Christmas Eve in Concord, CA

Rudy here - It's Christmas Eve! Wow, was it cold. Minus 3 early this morning.  At the same time it was plus 2 at home - Den Dad said he would ask California Tourism for a refund.  And the waiter at breakfast time said he ran outside right after his morning shower and by the time he got his car going, his hair was CRUNCHY!  You can't write this stuff!  We had a very relaxing day.  The Den Parents had a lovely dinner and then went to the 10 PM church service.  While they were away, we caught sight of this guy in the hall.  It was exciting!

Jeremy here - the Den Parents brought back a couple of photos from the church service.

The Choir offers a Prelude

The Nativity

Den Dad told us some of the real Christmas story, about how the Love of God was made manifest in the world - through Jesus - and just as it is Love that makes us bears Real - the Love of God, and the Love of each of us for the other brings into Reality, Peace and Joy in the world.  All we bears treasured all these words and pondered them in our hearts.

Merry Christmas to all - Jeremy

Staying in Concord, CA

Hello everyone.  Jeremy here.  One of the interesting things about our stay here is that we are right beside both a small airport, and a golf course.  The airport is the most active.  We bears enjoy watching the landings and take-offs.  Of course, Rudy is always claiming he knows the make and model of each plane and tells us how he could fly them. 

Rudy claims "this is a 1997 Cessna" - Who knows?

And the golf course looks rather shabby but people were out playing today

While we were watching the planes - the Den Parents went to check out a church where they will go tomorrow for a 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Service tomorrow.  It has a scenic location up in the hills only 10 km from here.

Grace Episcopal Church - Martinez, CA

Below are some views from the church grounds.

We had a restful evening in the hotel and are looking forward to Christmas Eve.  Thanks for those who have sent messages.  Good-night, - Jeremy
Rudy here - "Jeremy forgot to mention, we sold one of our books today via PayPal!"
Jeremy here - "Good night Rudy.  The true spirit of Christmas is giving - not receiving."
Rudy: "Sorry, I just got excited."

Elk Grove, CA to Concord, CA

Wow! What an exciting day!  Fortunately Den Dad likes an ADVENTURE almost as much as me - RUDY!  So today we took back roads, levee roads, [that's a road on top of a levee that divides a river from the surrounding fields] and even a road that had a sign saying "one lane only ahead".

Road running along side the Sacramento River

The roads got smaller ...

... but the fields got bigger.

Finally we got to our hotel [The Crowne Plaza in Concord, CA] where we are going to stay until Boxing Day.  We are only 60 km from Oakland.  The hotel has an interior courtyard where there are fish swimming in a stream.  The sign says "Don't Feed the Fish" but there are no signs saying we bears can't go fishing.  I think having a red fish for Christmas would be an exciting adventure!

 Den Mom really enjoys Christmas time.  I think she is starting to dream about what Santa might bring her when he comes down the chimney.

Even Den Dad is getting into the spirit.  

 

Well, all we bears are being extra good this week so its off to bed now.  Good night all - RUDY!

Staying over in Elk Grove, CA

Oh, No! This is not how it was in the tourist brochures!

- 1 C, fog visibility 400 m - what a morning!

Fortunately by afternoon it was sunny and + 11 C as we waited for a bus

 The Den Parents said they needed a day of rest and reorganization so while they ran errands and went shopping, we took the bus to the Black Bear Diner.  [The honey burgers were a little too spicy for us.]

The Den Parents ate at The Original Pete's Pizza next door and Den Mom got her hair done at Jocelyn's Salon next door to that.  We all thought Den Mom came out with a great hair do!

Den Mom getting in the Christmas Spirit with her new hair-do

Things are going to be exciting - good-night - RUDY

Ashland, OR to Elk Grove, CA

We did it! Rudy here - in California! Yes we made it to California today.

Here we are - just inside California.  Mount Shasta in the background.

 The scenery is just like in the movies.  Look!

It wasn't long before we saw a palm tree!
And the temperature was +21 C (briefly) but only + 6 C for tonight

It was odd to see farmers working their fields at this time of year!

The Sacramento River

Time to decide - Los Angeles, left - San Francisco, right

Downtown Sacramento - Capital City of California

So thanks for following - good night from Rudy (in California)

Portland, OR to Ashland, OR

Hello everyone.  Jeremy here.  We are becoming routine travelers.  After breakfast, we pack up the van - everyone has their place from which to watch the scenery, and then we are off on a new day of adventure.  This morning it was cloudy and cool [+6 C] and we saw lots of city.  Portland is much larger than we imagined and the highway was very busy for a long time but finally we were in some mountains and then the sun came out.  In Ashland, OR tonight the Den Parents went out to dinner.  Den Dad told us it is a university town and the downtown was full of hippy-dippy shops and restaurants featuring things such as vegan wraps and organic bean soup.  We bears were glad to have room service honey burgers. Below are some shots we took along the way. 

Miles and miles of urban sprawl south of Portland, OR

Later, the sun came out and we saw some farm land.

Rudy said "It looks like everyone ordered well-done steaks!"
and then he laughed and laughed.  He thought he had made a joke??

Den Mom took over the driving and once again that meant more mountains.  She says the road is far from boring.

When these bikers passed us, Rudy yelled, "Go Helmets!"
And then he laughed and laughed.

Some times I worry about Rudy.  Good-night all - Jeremy

Seattle, WA to Portland, OR

Hey, folks - Rudy here.  We had a great sleep in Seattle! [not sleepless - get it??] Hey, maybe I should do comedy when we get to California and not just those character roles I was after!

Seattle, Washington - December 18, 2011

Hello, everyone - Jeremy here.  Rudy has gone over the top so I'm blogging today.  We always have practical things to do - such as keeping the van well supplied with fuel.

Then Den Dad took an "alternate route" so we could see the Pacific Ocean - I had to agree with Rudy - it was exciting.

Looking out on the Pacific - near Raymond, WA

Den Dad explained that the tide was out so we could see a lot of the tidal flats that at high tide would be completely covered with water.

It is so wet around here, that the trees are covered with moss.

What a view! Rudy says, "from their kitchen window
they can see Japan!"  Oh, Rudy!

Vancouver, WA with bridge across the Columbia River to Portland, OR

Den Dad explained that near here, on the north bank of the Columbia, there was for many years a Hudson Bay Company post called Fort Vancouver.  The Columbia River here could well have been the southern boundary of Canada if Britain had defended the Company and its claims.

On behalf of all of us - thanks for all the encouraging messages.

Crossing Oregon tomorrow - Good-night - Jeremy