Family Trees and Vine Branches!

September 26 – October 3, 2021

 

A little background information… On October 3, 1866, Ferdinand Blaschke began quite an adventure!  Unlike our journey, Ferdinand dreamed of immigrating from Maria Elend, Austria to the United States of America!  Over three months later, on January 15, 1867, he finally arrived and started his life here in the US.  What I wouldn’t give to hear his stories of the journey here and the challenges and joys he encountered once he arrived!  Eventually, Ferdinand married and had three children, Anna, Theresa and John.  Theresa is Dick’s paternal grandmother.  

 

Around 20 years ago, Dick was doing a little genealogy research on the internet and decided with the last name of Peterson, he wasn’t going to have much luck, so he used his great grandfather’s name (Blaschke), which is a bit less common.  It wasn’t long before he came across a post, requesting information on Theresa Blaschke’s family, and the rest is history!  

 

This research led to Dick learning he has a second cousin, Jim Blaschke living in Gilroy, California!  That is who made the internet post.  Jim’s paternal grandfather (John) is the brother to Dick’s paternal grandmother (Theresa)!  Ever since making this connection, we have been sharing genealogy information with each other and exchanging Christmas cards.  We have each extended an open invitation to visit each other, but being half way across the country from each other, neither of us has ever taken the other up on the opportunity, until now!!!

 

It’s really a shame that we wasted those 20 years in getting to know each other.  It turns out that we have so very much in common.  Both Jim and his wife, Kathy, are retired teachers, giving us enough conversation for a lifetime!  Combine that with each of us having a strong love of the Lord, enjoyment of genealogy research, travel, food, wine, hiking, socializing…and we found an immediate friendship!  Relatives and friends all in one!

 

Kathy and Jim were tremendous hosts during our time in Gilroy.  It turned out our campground was about a 10-minute drive from their home!  The afternoon we arrived, Jim and Kathy picked us up and treated us to wine tasting at Kirigin Cellars.  Our campground is not only close to their home, but right on the wine trail as well!  

This area of California is particularly known for its Pinot Noirs.  Vineyards are everywhere and each vineyard has its own variation on how to attract customers to patronize their vineyard.  Hospitality seems to be the name of the game and, believe me, it’s a pretty enjoyable game!

 

After tasting several Kirigin wines and selecting a bottle or two, Jim and Kathy invited us to their home where we enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner.  It was so fun seeing all of the family photos displayed on their staircase hallway!  It was pretty unreal to see some of the very same photos we have!  In addition to family photos, was the framed baptismal gown Kathy wore.  The gown is 200 years old, entirely handmade from Irish linen, and originally worn by her great, great grandmother in Dublin!  Such a treasure!

 

The next morning, Jim picked us up and took us to Old City Hall for breakfast.  As the name suggests, the building that houses this fantastic restaurant was originally City Hall.  To prove it, the restrooms are now what was once the jail cells.  The jail bars remain in place, making me wonder if they should have used the space for guests that refuse to wear a mask!  Or maybe guests that can’t pay their check could have an option other than washing dishes?

 

Following breakfast, Jim gave a tour of the Gilroy area and we got a feel for the local agriculture.  We saw fields of lettuce, kale, peppers, strawberries, and artichokes!  This Iowan gal is used to seeing fields of seed corn, soybeans, and hay!  I loved seeing all of the fresh crops growing after so many years of picking up produce labeled “grown in California” from the friendly isles of Hy-Vee!

 

That afternoon, we picked up ToGo’s (Deli) and took our lunch to Sarah’s vineyard for another wine tasting!  This time we were able to meet the owner, Tim, who showed us a portion of the vineyard that is scheduled to be harvested in a few days.  They hire a crew to come in and hand harvest the grapes.  The crews begin at 4:00am donning headlamps.  They work hard and fast, as they get paid by the weight of the harvest. They finish their day around 10:00am, beating the heat of the day.

 

Jim and Kathy brought delicious steaks to our campsite, where we grilled and enjoyed a dinner camper style!

 

Kathy has quite the network of friends that match her wide variety of interests and passions.  One day, Kathy arranged for us to meet her friends Suzi and Tosh while hiked the Blackhawk Trail in the Sprig Day Use Area only a few miles from their home.  The trail had only reopened a few days prior after being closed for several years due to landslides and downed trees that resulted from a storm.  The trail provided a beautiful vista of the Santa Cruz Mountains, as well as great exercise and wonderful conversations.  In talking to Tosh, we learned Tosh immigrated from Hiroshima when she was a child.  Both of her parents were survivors of the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945.   

 

On another day, Jim drove us along El Camino Real to the small town of San Juan Bautista.  Here we enjoyed lunch at Jardines de San Juan.  Jardines not only had an incredible menu, but they also had an unbelievable flower garden filled with geraniums, gladiolas, succulents, cacti, and many flowers I didn’t recognize! I found the wide array of succulents particularly beautiful!  

 

The original El Camino Real was 600 miles long, connecting a series of missions established by Spanish Franciscan missionaries.  Each mission was located about 30 miles from each other, which was considered to be a long day’s horseback ride.  The trail of missions stretches from its southern end in San Diego to the northern terminus in San Francisco. Today, the route is marked by a series of commemorative bell markers placed in 1904.  

 

It so happens that one of these missions is located in San Juan Bautista.  While the mission itself was locked, we were able to tour the grounds of Old Mission San Juan Bautista.  Random note:  This is where Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo was filmed!  This mission was established June 24, 1797 and continues to be an active parish today.  On Saturday, we returned here to celebrate Mass.  In talking to the priest after Mass, Father Cabrera shared he had been the caregiver for both of his parents when Covid hit.  Sadly, he lost both of his parents to this dreadful pandemic.   

Another big day together took us first to Moss Landing State Beach, where we watched sea otters peacefully doing a back float, sea lions beached on the shoreline and a variety of birds soaring in the sky.  I swear, someday, I will be able to identify these creatures!

Next, we went to Carmel by the Sea!   Jim and Kathy took us to one of their favorite spots, the Cottage, where we enjoyed artichoke soup for lunch!  We learned artichokes are actually a member of the thistle family and are quite preparation-intensive.  All of the work is worth the effort, as this soup was delicious! 

Carmel’s beach is famous for a good reason.  The view was tremendous!  To just put the icing on the cake, there happened to be a Mariachi band playing on the beach!!! A small group was there celebrating a special event of some kind and the band was serenading them.  The entire beach was able to enjoy the treat! It was fun to run through the sand to the water’s edge and take in the entire scene!

 

Just down the shoreline you can see Pebble Beach!  A little-known fact:  When the golf course was approved by the city, it was conditional that the golf course be assessable to everyone.  To this day, although it’s not a publicized fact, anyone can stroll along the cart paths!  

 

Our final stop of the day was at San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission.  Now that we have been to two of the missions, I’m feeling a pull to make it to the other 19!  What the heck, why not??

 

Our fabulous new-found cousins weren’t done yet!  I’m telling you, this couple could be travel agents!  Jim and Kathy had yet another fabulous day planned for us!  This time, our day started out with a visit to the City of Capitola!  Capitola is a fun little city with a very beachy vibe to it!  Probably because it has a stunning beach, highlighted by colorful vacation units located right on the beach!  Also beside the beach is a fun shopping district.  Kathy and I couldn’t resist purchasing matching copper bracelets! 

 

Once we were done playing on the beach and doing a little shopping, we headed to Shadowbrook for dinner.  Shadowbrook is impossible to describe!  It is built on a huge hill, featuring a series of staircases that are beautifully landscaped as you walk down the stairs.  Once you reach the actual restaurant, there is a wide variety of seating options.  We chose the outdoor-along-the-river option!  It was a bit chilly outdoors, but the heat lamps kept us toasty warm.  After a fun day, a full stomach, and a tasty adult beverage none of us really wanted to face the stairs to leave.  No worries, they have a cable car to get you back up the hill!  Shadow Brook is famous for their romance ambiance and it’s easy to see how they have stayed in business since 1947!  

 

We weren’t nearly done with the wine trail yet!  Our next winery stop was at Clos LaChance Vineyards where Kathy had reserved a table for the Doobie Brothers Tribute band concert!  Yep, this involved wine tasting and purchasing a delicious bottle of cabernet sauvignon!  Clos LaChance offered dinner options, so with our bellies happy, a great band playing all of the songs we rocked out to in high school and college, and a glass of good wine in our hands, we danced the night away!  Clos LaChance had a lawn full of 60 and 70 year-olds getting their groove on!  I’m sure I don’t even have to post a picture of this for you to be able to imagine the event!  It was unbelievably fun!  

Originally, we had planned on leaving Gilroy a little sooner, but it didn’t take much urging from Kathy and Jim to extend our stay for two additional days!  Jim had more to show us and had yet another full day planned for us!  Our day started out with a drive through the community of Sveadal.  This is a small, private summer resort.  This Swedish community was founded in 1926 and has been visited by three generations of Swedish royalty! 

 

After driving through Sveadal, we headed for lunch at Cinnabar Hills Golf Course.  Jim and Kathy certainly know all of the good spots to eat no matter what direction we head off to!  Again, the food was a treat to the taste buds and the scenery a treat to the eyes!

 

Next, we were off for a tour of the Quicksilver Museum in New Almaden.  Here is where they mined cinnabar and extracted mercury from it.  In the museum, they had a bottle of mercurochrome.  Anyone remember the stuff??  I had forgotten all about it!  It was a staple in every first aid kit when I was a kid!  We used it as an antiseptic for any cut or scrape.  It’s now no longer sold due to its mercury content.  

 

The Mt. Umunhum radar tower was our next destination.  This 85-foot-tall landmark, located in the hills south of San Juan, is where the air force scanned the skies for Russian bombers during the Cold War.  It became obsolete when satellites came into the picture.  Today, Mt. Umunhum (named from the Ohlone Indian word for hummingbird) is a popular destination with stunning views across the Bay area and Monterey Bay.  Outdoor enthusiasts love the hiking, biking and views Mt Umunhum has to offer!

Back at Jim and Kathy’s home, we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and the company of Jeff and Juli (friends of Jim and Kathy).  Jeff and Juli are local musicians!   Jeff brought his guitar and we sat around the backyard fire, sang songs and laughed the night away.  I think it was 1:00am before we went to bed!  I’m telling you, I haven’t lived this life style in decades!  My spirit is willing but my body keeps reminding me I’m 64 years old!  It’s awfully hard to keep up with these California cousins!

 

Our final day with Jim and Kathy took us to the Martin Ranch Vineyard.  This vineyard offered beautiful views of their vineyard along with a pond, delicious snacks, and comfortable seating!  Meeting the owners of the vineyard was fun!  Hearing the stories of their humble beginnings and seeing how their vineyard has grown was cool!  We’ve been to so many wineries while we were here, each with such a different atmosphere and each with their own take on hospitality.  I know that we didn’t even begin to make a dent in the number of wineries in the area.  It’s really incredible how many exist!

 

We ended our time with Jim and Kathy, having them to our place for dinner, a campfire and s’mores.  With all of the wildfires, the only campfire allowed is a propane fire, but it still worked to toast marshmallows with!  It’s hard to believe that one short week ago, we hardly knew these two lovely people.  We are so very happy to have finally gotten to meet them and to now call them not only family, but treasured friends!