California Trip Day 5 to 7

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16 to 18th -- Drove from Mendocino, past vineyards and orchards, to Castro Valley.  Arrived late afternoon.  We checked in to our B&B, which was just down from the Sisson home on Proctor Road (4956).  It a large, one floor ADU attached to the garage, with a patio overlooking a green oasis (actually goat fields).  It is about 12 houses from Brent and Stephanie's.  It backs onto Lake Chabot Park.  Chris Thomas is the host and she lives in the house on the property.  She was just leaving a shift at the SF Giants Club Room.  We never saw her again.

Our AirB&B just down the street from Brent and Stephanie's.

Brent and Logan were out buying supplies, Stephanie and Cooper were at home.  It took Cooper a few minutes to warm to us and  he was all smiles from then on.  He knows his name, but is not quite crawling, though he has strong leg muscles.  After some wine and snacks on the back patio, we had a bean casserole and salad for dinner.  Then the boys had serial baths and were off to bed.

Cooper.

Next day, we slept in and walked up to the house for breakfast of quiche, fruit and croissants.  We then drove in two cars to Ardenwood Historic Farm and Park, southeast near Union City.  We walked around the farm patches, watched Logan watering new plants, then walked to far end of the property, passing  the site of  a Japanese house and an unknown ruin, and ending at the steam railroad maintenance shed.  It was closed up but there was a lot of rusting equipment and railway materials around all four sides of the building.  We walked back to the main farm area, seeing chickens, goats, sheep, and 3 bunnies.  We arrived just in time for a public opportunity to make butter (by shaking a small quantity of high fat whipping cream in a small jar -- it takes about 10 minutes of vigorous shaking and goes through a whipped cream stage before then turning a small ball of butter and a little liquid (buttermilk)).

Logan watering....good to have a job . . .

The original train station at the farm

Bluebird.

We shifted to a nearby brewpub/beer garden for drinks, and snacks.  It was a lively place with free churros and ice cones, and some charitable booths.  The Birdhaus Pub was celebrating its 5-year anniversary.

We drove home and we ordered takeout Thai food, instead of trying to go out for dinner.  Prior to dinner we watch some of the qualifying races for F1.  After dinner, the bath and bed routine occurred and we headed back to our place. 

On Sunday, we drove to the Oakland waterfront, walked about for an hour, seeing a bit of a crew regatta of quads, eights, etc.  We made it to the landing pier and watched the teams come in from racing.  It was a diverse group of teams, mostly from California, but with one from Ashland, OR.  We hustled back to Brotzeit Lokal to meet up with Donna and Ralph Briskin for lunch.  We had a great chat with them about their travels (just back from Turkey).  Betsy and I then drove back to Castro Valley and did a long walk (7 miles) in the Lake Chabot Park.  Brent, carrying Cooper, came with us for the first 1 or so, before being recalled home.  We continued along the lakeside and then climbed back up the hill to home.  The park was busy with hikers, bikers, and fishermen enjoying the sun and mild temperatures.

Dinner was again at home - flautas, salad, broccoli salad, and guacamole with chips.  I helped out by making the guacamole.  It was another early night for everyone.