We took a drive into Yosemite National Park to visit the Hetch Hetchy reservoir.
exploring
Attractions and other places we visit.
Yosemite National Park: Yosemite Valley
After arriving at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, we took a drive into Yosemite National Park to visit the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center, and take some photos of some interesting rocks.
Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome visible:
Tunnel:
Waterfall (barely flowing at the end of summer):
El Capitan:
Waterfall:
Historic church:
Welcome Center:
Yosemite Valley map:
We had dinner at the grill, with a couple of ravens watching us (and looking like sitting on my shoulder for a moment):
Heading out of Yosemite Valley:
We headed back into the valley a few days later, and explored some more stuff:
Ansel Adams Gallery:
Exploration Center and Theater (the movie was worth a watch):
Indian Village:
Baseball: San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres
We attended a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, playing at the Giant’s ballpark, Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. What we thought would be our last game of the year (but actually only our last game of the regular season), and the 8th ballpark we’ve visited in our stretch goal of visiting all of the ballparks (six new ones this year, plus re-visiting the Mariners’ park a couple of times).
Bay Bridge:
Oracle Park:
Team store:
Three times world champions:
Concessions:
Burritos:
View from outfield:
Big Coke bottle:
Big glove:
Cable car:
Ferry next to the ballpark:
View from outfield:
World Series rings:
View from our seats:
Orlando Cepeda memorial:
Mascot:
First pitches:
Out at first:
An advertising boat circled for half the game:
Exploring Oracle Park:
Boats and kayaks next to the ballpark, waiting for a splash home run:
Our traditional ballpark dessert:
Submarine pitcher:
Runs score:
That was a new splash hit home run:
Final scores:
Padres win, sorry Giants:
Lassen Volcanic National Park
We visited Lassen Volcanic National Park again. The main visitor center was closed, but the museum was open, so we went there first:
And unlike last time, the road through the park was open, so we enjoyed the sights:
The Sulphur Works area was like a tiny Yellowstone. I know many people don’t like the sulphur smell, but we enjoy it, probably thanks to that association (and with Rotorua in New Zealand):
It was nice to be able to see more of the park this time.
Ashland, Oregon
Some miscellaneous photos around Ashland, Oregon.
Ashland Springs Hotel:
Oregon Shakespeare Festival gift store:
We enjoy the hills around Ashland:
Varsity theater:
Creekside restaurants:
Lithia Park pond:
Scenic drive along Dead Indian Memorial Road and Green Springs Highway
On our last day staying in Ashland (a Saturday), we took a scenic drive along Dead Indian Memorial Road and Green Springs Highway (OR-66), along the historic Applegate Wagon Trail, through the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
An interactive map of our route, traveling clockwise (with a fuel stop first, then a stop at the “Boat Launch” waypoint; the other waypoints are just to force the route:
We really like the Ashland area, and Dead Indian Memorial Road is one of the favorites, the kind of terrain we enjoy.
Some interesting rocks:
A bit of wildfire smoke in the area:
A glimpse of Mount Washington, a 7,795 foot peak in the Cascade range:
Smiley face on a tank:
We stopped at the Sunset Day Use Area of Lake of the Woods for a picnic lunch:
Another angle of Mount Washington across the lake:
A dog with shark fin, carrying a stick:
Ducks:
Back on the road, on highway 140 W:
Upper Klamath Lake:
Reservoir:
OR-66:
A nice drive.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
We attended a couple of performances of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.
Back when we had a homestead, we used to be members of OSF, and did annual visits to Ashland to attend performances and enjoy the town. (Though we do plan to be back in Ashland next year, and probably every year, so we could resume our membership.)
This time, we attended a performance of Jane Eyre, and of Much Ado About Nothing.
“Allen Elizabethan Theatre, America’s First Elizabethan Theatre”:
Before each show they have a “Green Show” musical performance outside the theaters:
Into the theater:
A view of the Green Show from the theater balcony:
Inside the theater; yes, it’s open air:
Another day, another Green Show:
A larger crowd:
Selfie:
A little different set dressing in the theater:
Sunset:
Audience:
Ashland food
Some samples of food in Ashland, Oregon.
Firstly, an ice cream snack from Zoey’s Cafe & Artisan Ice Cream:
After the cabaret (which also had food, covered previously), we went to an old favorite, Louie’s of Ashland for a small dinner creekside:
Salad and truffle fries:
Before a play, we had a fancy dinner at Chateaubriand 36:
I enjoy absinthe (Jenn doesn’t), so I got an absinthe drip:
Finally, before another play we had dinner at Cocorico (which used to be Amuse):
Tasty stuff. Our only regret was that we missed the delightful breakfasts we used to be served when staying at Ashland Creek Inn each year. Now that we live in a motorhome, we don’t have that particular pleasure anymore.
Ashland wineries: Quady North & Belle Fiore
While staying in Ashland we visited a couple of wineries that we’ve enjoyed in the past: Quady North & Belle Fiore.
Firstly, Quady North:
They used to have a tasting room in Jacksonville, but recently moved to a building at their winery:
We did a couple of tastings, which included some bonuses, along with a charcuterie platter for our lunch:
We bought several bottles, plus a box of wine:
Another day, we went to Belle Fiore Winery, another winery we’ve liked:
A somewhat fancier building:
We did the Reserve and Chateau tastings:
I admit it, we mostly go here for their truffle fries; this time since this was our dinner we also got a charcuterie board, though I think we would have preferred just getting a full-sized order of fries (this was the small):
We didn’t buy any bottles from here; after doing the tastings, we decided we didn’t particularly enjoy any of them enough this time. Their wines are too tannic for us.
Oregon Cabaret Theatre: Legally Blonde, the Musical
While in Ashland, we attended a performance at Oregon Cabaret Theatre of Legally Blonde, the Musical. We’ve visited Ashland many times over the years, but this was our first time at the cabaret.
Menu:
Stage:
Our table was upstairs:
Other tables:
Chandelier:
Jenn:
Brunch:
Legally Blonde dining:
Downstairs:
Stage:
Of course I couldn’t take photos of the actual performance, but it was enjoyable.