Welcome (back?) to RATTITUDES, blog of the Ratcliff Retreat. Here is an update on how this year’s gathering is shaping up. There are only two committee meetings left, August 19 and September 2, and anyone is welcome to attend. Meanwhile there have been a number of excellent ideas put forth, and we will do our best to make them happen!
First off, getting there:
If you can, head out from home by noon on
Friday to miss the inevitable traffic.
It’s about a 3 hour drive, much of it along windy Highway 1. There are many ways to get there, but the
personal favorite is: 101 to E.
Washington Blvd., Petaluma, to Bodega Road, that leads to Highway 1 at Bodega
Bay, then follow the coast north to the town of Gualala where you can catch
your breath before the last 9.04 miles.
The county line dividing Sonoma and Mendocino occurs at the Gualala
River that you pass on your way into town.
From the Mendocino County line you can the culvert markers at the side of the highway increase until you see 1 Men 9.04
and you will find yourself at the gate to the ranch. There will be signage out as well.
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The Gate at 1 Men 9.04 |
Saturday, a continental breakfast is available from 8 to
9 a.m. Then there are some options for your
morning: Reaz hopes to organize a yoga
class for early birds. Dave will lead an expedition north about 20
miles to the town of Point Arena where a pretty darn good bakery dwells. Or, some might prefer driving south to
Gualala and walking along the ocean bluff before or after visiting the Saturday
farmer’s market in town. Gualala has
lots of art galleries, a cool hardware store and decent coffee shops, too.
Speaking of art, Janet will set up poster paints and paper
for a frieze of the ocean for everyone to dabble upon. The resulting masterpiece will evoke the day,
the year, the era in a lovely way.
We’ll
also bring back the big-ass bubbles which never fail to delight. With luck there will be huckleberries to pick
that can add to Saturday’s cobbler dessert, or Sunday’s brunch. And there is always ping pong, horseshoes,
tennis, swings, and maybe a handy-person project to keep the doers
content. (Seriously, who is up for
rebuilding the little step that leads from the deck to the ground?)
Hoping for Huckleberries |
But no shame in cocooning at the ranch house with a good
book or a nap!
The only excuse for missing mandatory volleyball on Saturday
afternoon is … well, there is none. Competition
will be fierce and for those who absolutely cannot play there is always need
for a peanut gallery.
Nina is bringing oysters for our appetizer and we will be
having dinner in the meadow – a little fancier than in the past as we will have
actual chairs and tablecloths. If we’re
lucky, we will have a fresh fruit cobbler for dessert made from the aforementioned huckleberries
and whatever nice fruit can be found at the Gualala farmer’s market. We will need a volunteer crew to put it
together.
Speaking of helping out, the retreat requires everyone
present to have a job or five. There
will be a chores sign-up out soon. Until
then, sign up in the kitchen with details on your party – we do need to know
who’s coming to provision appropriately.
Stay tuned for updates!
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