3 farmers markets in 3 cities in 1 day!

San Francisco to Petaluma to Glen Ellen ( Sonoma)

California

June 6- 8 , 2009

As we pulled out of the campground by the sea we immediately saw signs for the Half Moon Bay Farmers Market! We cannot resist the opportunity to sample the local flavour and perhaps pick up a loaf of great organic bread or some local, organic strawberries.  In we go.....Yum! I know we have said it before but we just have to say it again. The scenery on the Pacific Coast Highway is incredible. No wonder we are seeing so many rental RVs. These are smart people who have heard and now come to see this beautiful place.

We arrived in San Francisco early enough to attend the amazing FARMERS MARKET there too. We knew from a recent vacation there that the market is a must do event as all the local foodies gather to sell some of the most incredible food grown in California. Of course we didn't need bread or strawberries- OK, maybe just a small loaf , but we did need cheese, nuts and wine.  Let's just say that the boys feel like they have seen enough farmer's markets and not enough skate shops on this trip.  They weren't impressed at the prospect of  yet another wander down isles and isles of greens, fruit, cheese  and lavender  but hey, it's one of their parents favorite things to do and who's paying for this trip anyway?! We gotta eat, right?

We enjoyed the fruits of our labour ( pun intended) in a parking lot looking out over Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. The wine and cheese went particularly well with the ambiance we had created for ourselves inside our campervan.

We loved the cheese so much we decided to go directly to the farm in Petaluma  and buy some more. We were headed sort of in that direction and we thought it would make a great gift for our friends who would be hosting us for the next few days ( if we ever get there.)

We found the farm on yet another bucolic drive and thankfully found the family at home as they were just heading out the door for a night out- hah, not so fast. They were a little shocked to see us as they don't do direct sales but we bought a 1/4 wheel anyway and they threw in a bottle of chardonnay that they produce as well. My kind of farmers!

On our return through the town of Petaluma guess what we see? You guessed it! Another FARMERS MARKET! This time we really didn't need anything but we toodled around anyways cause you just never know. The boys played at the park there while we went for a coffee. Upon our return to gather the boys we announced that we would treat them to a slurpee for the road. The utter shock and disbelief was palpable ( those of you that know us well know we don't make a habit of feeding our kids pop) Bowen asked "really?!,..... really?!,..... really?! 

We arrived in Glen Ellen in the late evening and our great hosts, Lon and Linda, had dinner waiting for us!! We are all happy to see each other again and we spend the evening exchanging Mexico travel stories. Lon and Linda are retired and travel to Mexico in their camper van  every other year (the off years they travel to south east Asia!) We have a great time drinking wine and getting caught up but  it's obvious their beloved dog, Ziggy, is in pain with his cancerous leg and it won't be long till he needs to be put to sleep. We hope our visit will lift his spirits as he seems to enjoy the company of boys.

-Liz