A birthday outing

Each year around Orhan's birthday we leave town for a few days. Usually we go to Harbin Hot Springs, but since they are still rebuilding after the Valley Fire, Orhan found a place in the coastal mountains north of San Francisco.

We got here yesterday afternoon, checked into our one-room cottage, and went to town for dinner. Today we went on a gentle hike among the redwoods before settling in at a cafe in Guerneville.

Last night was the town tree lighting. They also had a "decorate and take your own ornament" table, and spiced cider and coffee. It reminded me of the town where I grew up -- not a place I remember fondly at all, but a place with some charming moments.


The redwoods were magnificent, of course.





Dev didn't come on this trip. Fortunately, Baykuş Keechbird found us before the hike and came along. SheHeIt is very interested in natural history.





Owls are also very good, it turns out, at photobombing.



This is especially true when their name is involved.



They also like to perch, and are eager to provide scale and/or a contrasting texture.







In town, we found a pie place in an old bank. We didn't get pie, but we did take some pictures in the vault.



And then, to a cafe for Orhan to study words, for me to read, and for Baykuş Keechbird to learn about coffee.




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