Venice Beach

Venice Beach.  Last stop.  Waiting for Agape service.  Walking on the boardwalk with wine and chocolate.

Sequoia vs Redwood

Vertical panorama.  This is a giant sequoia in Mariposa Grove just inside the south entrance of Yosemite.  These giant sequoias are not quite as big as the coastal redwoods I passed on the Avenue of the Giants last week.

http://natureali.org/SQF/sequoia_vs_redwood.html

John Muir Trail

Hiked to Navajo Falls, along the John Muir Trail.

http://johnmuirtrail.org/
youtube: John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt in Yosemite

Hosteling

Woke in Sacramento Hostel.  Beautiful Victorian mansion, right down town across from City Hall.  Coffee at Mondo Bizarro Cafe, then headed down CA 99 toward Yosemite.  Stopped in Mariposa for lunch.  On the first corner into town, found Cristo Oaks, Fine Art and Wine.  Kris and Harold Cristo were in the shop and the explained everything to me.  They represent some local artists and photographers whose work is displayed in the shop.  And they make their own wine which they sell in the shop and they offer complimentary tastings.  Very nice operation, very warm and funny couple.  Good wine.  Ended the day at the Bug Hostel outside of Yosemite.

http://norcalhostels.org/sac/
http://www.mtbullionvineyard.com
http://www.yosemitebug.com/

Trinity Alps

Crossed the Trinity Alps on the way from Arcata to Sacramento.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Alps

Arcata

The plaza in downtown Arcata.  I love the town square design.  Such a sense of community.  If you look hard, on the top of that building in the distance, you can see the wireless antenna, for free wifi anywhere in the plaza, including the storefront coffee shops.

http://www.cityofarcata.org/

Coastal Redwoods

Avenue of the Giants, a strip of Old 101 in Humboldt Redwood State Park.

http://www.aveofthegiants.com/

City of 10,000 Buddhas

Lunch at the vegetarian cafe at the City of 10,000 Buddhas, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ukiah, CA.

http://www.cttbusa.org/

Solar Lilving

The Real Goods retail store in Hopland, and the home of the Solar Living Institute, a campus of sustainable environment projects including solar.

http://www.solarliving.org/

No phones, no cameras

Spent a week here. Camping for $25 per night. Hot springs, yoga classes, concerts, movies all included. Attended the HAI Level 1 weekend workshop, then stayed for a few more days. 

http://www.harbin.org/

http://www.hai.org/