Wofford Heights, here we come! Day 10

[Guest]

DAY 10
Wofford Heights – the day we arrive!

After sorting breakfast and tidying up the villa we are all ready to depart. Tim & Jimmie are heading back to Arizona – a 6 hour drive. We, in turn, are heading up the I-5 through Los Angeles and Burbank and up towards Bakersfield.



This is quite a drive of around 145 miles. It’s OK Google maps saying that you’ll do 145 miles in 2 ½ hours but they don’t allow for town roads or hilly climbs so it takes more like 3 hours. It’s a beautiful day again and by afternoon we are pulling into the Valley plaza shopping centre. We decide that as we haven’t had a burger all week we will head for some decent place that serves them. We choose Red Robin and I have a Whiskey River BBQ burger with fries whilst Dar goes for guacamole bacon burger in a lettuce wrap – no bun!. To drink I choose a freckled lemonade –Minute Maid light lemonade with tinned strawberries in it. You mash with a straw and, hey! you have freckles in your drink. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Darrin had water.





Now fed, we head into a massive Target store where we buy a myriad of souvenirs, clothes and pharmaceutical products and a few DVDs. I get myself an Anaheim Angels T shirt (No 5 – Pujols).
Back in the car and we have another 40 miles to go. It takes about 2 hours because the Kern Valley River road is narrow and winding and it doesn’t help when you have to pass a car that is in flames! We pass from valley floor vineyards and orange groves into the lower Sierra Nevada.



The plant life is scrub and the odd pine tree but the river itself is stunning. Water cascades down through boulders and we stop a couple of times to take photos.



The sun is fading as we hit Wofford Heights itself (the place which gives this trippie its title) but we have to pass on through Kernville to our destination at the Sequoia Lodge. We researched several places to stay at but this came out on top in most reports including Trip Advisor. When we arrive we can see why.







Everybody checked out this afternoon (they must have heard we were coming!) We have the entire lodge to ourselves. Pat, the owner, is lovely and soon directs us to our Room 17. We overhang the river bed plain and from our veranda and rear window we have magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. We can see snow on the top of some of them. The light really fades as we unpack and change ready for our night out. The plan was to head back to Wofford Heights to our friends Vern and Melinda.



We became friends 6 years ago on a steam train from Durango to Silverton in Colorado and have been in touch ever since. Vern has an O gauge railroad which I am dying to see but more of that tomorrow. As we are running a little late we call them and instead of heading to their house they come to us. We have a reservation at McNallys which is a good 11 miles from where we are staying.
Myself and Vern start with Jack and Seven – Jack Daniels Bourbon and 7 Up. Darrin and Melinda go with red wine. There is a lovely roaring fire in the grate and believe me, tonight it is needed.
The olace is filled withg diorama made by a local chap. There are covered wagon scenes, mining scenes etc. You can see one above the fireplace.



The thing about this restaurant is that it doesn’t serve pre cut steaks. It cuts its own from prime beef. The biggie is the Logger – a 40 ounce Porterhouse steak – a “cowboy size helping” as they quote on their menu. This would set you back nearly $52. We choose something a little smaller. I opted for filet mignon of 16 ounces (yes, I know I had one at Club 33) and Darrin had lobster tail.





Prior to this I had an appetiser of crab stuffed mushrooms:


Vern and Melinda share a 24 ounce rib-eye. Also stated on their menu is: “We do not recommend or guarantee steaks cooked past medium”. Quite right too. We are so full we don’t choose any dessert but I do have a cup of coffee. When we emerge from the restaurant the sky is velvet black and filled with millions of stars.Some you would never see in our light polluted skies over the UK. They even get shooting stars.



It’s a perfect if chilly evening. We are back at our lodge by 9:30 and whilst our friends head back to their home we head for bed. Another wonderful day.

[nickymouse66]

Freckled lemonade! Looks fantastic! The scenery looks amazing & the lodge looks gorgeous - fancy getting it all to yourselves! (The food looks fab too!)

[Eeyore rocks]

Just breathe taking scenery.

Than you for sharing.

[florida girl]

What a beautiful place and the food looks scrumptious.

[cathann]

Wow, steak heaven!
I didn't think you did burgers!

[disney owl]

it all sounds & looks wonderful

[Tink-a-bee]

The scenery looks amazing ( as does the lobster tail )

[Guest]

Stunning scenery! Well worth the drive! Lodge looks gorgeous and having it to yourselves is an added bonus!

[kevbrydon]

Describing them Steaks makes my mouth water... another good for you both...

[fudgesky]

That lodge looks fab! What a place to stay! Your organising our next trip! X