This is the star of the entire trip. We stopped for lunch on Tuesday in Healdsburg, Ca at a place called Willi's Raw Bar. Cliff just punched in seafood on the GPS and this place came up. It sounded like an informal seafood place so we decided to check it out. Well, we get there and it is a 4 star cafe that is classy,classy,classy. Everything was served "tapas" style. We ordered steamed clams, fish tacos, almond crusted sole with wilted spinach, sour dough bread, olives. OMG this food was out of this world. The steamed clams were the best I have ever had. We literally ate the broth and soaked the bread in it till it was gone. Tony even ate the fish tacos (red snapper). If you ever are in the area you MUST eat at this place it is so fun and soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!
The beautiful North coast
Tony eating crab like a little piggy
My beautiful Grandson at the wharf in Arcia, Ca where we spent the night. The hotel desk suggested a fish place called Local Seafood on the water and they had wonderful food. More steamed clams(great put not perfect like the night before but really good) crab, and extras. It was so good
We saw a boat at this seaport called the Sea Weasel. So Tony became the Sea Weasel for the rest of the trip. It was so funny. He wanted to rent a boat and him and Cliff be Forrest Gump and go Shrimpin". Cliff just laughed and said all they would get was drowned if they even tried such a thing. We had such a good time and yes Tony did get tired of seafood so we broke down and got him pepperoni pizza for lunch two days in a row. He begged for McDonalds but we held out almost the whole trip beofre we broke down and ate that crap.
The Sea Weasel
Two of my favorite men who tomorrow will tackle the giant redwoods, Paul Bunyan and Babe, and worst of all Big Foot!!!!!!!
Well on Sunday night we arrived in San Francsisco after a beautiful drive. We stayed at a hotel on the edge of the tenderloin district called The Opal. It was an old hotel that they had re- furbished. Kind of a dump in a way but kind of classy in a way also. The best thing is we were right down town and a two bedroom suite was on $109.00 a night. The registration clerk was gay as ever and very nice and helpful/ We had a great time talking about horoscopes, men, etc. He was a hoot. Anyway we got in our room and were going to take the bus over to the Castro (gay district) for dinner but decided we were just too tired so we ate a a fun place called Tommy's that we had seen on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. It was right across the street and was really good. The next morning we got up and caught the cable cars to Fishermans Wharf by the way of "the crookedest street in the world" pictured above.
This is Tony and Cliff being funny. We were on the wharf just messing around We sent the picture of Cliff the Charlee to show Gorda and when Gabbi saw it she said, "bandage". HAHA
Alcataz island. Tony was really disappointed we didn't get to take the tour so we will have to take him back someday. I am actually glad we missed it, I hate prisons and all that they imply.
My sweetheart and I in San Francisco, Ca
We drove that night up to Salinas more tomorrow
On Sunday the 20th we left Bakersfield and drove over to Pasa Robles and hit the coast highway. We drove all day thru the most beautiful scenery ever. It was so nice we just took our time and stopped every time we saw something interesting. Tony got a little bit car sick so we stopped and got some pills for him and I traded and rode in the backseat for awhile. I was surprised how comfortable it was.
We stopped in Big Sur for lunch and Cliff ordered the "captains plate" and it had the biggest fried shrimp I have ever seen. They were not butterflied but I bet they were 2 inches in circumference. We both couldn't believe it. Plus it had cod, clams, and calamari. Yummy. I had their clam chowder and it was sooo good. Tony of course had his usual cheeseburger. That started our orgy of sea food. The place we ate at was called "Gorda By the Sea". We had to eat there in honor of our baby girl Gorda.
We stopped at this lighthouse and Cliff got a bunch of pictures he wants to make into black and white prints. It was just so amazing. The wind was blowing so it was chilly (but then when isn't it cold on the coast? ) It was nice just to relax and smell the ocean. I love that salty smell, the ocean is my favorite place , followed by the desert. Go figure but I love them both as different as they are. There is nothing as relaxing as the beach or the desert in the still of the morning. LOVE IT. It took us all day to make the drive up the coast and we stayed that night in San Fransisco. 
I thought I better start talking about our trip. We left on Sat, June 19th after going to Oliva's dance recital. It was Tony, Cliff, and I. We left Vegas about 4:00 in the afternoon and drove to Bakersfield, Ca. It was a pretty drive especially thru Tehachipi. When we got to Bakersfield we got a room and then went over to Buck Owens, Crystal Palace for dinner. It was about 9:00 and the band was playing some good rock and roll/honkytonk country music. We got a seat for dinner down by the band so it was really nice. They had wonderful food and we had the only steak we ate on the trip. It was sea food from this point on. Tony had fun and we were proud to take him to his first honkytonk. I warned him not to let it get in his blood or he would never get it out (LMAO). I am afraid it's too late, he loves music like the rest of us so much and plays a mean guitar already. I love this shot of him with the neon "Crystal Place" guitar sign in the back ground.
Here is Cliff sitting with Minny Pearl in the lobby waiting to be seated and eat his big rib steak. They had a museum on all the walls of the place that displayed all Buck Owens clothes, posters, instruments plus a lot of other artists stuff. Really interesting to hard core country fans like us.
Me and Buck Owens aint that sumpthin
Had to post these darling pictures of Olivia's dance recital. She was so damn cute and did such a good job. In the above photo she is the second from the left. Her group were little mermaids and she knew every step. It was a really good show. They used the theatre at the Clark County Community College Cheyenne Campus and had really good staging, lights, and costuming. Yes, we start them young so they are comfortable in front of a crowd!!! I love it. Mima & Daddy Daddy love you sweet darling and are so proud of their oldest granddaughter!!!
Isn't she adorable
Look at her all in character and doing her little shoulder roles. Oh, I think she is so cute
Mama and her angel.
