I also picked up four more artichoke plants and planted them in addition to the two from yesterday. I still need to add some wood chips and complete those pipes for the faucet. A nice tuna salad for lunch and leftover pork and sauerkraut with potatoes for dinner. I got a call from the Rec Van salesman after lunch. He said they had a Winnebago Ekko camper in so we all went to see it and their other campers in the late afternoon. The Ekko has been delayed for nearly a year so It’s nice to see one. Unfortunately it is too big for our (my) needs. Looking over all their other models just confirms that I need to build what I want to be satisfied.

Monday: (08/09) I had a morning dental cleaning appointment. Before heading home I stopped by Lowe’s for some pipe fittings, then Kaiser to have a urine test done, then lunch from China Wok eaten at a Sunnyvale park under a huge shade tree, then home. At home I added a pipe fitting to re-hookup the drip sprinklers that I extended to the garden. I also did some digging and filling in preparation to install concrete where we had brick tile that grew nothing but weeds. I also located the source end of the water line I need to hookup. Granola and banana for breakfast. Lunch from the China Wok. Lou’s BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob from our garden for dinner.

Portola SP, Peter's Creek Loop

Tuesday: (08/03) The usual hikers breakfast from Happy Donut. I headed up to Portola Redwoods State Park for a hike. I led a San Jose Mid-week Hikers Group hike to the Peters Creek Grove. It was a 13.5 mile hike with a 2112' ascent that included a look at the old Page Mill site and the Old Tree. It was a warm day but the shade of the trees made it quite nice. It is another favorite hike of mine, and so close. This was a champion group. Everyone who was signed up last night, arrived in plenty of time to start our hike on-time. Group stayed together, mostly, and even braved some poison oak. While I promised a leisurely pace, we actually ended up with an average moving speed of 2.7 mph. About 13.5 miles, 2112' ascent. When I made it back to town I got gas in the car. It was nearing empty when I started out to the hike. I picked up lunch from Los Altos Taqueria before going home. I ate lunch after my shower about 1600. No dinner needed.