Off to California - October 2010

19 Sep 10 - 04:11 PM (#2989864)
Subject: Off to California - October 2010
From: howbe on

Hello mudcat-ers. My wife and I will be going on vacation from the UK to California arriving October the 20th at LAX. We are hiring a car and the rough plan is to arrive in San Francisco by the 24th then gradually work our way down to Vegas by the 31st.
As we are both folk musicians we would love to see some music along the way so if you have any suggestions as to where we might see folk, roots, bluegrass, old timey gigs, en route, we would love to hear from you.
We have looked on a couple of websites but would appreciate any personal recommendations for venues and events.
PS - Could anybody recommend a hotel/motel in San Francisco area which offers free parking and has good transport links into the city for a sight seeing day out??
Many Thanks
Dom & Sarah

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19 Sep 10 - 04:41 PM (#2989878)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: katlaughing

Unless you want to backtrack, after getting to San Francisco, going to Vegas from San Francisco is quite a long drive across much, dry desert. If you go that way, be sure to have gallons of water available (for you and if the car overheats), easily bought at any store, and be sure to keep the petrol tank filled as well as watch the water in the radiator. With a rental car, it should be fine, but it's just not anything you want to be without on such a drive.

We have several members who live in California, one of whom sings in a chanty group on the ships in San Francisco. I am sure they'll be along with more specific info. I would only add, that, if you get a chance and are interested in Egyptian artefacts, there is a lovely museum in San Jose: HERE which has the largest collection on exhibit in western North America.

Have fun!

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19 Sep 10 - 05:18 PM (#2989897)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Mary Katherine

For Southern California folk venues see my website at

http://www.aliveandpicking.com

click on calendar

Enjoy your stay!

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19 Sep 10 - 05:37 PM (#2989909)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Leadfingers

And DONT Confuse the two tunes Too many peeps think that Humours of California is Off to California !

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19 Sep 10 - 05:42 PM (#2989910)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Fidjit

I went over the same time last year. Here's a link I had last year

check this out

Lots of link connections for you in the Bay Are.

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19 Sep 10 - 07:00 PM (#2989952)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: open mike

Well you will miss these...but they should be included in Bay Area music schedules..


http://www.berkeleyoldtimemusic.org/ Sept. 8-12 , 2010
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Free festival Oct 1-2-3 , 2010 http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/

http://www.sffmc.org/ san francisco folk music society has an extensive
list of activities

there are several tunes with similar names:
road to california and off to california, bound for california.

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19 Sep 10 - 08:15 PM (#2989990)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Slag

I'm going to assume that by SF you will have already see some of the California coast line and a few beaches. Why not head due east out of SF over to the I-5 south along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, east to Fresno and continuing east, up to the Yosemite Valley. It is one of the natural wonders of the world, not to be missed. Plenty of big trees there also; the giant sequoias.

Continue up over Tioga Pass and down Hwy 395. This is the corridor down the east side of of the High Sierras. You will see a magnificent wall of jagged granite peaks, many over 10,000 feet high that stretch for about 400 miles (north-south) and on the other side (east)are the White Mountains, a much shorter range but also with peaks in excess of 10,000 feet elevation. Below Lone Pine you head east again out across the Mojave Desert. You will see sand dunes and very interesting geology. Cross the Panamint range and northern stretch of the Panamint Desert to Death Valley to Stove Pipe Wells. There is an excellent resturante there but you need to check ahead for times. 4:30 PM would be perfect for an early meal. From there you can either go across the norhtern part of the valley to Beatty NV and south to Las Vegas on Hwy 95.

If you have time you can, of course, go south from Stove Pipe Wells and see the best part of the Death Valley. If you have any interest in geology this is also a must see natural wonder. The desolation is truly awesome and if you keep in mind the pioneers who came this route to California and the gold fields you will get a feeling for what the were up against with mule and wagon.

I sugeested just one of many trips. I have lived in and traveled this state my entire life and have not see it all. California itself is like no other place on Earth. If you fly in from the east you will cross hundreds of miles of more or less monochromatic landscape dotted here and there with cities but once you see the Sierra Nevada cordillera everything changes, visibly from the air.

Regardless of what route you take I'm sure you will have a good time, see and do many things. Joe O can undoubtedly hook you up to the folk scene as well as other 'catters. Bon Voyage!

PS, If you do travel the deserts, then you might want to think about having a little water along just in case but as for the rest, it's a very populous state with emergency road service and call phones everywhere. PM me for more info

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20 Sep 10 - 01:34 AM (#2990093)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: howbe on

Thanks so much to you all for responding. I will check out the various threads and web sites that have been suggested. Thanks also for the tips for desert driving, not something we are used to in the UK !
Slag ,many thanks for your suggestions regarding proposed routes and sights and I may well contact you for more info.
Re- the tune Off to California, the one we play is in a Hornpipe but I am aware that the same, or very similar tunes,often have a variety of slightly different names. Whatever its name its a grand tune.

Once again many thanks to you all.

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20 Sep 10 - 02:43 AM (#2990104)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: open mike

If you want to stay on the more well travelled highways, from San Francisco to Las Vegas, you might take Interstate 80 East to Reno then south on highway 395 through some magnificent country to southern Calif. and Las Vegas (also known as Lost Wages due to the gambling casinos there)

(there is also hiway 49 that goes winding thru the Gold Country (Mother Lode) and also has several caves and caverns along the way.)

I usually prefer not to take the same highway twice...so as to see
different areas coming and going....some of the passes in the higher
elevations are closed by snow in the winter, but should be open in October. You can always check road conditions by calling this toll- free phone number...1-800-gas-road or check the Cal Trans state road conditions on the web site...of the calif. state transportation dept.

you might also check out the travel info from Jacqui C who went to
some of those same places a few months ago...if you click on her name you can search the discussions that went on about her trip.

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20 Sep 10 - 03:46 AM (#2990119)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Dom & Sarah-
Check the San Francisco Folk Music Club, http://www.sffmc.org/ for Northern California folk music events. Their October calendar is here (click). the most legendary music event in California is the song circle at Faith Petric's at 885 Clayton Street in San Francisco it happens October 8 and 22. There's an a cappella session in one room, an accompanied session in another, and an instrumental jam in a third room. This session has been going on twice a month since the 1960s. The host, Faith Petric, is 95 this year.

We have a very nice singaround and house concert scheduled for the afternoon of October 24 at Auburn, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Sacramento on Interstate 80 - I'll be there, and it would be nice to meet you.

I'd suggest taking Highway 101 from Los Angeles to San Francisco, perhaps heading over to Highway 1 at San Luis Obispo for the second half of the trip so you go through the spectacular Big Sur area (driving from south to north is easier on Highway 1, since you're not as close to the cliff's edge.)

Slag and open Mike have given you good advice about places to see. I don't know that October is a very good time to see Yosemite Valley, since all the waterfalls are likely to be dry - still, there is a quiet beauty to Yosemite Valley in October that is quite wonderful. However, if it hasn't been closed by snow by then, you might want to drive across the Sierra by way of Tioga Pass, in the northern part of Yosemite National Park. On the other side are Mono Lake and the fascinating ghost town, Bodie. Every pass over the Sierra is interesting, so it doesn't really matter - except that there are NO passes over the Sierra south of Yosemite, until you get to Tehachapi Pass (which is pretty dry).

Desert driving in October isn't too daunting, although there's a chance of snow in late October. Shouldn't be too much of a problem if you check with Slag or me or open mike at the time. Spring is the best time for the desert - I drove 1,200 miles of desert highway in March of this year, and loved every moment of it. I might even like a trip to Death Valley in October - sunsets in Death Valley are spectacular. One thing about desert driving: if a sign says, "Next Services, 120 miles," believe it and stop for gas and drinking water AND food. NEVER let your tank get below quarter full, and a half-full limit is a good idea. But there's something wonderful about driving through the desert, and stopping now and then to take a walk off the highway (stay in sight of your car, unless you're on a marked trail).

One other word of advice - stay off the freeways. There's too much that's you'll miss if you drive only on the freeways (exceptions: Highway 101 along the coast, and Interstate 80 across the Sierra are spectacular; and yes, the freeways help you get around Los Angeles if you can't find suitable surface streets).

I hope you come to love California as much as I do.

-Joe-

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20 Sep 10 - 07:46 AM (#2990187)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Fidjit

Ooo ! Wish I was on my way over again. Lucky you. I had a really great time. I'm sure you will too. As Joe says You'll end up loving it.

Chas

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20 Sep 10 - 11:50 AM (#2990301)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: howbe on

Joe, thanks for your information and advice which is very useful to us. Sadly I dont think we will have time to make it to the
Faith Petric sessions but the October 24th event looks to be a possability. It would be great to meet you and hear some good music.The sffmc site is very good by the way.
We will definately take your advice on taking H 101/1 from LA to SF.
Also it was our plan to stay off the Freeways, at least as much as time will allow, as we will hopefully see some areas that are off the "tourist trail" and perhaps give us a better insight into life in California.
Thanks Chas for your good wishes and I'm sure we will have a great time .
Take care

Dom and Sarah

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30 Sep 10 - 02:54 AM (#2996592)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy

To Dom & Sarah:

Hi! I am in California. If you have any time you should really try to travel south from San Francisco to the Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur area. It's about 91 miles from SF to Carmel. It's a beautiful area and especially what is known as the 17 Mile drive in the Carmel area.
Big Sur sometimes has folk music at one of the restaurants on Highway 101. Really lovely area and very scenic!

Another idea is to get a local newspaper once you are in SF and usually Thursday or Fridays have a section for entertainment for the coming up weekend and week. You might find a folk listing there.

Don't know if you are smokers or not but smoking is not permitted anywhere (meaning restaurant, bar, folk club, etc). Hopefully you are not smokers but just in case you are just thought I'd mention it as there are really strict smoking laws everywhere and this includes bars in California.

The weather in SF can be cool at the time you will be there.
I am in Southern, Calif. about 400 miles south of SF and the weather where I am has been extremely hot with temperature at 113 degrees a few days ago in Los Angeles. It was in the high 90's today.

There are a number of folk clubs in the Bay area and also there are some house concerts. (Are you familiar with those?)

By the way, when you rent a car, most cars are automatic transmission and not stick shift. I know it is quite the opposite there. Some years ago I was in Europe and could not find anywhere to rent a car that was automatic. I did not want a stick shift car.

Have you been to California before?

Lindy

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30 Sep 10 - 06:32 AM (#2996676)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: howbe on

Thanks Lindy for your advice and info. We were planning to visit Monterey/Big Sur area on our drive up to SF. Does anybody know of any events on a Fri/Sat night in this area?
We were also wondering if anybody has any info on music events in the Fresno/Kings county/ Bakersfield area in the last week in October as we may be passing that way on route to Las Vegas.
Many thanks Dom and Sarah

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30 Sep 10 - 12:28 PM (#2996905)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: pdq

"...except that there are NO passes over the Sierra south of Yosemite, until you get to Tehachapi Pass (which is pretty dry). ~ The Mod

Not to be argumentative (me?) but Walker Pass goes through the Sierra Nevadas about an hour's drive north of Tehachapi Pass. I don't recommend Walker since there is little traffic, no services and enough switchbacks to get one seasick.

Also, Tehachapi Pass does not cross the Sierra Nevadas, it goes through a low area area just south, essentially forming a line between the them and the Tehachapi Mountains.

At least once a year somebody starts a thread about visiting the West. Some folks think they can fly into LAX and drive to Frisco, visit Yosemite, take in a show in Reno, visit Las Vegas, and perhaps check-out the Grand Canyon all in a week, and have time to participate in three folk festivals. It can't be done. The US is 3000 miles across and California is about 900 miles long, plus those destinations are in three of our largest states.

There is a wealth of information and a bunch of good suggestions to found in those threads.

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02 Oct 10 - 02:02 AM (#2997947)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Guest - Linda

Hi Dom & Sarah:

Guest what? I will be in Bakersfield the last week of October myself.
I know Bakersfield has a lot of country music bars but I am right now trying to find a folk club right in Bakersfield that I can attend the week I am there. Will be researching it over the next few days and will send another message to you at this post.
Will you be actually staying in Bakersfield a night or two?
I will be coming up from L.A. on the bus to Bakersfield and staying at a hotel there.
I won't be golng to Big Sur or Carmel but will also get back to you about possible folk venues there. Actually I went up there to Monterey, Calif. a year ago to see Donovan in concert!

Thanks,
Lindy

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02 Oct 10 - 02:20 AM (#2997950)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy

Hi Dom & Sarah:

I may have found a folk venue but will call the number tomorrow and try to find out more about it, It is in Bakersfield.

I will post here again tomorrow afternoon or evening. It's getting late now and I will be going to sleep in a few minutes.

Thank you,
Lindy

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02 Oct 10 - 09:42 PM (#2998433)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: pattyClink

And for the love of God, when driving in these areas, do NOT under any circumstances take a 'shortcut' across a little mountain range--they often show up as little blue lines on the map, very tempting. Too easy to get lost or stranded if anything goes wrong.

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03 Oct 10 - 02:38 AM (#2998498)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy

Hi Dom & Sarah:

I talked to this guy today who lives in Bakersfield, Calif.

There is a venue in Bakersfield called, Dagny's Coffee Company.
The address is: 1600 20th St (at the corner of 20th St & I Street)
Bakersfield, Calif. Phone Number: [phone]
It is in the dtwn. area of Bakersfield.

Every Wednesday night from about 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM they have Celtic musicians playing. The guy I spoke to said it is a very casual setting, not formal at all. Dress is casual.

It is not a restaurant although they do serve coffee, teas, muffins, lite snacks but that there are regular restaurants very near by so you can have your dinner in the area and then the music starts at 7:00 PM (only on Wednesday nights for Celtic music).

There is also a neat place called Mountain Music in Tehachapi, California which is about 35 miles south east of Bakersfield.

It is a store and another venue to hear folk music.
I have never been there but just go to Google and type in the following: Mountain Music, Tehachapi, California
and you will find the main page to read about the place.

So perhaps these two venues will be of interest to you. When I am in Bakersfield the last week of Oct, I hope to get to those places myself.

By the way, regarding buying gas for the car you will be renting, the best prices to buy regular Unleaded gas is at Arco Stations. Shell and Chevron stations seem to be the highest and of course it varies depending what city/area you are buying gas for the car. For example, the area I am in you pay about $2.77 a gallon for unleaded but you can also pay over $3.00 in another city.
Try to find Arco stations as they are usually a little lower then most of gas stations. There are some smaller, not to well known stations around but the three I mentioned can be found everywhere.

Do you like or have ever eaten Mexican food? I know when I was in England there were a few around but the Mexican food was ok, but not the greatest. Here of course, you can find Mexican restaurants everywhere, some being fast food and many very nice regular Mexican restaurants. Don't know if you have eaten much Mexican food or not but I like it a lot!

I'm still trying to find out about more folk venues for you and will be calling this guy up north tomorrow so will get back with you again with more information in a day or two.

Lindy

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03 Oct 10 - 04:21 PM (#2998907)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: howbe on

Hi Lindy
Thanks for the info on music venues. The one we hope to get to would be the Apple shed at Tehachapi on either the evening of Friday 29th Oct or Sat 30th ( more likely ). Looks like it could be interesting.

Thanks also for the advice on gas prices. I know the prices have been steadily rising in the U.S but to us it still seems cheap as our prices in the U.K are now approx $8 a gallon.

Have not eaten much Mexican food but will definately be trying it.
Thanks so much for getting all this information for us.

Dom and Sarah

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03 Oct 10 - 04:35 PM (#2998918)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: katlaughing

I've driven that long stretch from Vegas to Bakersfield and reiterate what I said before, be sure to have a few gallons of water with you, both for drinking and for the car. Also, if you have a cellphone, bring it OR buy a $30 pre-paid one over here with least amount of minutes to keep the cost down. It could be a life-saver in an extreme situation, i.e. car break down or getting lost, though I don't know how good the coverage is in some of those areas.

I also agree about NOT taking an obscure pass over the mountains. There will most likely be snow in the high country and, there are many other reasons why it would not be a good idea.

I love to take the backroads, too, to see the less touristy parts of wherever I am visiting, but do keep in mind, the travel on them will take up a lot more time.

Have fun, take pix and tell us how it goes, eh?*bg*

kat

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03 Oct 10 - 05:40 PM (#2998948)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Stilly River Sage

Jacqui.c made this trip earlier this year. Look her up and find that thread because we gave a lot of the same kind of advice. You might find some new things mentioned there that haven't made this list yet.

And when you get into that western state, remember that in many areas we're coming up on the 100-year anniversary of women's right to vote. State by state, starting in the WEST, it was approved. :) This is apropos of nothing, mind you, but it's a great cartoon.

SRS

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03 Oct 10 - 10:10 PM (#2999079)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Slag

Hi guys! I see you nixed Hwy 395, alas. The haul out of B'town is not very scenic once you get over Tehachapi. Summit there is only about 4006 feet and I've only hit snow there once in late winter. I drove over it almost twice a week for three and a half years. Boring! (to me)! Lot's of straight driving with a few exceptions. As you approach the little town of Boron there is a wild "S" turn that take you over the RR tracks. Just be alert. Foot note if it isn't dark when you go through there , you will see a low ridge of hills a mile or two to the south (to your right). That's the East end of Edwards AFB and it is called "Rocket Ridge". This is the place they used to test all of our spacecraft engines up to the Saturn V Moon (Apollo Program)engines. I guess it got too populated and the folks complained about the noise and sometimes pollution and it's been shut down for a number of years. I got to see one of the tests at night. It lit the area up for many miles around like daytime. Impressive.

Just past Barstow a couple of miles is the Calico Ghost Town. It's the real deal, sort of! Walter knotts got a hold of it and turned it into an extention of Knott's Berry Farm, a bit of a tourist attraction but it is a nice way to break up the trip and quite interesting.

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03 Oct 10 - 10:49 PM (#2999091)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Katran

Lurker on this site usually....but driving around California seems to be one of my accidental specialties. I (like Slag before me) recommend that if you drive from Bakersfield to Las Vegas, to drive through Death Valley. This can be done in a day, and although it's less direct than going across the Mojave on CA-58 and I-15, for the most part, it's more scenic and interesting. I live in SF and have been doing field work in Death Valley for the last two years so I've had to do this drive so many times it pains me, but the worst part is driving the aforementioned highways, which go through the least interesting parts of the desert, and the straight stretch of CA-58 is a nightmare to drive due to narrowness, heavy truck traffic, high speeds and often times, high winds. I would not recommend it for tourists. Death Valley (though I am biased) has fantastic geology and interesting history, especially if you drive through on highway 178/Furnace Creek road.

I would only do that if you have a day to spare, though, and are prepared for a long day of driving, because it is about 100 miles extra. Message me if you want recommendations of where to stay in the Death Valley area.

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04 Oct 10 - 02:52 AM (#2999142)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Lindy

Hi Dom & Sarah:

It's interesting how we will be in the same area (the last week of Oct.) Will you be staying in dtwn. Bakersfield by chance?

I will be booking a hotel in dtwn. Bakersfield (close to buses for me) as I will not have a car and will be using public transportation to get around but they have a good bus system (in the city of Bakersfield itself).

You'll have to try Mexican food! Tacos are my favourite!
Inside the taco shell they put beef (sometimes ground beef or ckicken) and then shredded lettuce, tomatoes and grated cheese on top. There's variations but typically that is a taco and the meat is usually seasoned. Nice to have a strawberry Margarita with Mexican food!
Of course you don't find that drink in a fast food Mexican restaurant, just at a regular Mexican restaurant. Taco Bell is one famous place for fast food but may not be to your liking.
Better to go to a proper Mexcian restaurant (rather then a fast food place).

By the way, are you musicians yourself?

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05 Oct 10 - 03:55 PM (#3000383)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Lindy

To PJ

Your description of Mexican food sounds totally GROSS!

I don't think your recommendation would be of any appeal to most people!

I happen to have 11 menus from various restaurants that serve Mexican food from fast food to proper Mexican restaurants and NONE OF THEM have your suggestions for Mexican food on them. These are restaurants in Los Angeles & San Fernando Valley, CA and none of them have a gross menu of items that you mentioned to try!

I have some friends who are Mexican-American & I asked them about it and even they said your menu of food suggestions is sickening!!

They eat tacos that have either shredded beef, chicken or sometimes ground beef, with shredded lettuce, cut up tomatoes and yes -shredded cheese inside the taco shell!

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05 Oct 10 - 05:32 PM (#3000443)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: Slag

B'field has greatly changed since I lived there and the great Mexican Resturantes I knew are no more. I tried one on 58 the last time thru and I can make no recommendations, lo siento.

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08 Oct 10 - 08:56 PM (#3002958)
Subject: RE: Off to California - October 2010
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy

Hi Dom & Sarah:

Will you be performing at the music venue, the Apple Shed in Tehachapi, Calif? I hope I can get there by bus. I'll be staying in a hotel in Bakersfield and I have a bus book for the city of Bakersfield but doesn't look like any of their buses go to Tehachapi. I will try to find out if I can find another bus system that goes there from Bakersfield. I also want to try and get to Mountain Music which is another folk music venue/store in Tehachapi.

I hope you have a safe trip and that you will have a great time in California. Remember recently I sent a post here that the temperature in L.A. was up to 113 degrees one day? The weather since then (only a few weeks ago)is in the high 60's today....much better then that heat spell we had. San Francisco is a lot cooler then L.A. at any time of the year. Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur also has cooler weather!

Lindy

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