Taking in the San Francisco views from the top of Telegraph Hill

The Salinas Valley in central California is said to have some of the most fertile and productive land in all of the US.  More than a dozen different crops are grown in its rich brown soil but its signature product, and the very backbone of its economy and culture, is lettuce.  In fact, so much lettuce is grown here, almost on a year round basis, that the area has been dubbed the ‘Lettuce Bowl of America’.  And this is where I grew up.

The beautiful bride and groom have plenty to smile about after a spectacular wedding

Julie and I don’t get many excuses to come back to Salinas anymore, such is the tyranny of distance and the variety of distractions that fill our lives.  But the stars were recently aligned to draw us back to the family home, to friends, to familiar places and to some good ole’ Americana.  And at the centre of our plans was the wedding of our beautiful niece Rebecca and her longtime beau Corey who tied the knot in a place that was special to all of us.

Nephew Brad and I showing off our prized foul balls – a bonus to a great day

Americana spectacle during the national anthem at the 49ers opening game in their new stadium

But no trip to the homeland can be complete without some American sport.  So Julie and I were whisked off from the airport straight to the beautiful baseball park in downtown San Francisco to watch our beloved Giants play from Row 1.  This special treat – thanks Ken – was followed a few days later by the ultimate sporting experience in the Bay Area – attending a 49ers football game in their spectacular new home stadium.  This extraordinary double whammy weekend was the ultimate experience to any San Francisco sports fan.  Great stuff.

Apparently the appropriate posture when your uncle is mowing the lawn before the wedding is hands on hips

Part of the wedding party before the big night begins

But sandwiched between these sporting spectacles was the main drawcard of the trip.  Not a couple to do things the traditional way, the bride and groom exchanged vows in the middle of a horse corral, surrounded by well used barns, beautiful mountains and close family and friends in the backyard of our family home.  It was a very special moment for everyone there and a scene never to be forgotten.  The celebratory festivities continued in the back yard around the pool well into the night and ended, somewhat inevitably, with the bride and groom plus many of the remaining party goers enjoying a chilly swim in the tempting waters.  As you do.

One of the best – the beautiful drive down the dramatic coastline to Big Sur

Julie and I wanted to reconnect with other well-known local landmarks and family places while we were in town.  One day we drove south down famous Highway 1 from Carmel to Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop steeply into the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean.  This beautiful coastline hosts a plethora of large sea life, coastal scenery, steep mountains and narrow winding roads. On our drive down we stopped to see otters playing in the kelp, harbour seals sunning themselves on nearby rocks and dozens of giant sea lions barking their distinctive cries from their safe rocky perches.

A couple of humpback whales entertaining us in shallow waters

But the highlight of the day was a huge pod of humpback whales feeding very close to the shoreline, constantly breaching the surface, flapping their flippers and waving their flukes high in the air.  These beautiful creatures know how to entertain a roadside crowd and we couldn’t get enough of them.

The lads go bush – a nostalgic visit to the ranch and a chance to relive childhood adventures

Over another two days we gathered numerous family members and all went up to the family Ranch, a sprawling 7,000 acre cattle ranch over mountainous terrain near the central California cowboy town of Los Banos.  The Ranch holds a special place in our hearts for its beauty, its sense of adventure and its many childhood memories.  A barbeque at the Ranch followed by a night around the big fire is just about as good as it gets.

My parents – still setting the pace for our extended family

Our action-packed visit to the Lettuce Bowl of America had its fitting finish on the last night when the extended family reconvened in San Francisco and enjoyed a fun dinner harbour cruise on beautiful San Francisco Bay to celebrate my mother’s huge milestone birthday.  She has been the source of such great strength, guidance, love and wisdom for so many people for so long it was a truly special moment to celebrate it all with her.  Good on ya, Mommo!

The barmen seem to be getting young and younger these days

Family reunions these days are too few and far between but when we got this chance we didn’t allow a second to pass without cramming in another memorable moment.  And I didn’t even mention the game of golf, the high school reunion, two other birthday celebrations and wedding party dinner in the airport hangar!  Who would have thought that lettuce could be the foundation of so much fun and great memories?

The golden hills of the ranch – quintessential California