Jack London and a pickle tower

When we first started dating, Jason was reading Martin Eden by Jack London. Shanon never read any Jack London, but always remembered that Jason had.  When we were researching our Sonoma Trip and saw that London’s estate was in the Sonoma Valley, we decided it would be a good stop. 

We started with a very hearty breakfast in Glen Ellen. We drove by the Garden Court Cafe three times before we found it, but it was worth it. Such good food! 

After that we wound through the countryside to the Park. 

You could smell the eucalyptus trees in the air (London had planted them hoping to be able to harvest them for wood. The plan failed.) The Museum is in a house that Jack never lived in, but was built by his widow after he died at age 40. A complicated man, London was a believer in DOING things, in living your life. He felt strongly about worker’s rights and animal welfare. He took thousands of photographs of his adventures. He was a war correspondent and a practical joker. Even more interesting was that his second wife, Charmian, was very modern, independent and just as athletic and adventurous as Jack. They competed athletically and even boxed one another. 

From the museum, you can hike to Jack and Charmian’s gravesite and then to The Wolf House. The Wolf House was their dream home, but they never lived in it as it burned down shortly before they moved in. 

The setting is hauntingly beautiful. 

The hike was short, but pretty hilly for people who are used to the flatlands of the Midwest. 

After that we went to see the cottage, where Jack and Charmian entertained guests, worked and where Jack died. 

Jack was very interested in sustainable farming and taking care of the earth. He even tried to plant cacti to feed his livestock. It didn’t work.

We headed back into Sonoma proper. We were hot and tried the “air-conditioned seats” feature of the rental car. I’m not sure how I feel about that. “Disconcerting” is a good start  

We wandered about the Sonoma Plaza, poking our heads into a few shops. We had a snack at the Sausage Emporium (cue all of the junior high jokes.) Jason was especially excited about the pickle tower. We did some people watching and had dinner at an Irish pub while watching the Steelers underwhelm the Browns and listening to a jazz trio. 

While back at the hotel, I had the realization that Sonoma is actually south of Morton. I don’t know why that fact threw me off so much, but Sonoma is at 38° N longitude. Morton is 40-something. Another weird thing that will keep me up at night…