"DIPSEA" DOODLE

671 steps. Our calves hurt from the descent down those steps. Better yet, my wife got to break in her new REI pack. "Works like a charm," she says.

SPRING SPRUNG

Where we live 3.80 inches of precipitation.

The pictures below are from the seasonal stream near our house. During the course of a "normal" winter and spring, this stream flows strong from the rains and the snowmelt and then vanishes during the July through September heat.

The "white band" in the middle of the stream is where the stream flows.

After.



It is hard to judge how high the water is.

After shot




After shot.














In other news, Oakhurst to the north of us is without power due to trees falling over since the ground was saturated and the snows on the branches complicated matters causing the trees to uproot. Rockslides and fallen trees closed the Deadwood Grade on Highway 41.

Our relatives have relocated to safer and warmer environs. Three hots and a cot with a nice warm shower and a nice warm fire from the wood stove in between.

Yosemite National Park is closed and people are being escorted out of the park. The last time the park was closed was during the flood of 1997.

There is more rain on the way.

Spring sprung!

THE WORD...

UPDATE 03-16-11: Great news! My mother is safe as well as the rest of my Japanese family. Power has been restored. My mom's land line was down. Her cell phone finally got recharged.

All is good again.

I can breathe again.



UPDATE 03-12-11: Nothing. With the reports of over 10,000 dead, hope still is high.


I am awaiting word from my mother after that 8.9 magnitude quake.

I am unable to email nor am I able to get through on either her land line or her cellphone.

My mother lives in Chiba which is 200 miles south southwest from the epicenter.

Monitoring the USGS website. Over 250 aftershocks of over 5.0 have been felt.

Given the amount of news flowing out of Japan, hopes are high that she is safe. I have to keep that thought of hope that she is safe and out of danger.

The phone lines are probably inundated with incoming and outgoing traffic with other family members trying to make contact.

I just need a little reassurance of hearing her voice.

Some day that time will come.

SO AT LEAST I THOUGHT...

As a follow-up to the train ride....

I get sick.

For the first time since November 2008, I get the flu and I get it good after coming home after visiting my wife.

I noticed "something" going on while engaging in conversation with other passengers on the train on the return trip.

That night and early the next morning, chills, fever, coughing, congestion...yeah, I got it all right.

Our bed has separate controls. I would get too warm under my side, then I would roll to her side. Then I would get too cold, then roll over to my side. On and on and on.

I don't blame Amtrak, but it was bound to happen sooner or later.

My guess that on my ride up to Richmond, I sat in Car #1 which is right behind the engine. The smell of diesel "permeated" the air.

I got up to walk about the length of the train to see if there were other seats available towards the rear of the train.

None.

Time for that "stuffy, sneezy whatever stuff."

All a (cough cough) board!

FIRSTS...

My wife and I drive to the Tomales Bay area.

Tomales Bay.

This house just caught my eye.

And this house caught my wife's eye. "Turn around!"














First: We see elephant seals on the beach.

At first my wife thought this was a beached whale. I wanted to get closer to get a good shot when this docent alerts me not to cross the line drawn in the sand. Well, excuse me. We thought the line in the sand was drawn by some kid with a stick!

The same elephant seal to the far left in the picture.
















First: We stop to have a half dozen oysters at this mom and pop shop near Point Reyes National Seashore. Very quiet setting and the oysters were fantabulous.

First: We see tule elk.

Magnificent sight.


"What are 'ewe' looking at?" while it sticks out it's tongue.














First: See San Quention State Prison on a "drive-bye."

First: Dinner and drinks at Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley. At first we wanted to eat at an Asian noodle restaurant in Emeryville, but they were closed for good.

We were a little disappointed with Hog Island and Tomales Bay oyster companies. Tourist traps. Not what we thought they would be. Prices were ridiculous.



















But as we always do on everything we do we...



have fun.

ALL ABOARD

I ride the Amtrak for the first time since December 1982.

Fresno-Madera-Merced-Denair/Turlock-Modesto-Stockton-Antioch/Pittsburg-Martinez-Richmond.

Three and one-half hours.

Beats driving...

So at least I thought...

MY WIFE LEAVES ME...

Not a sad thing, but a great thing...

She is now working on Phase II of her leadership development program in Richmond.

She will be living in a furnished one-bedroom 800 square foot apartment next to a marina!

We both drove in separate vehicles filled to the max with business and a TON OF SHOES to Richmond on Sunday, February 27. For a minute, I thought I had to stop at the scales but noticed the sign said "No pickups."

Checked into the apartment. Very nice! Micro, fridge, cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, glassware, utensils, bottle/can opener, washer/dryer, vacuum, iron/ironing board, hangers, hair dryer, bed, lamps, nightstands, dresser, table, couch, flatscreen, cable, wi-fi, phone, towels, patio furniture...

The dining area. Everything in the dining room...furnished. Including the dinnerware, mats, goblets, silverware.

Don't know if wifey-pooh likes this shot or not. Knives, toaster, coffee-maker (behind TJ bags), cooking utensils and holder...furnished.

The living room. The television, stand, router couch, coffee table, pictures...furnished. The laptop not furnished.

Hallway. No, the items to the left did NOT come with the apartment.













The bathroom. Toilet, tub, sink...furnished. Say what?
























The bedroom. Bed, nightstands, lamps, dresser (not pictured)...furnished.

The wife cave. The washer/dryer unit is adjacent to the bedroom on the other side of the doorway.














The foyer...furnished!
























The main door...furnished. The peephole is a little "too high" for anyone under 5'7".























The patio and the outside storage room...furnished!














Patio furniture...furnished.






















The view in back...furnished!















The only thing missing is a barbecue!

The only "bad" is that the bedroom overlooks the apartment complex parking lot. You can hear the car alarms, stereos, engines, footsteps, yakkity-yak, etc.

We checked out the area to look for vitals: Costco, Trader Joes's, Whole Foods, and REI. She is set for survival items! And all within reasonable driving distance from her new abode. Yes, she is happy.

As for her commute to work? She is 3 miles away. Talk about gas savings!

Gosh, I hope she comes back...

And she will after four months...sort of

In between, I will take the Amtrak for the one-way 3.5 hour ride. Hey, beats driving.

Then, off to Baltimore!

Gonna be a long eight months...

I got home tonight around 5:15 after a three and a half hour drive.

I miss her.

PRESIDENTS' DAY SNOW STORM

What a way to start off a three-day weekend with fresh snow. Not too little, and not too much.






























































Lewis Creek.























Some day...

This...


Sierra Sky Ranch Road.



Downtown Oakhurst. For a late Saturday morning, this is surreal. Normally, traffic abounds this time of day. Not on this one.


Pan shot.

Oakhurst sign.

The valley below.

DO WE DO DEWEY DEUX

Another snowshoe trek to Dewey Point. Took us 4 hours and 37 minutes (including 1 hour break). 7.35 miles.

Only this time we went with 20 other snowshoers!