California or Bust

8-18 March 2006

Every March ECC holds its Manager's Meeting in San Francisco. Arnaud and I took a few extra days beforehand to tour California! I couldn't wait for warm sunny weather. Little did I know California would have an unexpected cold snap and freak snow storms along the coast!

As soon as we landed, we drove south through the fog of jetlag. The next morning we headed to the famous Yosemite National park and were cautioned by rangers along the way to buy snow chains for our rental car due to icy road conditions. The scenery wowed us as we drove through Yosemite valley. We visited Bridalveil Falls and did some hiking toward Yosemite Peak. It snowed on us intermittently and we soon had to head to the high road 120 leading north and out of the park so we could check into our cabin. We slipped and slid the back road in, managing somehow to avoid ditches. It was a lovely place, called Four Pines, complete with woodburning stove. We cooked Mexican food and enjoyed California wine, before collapsing exhausted into bed.

We cautiously headed back to Yosemite the next morning for more touring and this time were stopped at the gate by rangers instructing us to put tire chains on. Uuugh! As we drove through the park we parked at Crane Flat to hike through the snow to the Merced grove of sequoia trees. We met lots of hikers along the way - most with snow shoes! Later, we cruised around the valley some more and then back for another night in the cabin. Arnaud kept the stove stoked all night and we got snowed in. Arnaud and the snowplows had to dig us out! (Sometimes there are advantages to broken wrists...)

Next stop, once we dug out of the snow, the California coast!! We made for Paso Robles, a small town with over 100 wineries in the vicinity. This area of California is lesser known than Napa and Sonoma valleys for its wine. It is not far from the crossroad where James Dean died in his car accident and the valley to the south near San Luis Obisbo was recently featured in the film "Sideways." We had a great evening walking around town and sampling local wine.

The next morning we headed north up the California coast, stopping in the artist community of Cambria for lunch. It was lovely! I was hooked on the California coast immediately! We spent the afternoon at Hearst Castle, the monstrous estate that publishing mogul William Randolf Hearst built for himself. It was completely over the top and made for a well run tourist attraction.

We then continued a leisurely drive up the coast until stopping for the night at Monterey. Here are a few pics from the trip. Note the elephant seals lounging on the beach!




Our last day was spent with a morning on Cannery Road in Monterey and at Monterey Bay Aquarium. We saw otters frolicking, divers feeding sharks, touched stingrays and just look at those jelly fish! By late afternoon we had driven through the horse farms and redwood forests south of San Francisco and checked into our hotel. We had a great evening in downtown San Fran at a local brewery where we celebrated Arnaud's birthday with three friends who once lived in Frankfurt.

It was all business for me the next few days as our conference got started. We had leadership training, project presentations, business development strategy sessions etc... while Arnaud toured San Francisco, shopped, had lunch with friends, and skied Tahoe! The grand finale for the week, however, was a company banquet at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, complete with photographer (see pic of Arnaud and me in my German dress), tours and dance floor!

Arnaud and I parted ways the next morning as he returned to Germany and I went on to my next adventure in Colorado...

-Tiffany

Links:
Yosemite National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yose/home.htm
Sunset Inn Cabins: http://sunsetinn-yosemitecabins.com
Hearst Castle: http://www.hearstcastle.com/
Paso Robles: http://www.pasowine.com
Monterey Bay Aquarium: http://www.mbayaq.org/