Water feature copper weir
We swapped out the new stainless steel weir at the top of our water feature for a copper one. It matches the stone better and will oxydize to a nice patina. This completes the water feature project we began last August.
October was our 8th month in Covid-19 lockdown. We began to get out a bit. We went to our first restaurant meal since March for Jon's birthday and actually went away to Post Ranch in Big Sur for a vacation. We went in liu of our planned vacation to Bhutan - which is not accepting American visitors. We repurposed the time and funds for Big Sur instead.
Water feature copper weir
We swapped out the new stainless steel weir at the top of our water feature for a copper one. It matches the stone better and will oxydize to a nice patina. This completes the water feature project we began last August.
Stanford GSB Class
Participated in a Stanford Graduate School of Business class on Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation. Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk CEO, and I participate in a case discussion every year in a case about Autodesk. This year we did it via zoom.
Birthday hike
On my birthday, after the Stanford GSB class above, I went for a long hike up the Old Quarry Trail and down the Burdell Mountain Fire road. It was hot and I was thirsty but it was a great way to enjoy my birthday. I saw nobody except on lone Sheriff deputy patroling the preserve. This is getting to be one of my favorie hikes and has a lot of nice views of the Petaluma river, Gnoss field, Bucks Center, and the Birkenstock warehouse.
Birthday Dinner
On my birthday, we went to Cole's Chop House in Napa, where we traditionally go for my birthday. Cole's had a section set up outdoors with lots of health protocols. The waiters wore masks and gloves and there was good social distancing. Downtown Napa was alive with people and we had a good time. This was our first dine-in restaurant meal since we went into lockdown in March.
MALT Drive In Night
On October 17, we went to a Drive In Night in a field in the little West Marin town of Tomales sponsored - for their donors - by the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). MALT set up an inflatable movie screen in a field and made a pop-up drivein. Volunteers served food and drink and after a short program, a movie called The Biggest Little Farm was shown. It was a great idea to thank their donors, get us out of our houses and into a quasi social event (with masks and social distancing) and honor sustainable agriculture.
Post Ranch, Big Sur
The last week in October, we drove down to Big Sur and stayed at Post Ranch Inn. We had a newly renovated Ocean House at the northern end of the property. Post Ranch had dining set up outside on the Sierra Mar patio and around the pool. One day we did an 8-mile hike up Coast Ridge Road and the next day we hung out at Post Ranch except for a brief sojourn over to Napenthe for lunch. It was a relaxing mini-vacation which we took in liu of our planned trek to Bhutan - maybe Bhutan next year.
The restaurant, Sierra Mar, served outside on their patio and poolside with socially distanced tables and masked staff. One evening before dinner a deer decided to inspect the diners and nibble on some plants below the pool.
On Wednesday, our first full day at Post Ranch, we hiked up to the top of the mountain across from Post Ranch on the Coast Ridge Trail.
Thursday, we went down the road to Napenthe for lunch. Like Sierra Mar, dining was outside, socially-distanced, with servers masked.
Here is a parting sunset panoramic shot from our room.
