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Posts Tagged ‘California’

con te partiro …

Posted in Boondocking, Fantastic Food, Free Camping, Office with a view, tagged , , on September 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Work is done … commitments have been fulfilled … and it’s time to say goodbye, yet again.  But before we leave, there might be time for some local pizza … this time at “Escape From New York”.  It’s a hole in the wall kinda place, serving whole pies as well as pizza by the slice.  Originally put together by a group of friends – one who had actually escaped from New York – they now have 6 stores in the city serving thin crust, goooood pizza.  There were three of us, and we got a large that was half cheese and half Big Applewood Chicken.  You know what was on the cheese side … but the other part had bbq chicken, applewood bacon, fresh tomato on top of cheddar and smokey bbq sauce.  It was big … and now it’s gone.  Yum.

We went to the Mission store … sit outside or in …

Big pies, get a slice …

After talking, eating, talking and talking … and a small nap … it is indeed time to say goodbye.  With a truck camper, it is so easy to drive around and take a last look at the sights.  We spent the evening at Lincoln Park …

… at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor …

… at Lands End.  Perhaps the most beautiful setting for an evening of remembrances, this building is a replica of the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris.  This one is nicer, simply because it has American plumbing!  And, parking here with a TC and a cup of hot tea … well, it’s nice to say the least.

The Golden Gate in the evening

Just a few steps away is a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate bridge … alive with light and activity.  Great city.  Goodnight.  Oh … don’t park here though!

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Circle the Wagons – SF Style

Posted in Boondocking, Fantastic Food, Free Camping, tagged , , on September 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

This is the West, after all.  So, when they circle the wagons in San Francisco, something must be going on.

So — if you’re in a TC, just camp out down by Crissy Field or Marina Green, then head over to Fort Mason (Friday nights only).  The food trucks are circling …

It’s a sign that something is going on …

Tonto … the wagons are circling.  What can it mean?

They’re lining up …

… and forming a big circle …

… and the crowds are rushing to them.  Indian food … Vietnamese … Korean … Curry … Burgers … Pork Belly sandwiches … Flan  … Cupcakes … oh, and much, much more.  Inside the circle, and on the edges are tents serving and cooking.  And indeed, the natives are restless!

The barbie is fired up, and chicken is on the menu boys!

the tents are serving up their wares …

Find something tasty, grab a chair, and relax … off the grid, of course.  We chose wisely … Bombzies BBQ (pictured above, BBQing chicken) serving Vietnamese BBQ; then Alicia’s Tamales (we got chicken again) – stuffed with love.

A little rice, a LOT of chicken, a little kimchi on top …

Vietnamese chicken BBQ was $9 (it was more than enough for 2); Alicia’s Tamale was $3.50 … and was maybe the best ever.  Homemade … made with love … and soooo good I ate it before I could snap a picture.

More trucks inside the circle.

A band started playing while everyone mingled and asked each other: “where did you get that?”  It was good fun … crowded, tasty, and a perfect way to end a work week.  If you’re ever camping down SF way on a Friday, the “circling of the wagons” goes from 5:00 to 10:00 at Fort Mason – don’t miss this.

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A SF lunch … or is it An SF lunch?

Posted in NO Camping, tagged , on September 6, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Gotta visit clients downtown … and there’s time for a spot of lunch before heading back to the TC for another great night in SF.

Downtown Chinatown sounds good …

… and a won ton house sounds good.  These noodle houses are open early and stay open late too.  Very quick, cheerful and cheap … the food is good, steaming hot, and you can hang out and chat the time away.  We went to an old favorite on Kearny Street, just a couple of blocks from the buzzing financial district.

This has been here for many years – unchanged

Our choice was beef stew with wun-tun … about $5.  Tea comes with, and a side of veggies hit the spot.  Noodles cooked on the spot and served up before the tea cooled enough to take a sip.  That’s service!

Dig in … steaming hot and delicious!

Full indeed … and in time to waddle back to the bus system before the transfer expires.  As we’ve noted before, always get a transfer when riding the bus – it’s usually good for a few hours.  But, we got ambushed!

Right in between us and the station is a food truck … one I’ve been looking for.

Yes it is … it’s “Cheese Gone Wild”

Here we are – full to the gills – and here is “Cheese Gone Wild”.  Maybe they’ve got something sweet, you know, like dessert.

The variety of food trucks in large cities is amazing

They have a New Orleans bread pudding, brioche with a caramel butter, topped with heavy whipped cream and a dusting of Korinje cinnamon.  It was big.  It was good.  And now it’s gone.  Yum.

We missed the bus connection by a few minutes – it was worth it.  It’s just good to be heading for home (in the truck camper) to give the ole tummy a rest.

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The Best …

Posted in Fantastic Food, Repairs&Mods, tagged , on September 5, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

We start today with something of interest to Chevy truck owners … specifically about the last generation of Chevy trucks that have ‘issues’ with the instrument cluster.  While we love our trucks, the instrument cluster was not designed with longevity in mind – the little motors that drive the gauges just don’t last!  In our case, the speedo and oil pressure gauges sometimes stop working.  Frustrating … but not fatal … the Silverado blogs all talk about this problem.

Well, this is a $500-600 fix at the dealer.  But, we were alerted to a certified speedometer repair dealer just up the road from where we’re working – in the San Francisco Bay Area.    They replace all the little stepper motors, check and repair the circuit boards, and give it back to you in an hour.  Yes, an hour.  Or, overnight if you send it in.  Total?  $169.  You calculate the savings.

And it’s guaranteed for life.  This is todays “Best of”.  It’s Speed O Tach, Inc; at 4090 Pike Lane in Concord CA, 94520.  Phone them at 800-442-4491.  We got the tip from my brother, who works with an auto repair shop in SF. All their speedo stuff goes there – as does most of the speedo stuff from other dealers in the West.  This is dealer price!  Sweet.

Speaking of sweet, we have to do something while we wait – and here’s the second “Best of” for the day.

It’s TRUE …

On the corner of East St. and Concord Blvd. sits a little house, with absolutely amazing, fresh donuts.  Sit inside, or sit outside and watch the world go by!

Those are FULL size plates!

We whiled away the hour (waiting for our instrument cluster) with a HUGE (yes, I’m yelling) maple bar and a similarly giant-sized cinnamon twist – hot and fresh!  A great big cup of tea (for two).  Across the way was a Starbucks – I don’t know why anyone would go there!

There was an exercise class running around the block – 30 or 40 ladies working off a few pounds – but the donuts were so good, we didn’t feel at all guilty.  Anyway, we’re done with a great morning cuppa and a truck repair and headed back to SF long before noon.

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South to the State of Jefferson

Posted in Boondocking, Fantastic Food, Free Camping, tagged , , on September 1, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Heading down I-5, a favorite quick stop is in Canyonville OR, at the Seven Feathers Casino “Dry RV Lot”.

Wakey wakey …. early morning in the dry lot.

Not far down the road is Sunny Valley … with this wonderful covered bridge.

Picture perfect …

Then we get to lunch in Merlin with the best friends a human being can have.

Down on the farm … peace and quiet

Now, how about something sweet for the road trip?  It’s time to visit Cary’s in Grants Pass for possibly the finest toffee creations in the world!  DO NOT pass this by – this is a must stop if you are on I-5.  Artisan english toffee – yes!

Click to read about Cary’s

Chai toffee … milk chocolate and dark covered … with hazelnuts, almonds and more.

Now with the ole sweet tooth satisfied, we journey on. We are in the State of Jefferson! Haven’t heard of it? Read about their lack of political representation here.

Yup … here’s a marker to the state!

While we reflect on this in our “office with a view”, we thank God for the freedom of our TC.  And … we head on down the road to one of those mega-cities.

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Casino Camping – California

Posted in Boondocking, Free Camping, tagged , , on February 29, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Nestled in before the storm

But we have promises to keep … and miles to go before we sleep … so there’s no time to enjoy Southern Oregon this trip … no time to gaze at Mt. Shasta or the lake!

Next stop is the Rolling Hills Casino off of I5.   As we were looking for parking, the shuttle driver actually shepherded us over to a great spot between a couple of class A diesels. Free overnighting in the truck/motor home parking lot … and as it’s a full fledged truck stop, there’s all the amenities that truckers need … showers, food to go.

It’s late, so we walked about 100 yards to the casino where they have a great buffet.  Today it’s half price (that is, $6.90 on Tues and Thurs for seniors … not high school seniors, by the way). Prime rib, burgundy beef, chicken all kinds, 3 different sauteed fish dishes, great salads and awesome desserts, lotsa tasty casseroles! If it’s your first time here, sign up for “The Shasta Club” card, including $5 free plays. We won enough to pay for the buffet! Friendly staff, and a comfortable sleep. Struck up conversations with a local family that grows asparagus in the area – they come for the buffet.

That day we were a few miles ahead of a snowstorm as we drove south past Mt. Shasta and the lake. After dinner, the palm trees were horizontal as we walked back to the camper.  Thank You Lord, as we were sheltered between a couple of behemoths A’s. Next morning the roads were closed going North!

The next morning was a time of great community in the parking lot amongst the truckers and motor homers … talking about the weather, road conditions, and good places to go.

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