Combining three loves of my life into one adventure!!

First a newest love:

I headed into Hopland early in the afternoon to catch the four 'Letterboxes' that I found listed at atlasquest.com, A letterboxing community which is associated with letterboxing.org. I found that you can search for letterboxes at both sites, but that atlasquest.com which connects to letterboxing.org has more results!!  

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#3: Old River Osprey



Old River Osprey Stamp!

When I read the instructions on how to get to this 'Letterbox' I was pretty sure I knew just where it was. Upon arriving at the destination I was right!!!  I had been out here twice before!!  Last year I was led to this exact same outcropping of rocks to find a geocache!!  Then a few months ago as I was out geocaching again along this road to find the missed caches and get the new ones my GPS again brought me to this same outcropping of rocks.  I looked where I had found the previous cache -nada!!  Then read the logs and saw that it had gone MIA and that a brand new one had been placed here in a different spot!!  So I had to make the find for the second one too!

Now here I am yet again here for a "letterbox' Hmmm.  I followed the directions which led me directly to the hidden 'Letterbox'!  Can you believe it!!  There is, also, a geocache curently hidden in this outcropping of rocks too!  I wonder if the geocachers know about the 'Letterbox' and if the 'Letterboxers' know about the geocache!!  LOL




My siggy stamped in the 'Letterbox' logbook and the 'Letterbox' stamped in my logbook

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#4: Al's Box



Al's Box stamp



Next I headed out to the 'Hopland Cemetery'  where the next 'Letterbox' directions led me!!  And guess what?  Yes, there is a geocache here too - found it last year!!


Followed the directions which, again, led me right to the 'Letterbox'!!  Am doing much better today at actually reading and following the directions!!  Even on using the compass!!  LOL

Al's unique headstone and the 'Letterbox' atop it

After finding the 'Letterbox'which was completely saturated inside -- I laid the contents out in the sun to dry a bit and noticed a little observer nearby!!  He was pretty persistent wanting to check out what was in the 'Letterbox' too!!  Guess he wanted to see what had been living nearby his little haunt!

 I dried out the box and its contents as best as I could, the logbook was pretty damp on the outside, but inside OK!!  Put all backin the dried box and plan to send an email off to the owner about the situation!!

Two  for two -- I am so on a roll!!!

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#5: Alien Avoidance

Alien Avoidance Stamp



letterbox in hiding - the can with it in it was up in the tube

 Next I headed out to the next listed 'Letterbox' out a ways on Highway 175 a few miles outside of Hopland.  Again!!  Another spot where there used to be a geocache, now deactivated!!!

The personwho created all of the 'Letterboxes' that I have found so far is very creative in his stories/decriptions/instructions!!!  This one is all about alien encounters!!!  Thus the boxname 'Alien Avoidance'.  Found quickly by following the instructions closely!!  Everything was nice and dry in this one!!



I am so stoked and on a roll!!  Three for three!!

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Geocache # 390, #391, #392 & #394

Second love - geocaching!!!

Took a break as the last 'Letterbox' was in town very close to where I was headed for the evening -- or so the instructions stated!! 

I still had some time to kill so I headed out Mountain House Rd to catch the 4 fairly new geocaches not far out that way!!

All very easy caches either hanging in trees or near posts/trees hidden on the ground and not far from the road near turnouts!!  Found all 4 within an hour. 

BTW when I was at the Dam yesterday I looked for a geocache that was very near where I found the 'Manzanita Blossum Letterbox' but it looked like it was MIA as all I foud was a mutilated logbook near Ground Zero!!

Broke my stride with 'Letterbox' 4 for the day!!  I parked at SIP and grabbed my bag and walked the block to where the directions told me to go!!  I did get a little confused as to exactly where the planter was directing you to go at the end.  I looked around for a while, got a few questionable looks and decided to head on over to my 3rd love!!

Yep!!!  It was 'Thirsty Thursday' and tonight they were tasting different Sauvignon Blancs!!  Had a blast!!  Too bad I had to go alone tonight!!  But everyone else had other plans!!  Maybe next month for the Red, White and BBQ wines!!!

I emailed the owner of the 'Letterbox'that I was unableto find, he gave me a few hints, but coudn't be sure that the 'Letterbox'was still there and would check on it within the next few days!!

All in all a nice day!!!  At least, my legs didn't ache after this bout of 'Letterboxing'  Guess for the first day I picked a couple of far off the beaten path 'Letterboxes'!!!

Happy Geocaching and Letterboxing!! 

Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it.



Thirsty Thursday at SIP Mendocino!!

Thirsty Thursday June 30 - Savvy Sauvignon Blanc




June 30th

Thirsty Thursday features Sauvignon Blanc.

Thirsty THURSDAYS is an evening at SIP! Mendocino dedicated to a single varietal, such as Sauvignon Blanc, and the wines made from that grape in Mendocino County.

Thursday June 30th from 5pm to 8pm a selection of sensational Sauvignon Blanc such as Bink, Paul Dolan, Jaxon Keys, Bonterra, Patianna, Foursight and many more will be poured for tasting and comparison, along with a savory spread of food to enhance the experience.

Cover charge is $20 for non-wine club members and no cover charge for one person per each SIP! Mendocino wine club membership.


Hope to see you There!!

Thursday night went out wine tasting for 'Thirsty Thursday' at SIP! Oh what fun.   Found a bush that had these beautiful flowers on it, but have no idea what they are. . . Anyone have an idea?  Guess I just don't have a green thumb!

It was 'Wild About Rose'  What fun we had tastiing different 'Rose'wines then heading over to Sho-Ka-Wah Casino for their $7.77 Prime Rib in their 'Many Fires SteakHouse.'.

SIP! Mendocino Thirsty Thursdays

Thirsty Thursday May 26th = WILD ABOUT ROSE'

SIP! Mendocino’s ongoing in house event series continues May 26th with Thirsty Thursday featuring PINK wines. 

Thirsty THURSDAYS is an evening at SIP! Mendocino dedicated to a single varietal or style of wine such as ROSE’.

Thursday May 26^th from 5pm to 8pm a selection of sensational Rose’ wines from producers such as Bink, Toulouse, Goldeneye, Naughty Boy, Mary Elke, Bonterra, Meyer Family Cellars and more will be poured for tasting and comparison, along with a savory spread of food to enhance the experience.  

Cover charge is $20 for non-wine club members and no cover charge for one person per each SIP! Mendocino wine club membership. 

Hopland Passport Day #2 - Sunday May 1

I have to say, offically, that I overdid it on saturday at the Hopland Passport!!  Thank goodness we had a DD -- Thanks so much Carrie!!

Sunday Turned out to be just as nice a day as Saturday!!  On our way out of town we picked up one of my co-workers, Marisela, to spend the day with us!!



We decided to hit the rest of the wineries -- or the in-town tasting rooms!!!

Parked at McNab and started the tasting there!!  We were, actually, just a little early, but that didn't stop us or them!!  We really like McNab and the wonderful dips that they always serve at their wine tasting!! Hmmm -- another one that I might just have to join.  You can even buy the dip packets there -- I admit that I bought a couple of them to use later -- probably at one of our girly get-togethers or some other such get-together!!  They, also, have a wonderful Sangria recipe that uses their 'Charisma' wine!!!  Yep!! I had to buy a couple of bottle of that too!!  One of these days I'm gonna make their Sangria!!  We were talking about making it for our next girly get-together(sunday?) or our monday 'Dancing With The Stars' get-together.



We then headed accross the street -- Carrie was hoping the 'hot' fireman was directing traffic again this year, but, alas . . .no!!

Brutacao was next on our list -- Their tasting room is also in with a really great Italian restaurant called 'The Crushed Grape' and they have 'Bocce Ball' courts.  Haven't tried the Bocce Ball yet, but maybe one of these days. . . .

I must say I have tried Brutacao's port and chocolate and hmmm is it good.  Being associated with an Italian restaurant they naturally serve piza, but not just any pizza - gourmet pizza's!!! 

Then it was on to another new winery/tasting room for passport - Cesar Toxqui, not bad for a small winery, will have to keep an eye on them in the future.  And yes. . . they served a mexican chicken dish, Marisela knew what it was called, but all I knew was that it was good and they served homemade flan to go along with it!! 

Right next door ar SIP they were tasting wine from the Patianna winery. I just love stopping in and chatting with Angela and Bernadette at SIP!  The wine is good too!

We headed a little further down the street to McDowell -- great gift shop and tasting room!!  the food was good too!!  Soft tacos!! Can you tell what I really come to this for? . . . the food!!  Oh yes, and the wine!!

Back across the street to what I like to call tasting room row!!  All of these tasting rooms are almost side by side in downtown Hopland!!  First of the bunch was Weibel -- their in town tasting room is fairly new, I still like heading out to the winery for the tasting better -- what a great place and another great view, so peaceful!!  Alycia's favorite by far I think -- they have some great sparkling wines and even have a non-alcoholic sparkling wine!!!

Next door is Graziano's tasting room!!  Some nice wines that are actually from Redwood Valley, the other side of Ukiah!!  Kind of funny that their tasting room is in Hopland!!  They have some great homegrown BBQ beef and wild rice salad that they present each time at passport!!  I understand that they grow the beef themselves and you can even buy it at the winery!!  Now that's some fresh meat!!

McFadden was the last of bunch for today. 

We all kinda took things easy and light on the drinking today!!  At least I know I did.  We were, actaully done about 3pm, I am sure Marisela was glad about that as she had worked all night and had only taken a cat nap prior to going out with us!! So we headed back to McNab, did a little more window shopping!!  Then headed home!!

Carrie, Alycia, Me and Marisela

Here we are in front of McNab's Tasting room at their fountain, Danielle didn't want her picture taken!!  So she took the pic and caught me with my eyes closed -- boy do I looked smashed!!  Well. . . it was the end of the day!!

Can't wait till the autumn Hopland Passport!!!

Second saturday - May 14th

I can't believe it!!  All my friends bailed on me!!

Took me most of the day to make myself get out of bed and go to this by myself!!

After getting out there I was so glad that I did -- nice day, although it wasn't as hot as it has been.  Forcast was saying that it was suppose to be overcast.  OK so I wouldn't have wanted to be out in my shorts, but I was fine in short sleeves and jeans!!

Didn't hit all the wineries but did make it to 4 places and ran into great people to chat with!!

Frankie J & Anita Blu

Milano Winery had some live music by  and Frankie J and Anita Blu nice and easy to listen to jazz and blues.  Might have to check them out at a few of the other places that they will be playing around the area!!  Great to see local talent!! 

Visited and tasted for awhile there -- found out that my wine club shipment was in and that I am scheduled to work next weekend when they will be having their wine pick-up party, so I picked mine up and just had to get a couple of bottles of 'Sunshine' too!!

Then I headed on into Hopland and spent some time visiting at the McNab tasting room!!! What wonderful people and some really good wines too!  Just about picked up some more 'Charisma' but held off since I have 2 bottle at home already.

Denise paired up some yummy curried prawns over coucous with their French Colombard wine.  Yummy, Yummy!!

One of these days I just might have to join their wine club too!!!

I then headed across the street to visit with Bernadette at SIP!!  Just for the fun of it!!! We talked wines and geocaching!!  I always like to try to get new people interested in geocaching!!!  She couldn't believe that there were any in or around Hopland!!!

To end my day I drove down the road and landed at Jaxon Keys!!  One of my favorite places to just buy a glass and sit on their wrap-around porch and enjoy the view -- for hours!!  They are open late for second saturdays so it's a nice place to end the day!!  Frankie J was just leaving there when I pulled up and we stopped and chatted a bit!!   Then went up and met quite a few people that were from out of town tasting in our wonderful valley!! 

So, yes I had fun even though I ended up having to go out by myself!!  Hopefully next month everyone won't bail on me as it can be twice as much fun with good friends!!

Saturday Nite Live at SIP!!

Who wants to go with me Saturday night to SIP!!

SIP! Mendocino Saturday Nite Live

Saturday Nite Live will be a monthly program featuring one winegrower or winery. The winemaker or grower will be “live” in person and talk about the wines, vineyards, history, and winemaking philosophy of the brand. A selection of tasty appetizers will be provided to enjoy with the wines.

Cover charge is $20 for non-wine club members and no cover charge for one person per each SIP! Mendocino wine club membership.

Saturday Nite Live April 16th - CORO MENDOCINO

Coro Mendocino is a collaborative effort by Mendocino winemakers to create a class of distinctive wines that showcase the heritage varietal of Mendocino County - Zinfandel. Each Coro Mendocino wine must contain between 40% -70% Zinfandel, and adhere to strict production protocol set by the Consortium Mendocino. The 2007 vintage has 10 different Coro producers: Graziano, McDowell, McFadden, Fetzer, Golden, Dunnewood, Brutocao, Philo Ridge, Parducci and McNab Ridge. Join the fun as the Coro winemakers host this fabulous evening and special chance to taste all 11 Coro Mendocino wines. Delicious food will be served to complement these big bold wines.