Remmy Macdonald

May 2nd was technically the last day on the road and we set off for our last stop, San Francisco with great excitement. We had decided to stay in a more residential part of town, Japantown, so that we could get a better sense of SF and an attempt to feel a little more anchored than the previous weeks. It was nice to not feel like a full-on tourist and the local bars and restaurants in nearby Fillmore were warm and welcoming; so much so that we enjoyed two meals out in that area. The first was at a fabulous seafood place, the Woodhouse Fish Company; the food was amazing and well worth the hour wait. In fact we waited in Florio across the road which impressed us so much we went back the next day ... read more

Before anyone else says it, I am well aware that Las Vegas isn’t in California and therefore I’m playing a little fast and loose with the term ‘California Roadtrip’. But we had planned this jaunt into Nevada for a very good reason. Our second wedding anniversary was on the 29th April and, as we got married in Las Vegas, it would have been rude not to pop back. Plus we LOVE Vegas; for the amazing food, affordable luxury but also for the feeling that, at any moment, you can win a life-altering amount of money. It’s like the 10 minutes before the National Lottery draw on a Saturday but unceasing. Well for as long as you are in Vegas. Our main vice while in Sin City should come as no surprise to you by now; food. ... read more

After setting off at the crack of dawn the next morning and falling upon Trinidad Bay just 24 miles north, we realised that pre-booking every hotel wasn’t necessarily the smartest thing to do on a road trip. Yes, it helps manage the costs (and Si's discomfort with ‘winging it’) but falling upon the Trinidad Bay B&B made us realise that we could have had a much different night. Some planning issues were discussed - heatedly - but the bay area was quiet and peaceful enough to soothe tired tempers and after a spot of walking on the beach we were back on our way with humour back intact. From Trinidad Bay we headed up past Patrick’s Point and the Big Lagoon to Orick. The original plan was to start heading east towards Mount Shasta from there ... read more

The 21st April started with a quick jaunt around Sonoma Plaza. The Plaza is a one of America's 'Historic Landmarks' and heralds itself as 'the birthplace of American California' - it was where the Republic of California was briefly formed after a quick squirmish and relatively diplomatic overturn of the Commandant of Northern California, Mariano Guadelupe Vellejo on the 14th June 1846. It was nationalised 25 days later in the American-Mexican war in but the Californian Republic flag still frequents as many household porches in Sonoma as the Stars and Stripes. Along with some true American history, Sonoma Plaza and the streets around it are home to some fabulous restaurants and an astounding amount of French-inspired shops. Judging from the plethora of these shops, they must have pillaged every chateau in France of its furniture and ... read more