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06.03.06

We saw lots of cool stuff today.

First, we stopped at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. We thoroughly enjoyed the gorgeous plantings, beautiful water features, and interesting sculptures.
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We saw only about half of the Garden, because we didn’t want to miss another attraction located on its grounds: The Gordon House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright‘s Usonian designs. Built in Wilsonville, OR, the Gordon House was later moved to Silverton.

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Then we stopped at the Antique Powerland Museums.

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Finally, we stopped in Portland long enough to eat at Veganopolis (see Food for details) and snap this picture (just because I like the name of the business):

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Actually, our final stop was at TB(The Boyfriend)’s place in Steilacoom, WA. Vacation ends today. Heavy sigh.

06.02.06

After getting our coffee and wi-fi fixes at Ethereal Cafe Coffee House and Deli* in Grants Pass …
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… we headed for Salem. We didn’t make any stops of note, except for meals, including lunch at Lotus Garden Vegetarian Restaurant* in Eugene.

We ate dinner at Thompson Brewery & Public House in Salem*. LauraB, these pictures are for you:

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*See Food for details.

06.01.06

Early in the morning, TB (i.e., The Boyfriend) and I went for a walk along an old logging or service road behind Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir. Those “Private Property” signs didn’t scare us a bit. Plus, they specified “no motor vehicles”; we figured hikers were exempt.

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Our next stop was SnowCrest, Inc. Internet Cafe in Mt. Shasta. Thank goodness for SnowCrest. We had no cell phone or Internet service at Railroad Park and seriously needed a technology fix along with our coffee!

Then we spent most of the rest of the day driving from Dunsmuir to Grants Pass, OR (125 miles). Along the way, we stopped at the historic town of Yreka, CA to take some pictures and eat some lunch.

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We ate dinner in Grants Pass (see Food for details). We didn’t take time to walk around town. Maybe we’ll do that tomorrow morning, before we head out for … we haven’t decided yet.

05.31.06

We spent most of the day driving from Berkeley back to Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir (approximately 260 miles). We stayed in Boxcar #20. Large and comfortable, this car features a king size bed, 2 TVs, small refrigerator and microwave, loveseat, table with 2 chairs, small deck, and large bathroom with clawfoot tub and shower. We took a short walk around the grounds in the twilight, accompanied by bats skimming the ponds, crickets singing, and frogs ribbiting. We enjoyed our stay here … except that we had an uninvited guest, probably of the cockroach variety. We slept with the lights on (cockroaches prefer darkness, right?) and — no more visitors.
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Dunsmuir is a mere 10 miles south of Mt. Shasta, so we went into the town of Mt. Shasta to eat dinner and do laundry. We took a walk through the town while waiting for our clothes to dry; it’s a beautiful area.

The second picture in this album is the famous Mt. Shasta … just kidding.

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05.29.05 and 05.30.06

Day 5: Visited TB(The Boyfriend)’s house of worship – Rivendell Bicycle Works, in Walnut Creek. I took photos while TB drooled over the bikes & accessories. TB recently(-ish) purchased an Atlantis, a few months after our first visit to Rivendell.
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Days 5 & 6: Walking tour of the University of California, Berkeley campus and vicinty.
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(As usual, you’ll see more photos if you click “View the album.”)

• 06.02.06 Dinner at Thompson Brewery and Public House, Salem, OR. Not 100% vegetarian, Thompson does offer some vegetarian appetizers, salads, pastas, pizza, sandwich, Garden Burger, desserts, and milkshakes. They also include the statement, “We will gladly accommodate your special requests” on the menu. TB and I were quite peckish (as he would say), so we started with a large order of fresh-cut fries. I don’t know what the small order looks like, but the large was huge. TB had the Brewer’s Salad (I think) for his entree; I had the Hummus Plate. After all those fries, I could eat only about half of the hummus. We both enjoyed our meals. TB also had a Real Apple Cider, and I had a Crater Lake Draught Root Beer. Thompson must be quite popular – they were very busy, so service was a bit spotty. Approximately $30, including tip.
• 06.02.06 Lunch at Lotus Garden Vegetarian Restaurant, 810 Charnelton St., Eugene, OR. 100% vegan. Lotus has a lunch “specials” menu with a good variety of entrees. I had vegetable chow mein, TB had broccoli “beef.” The portions were reasonable (no leftovers). The post-lunch fortune cookies don’t contain eggs; however, I don’t know if the food coloring ingredients are vegan. Approximately $16, including tip.
• 06.02.06 Coffee and pastries at Ethereal Cafe Coffee House and Deli, 208 SW 6th St, Grants Pass, OR. Not 100% vegetarian. Friendly service, good coffee, and free, working wi-fi. Woo-hoo! (We couldn’t connect to the Internet at the hotel this morning.) In addition to our lattes, I had a plain bagel; TB had a sausage & egg croissant. Ethereal does have some other vegetarian pastries, and I noticed a vegetarian lentil soup on their lunch menu. Approximately $14.
• 06.01.06 Sunflower Thai, 571 N. 6th St., Grants Pass, OR. While not 100% vegetarian, Sunflower has a good selection of vegetarian and vegan (or can-be-made-vegan) dishes. Friendly, helpful, & knowledgeable service. Although I asked if they serve vegetarian dishes and asked whether the peanut sauce contains fish sauce, I didn’t utter the word “vegan.” When TB ordered Pad See Eew with tofu, our server asked whether he wanted egg (he didn’t). I had the deep fried tofu appetizer (with spicy plum sauce); for my entree, rama vegetables – steamed green cabbage, carrots, and broccoli with sweet and spciy (vegan) peanut sauce. Good-sized portions; we would have had plenty if TB and I had shared an appetizer and entrée. Approximately $26, including tip (no sales tax in OR).
• 06.01.06 Lunch at Brickhouse Pizza, 313 W. Miner St., Yreka, CA. Friendly, efficient service. Not 100% vegetarian. Brickhouse’s menu includes several salads, two varieties of vegetarian pizza, and “build your own” pizza option. Nothing natively vegan; just order a pizza without cheese and/or hold the cheese on the salad. The Greek vinaigrette salad dressing contains feta cheese; the house vinaigrette is cheese-free. I had a soda, small salad, and personal (8″) pizza – approximately $15 with tax and tip. TB had a soda, larger salad, and a slice of pizza – approximately $13 with tax and tip.
• 05.31.06 Berryvale Natural Foods Grocery, 305 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, CA. We stopped here to pick up breakfast items and snacks. Berryvale offers a great selection of organic, vegetarian, & vegan products including 3 varieties of Vegenaise (regular, grapeseed, & garlic aoili); non-vegan soy cheese; Follow Your Heart vegan cheese; soy yogurt; sweets; bulk foods; and more. Prices seem comparable with the Seattle/Tacoma area.
• 05.31.06 Lalo’s, 520 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, CA. Mexican, steak, & seafood, plus some vegetarian items; nothing natively vegan. Complimentary chips & salsa. I had a soda and the vegetarian tostada (choice of pinto or whole black beans; white onion, scallions, carrots, celery, zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper, sauteed in “Mexican” spices; raw chopped tomato; on shredded iceberg lettuce & a fried tortilla) with guacamole; hold the cheese & sour cream – a lot of food. TB had the (cheese) enchilada combo plate with beans & rice. We ordered a side of guacamole for the chips & received a generous portion. Friendly, knowledgeablable service; our server knew what vegan means & knew the restaurant uses lard-free beans. Approx $36, including tax and tip.
• 05.30.06 Dinner at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley, CA, ” … serving all organic, vegan and mostly live foods.” Cafe Gratitude is all about “being abundance” and being in the moment. Painted on their awning is the question, “What are you grateful for?” For a dedicated realist (or, some would say, “cynic”) such as myself, it’s a bit … much. And completely worth it – the food is wonderful. Or, as TB puts it, “Frickin’ marvelous.” We shared an order of I Am Magical Stuffed Mushrooms (with sprouted sunflower seed-walnut pate, topped with Brazil nut parmesan). I had I Am Open-Hearted Spicy Mole Pizza (“spicy raw cacao and chipotle chili mole sauce with avocado”); TB had I Am Sensational Pesto Pizza (“basil almond pesto sauce and olive tapenade”). Both pizzas had buckwheat and sunflower seed crust (dehydrated for crispy texture) and were topped with sliced cherry tomatoes, cashew ricotta, sprouts, and Brazil nut parmesan. TB also had I Am Excited Fresh Cucumber Juice, and Banana Cream Pie for dessert (no abundant name or description for this pie yet). I had I Am Faithful Tea (iced; “scarlet fruit infusion with Hibiscus rose hips and rare botanicals”), with I Am Adoring Live Tiramisu (“raw cacao and almond tiramisu cake with sweet cashew cream and raw chocolate espresso filling”) for dessert. Approximately $60, including tax and tip.
• Lunch and dessert at Berkeley Farmers Market (Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m.), Derby at Martin Luther King, Berkeley, CA. For lunch, TB and I shared Tamales and Taquitos from Flaco’s Vegan Mexican. Yum. $12, including tax and tip. We supplemented this with a Samosarosa (a live food wrap with cauliflower, lettuce, sprouts, spices, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some ingredients) from Blessings Alive. We indulged in dessert from Blessings, too — Key Lime Pie, Fruta Crema Pie, and Nut (almond) Milk. Very good. $20, including tax (we didn’t see a tip jar).
• Dessert at Naia Gelateria, 2106 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA. Naia features vegan sorbetto (sorbet style) and creamy, soy-based vegan gelato; about 16 vegan options (plus dairy-based gelato). A small serving consists of 2 scoops, which can be different flavor). I had soy options – Crema Cacao (chocolate) and Madagascar Vanilla. TB also had 2 flavors – Mango and Kiwi sorbetto. Delicious! $8, including tax and tip.
• Dinner at Cha-Ya Vegetarian Japanese Cuisine, 1686 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA. 100% vegan. Small, but comfortable. Seating for about 12 at tables, and another 10 or so at the counter. I had the Vegetable Tempura (a plate of tempura with a large bowl of noodle soup), TB had the Kinoko (“mushroom medley” noodle soup), and we shared an order of Haru Maki (breaded, lightly fried spring rolls filled with asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and long beans), and a small bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nama Sake. The sake is made with organic rice, right here in Berkeley. Excellent meal! Approximately $42, including tax and tip. Cha-Ya also offers other types of soups, salad, sushi, non-alcoholic beverages, and more.
• Lunch at Udupi Vegetarian South Indian Cuisine, 1901 University Ave., Berkeley, CA. “We serve vegan food on request.” Bright, open atmosphere with high ceilings. I had the Iddly (steamed rice & lentil patties with tomato(?) chutney and coconut sauces, and Rasam “traditional South Indian spicy soup”); and Udupi Special Spring Dosa (thin rice crepes stuffed with spiced potatoes & veggies, accompanied by the same sauces as the Iddly, plus more Rasam). TB had Samosas (pastries stuffed with spiced potatoes & peas with tamarind chutney, coconut, & raita sauces); Mysore Masala Dosa (spiced rice crepe with potatoes, served with tomato(?) chutney & coconut sauces, plus Rasam); and Masala spiced tea with milk (no vegan option for the tea). Very tasty. The Spring Dosa is quite filling. I ate about half at lunch and we had the rest for breakfast the next day. Approximately $25, including tax and tip.
• TB also ate dinner one night in Fairfield, CA at a … well, I’ll just say this place wasn’t remotely vegan or vegetarian. They probably ask what kind of meat you want with your meat. (Did I mention TB is omnivorous?)
• Dinner at Good Karma Vegan Restaurant, 322 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA. This is a very small place, with seating for 10. Inexpensive, tasty food. Choices include Teriyaki Tofu, Mushroom Stew, Mongolian “Beef,” hummus, and more. I had the Saigon Quiche (tofu, vermicelli, veggies, & spices – tastes sweet and nutty); green salad with chipotle ranch dressing (the dressing was a bit too spicy for me, but still good); coconut drink (canned); and baklava. TB had Tofu Scramble; green salad; a piece of barbecue “chicken;” coconut drink; and baklava. We each paid a mere $8 for our meals. By the way, the baklava is truly vegan – sweetened with brown rice syrup, not honey.
• Breakfast at Fellini Restaurant in Berkeley, CA. Funky decor, including campy old movie posters. Friendly, efficient service. Fellini offers a good selection of vegetarian & vegan choices, as well as “regular” food. “All vegan dishes are prepared in vegan-only pans!” How awesome is that?! Between the two of us, TB (i.e., “The Boyfriend”) and I have tried all of the vegan breakfast dishes, and enjoyed every morsel. We like it so much, we drove the 30-ish minutes to Berkeley, CA each of the 3 mornings we stayed in Fairfield. On Monday (morning 3), after arriving, we discovered Fellini is open for breakfast & lunch only on weekends. Bummer. At least the coffee bar is open in the mornings & afternoons.

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05.28.06

Wine country (*hic*).

• Andretti Winery. I bought a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc. TB (The Boyfriend) bought one bottle each of the Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.
• Baldacci Vineyards. TB bought a bottle of Gewurtztraminer and a Pinot Noir.
• Chateau Boswell. Sightseeing only, no tasting or buying.
• Mumm Napa. I bought one bottle each of the Cuvee M, Brut Prestige, Blanc de Noirs, and Demi-Sec; TB bought the Cuvee M, Brut Prestige, and Demi-Sec.
• Pine Ridge Winery. Sightseeing only.
• Silverado Vineyards. Sightseeing only.

Stopped sampling at 5pm … feeling returned to most of my face by 9pm. To see more pictures from this trip, click “View the album.”
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05.27.06

Visited the Winchester Mystery House, did the Mansion Tour and the Behind the Scenes Tour (about 3 hours total). The house features bizarre-chitecture and lots of gorgeous Tiffany glass. Click “View the album” under the thumbnails to see more pictures.

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05.26.06

Spent some time at Grave Creek and the Applegate Trail Interpretive Center in Sunny Valley, OR. (False advertising; it was decidedly unsunny the day we were there.)

Also made a quick stop at Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir, CA; more to come on this, we’ll be back there on May 31.

Below you’ll see thumbnails from a few photos; click “View the album” to see more pictures.

Sunny Valley:

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Railroad Park:

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