Easter Vacation 2003
Chinatown and Point Arena Lighthouse
4-18-03
United did its best to get me into Oakland late...pilots two hours late to show
up for the flight out of Bismarck, a jetway that would not move away from the
airplane to release it for flight...but after a run through DIA, the connection
was made and Brian and Vanna picked me up and away we went. First stop was
CHINATOWN. Yea, another one of Deb's dreams come
true...kites, jade, Chinese satin embroidered jacket, Peking tea duck, and sake
server. Then met Dan Burnham for sushi at Genghis Khans. A perfect day and
perfect night.
4-19-03
Saturday we headed up the North California coast. My tour guide is a fantastic
storyteller and he kept me well entertained during the picturesque drive. So fun
seeing and hearing of his growing up years. The coast drive itself was
spectacular. Prettier than Oregon in places...wilder and more pristine. We ended
up at the Point Arena lighthouse. The community
association that has taken over the management of the lighthouse had expressed
an interest in doing a kite festival on site so the manager met Brian as we
arrived and gave us the grand tour. We made the 153 step climb to the top of the
lighthouse to see the Fresnel lens and the beautiful views. The coastline viewed
from there was breathtaking with the ocean breaking on both sides of the
peninsula. As we were talking to Jeff Gales, Managing Director of the
lighthouse, he indicated that there had been a cancellation at one of the
houses and we were welcome to stay on site. So we had
a three bedroom/2 bath house all to ourselves for the two nights we were there.
It was fantastic. Full kitchen, fireplace, and beautiful ocean views from every
window in the house. Yeah, I could have easily stayed there for twenty or thirty
years.
4-20-03
Sunday was a full day of kite flying. Jeff, the manager, had asked Brian the day
before if he would be interested in flying a kite off the top of the lighthouse
so that was the first order of business. After some ingenious maneuvering on
Brian's part, he was able to launch his 45' octopus
and tie it off from the lighthouse balcony. It swam there for the better part of
the day, amazing photos to be sure, and let us leave it to go fly other things.
How cool to be able to walk out the back door of the house, launch a
kite or two, go back inside to fill the sake glass then
sit on the veranda to decide what next to put into the sky. It was a very cool
Brian and Deb show and we got lots of great response from the couple hundred
visitors that had been on site that day.
4-21-03
Monday brought in some rain so we left Point Arena and headed back to San Ramon
with a couple cool tourist stops along the way. One of the stops was at this
most incredible little chapel with a design much more
New Age than anything any traditional church organization would ever consider
building. Too fantastic. It was a great drive back to Brian's, then grocery
shopping at my favorite Trader Joe's, dinner at a very yummy Chinese restaurant,
repacking the suitcase to fit in all the new purchases, a special glass of
chocolate port, a short sleep, and then a trip to the Oakland airport for my
6:00 am departure.
4-22-03
Tuesday was a giggle just in how convoluted it was to get me back to the
prairie. When my original flight had been scheduled, the plan had been to fly
into Oakland, ride with Brian to San Diego for the wine tasting party then fly
out of San Diego. United would not let me change that schedule without a great
deal more expense so it ended up being cheaper to fly from Oakland to San Diego.
So on Tuesday I was in Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, and Denver before finally
getting to Bismarck. I had been able to change some flights so I had my extended
layover in San Diego rather than Denver so was able to have lunch with Susan
Shampo and Ron Despojado while in San Diego. So great to spend some time with
them. I still get kind of wowed by the star quality of those names and their
willingness to go so very much out of their way just to spend a couple of hours
with me. The phrase "you've come a long way baby" does come to mind. I do count
my blessings often. What a great end to an absolutely fantastic Easter vacation.
Thanks Brian, Dan, Susan, and Ron for being such great friends. See you sometime
this summer.
skydance@bis.midco.net