Baseball: Mariners at Athletics

While staying north of San Francisco, our Seattle Mariners happened to be in Oakland, so we attended a game.

Jenn’s game summary:

It was the final game, and a sweep of the A’s by the Mariners with another come-from-behind win. Taylor Trammell had a 2-run homer in the 3rd. A’s pitching was not good. Walked Trammell in the 4th to score Cal Raleigh. Bases loaded, Kolten Wong singled to score Teoscar Hernandez and J.P. Crawford. Kirby settled in after the 3rd, and Sewald closed it out. Sad to see so few fans at the crumbling Coliseum, but it was a good Mariners win. The A’s will be in Vegas in a few years anyway. I feel bad for the loyal Oakland fans.

Rooted in Oakland… but not for much longer, as they are planning to move to Las Vegas:

Rooted in Oakland

Tailgating:

Tailgating

The Coliseum:

Coliseum

A peek of the field:

A peek of the field

Looking back from our seats:

Looking back from our seats

Selfie from our seats:

Selfie from our seats

We could see into the camera and ramp area, as the Mariners gave autographs on the way out:

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Play ball:

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

We did a mobile order for food, which was a mistake; I spent over half an hour standing in line to pick up our food after the “ready” notification, while the ad hoc order line was moving much faster:

Mobile order line

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Finally, our chicken and fries:

Chicken and fries

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Some slow-mo videos:

Baseball

Baseball

Game

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Sweep:

Sweep

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Autographs:

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Manager

Scores:

Scores

Bruce Munro: Light at Sen­so­rio

An artistic installation in Paso Robles, California is Bruce Munro: Light at Sensorio.

It features a field of thousands of lights, and some light towers.

We arrived just before sunset:

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Path to the light towers:

Path to the light towers

Light towers, made of wine bottles (of course):

Light towers

An interesting shed:

Shed

We got a couple of beverages from the bar:

Bar

Sunset:

Sunset

Light towers:

Light towers

Light towers

A shot from my 360 camera:

Light towers

A 360 camera effect:

360 camera effect

Light towers

Back to the Field of Lights as it gets darker:

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Back to the Light towers, now that it’s dark:

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Grass lights:

Grass lights

The Field of Lights again:

Field of Lights

360 camera effects:

360 camera effect

360 camera effect

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is an iconic mansion about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

They offer a number of tours, from the basic Grand Rooms Tour, which we did 22 years ago when we first moved to the US, to a more exclusive Julia Morgan Tour, about twice as long, limited to just eight visitors, and gets to go places not seen by other tours. We opted for the latter this time; a very worthwhile experience.

Hearst Castle

The experiences starts and ends at the visitor center:

Visitor center

The visitor center includes food, a gift store, and exhibits:

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Everyone takes a bus up the hill to the castle:

Bus to the castle

The tour started with the outdoor pool; we were on a side of the pool where the other tours can’t go:

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Castle:

Castle

Exploring one of the guest cottages:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Castle

View:

View

Another cottage:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

The castle:

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Dining room:

Dining room

Dining room

Another room:

Room

Room

Game room:

Game room

Theater:

Theater

Another room:

Room

Julia Morgan’s room:

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Kitchen:

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Stairs:

Stairs

Bedroom:

Bedroom

Stairs:

Stairs

Ceiling:

Ceiling

Library:

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Back of cottage:

Back of cottage

Underneath a large patio are some old hidden steps, that were built then covered up as Hearst changed his mind:

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Indoor pool:

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

I recorded a timelapse video of the tour with my new 360 camera as an experiment. Unfortunately, the timelapse is designed for static subjects, morphing any movement, which isn’t great with motion. I really should have done a hyperlapse instead, but this is still interesting:

The view looking down the hill, including the winding road to castle:

View and road to castle

Hearst Castle sign:

Hearst Castle sign

Photo:

Photo

Paso Robles wineries: McPrice Myers Vineyards, Calcareous Vineyard, DAOU Vineyards, Parrish Family Vineyard, Le Cuvier Winery

While staying in Paso Robles, we visited a few wineries. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, we figured we’d just head out on a Saturday for a bit of wine tasting, stopping by wineries that looked good. Imagine our surprise when we learned that that is not how things are done in California — apparently one needs reservations pretty much everywhere.

We did manage to get an inside table at one place without a reservation, but that surprise really put a damper on the experience that day.

The place that took pity on our backward ways was McPrice Myers Vineyards:

Tables

Tasting room

Wine tasting

Wine tasting

Wine tasting

We purchased a couple of bottles:

Bottles


After that, we didn’t try any other wineries that day; instead we went to Rustic Fire for a tasty lunch:

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza


Learning from our experience, we made reservations for some vineyards on subsequent days. The first was Calcareous Vineyard:

Entrance

Inside the tasting room:

Inside the tasting room

Outdoor table:

Outdoor table

Tasting menu:

Tasting menu

Food menu:

Food menu

Order form:

Order form

View:

View

View

Outdoor seating:

Outdoor seating

Jenn:

Jenn

Tasty food:

Food

Food

Food

We bought three bottles (provided with a nice box):

We bought three bottles


Another vineyard, DAOU Vineyards and Winery:

Entrance

Vines:

Vines

The security station on the driveway; we were turned away here the previous weekend, but this time we had a reservation (and nobody was staffing it this time, of course):

Security

Fancy gate:

Gate

View:

View

Tasting room:

Tasting room

Tasting room

Patio:

Patio

Gardens:

Gardens

Patio

Tasting

Bottle list:

Bottle list

Flight and food menu:

Flight and food menu

Charcuterie platter:

Charcuterie platter

Charcuterie platter

Bottle:

Bottle

Views:

View

View

View

View

View

We bought three bottles:

We bought three bottles


Another winery we visited (on another day) was Parrish Family Vineyard:

Entrance

Entrance

Vineyard

Vineyard

Welcome

Patio area:

Patio area

Tasting menu:

Tasting menu

Food menu:

Food menu

Price list:

Price list

Glass

Patio

Vineyard

Jenn

Super tasty (and messy!) BLTA:

BLTA

Wine


Our last winery in Paso Robles was Le Cuvier Winery:

Le Cuvier Winery

They are situated on top of a hill, so have a nice view:

View

Though the covered patio is tucked away, not taking advantage of that view:

Patio

The experience there was a bit different, with wine and food parings to bring out the flavors:

Wine and food parings

Food