A Graduation Party in Westwood with the Meinhardt Family!

 We left Pinecrest and our friends Dave & Meg and headed up Hwy 5 to Red Bluff about a 5 hour drive.  We looked online and found this nice RV park right off the road up to Westwood and Lake Almanor.

We would be visiting family the next day!

A Graduation Celebration for Julia!

 Nick unhooked the car - it was right close to the Landry room -nice....I had a lot of laundry to do!

 Laundry, Pool and showers and bathrooms!

 A very nice place to stay!

Red Bluff RV Park - Your gateway to Mt Lasen Nat Park!

 Park and ready to relax! 

Read this sign....funny!

Driving from Pinecrest to Red Bluff - we received a Facebook invitation from Gwen & Kevin to come join them and the family!  "Yes we are heading that direction - so yes we will come!"



  The weather here in Red Bluff is 95 degrees...quite a change from the mountains!

The next morning we headed up the road to Westwood (CA) to visit family.  It would take 1.5 hours...going up towards Mt Lassen National Park and then along Lake Almanor into Chester and then Westwood.  It was a beautiful drive!  A gorgeous area to visit!  Many many years ago my parents & 4 kids to this area and we stayed for a few days at this Lake... I remember the wonderful days in our little red cabin on the lake and seeing Mt Lassen with snow....wow that was so fun for us kids!  I remember how HOT it was up here even though it has a 5000 + elevation!  No air conditioning in those days...we were all puffing coming up from Oakland for a 4 day trip.  Good memories!   
Lassen Volcanic National Park                                Lake Almanor - a Beautiful Place!
 

Nick & I would be visiting here for the day and then return back to the motor home by evening - which we did.

The grad was Julia their youngest daughter!  It was a fun afternoon and just wonderful to see everyone again!  Kevin's parents & sister were there too from Montana!

 Gwen was busy making a really nice chicken/pineapple (Indo) flavor dish!

Loved the words on this picture!

 Here's Julia and Gwen!  

Congratulations Julianna!!

She will be heading to Santa Barbara in August...oh boy - Mom & Dad will be 
"empty-nesters!!!" 

 These homes have been lumbermen homes when there was a lot of forest cutting in this area.  Built in the early 1900's.  Kevin & Gwen purchased one of these homes and made it what it is today....very cute!  It is comfy and cozy and they raised their 3 girls in this small community! 

Westwood, California

 After a lovely time visiting and catching up with one another - we headed back to Red Bluff and the drive down again!

Saw some pretty sights on the way!

 Gwen had told us she is leading worship in the church she attends!  It is held in a old theater in the town of Chester.  She was asked by her pastor if she would also help to get the theater going again...to open it and also so it can be used for community events!  A great idea...much success Gwen...we know you can!!!!!

 We came across these really darling little houses...and turned off to look at them.  They are actually vacation rentals...but Boy...I could live in this little house!  Darling!!!!!





Tomorrow we head into Oregon! 

 Oh by the way...this is Anneke - Kevin & Gwen's first daughter.  She has learned to speak Japan! Amazing!

Anneke has recently started to draw by pencil...yes she started in 2013....now look what she's done!!!!!!!

 This is her sister Julia...can you believe this?????

 This is her boyfriend - Joe....can you believe this???????  Yes all by pencil!  I am struck by her excellent art work!

This looks like a picture right?

No - truly pencil!

 Fantastic work....My some people are so talented!  Anneke hopes to get into a art school close to Monterey!

I can imagine anyone wanting to hire her!!!

Go Girl!  Keep it up! ..... And much success!

A day in San Francisco .....again! Today....May 27, 2015

 On June 24, 2013 Nick & I stood at this very same spot at the Bart train station in Orinda CA, with the 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks ready to depart to Singapore on a exciting adventure of travel! 
 
We had purchased 2 one-way tickets and would decide how, where and when we would be going!  It was an amazing trip and a life experience for the both of us!
www.middelplaats.blogspot.com   see our complete trip on our blog  "Our Bucket List: Asia Here we Come!"

But today we were going to enjoy the City of San Francisco for the day! While we were waiting for the Bart train to come on the platform - we asked this young gal to take a picture (above) of us so we would be able to add that to this blog....and we begin to chat with this gal "Jessica" - she was darling and very bright!  She was studying to become a doctor!    Jessica said she wanted travel and use her expertise serving in a foreign country!  Oh my did we hit it off...we chatted on the Bart all the way to San Francisco!  She was darling!  And guess where her background is?
Malaysia!  Her mother and brother were actually visiting Padang Malaysia where we have been!

Pretty neat huh?  And she was a believer too!  Way cool!  I quickly took a picture of her, and she did the same with us!  Totally cute & and we hugged!  God Bless you Jessica! 

 The plan was to exit at the first exit in SF - Embarcadero and walk from the Ferry Building all the way to Fisherman Wharf - which we did!

Look Rose????? You had mentioned this to me!

There's Pier 39....but we walked right past it - and on to Boudin's for a bite to eat!

We then rented some bikes San Francisco Bike Rentals

 Love to walk along Fisherman's Wharf

 Off we went along the shore towards the Bridge...we are going to ride along the Marina and the Presidio and then up to the Golden Gate Bridge! 

 Beautiful sights along the way...such a treat!

  The Bridge is so big! 

People are walking & many are biking - and cars are driving by very fast!  What a beautiful view we have!

 We have seen these views many times but every time we are still so impressed!

Nick & I continued to ride the bike across the Bridge and then you go down a very steep hill to the cute town of Sausalito!









 We "shared" a wonderful lunch on a pier!

"I Left my Heart in San Francisco!'

 We walked around a bit and enjoyed the little tourist town, very quaint and cute across from San Francisco.  We then got in line to take the Ferry boat back to Pier 39 - and Fisherman's Wharf!  We surely did NOT want to go back up that steep steep hill and across the bridge again....ha!

 Well organized and lots of people did it with us!

Even the Dutch family in front of us in line...that were visiting - ha!

                                 Rows and Rows of bikes on the ferry boat..."which one is ours??????"

A Container ship going right under the Bridge...where might they be going??? China?

 Alcatraz!  Al Capone and the Indian seige....
Alcatraz Island - Interesting!