Northern California, baby

tiger roach said:
We're staying in Eureka tonight. Last night was Coos Bay. I don't know how much free time I'll have, but recommendations are welcome.
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NO wonder you are cold. That part of NorCal usually has typical Pacific NW weather: Chilly and rainy. That forest is a temperate rain forest.

Hope you like it up there.

I was born in FLA to California emigre's. Pop was in the Navy and by the time I was three we had come back to California. I consider myself a native.
 
335clone said:
Eureka is a shithole. Are you heading to the Mendocino coast?
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LOL I got that impression, seems like kind of a gritty town.

Tomorrow we are going to San Francisco, two nights there and that's the end of this trip. I think our route tomorrow is more inland, not sure though.
 
The weather is what makes the pinot in the Green Valley and Sonoma Mountain AVA's so fine.

If you like fine drinking, you're in the absolute best part of the world. Vineyards famous (Joseph Swan, Rochioli) and not (Moshin, Porter Creek) with phenomenal wines. Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa.

The further north you go, the better things get. I've spent enough time in Sonoma County that I know where the cops set up DWI's on the West Side Road ... I miss it.

So, recommendations:
Russian River Brewing (one must have a Pliny (younger or elder) at least once in life)
Willi's Wine Bar (NOT the full Willi's in downtown Santa Rosa), Old Redwood Highway - probably one of the better dinner experiences, ever
Vineyards. Personal faves west of Santa Rosa: Dutton Estate, Lynmar, Moshin, Woodenhead (owner works hard to earn his reputation for being unfriendly, but the wines ....), Gary Farrell, Hartford Estate, and Porter Creek. Pinots to make you cry.

One of the more wonderful ways to spend a day is to drive downstream on the West Side Road, and grab a couple of amazing bottles of pinot, go out to Jenner and Goat Rock beach, and drink in the surf. Sober up, and drive back to Willi's Wine Bar, and collapse into your hotel room in either SR or the Hilton Garden Inn - Sonoma Airport (not as fancy, but newish, reasonable, and tremendously convenient location).
 
tiger roach said:
LOL I got that impression, seems like kind of a gritty town.

Tomorrow we are going to San Francisco, two nights there and that's the end of this trip. I think our route tomorrow is more inland, not sure though.
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If you have any extra time and can pull it off, DO NOT just go down 101 to SF. The Mendocino coastline down to Stinson Beach is some of the most beautiful, dramatic coastline you can hope to see. Yeah, it adds 3+ hours to the drive, but is absolutely worth it. Just cut over at Leggett on 1. Trust me on this.

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Or you can sit on 101 in the heat, looking at dead grass.

Oh, but either way you go, prepare to sit. Most of the closures are only 10 minutes or so, but there is one that is a 40 minute wait you should hit before lunch. It was a rough winter.

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I really couldn't imagine being in that part of the world and not drinking pinot or IPA. That would be a mind blowing fuck up.
 
If you wanted summer you should have stayed away from the coast. I just got home from a trip to Oregon. Went through Redding CA, it was 100...I think it's been 100+ most of the summer
 
tiger roach said:
Hopefully Mrs. Roach will at least have stocked up on water.

My flight Saturday better not be cancelled. I have a bulkhead seat in Business Class. I've been looking forward to that. :grin:
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Tell her to go to an office supply like Office Depot or Staples. They will usually have plenty of water.

Also, power outages are highly likely over the next few days.
 
Looks like I might be hanging out in San Francisco a couple extra days due to the hurricane. Thanks, Obama! :mad:

There are worse places to be stranded though. Maybe I'll see motherfuckin Alcatraz. Totally_jammin_out

Danhedonia said:
I really couldn't imagine being in that part of the world and not drinking pinot or IPA. That would be a mind blowing fuck up.
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I've ticked both of those boxes. :wink:

The local IPA I had in Portland was very good - not ridiculously spicy like craft IPAs can be.

Pinot is Pinot - I love 'em.
 
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Don't go anywhere near Crissy Field Saturday
 

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The IPA you want is at Russian River Brewing. Just saying: there's booze, and then there's make-you-weep-it's-so-perfect, world class booze.

Which western Sonoma County has more than any other place in the world.
 
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