Churchill War Room

During WWII England utilized an underground bunker not far from Parliament to conduct the war. The high command of the British military planed for the defense of Britain and also campaigns around the globe. Many also had living quarters there as they would spend days underground. After the war it was sealed up. In 1984 it was reopened to the public and is now a museum and part of the Imperial War Museum.. Most of what you see is how it was left in 1945.

Walking the war rooms you can see maps showing allied and axis positions and ship locations from around the world. You can also see Churchill's sleeping quarters as well those of other high ranking people. Conditions must have been bad down there as some people opted to sleep above even during the bombing of London.

I would suggest you buy your tickets ahead of time as you will get right in. The lines for those purchasing tickets there can be long. It is on Horse Guards Road not far from Parliament and is worth seeing.

British Grand Prix, Silverstone

I was lucky enough this year to go to the British Grand Pix at Silverstone which has been hosting the race since 1948. I have been trying to attend a different F1 race every year and this one was my 7th. Silverstone is the site of a RAF base and has a lot of history.

View from my seat

I went to the race decked out in my Red Bull gear and there was representation from every team but you could tell that most were for Louis Hamilton, not necessarily for Mercedes. If you don't already know Hamilton is British. Louis didn't disappoint as he and Mercedes won the race and are running away with the championship this year.

Here are some helpful hints

• Buy your tickets early. I ended up getting mine from a third party site.
• Don't drive to the circuit. I drove to the railway station in Northampton where I parked and took the shuttle from there. The same can be done at the Milton Keyes station. After the race the buses are lined up and you hop on your bus destination and as soon as it fills up it leaves. Otherwise traffic is backed up with people trying to drive out. 
• For the 3 days of the race stay anywhere close to Northampton or Milton Keyes and drive or taxi to the railway station each day.
• On race day get there early as there is a lot of pre-race entertainment.  

Stratford Upon Avon

Park at Stratford Upon Avon

Toward the end of my week in England I was looking for a place to go after York and before the F1 race in Silverstone. I had a lot of options and decided to visit the birthplace of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's Home

Shakespeare's Grave

First impression is if you want to see history and at the same time relax in a peaceful location this is the place to go. Stratford has many pubs and restaurants as well as a beautiful park along the Avon. It is an easy walk from the house where Shakespeare grew up to the church where he is buried. I was there on a Saturday and there were concerts in the park as well as outside plays in other areas of the park. It was nice to just sit down with some ice cream and take in the sites and sounds.

Canal Cruise

For meals you won't have a problem finding a place to eat. You can find anything from new establishments to pubs dating back hundreds of years. If you get off the main streets you can find a nice quiet place on a side street.

I would recommend taking a canal tour on one of the boats. The views are beautiful and the ride is peaceful. They leave from the park area and last about 40 minutes.

Royal Shakespeare Company Theater

That night I made reservations to see The Royal Shakespeare Company performing Measure for Measure at the Royal Shakespeare Company theater. I would say it is a must do if you are in Stratford.  I wanted to eat dinner on the rooftop restaurant at the theater but found out I needed a reservation even for one person. Next time I'll know better. The play was awesome.

York, England

City Gates

Main Gate

On a recent trip to England I visited London, York and Stratford-Upon-Avon. They were all beautiful, rich with history and exciting. My favorite though was York which had so much to offer in a small package.

York was founded by the Romans and declared the Roman capital of Britannia. Constantine the First died in York during a stay and his son Constantine the Great was proclaimed emperor by the troops stationed there. Later after the Romans left it was under various British kings until it was invaded by the Vikings. It was the Viking capital of Britain and got it's name Jorvik which later became York.

York is a beautiful walled in city and you can actually take steps up to the top of the wall and walk around the city. Inside the city walls it is very easy to walk everywhere and take in the history, shopping, pubs and restaurants. The York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Also inside the walls is the Jorvik Viking experience. You go under ground where the Viking settlement was discovered. The experience is great with a ride that reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland. At the end of the ride is a museum with artifacts dug up in the area. Cliffords Tower is a great place to view the city. It was part of the York Castle and dates back to William I in the 11th century. I would also suggest taking a river cruise on the Ouse. It is relaxing and a great way to view the surrounding countryside.

Clifford Tower

River Ouse

York Minster

York Minster

York has something for everyone from history to shopping to refreshments to entertainment. It is mostly confined within the walls and very easy to get around. In one day you could walk the city. there are parks, pubs and restaurants to stop and relax when you need a break.

Yosemite 2019

We again did our family trip to Yosemite this summer. For the last few years the falls have been incredible. This year Tioga Pass was still closed so there is still a lot of snow on the peaks which will mean water over the falls all summer.

The weather was great with warm days, cool nights and no rain. It was a little more crowded this year than last but still worth it. I brought warm clothes but stayed in shorts and a t-shirt even in the early mornings.

We did a lot of hiking and with the high water we had to trek through water on some of the trails. Wildlife was out and we saw more than normal. This year we saw bears and actually had a dear walk into our campsite.

I have been going to Yosemite since I was a child and plan to continue going.

On a great note I am excited that the park service settled the naming rights issue and the Ahwahnee Camp Curry are back.

The Blue Boar Inn, Alcester England

Last week I traveled to Stratford-Upon-Avon while touring England. Not knowing the area I took a chance on finding a place to stay. Looking back at my stay I don't think I could have found a better place.

Parts of the Blue Boar Inn date back to the 1600's. It has been an ale house since then. You can sit in the bar area or outside. In the winter you can enjoy a cozy fire inside. When I first got there I had a couple pints and got to know the locals.

For food they have a very nice restaurant. The dinner menu is great and a full English breakfast is included. My breakfast was more than enough to get me through the morning.

For a place as old as it is the rooms are huge. I had a suite with a queen size bed in one room and 3 twin beds in the other.

I loved the staff. Not only are they friendly but they also offered great advice on exploring the area.

It is out in the country but that made it even better. Away from the town that was crowded with tourists it was a relaxing place to stay.

The location is about 6 miles from Stratford-Upon-Avon. If you have a car you can park all day at the train station in town for about 4 pounds and walk into the center of town.

If you are in the area I highly recommend staying there.

Yosemite Valley Loop Trail

If you are looking for a nice hike that isn't strenuous I would suggest the Valley Loop Trail in Yosemite Valley. The trail hugs the edge of the valley will take you by Mirror Lake, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. If you do the full loop it is about 11.5 miles. The good thing is if you want to stop at any time you are close to a bus stop and you can return any time. On this hike we had 2 small children so we ended up hiking about 8 miles total. We left the trail between Yosemite Falls and El Capitan and traversed a meadow to cross the swinging bridge to get back to our campsite. The meadow is beautiful and  is now one of my favorite sites as seen in the picture above.

One other benefit is there are places along the way like Yosemite Lodge and Half Dome Village where you can take a break.

This is a great year to go to Yosemite

I just got back from a camping trip to Yosemite Valley. If you have ever thought of going this is the year. In a normal year the falls start to dry up during the summer and by late summer they are very dry. This year the falls are in full glory. A good sign is that Tioga Pass is still closed due to too much snow. What that means is the falls should be roaring all throughout the summer. I saw waterfalls in places that normally don't exist. My son hiked up the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and came back soaked.

Even though it is late June you still have time to book a Yosemite vacation.

What a Ski Season

This week I went skiing at Squaw Valley. For the end of May I couldn't have picked a better day. Over the weekend the Sierra received a dusting of new powder and Monday was clear. The day started with about 6 inches of new powder that was a little crusty but with a clear sky it soften up early. A little later in the morning clouds rolled in which kept the conditions from getting flushy.

All in all it was a great day. This is the last week Squaw Valley is open all week and starting next week they will only be open Friday thru Sunday. Hours are 8 am to 2 pm. When the temps get back to normal you wouldn't want to ski past 2 pm anyway.

It's unusual to get storms this late. We are expecting more snow over the Memorial Day weekend. If all goes well I'll be up there again in June.

The views from the top are awesome. In the background is Lake Tahoe.

Oenotri Italian Restaurant, Napa

@Oenotri is an Italian restaurant located on First Street in downtown Napa. The food is Southern Italian style and is Michelin rated. We were lucky enough to eat there Saturday night with our son and cousins that live in the area.

The menu is seasonal and changes quite often with an incredible variety from pasta to dishes like Steelhead Trout. The appetizers were awesome which we ordered a variety to share between the five of us. I had the port loin which melted in my mouth. We later ordered a variety of desserts to share and my son and I had grappa in which we had a lot to choose from. Since it is Napa you also get a great wine list to choose from.

The staff have been there for a long time and the service was great. Our waiter was there when we needed him and stayed away enough so that we could socialize.

I would highly recommend @Oenotri for a dining experience in downtown Napa for the food, service and experience. It doesn't seem as touristy as some of the other restaurants and is located on the far end of First Street from the river. You can choose to dine inside or out.

Springtime in the Sierra Foothill Wineries

What a beautiful time of the year. This weekend we are looking at temps around 80 degrees. This is a perfect time to go up to the Sierra Foothill Wineries. From Sacramento you can get there in about one hour. Many wineries have special events going on. Check out this site for upcoming events.

https://amadorwine.com/events-4/

Amador isn't the only area to visit. Check out El Dorado County and Placer County for events in their areas.

Most wineries offer free tasting and don't limit the selection.

Mobile Passport

Having just got back from an international trip I was reminded that I need to say something about an app offered by the US Government that will make entry into the US a lot easier.

Mobile Passport is an application that you can download onto a mobile device that lets you enter the same information that you would have to do on a declaration worksheet or kiosk before entering the US. It is easy to download and use. The first time you use it it will ask for a passport number, name, etc. After the first time you don't have to enter it again. You also take a picture of yourself that is attached to your data. After the first time all you have to enter is the normal questions asked on the declaration sheet.

Once you are able to turn off airplane mode and access the internet you submit your declaration. Now for the good part. When you enter the immigration area there will be special lines for Mobile Passport users. On this trip entering in SFO there was no line for me where the normal line was backed up. I breezed through and was on my way to the baggage area.

The app is free and will save you a lot of time.

F1 Season Starts This Week

Well, here we go again. The start of the F1 season is upon us with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend in Melbourne. Last year I was able to attend and have a lot of great memories.

Wine Country Get-Away

Chateau St Jean

This week we did a mid-week get-away to the Napa and Sonoma wine country.  Our son lives in Napa and it was a great opportunity to see him and enjoy the experience so special to this area. I also belong to a few wine clubs and I was able to pick up my wine in person.

We went with our good friends Sue and Mark who we like to travel with.

For the wineries we started at Chateau St Jean @chateaustjean in Sonoma County to pick up wine and do a little tasting. The winery has a large tasting room and gift shop where you can taste inside or if the weather is nice sit outside. The grounds are beautiful and has the feel like you are in Europe. They also have a nice picnic area. There is also a tasting room in the mansion that is more intimate. We tasted there and sat by the fireplace while we enjoyed their wine and a tray of cheese. Mid-week you should be able to taste in the mansion but on weekends the main tasting room may be your only choice as the crowds are larger.

Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros @domainecarneros which is on highway 12 between Napa and Sonoma. The winery is on a small hill and looks like a French Chateau. There we picked up my sparkling wine and also did a tasting. The grounds there are also beautiful. When the weather permits sit outside on the deck.

Tasting Room 24

Sue and Mark are big Packer fans so we also went to Tasting Room 24 @tastingroom24 which is owned by Charles Woodson who played for the Packers. This is a tasting room in Napa that also has sparkling wine and beer. The winery specializes in Cabernet. The tasting room is in an industrial area in southern Napa but off the main highway. The tasting room also has football gear related to his playing days from college to pro.

I want to highlight two places we dined at. First, for dinner we ate at Bistro Jeanty @bistrojeanty in Yountville. I have been there before and love this place. They serve not only the best tomato soup but the best soup I have ever had. I would go there just for the soup but the rest of the menu is awesome. Go hungry as you will get a lot of food. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area.

Boon Fly Cafe

For breakfast we ate at the Boon Fly Cafe @boonfly. It is located on Highway 12 just west of Napa as you are heading toward Sonoma. The cafe is small so you may have to wait but it is worth it. I had the Eggs Benedict with a touch of jalapeno in the hollandaise sauce.  It's not hot but just enough to add a special taste to the sauce. They also have chicken and waffles and make their own donuts. For breakfast you can't go wrong. There is also a bar and we had Bloody Mary's with a strip of bacon in the drink.

Meritage

Overnight we stayed at the Meritage Resort and Spa @meritage. It is a large resort with many restaurants, bars, wine tasting rooms and even a bowling alley. They also have a very nice pool area. This is more than a hotel and if you are staying for a longer time this may be the place to stay. Across the street is a building with tasting rooms from different wineries.