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  1. #1
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    On the Road again.... Napa California

    Well after a quick Hanoi Vietnam trip for work, got home, cleaned up and packed to fly to California 3 days later



    Cleaned up the pool bar area and had my last BeerLao for a month or so



    First Leg was a hopper plane from Lampang to Swampy. Stayed 1 night in BKK to make the trip less chaotic. This was also interesting being we landed from Vietnam and had to do the test and go plus the follow up PCR test but only 4 days past not the 5. We did it early, sent it off and hit the road.



    6 suitcases, 2 have carry on luggage inside. Time to pick up a few impulse buys to bring back. For sure it will include 4 or 5 bottles of Bourbon.



    Big bird out of Swampy to Singapore





    It was really nice to see some travel normalcy again as Changi airport was open and no quarantine at the airport. Stopped off and had me an Erdinger while wife relaxed





    View flying into SFO. Stellar day. Temp was 14c when we arrived. It was a cake walk at customs. in and out.

    More pics to come. My first stop on the way to Napa is to pick up some craft beer and a good bottle of Rye Whiskey from Whistlepig. My Dad has got some sports snack food already as we have the SF Giants at 1pm and some NBA later.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    It was really nice to see some travel normalcy again
    As I was looking at your picture of the airport and not having seen your caption yet I thought exactly the same. We flew to Greece trough Doha a bit more than a week ago and at every airport I noticed the same. All BKK, Doha, and ATH were pretty busy. Looks like the light at the end of the covid tunnel.
    Have a nice trip and enjoy your stay in California. Can't wait to read more of this thread
    The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    My first stop on the way to Napa is to pick up some craft beer and a good bottle of Rye Whiskey from Whistlepig. My Dad has got some sports snack food already as we have the SF Giants at 1pm and some NBA later.
    Happy days.

    I'm flying back to England soon to spend a bit of time with the folks and do similar (my mum's just recovering from Covid, which she might not have been able to do had she caught it before being vaccinated); I can't wait to see them, have some decent beers and get some proper fucking cheese!

    I look forward to the rest of the thread.

  4. #4
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Cheers all. My Mom has made a cognizant decision to stop her Chemo so this could be our last time together. I planned the timing to catch her Bday and Mothers Day. It will also give my dad a break from being a full time hospice care taker.

    And Yes Hal. Finally some proper cheese, good fresh SF sourdough and Craft Beer with an ABV of 7 to 8.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Cheers all. My Mom has made a cognizant decision to stop her Chemo so this could be our last time together. I planned the timing to catch her Bday and Mothers Day. It will also give my dad a break from being a full time hospice care taker.

    And Yes Hal. Finally some proper cheese, good fresh SF sourdough and Craft Beer with an ABV of 7 to 8.
    Even more reason to make the most of it then. Enjoy!

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Cheers all. My Mom has made a cognizant decision to stop her Chemo so this could be our last time together. I planned the timing to catch her Bday and Mothers Day. It will also give my dad a break from being a full time hospice care taker.

    And Yes Hal. Finally some proper cheese, good fresh SF sourdough and Craft Beer with an ABV of 7 to 8.
    All the best to you and the family in what sounds like a very worthy trip. I love the Napa Valley, Santa Rosa, and SFO as I travelled down there frequently with work decades ago. Was there in 1989 driving around a week before the earthquake took down all those bridges. Every time after that I feel like it is bullet-dodging time down there!
    You Make Your Own Luck

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    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Cheers all. My Mom has made a cognizant decision to stop her Chemo so this could be our last time together. I planned the timing to catch her Bday and Mothers Day. It will also give my dad a break from being a full time hospice care taker.

    And Yes Hal. Finally some proper cheese, good fresh SF sourdough and Craft Beer with an ABV of 7 to 8.
    Make some memories and then. That’s cool that you get make the timing all work.

  8. #8
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    After staying in SF for a night and part of today, we caught the bus up to Napa. Few pics from along the way



    Tunnel before the Golden gate bridge.







    Golden Gate bridge as we sat and enjoyed the ride




    On the way to Sausalito




    Got to my parents house, relaxed caught up a bit and my Dad brought out my impulse buys I ordered before I left. Upgraded my drone to the DJI Air2S. I will be adding some YT vids after I get it all charged up and a few flights in



    After a few Golden Ale Beers I ran to the local liquor store and picked up a WP 10 yr Rye whiskey.


    Tonight's dinner was Sicilian Olives, cut sourdough bread, various cheeses, Italian dried pepper salami.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Tonight's dinner was Sicilian Olives, cut sourdough bread, various cheeses, Italian dried pepper salami.
    That sounds excellent. It is time for some travel myself after 2 years being The Prisoner of Isaan - which is a bit like Zenda, minus the castles and the romance.

    Have a great trip.

  10. #10
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Cheers Shutree.

  11. #11
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    Looks so nice Stumpy. I had made up my mind not to go back this year as there is a good chance one daughter and her boyfriend will be over in August for my birthday. But, but, but seeing the shots of the bridge, thinking of the Waldo tunnel and just seeing the bay made me have second thoughts. On the Road again.... Napa California-34773306_1771826479569725_1151023940810833920_n-jpg

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    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Tonight's dinner was Sicilian Olives, cut sourdough bread, various cheeses, Italian dried pepper salami.
    ...now that is dinner at home...add a nice Napa red or something similar and the evening stretches out before you. We'll be heading to SFO/Mendocino at the end of July this year...this thread only adds fuel to the flames...

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    My Dad has got some sports snack food already as we have the SF Giants at 1pm and some NBA later.
    Fuck ya bud! That is the good life. I was down at Jimmy's on first in Seattle tonight, as an old friend tends bar there it is right across from The Mariners ballpark. We lost to the White Sox in Chi town. The game should have been rain delayed, but the umps pushed it. It was pouring.

  14. #14
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Great shots from the plane. Enjoy it


    ^ you ever gonna do any travelling snubs? It would be great at opening your horizons.

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    Sausalito is nice- but it's not Napa. I recall several nice long lunches there, some houseboats around right?

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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    I was down at Jimmy's on first in Seattle tonight, as an old friend tends bar there it is right across from The Mariners ballpark. We lost to the White Sox in Chi town. The game should have been rain delayed, but the umps pushed.
    This is like another language to me.

  17. #17
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Looks so nice Stumpy.
    It's raining now AO but its an April rain so it's comfortable. They say it will blow out by late today. I walked the vineyards a little bit yesterday around sunset. The vines are getting their leaves now and the vineyards are packed with staff making sure they are all wrapped snd attached to the cables. It's a process every year about this time.

    Temp is 9c this morning with a high if 16 expected. Perfect time to come. I personally love Aug/Sept time here and that's when we usually come. The vines are full of grapes, weather is perfect and downtown Saint Helena is loaded with people and music.

    Gonna try and catch both a Giants and Warriors playoff game. Looking for tickets now.

  18. #18
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    This is like another language to me.
    Sausalito somehow seems more inviting than Grimsby, though.

  19. #19
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    I was down at Jimmy's on first in Seattle tonight, as an old friend tends bar there
    I haven't made it to my fav little watering hole in Saint Helena. Its right on main street and I grab a beer or 5 and sit outside. I can walk to the place. So it's a walk to it and stagger back place....

    Mariners look OK so far. Giants look really good but tough division.

  20. #20
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    Great shots from the plane. Enjoy it
    Thanks Eddie. Wish it was all fun but with Mom current health, it is not all smiles. She is at the Morphine stage now.

    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    Sausalito is nice- but it's not Napa. I recall several nice long lunches there, some houseboats around right?
    Yeah on houseboats. Sausalito is ok, some nice open air restaurants. I only drove by it on my way to the house. Haven't been there in years.

  21. #21
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Covid appears to be heading towards a thing of the past. Lots of folks have stopped wearing masks. The Wine Train was full of people and it finally had all its cars attached as it came through town. Hot air balloons are back in flight. My wife is in heaven with all the fresh fruit available. Grapes, Strawberries and the beginning of Cherry season. She bought some imported Mangos and laughed at the price. 10 for $10. She had half a bottle of Stella Rosso wine last talking with my Mom and was lights out by 8.

    Got the drone all charged up so hope to get some flight time today.

  22. #22
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    So sorry about your mum mate but I bet your presence there has been a real present for her.

    Great to hear your wife is also supporting her and is enjoying herself.

    A great thread also.

  23. #23
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Thanks LT. It is for my Mom and a HUGE break for my Dad. My Dad loves my wife's Thai food and she always brings all the spices from home to make food here.

    Plus getting to watch the Golden State Warriors NBA playoff games with my dad are fun, we BBQ, Drink and relax. Good times and a month will go fast.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    This is like another language to me.
    I understood it. So apparently, I speak American. Must be due to my childhood watching Sesame Street.

    @stumpy - enjoy your trip! Looking forward to more pics & stories.

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    Spent most of my adult in and around the Bay Area - one of things I had on my bucket list was a seaplane tour of the Bay out of Sausilito (off of 101 at the Hwy 1 exit). Was my birthday gift to myself as I began my 70th year (AKA my 69th birthday). The stars aligned and Fleet Week was just kicking off. More photos and a video at OCT'''17 Bay by Seaplane | Flickr. Sausalito (Little Willows) isn't very much fun these days, but the ferry ride from San Francisco at late summer dusk was worth every baht AUG'''13 Gob'''s Birthday | Flickr
    On the Road again.... Napa California-p1010214-jpg
    On the Road again.... Napa California-p1030421-jpg

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