it’s a dog’s life in elk, california

Majestic forest kind with antlers high,
Mighty strength belongs to you.
Fill my mind with common sense
To do the things that I must do.

http://www.greenwoodpierinn.com/

Greenwood Pier Inn & Cafe
California & Tex-Mex.
Address: 5928 S. Hwy 1, Elk, Ca. 95432
Phone: 707-877-9997
Toll Free Phone: 800-807-3423
Fax: 707-877-3439
Rates: $130-$300

We stayed in the Loverly Starfish room, double bed, jacuzzi tub, fireplace, ocean view from private balcony, microwave, fridge, cafe, pet friendly, no phone or internet access in room but in office… the next night, we stayed in the East Valley room, with two beds, a real fireplace, Internet access, and no ocean view…

http://www.greenwoodpierinn.com/inn/eastgallery/eastgallery.html

The folks here in Elk are very friendly, feel like we’re back in Oregon again… 🙂 this is a small town about five miles south of the cutoff from Highway 101 to 128 and it is on Hwy 1. You can drive south all the way down to San Francisco along the coast… the weather was delicious and sunny, then rainy and cloudy and warm and cool… very peaceful and delicious food in the cafe… complimentary breakfast was scrambled eggs, country potatoes with toast, orange juice, fresh fruit, and tea or coffee, you could also get quiche of the day, there were three kinds, veggie, spinach and feta, and a tex-mex kind.

Cici met a few dogs along the way down the coast from Westport to here… a lab named Chester on the beach, she was kind of tired from her adventures with M the night before, but she did manage to chase Chester a bit down the sand… there was a couple from Austin, Texas with two schnoodles (poodle and schnauzer mix), who said hello, until cici saw the two kittens running around here, the dogs distracted her a bit…

here’s a few photos of my royal dog lazing on the bed in the Starfish room … pampered pooches, it’s a dog’s life, ya know…

from now on, when I talk about the various inns we stay in, will try to give them a new category such as:

furs class

pampered pooches

farm and country k9

doggone fun

affurdable

pack leaders special

ruffing it

whaddya think?

we think the Greenwood Pier Inn is four paws up, K9 approved and furs class, and special thanks to Mike, Steve and the innkeepers of this inn also have the Sandpiper down the road (not pet friendly), but thanks to Jaci for recommending us to Greenwood and they also own The Inn at 17 Mile in Pacific Grove…

they also do small weddings here, tomorrow is one and hopefully the weather will cooperate…

http://www.greenwoodpierinn.com/

wild turkeys, Himalayan yaks and deer, oh my…

did you ever see a baby Himalyan yak stand up for the first time and walk, well, i almost did…

woke up this morning to the sound of wild turkeys gobbling… then around 4 pm, another baby yak was born; one was born about a week ago… and this new one was very weak, people and yaks were hovering, taking photos, and one big yak seemed to take a liking to me, avoided his horns… getting pushed down into a pit did not appeal at all…

the baby was born in the hot sun and was moved to the shade, given water, and now, about 6 pm, the owners came and think that the baby may not make it… apparently, they are supposed to walk upright within half an hour of being born… the other baby is huge already… they were getting milk from the mama to give to the baby who still had not stood upright.

Shambhala Ranch truly is an incredible property on 140 acres and a welcome change from Ukiah and Santa Rosa, lots of greenery and beautiful views… the best way to get here, in my humble opinion, is to go to the coast and then take the road just north of Little River, which is Orr springs Road, it is nicer and less twisty and windy than the same road from Ukiah…  although the road from Ukiah is supposed to be shorter, that was not my experience. 

The cabin we are in is small, there is no a/c, nor mosquito netting or screen door, there is a fan that cools the air off, phone, TV and other modern amenities are in the main house… am able to get on the internet, this is a place for a relaxing getaway… 

The ranch is gated and fenced so cici can go off leash as long as she does not disturb the other animals… in that way, it is the dog friendliness place we have stayed at…  there are two pet friendly rooms, some people leave their pets while they go about their activities and the staff takes care of them… with treats, food and toys….

Personal touches that i love… the little handwritten signs everywhere that say glad you are here… thank you for being here… the essential oil soap in the bathroom… love the cool shower curtain and rug… looking out at the Tibetan yak pasture with lovely purple bluebell flowers… and green trees…

 

the funny thing is that it turns out that owner Stuart Marcus and I both went to the same high school, a year apart, Martin Van Buren in NYC. 

It is soooooooo peaceful and sooooooo hot, a record breaking 100+, time for a jump in the pond that you can swim in, there is also a hot tub to relax in. It’s quite a meditative environment, who could ask for anything more? 

well, cooler weather and a less twisty windy road to get in and out… 

Montgomery Woods State Park nearby is home to the tallest tree in the world. Also in close vicinity are hiking trails, lush gardens, and a  fruit tree orchard.  There are also multi-media rooms perfect for yoga and dance groups), if you are seeking a peaceful eco-friendly place to hold a retreat, wedding, seminar, workshop, party, reunion, girlfriend getaway or a romantic getaway, Shambhala Ranch just may be the venue for you.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak

http://www.happy-nomads.nl/nepal-informatie/yak-nepal-himalaya.html

http://www.yaksinamerica.com/yaksinamerica/index.htm

 

 

da beach da beach… we are in doggie heaven…

ahhhh…. lots of room to roam and trees and bushes to sniff… this must be dog heaven !  

http://www.pacificmistinn.com

if you are looking for a dog friendly inn for some peace and quiet and relaxation, run do not walk to the Pacific Mist Inn in Little River, California along Highway One (20 minutes from Fort Bragg)… I can feel the stress melting away.  We conked out, slept really well in our cabin. Doesn’t look like much as you drive up, rustic ambiance nothing fancy but boy there is a whole lotta Silence. Peace. Quiet. There are nicely spaced apart for privacy individual bungalow cabins,  with do it yourself barbecues, kitchens, a hot tub in the woods (how romantic)… speaking of romance, if I were getting married, this would be a fabulous place to tie the knot and invite your wedding party to stay…

it is five minutes to restaurants, the innkeepers here have thought of everything… just love the personal touches, from a book that tells you all of the local info from beaches to restaurants to art galleries… to the little notes and tips (28 thing to do on a rainy day) with instructions, they make you feel very welcome and at home here… 

http://www.pacificmistinn.com/accommodations.html

and if you are thinking about having a girlfriend’s getaway, the cabins are perfect because you can each have your own room and share one cabin. It is a hop, skip and a jump to the beach. Close the doors in between the rooms for privacy, open them for late night snacks, movie watching and girl talk…

cici and i stayed in the zen cabin at the Pacific Mist Inn with our very own zen water fountain tinkling outside, i kid you not… we had two rooms, an entire cabin, with two beds, one for me, and one for her… 🙂  a fireplace with wood to cozy up, two bathrooms, two televisions, two phones, a kitchen, and a deck to sit outside… cici is happy and at home, only restriction was for her to have fun and eat her doggie biscuits that they left for us with a sweet note… and two chocolates for me (i did not share them with her)… 

there is a whale and dolphin room, ocean mist room and more…

If and when you bring your dogs, you can have a fabulous breakfast, lunch or dinner with your pooches at the nearby Stanford Inn. We ate breakfast there. The scones are to live for and the food is divinely scrumptious. Cici got overexcited and had to go back in the car, there were so many people and dogs and smells and she was just a little too happy. And one dog arrived and for some reason, she just went berserk. The only time I have ever seen her act like that was when she saw a cat. Bark bark bark. Poor baby. She just loves it here. 

 

www.standfordinn.com

 

The inn is a whole dog universe unto itself… everything is organic, vegan and makes Carmel almost look small and quaint by comparison. This place is huge, has greenhouses, organic gardens, pools and it is so very majestic looking and zen at the same time. How do they do that? 

 

the trip from santa rosa was a little twisty and windy on highway 128 from cloverdale (101 north), but only in a few places… and you are rewarded with driving through a redwood forest and alongside the beach… spectacular.

 

the weather is moderate all year round cool in the summer, about 75-80 degrees and colder in the winter.

 

the Pacific Mist Inn even has zap (electric) cars you can drive/rent in the area… and don’t forget the hot tub in the woods… ummmmmm… get in the zone…

 

i noticed along the way that scharffenberger has a tasting room, does that mean a wine and/or chocolate tasting room?  oh well, found out that it’s not chocolate, oh well,  mmmmm help me, I’m melting… mmm  mmm good…