Every fantasy I ever had about California was indluged. I'm going to have to go back again to check it wasn't a trick. So here we go...
Mike likes to get an early start, leaving 3am. This was good for me too, but sadly I have no pictures until nearly through Oregon! Fortunately the Portland Starbucks opened at 5.30am in time for us to grab a java. The mullet hunt was also on.
This is a view of the Oregon countryside somewhere near I5. I can't be more specific because I've forgotten already!
This was just over the border to California where we had to declare that we had 3 apples and a banana. They let us keep them.
It was so unbelievably hot inland in California I wished there wasn't a wind. Why don't old people die there?
No road trip is complete without a little dysentry. Fortunately Churn Creek provided some excellent Mexican food.
We're thinking about patenting this idea and selling it to a Mr S.
Most of the road through California looked like this. It was lined with corn, olives, tomatoes and rice. 250 miles straght of nothing but that.
As we approached San Francisco the traffic leaving the city was looking considerable. I think this guy was driving in and riding out.
Here we go...
And BOOM - Alcatraz.
San Francisco has a fascinating weather system. These fogs collect and hang over the coast. I can't remember details right now but look it up, it really is interesting.
This picture shows the two continental plates that meet at the San Andreas fault which lies directly beneath this lake which serves the city with drinking water. You can see the two different colour vegetation on the plates.
I was being taken on a tour of the area by Katrin, Brent's wife. She's lived in the area for ages and knows lots about all the things I'm interested in. She was sooooooooooo nice. This is a Christmas tree farm in the Half Moon Bay area. They also have pumpkin festivals.
So then we got round the corner and the fog set in. This is the pier near Mavericks surf spot. It was something of a pilgrimage.
So I had to go to the surf shop and buy a Tshirt!
Then we drove into the city and around. Katrin told me how she was made to practice hill starts here before she was allowed out. Looks like a sensible plan to me!
This is the only street in the city that is twisted. It was meant to provide a solution to the steep streets. It didn't. Now it's a pleasure ride for tourists on the weekend! Glad I don't live there.
It was spooky because it was almost exactly like the fantasy dream houses I used to draw as a child!
More wine, food and great company was had. And we went home tired, but very very happy.
n.b. only 2 mullets over 26 hours. Not good pickings. South West Washington was the only successful area. Must refocus efforts.
This is a view of the Oregon countryside somewhere near I5. I can't be more specific because I've forgotten already!
This was just over the border to California where we had to declare that we had 3 apples and a banana. They let us keep them.
It was so unbelievably hot inland in California I wished there wasn't a wind. Why don't old people die there?
No road trip is complete without a little dysentry. Fortunately Churn Creek provided some excellent Mexican food.
We're thinking about patenting this idea and selling it to a Mr S.
Most of the road through California looked like this. It was lined with corn, olives, tomatoes and rice. 250 miles straght of nothing but that.
As we approached San Francisco the traffic leaving the city was looking considerable. I think this guy was driving in and riding out.
Here we go...
And BOOM - Alcatraz.
San Francisco has a fascinating weather system. These fogs collect and hang over the coast. I can't remember details right now but look it up, it really is interesting.
This picture shows the two continental plates that meet at the San Andreas fault which lies directly beneath this lake which serves the city with drinking water. You can see the two different colour vegetation on the plates.
I was being taken on a tour of the area by Katrin, Brent's wife. She's lived in the area for ages and knows lots about all the things I'm interested in. She was sooooooooooo nice. This is a Christmas tree farm in the Half Moon Bay area. They also have pumpkin festivals.
So then we got round the corner and the fog set in. This is the pier near Mavericks surf spot. It was something of a pilgrimage.
So I had to go to the surf shop and buy a Tshirt!
Then we drove into the city and around. Katrin told me how she was made to practice hill starts here before she was allowed out. Looks like a sensible plan to me!
This is the only street in the city that is twisted. It was meant to provide a solution to the steep streets. It didn't. Now it's a pleasure ride for tourists on the weekend! Glad I don't live there.Then we headed off to the whole reason for the trip - Mike to bottle and collect his wine. He is part of a collective with some other bikey people and friends who do the whole process and share the booty. Much food, wine and laughs were had at the lunch afterwards. Mike had said we were going to leave straight after, having arrived only 10 hours earlier after 13 hours in the car.
Thankfully he changed his mind and we were able to stay another night. Katrin and Brent took us to a house on the coast that is made entirely out of drift and found wood.
It was spooky because it was almost exactly like the fantasy dream houses I used to draw as a child!We took a walk on the beach and there was a sardine run on. Seals follow sardine. It was spectacular watching them all jump and feed and play less than 400m from us.
More wine, food and great company was had. And we went home tired, but very very happy.n.b. only 2 mullets over 26 hours. Not good pickings. South West Washington was the only successful area. Must refocus efforts.
and enjoyed going with Shannon and Charlie on their boat the next day. 
It was fascinating seeing the differences in the boats and approaches.
We finished off the weekend with the best fish feast I have ever seen. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many crab, giant trout, halibut, specially fried corn batter fish for me, crab salad, home fries, peanut butter cookies... You get the picture. It kept coming. And it was all delicious. And moreish. 
Thanks, guys. We love you!
Pulling pots is a team effort. One person drives the boat, another catches the pot and pulls it up, another coils the rope as it comes in. You also need another person to make sure it's all going well.
So here it is! The first pot up. And it was a good one. We had to sex the crabs (males have a pointy triangle on their bellies, females have a round bit) and measure the good ones. Femals or small were thrown back. It's quite an art to get hold of the little beggers.
So here's one of the coolest and grossest things we learned about...starfish. Crabs don't like starfish. Star fish have a little beak in the centre of them and they jump on the crabs back using their beak to poke through the crab's shell and eat them! Yuck! And they aren't just small and orange with 5 legs...
We caught an ENORMOUS one the next day but didn't have our camera. It was about a foot across and had about 24 legs and was red and black and slimy. It looked like an alien.
As did Tony! He looked after Loomis (5 month old Goldendoodle) while I...
Drove the boat!!!!!!!!!!
That one woke up.
y goodness! What a weekend! Our friends Terry and Kimberley invited us crabbing with their friends Matt and Lisa. We had noooooo idea what we were in for. So with a borrowed sleeping bag and roll mat, the hope that there would be a tent, and a bucket full of Corke optimism and enthusiasm, we headed off to Whidbey Island. 
We split into a girls car and a boys car and drove up the coast to Deception Pass. This is the bridge that links the island to the mainland. Here we learnt our first nature lesson, about Candle Fish. Small oily fish that the indians dry and burn as candles.
This was the view from the bridge.
We arrived at Kelly's house (Matt's brother) and set up camp. Kelly has a small rambler in a 3 acre clearing in a forest. We still didn't know what we were in for, but we did have a tent.
Lisa brought a whole new level to 'Glamping'. The sign on the outside said 'Downsize.' !
Matt was an expert at launching the boat from the trailor on the 4x4. It was great to see 4 wheel drives doing what they were meant to do.
The happy man leads his lambs to the slaughter.
We were enjoying the ride and living in sweet ignorance and anticipation.
Here it goes! The first pot dropped. You have to get a licence to catch crab and one person is allowed 5 crab per day. You can only take the males over 6 1/2". It's important to drop the pots smoothly so they land flat on the bottom. You also have to leave enough rope to the top incase the tide changes and you lose your buoy (pronounced booey).
I like people who dress for the occasion.
The show stealer for the rally...
To add to the perfection, there was a car rally on the waterfront. Man I love the US of A!
