Friday, September 30, 2016

2016 Fall Dinner Party Day 1

Last summer, Sharon started floating the idea of moving the fall dinner party to Sea Ranch as part of celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. Frankly, I never thought that she would be able to pull it off, but she did. We ended up getting the Larkins, Gainsleys, Sanborns, Renterias, Janie and Liz all together for a long weekend on the coast!

Liz, Janie and the Sanborns met us at our house in Carmichael about 8:30 am. We loaded Phil's truck up with food, drinks, luggage and golf clubs. I put the bikes on top of the Lexus. With Liz and Janie riding with Sharon and I, we rolled out about 9:15 am. We made a quick stop at Raley's for dry ice for the cake.

The plan was to meet the rest of the group at the Bouchaine Winery. We had a tasting and ate lunch on the back patio. Sharon and Janie are both wine club members at Bouchaine...

2016 Fall Dinner Party Day 1

From there, we headed to Bodega Bay. The group made a quick stop at Tides Wharf Fish Market for some smoked salmon.

We finally rolled into Gualala about 3:40 pm. We had to stop and pick up the key for one of the houses.

Everyone got settled into the two houses. Janie, Liz and the Renterias stayed with us at a house called Vista Del Mar. The Sanborns, Larkins and Gainsley stayed at a house called Kyuka. The two houses were probably less an a 1/3 of a mile part, but the road didn't go through. As a result, we had to go back to Highway 1 to drive back and forth between the two houses. After we got settled in, I walked between the two houses in about 7 1/2 minutes.

The Renterias made dinner for everyone at Vista Del Mar. Julie served a great chili verde. After dinner, Sharon got everyone to play Cards Against Humanity.

Rod and I finished the night in the hot tub. It was after midnight before we finally call it a night.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Throw Back Thursday

Starting tomorrow, Sharon and I are kicking off two weeks of events to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, including a long weekend to Sea Ranch for the fall dinner party and a trip to Washington DC for the Georgetown Family weekend.

Looking through a box of pictures from the wedding, I came across this picture and had to share it!

Erin, Eric, Drew and Kevin - October 13, 1996 - The Monte Verde Inn

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 42

Continuing by car, Tom and Eric spent day forty-two in Muxia. It was foggy and overcast, but warm. As a result, it was a bit muggy and humid, but still nice.

Tom said that it "finally feels like the Camino is complete now that we have reached this calm seaside town lacking the hustle and bustle of the working port of Finisterre and the tourist magnet of land's end. The ocean is very relaxing to sit by after all the walking."

Tomorrow, they become touristicos heading for departure from Lisbon a week from tomorrow.

view from the hotel room

Nostra Senora de Barca





Monday, September 26, 2016

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 41

On day forty-one, Tom and Eric rented a car through the parador. They drove to Finisterre (the end on the world) and the km 0 of the Camino for those who go all the way to ocean.




Sunday, September 25, 2016

another test recipe plus an aside

With the fall dinner party a week off, Sharon tried another test recipe for the main course. She was much happier with the end result than she was with the test earlier this week.

After pickleball on Friday, a long run in the heat on Saturday afternoon, and a spin class at Arden Hills on Sunday morning, my legs are dead...

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 40

Tom and Eric spent last night in an albergue appropriately called "The Last Stamp." It was a foggy morning. They will be spending tonight in the last parador.





Saturday, September 24, 2016

Neighborhood Get Together

Sharon and I went to a neighborhood get together around the community pool. Sharon made a plate of chicken wings to take. Eventually, I went back to the house and brought Tiber to the party.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 39

On day thirty-nine, Tom and Eric arrived in Santiago! No blisters. No lasting major injuries. They beat the rain into town.

Tom said "most challenging physical endeavor I ever undertook. Hard to believe we walked 500 miles. A bit numb just now and not sure what to think or say."





Friday, September 23, 2016

Pickleball

Pickleball

Sharon and I played pickleball with our neighbors Greg and Michele and Jim and Deborah. Greg and Michele have a court in their driveway.

Wikipedia says that pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. I have watched them play, but was surprised to find that the game uses a deadened wiffle ball. The ball doesn't bounce like a tennis ball would! The paddle is like a giant table tennis paddle.

After playing a few matches, Greg and Michele had everyone in for a nice dinner of salmon, green beans and potatoes.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 38

Tom and Eric spent their thirty-eight night on the Camino in a pensione in O Pedrouzo. On next to next to last night, they experienced the worst concert of snoring yet in an albergue room of ten. They are planning just the two of them in one room tonight!

The day started out foggy. By the afternoon it was sunny, but not hot. This made for a good easy going walk on next to last day. They met a few more Camino critters and Eric's Camino beer empties.

Tom said that they are something of a legend among the 100k crowd when they hear that they have walked all the way from St Jean. They met a Swede in his 60s who started in April and has walked all the way from Stockholm!



Thursday, September 22, 2016

Happy first day of fall from Jack the Bulldog!

A photo posted by Georgetown's Jack the Bulldog (@gujackbulldog) on

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 37

Tom and Eric spent their thirty-seventh night on the Camino at Albergue Milpés in Ribadiso. There was no fog, just big clouds most of the day. It was excellent walking weather. There is 41k to go. They are no longer counting kilometers, but hours.




Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 36

Tom and Eric spent their thirty-sixth night in Palas de Rei. They spent all day walking in the fog and forests appropriate for first day of fall and the anniversary of publication of the Hobbit.

Tom noted that the amount of pilgrim travel has increased ten fold since Sarria. This includes junior high school trips at start of the school year. It is now considered necessary to do the Camino in Spain and put It on your resume.



Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Farm Credit Legal Department Dinner

Sharon had dinner with Holly Chang, Sue Olson, Margaret Heiser and Jean Hultquist at Seasons 52. They worked together in the legal department at the Farm Credit Banks. Sharon thinks that it has been more than 10 years since she last saw Sue.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 35

Tom and Eric spent their thirty-fifth night in Portomarin. It was a fairly easy going day, but crowded as the Camino goers doing the last 100k got started from Sarria. The terrain was reminiscent of Ireland with rolling hills sectioned off by stone walls and even a bag piper playing in the glen.

They started the day with 115km (about 72 miles) left to go. They should be in San Santiago by Saturday.




100km to go!


Monday, September 19, 2016

Dinner with Noel

In town all week for a seminar, we had Noel over for dinner. Sharon did a test for the fall dinner party. She was not satisfied with the results and is looking for another recipe. Noel contributed bottles of Loring Santa Rita Hills and Donum Caneros Pinot Noirs.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 34

Tom and Eric spent their thirty-fourth night in Sarria. They detoured through Samos to see one of oldest monasteries in western world. Sarria is where many of the 100k peregrines start.

Tom and Eric had dinner with an Irishman and several different Americans. It just kind of came together coincidentally. They were amazed to have a common thread: middle aged couple recently married each had a spouse die of cancer, the 30 something couple just had a young daughter die of cancer last fall and then there were Eric and Tom with their story.

Royal Benedictine Abbey of St. Julian of Samos