Dizzy (not "Notre") Dame (from all those mountain roads)

We have covered just about every terrain on the planet today, except maybe the desert!!

As we left the hotel this morning, I was thinking I would be driving over the Golden Gate by evening and we would be on the other side of San Fran, but I soon put that idea away when we started into the redwood forests.

Mountain roads, complete with hair (raising) pin turns (that Arend kept wanting to do 60 mph around) and signs that kept saying, "For Elk info, turn your radio dial to - - - ---that was my first clue. It was all up and down hill from then on, until we got to Eureka. I pried my fingers from the dash and stepped out into the fog (okay, I'm always in the fog I know) to still my heartbeat even a little bit as Arend snapped picture after picture and of what you ask?? The beaches and rocks and beaches and rocks--no, I'm kidding really. I did want to kiss those rocks though after my race-track anxiety settled down a bit.

The forest was breath-taking (however I think Arend is figuring in that head of his, how to take even a small piece-say, maybe 20 lbs. or so) of that gorgeous red wood back with him on the plane. There are redwood carving shops all along the roadways (check out the pics again today) and the things they make include birdhouses, plant hangers, baskets, small trinkets, coffee tables, clocks, you name it, they make it. And some of the pieces are remarkable works of art--again, check the pics. It is too bad we can't take any of this stuff back with us--I saw a couple of really interesting bowls I loved--oh well, I guess I'll save my money for the grand-kids.

In the valleys we oohed and awwed over the side hills, covered in *wine bushes* (Arend's term for them--too funny)--acres and acres of vineyards, nestled in between mountains and small sheep herds. Just simply charming and peaceful--what a place to live. ( I still love my teeny corner of the Maritimes, thank-you very much)

We are in for the night (except for a walk) and your clue for our locale today is: the name of this place has 2 words--think of Christmas for the first word, and a flower for the second word. Another clue--we're about 55 miles from the Golden Gate, off highway 101. I'll be checking to see who got this one.

I feel the sandman knocking, so we'd better be going out for our walk. I tried to nap this afternoon but Mr. Earnhart (?) foiled that plan--grin, grin.
Blessings to you, Barb

I'm just going to add that due to technical difficulties I didn't get all the pics uploaded to this post--will try again tonight. I also wanted to tell you that we saw the *Grandfather* of the redwoods yesterday--it was over 1600 years old--yes, that's correct--1600 years old and was 55 feet in circumference, 25 feet in diameter and I do forget how high but what a massive tree--so interesting these giants--a pity they can't grow back home.