|
Hopland,
California was our home for two months at the mountain ranch of the CEO
of Real Goods Trading Company. We gave a two-day presentation at the Real
Goods Living Center for the annual SolFest, a celebration of renewable
energy sources. With our flexible solar panels atop the pack horses powering
all our gadgets and cooling our traveling horseback chickens, WE turned
out to be one of the most popular "exhibits" at the crowded
gathering. Visitors were stunned and amazed at our unique solar application.
|
 |
|
The SolFest had over 10,000 visitors, enjoying live music, workshops,
vendors and an electric car parade. We bought most of our solar equipment
from Reel Goods.
 Rolling
terrain, all planted to wineries, made our ride to the Pacific Ocean a
world class scenic tour, complete with wine tasting. Viewed from horseback
with luscious juicy wine grapes within easy reach, we marveled at our
good fortune as we passed tiny Cloverdale and Lake Sonoma.
The land of the giants rings
the Pacific Ocean and the cool fernery shade provided by the huge redwoods
was a welcome change from the heat of the vineyard valleys. Fog began
to drift in across the mountains of the Mendocino Highlands and wreath
the redwoods in an eerie mist. The ocean was just over the ridge.
|
| A natural wilderness prairie
among the redwoods afforded us an excellent campsite only two miles from
the wild coastline. Right on the San Andreas Rift Zone, which is a major
fault of the Pacific Ring of Fire. An earthquake-created "stink pond"
was our watering hole. We stayed in this idyllic spot for a whole month,
gathering huckleberries, mussels and crabs while riding along the spectacular
moon-rock formations of the rugged shoreline. We agreed that this had to
be the finest horseback riding of our lives. We were offered a job for two
weeks at a local ranch, with 130 year old historic buildings, including
a former stage coach stop. A major feature was a hallowed -out Redwood tree
- still living! - with a bed, wood stove, desk, and electricity. |
 |
 The
"travel bug" once again hit us and we headed for the golden gate
bridge. Marin County has some of the priciest real estate in the nation
but much land is set aside for existing dairy and farm operations to preserve
its beauty and heritage. Roadside trash was even fancy: expensive wine bottles
and mineral water containers replaced the beer cans and pop bottles common
in other areas. |
|
We were invited to spend a few days in Point Reyas Station at a fancy
dressage stable while a world renowned trainer was giving a 5 day seminar.
Point Reyes National Seashore
offered more incredible scenery on its coastal trail as we rode to the
little hippy town of Bolinas, where we stayed in an old VW van for a couple
of nights. Mt. Tamalpais is San Francisco's favorite getaway, with breathtaking
vistas of the city in all its spender. We were amazed the horses were
even allowed in Golden Gate Park, where we glimpsed dramatic views of
the bay, the downtown skyscrapers and the waterfront, Oakland, and the
majestic Redwoods behind us.
We accomplished one of our
dreams as we climbed the final hill of the Marin headlands: the Golden
Gate Bridge.. as seen from the back of a horse.
|
|
|
