Service the Car

February 5, 2021

Rocklin, CA

Time to change the oil, it’s been six months since the last change.  So I take the car to the dealer in Rocklin because their mechanics are trained.

When I first…wait, let me back up a little.  I know from much experience with internal combustion engines that the one thing you must do to insure long and trouble free engine life is to change the oil regularly.  Today’s recommendation is for every 10,000 miles but it used to be every 3,000 miles.  The interval was lengthened because engines are better made these days and it’s more environmentally responsible to use less fossil fuel products.  I get it.  But when I pull the dipstick I want to see clean, clear oil.  So I’m sticking to changing sooner rather than later.

So, where was I?  Oh yes, when I first bought the car I thought just get the oil changed in Davis, how hard can it be?  It will be a lot more convenient that driving to Rocklin.  Well, Porsche makes it a many step process.  First of all, you need to know all the fairings that need to be removed to access the oil filler tube.  Also, there is no dipstick so you need to know the crankcase capacity.  But, I didn’t know all that then.

I took it to my favorite local independent shop.  I called first and they assured me that it would be no problem.  It was a problem.  It is evident to me when someone is not sure of what they’re doing and that is what I was watching.  We got through it but is wasn’t easy.  So from now on we take the car to the dealer.  So, here we go.  Nothing to do but wander around the showroom while I wait.  Lots of Porsche related merchandise which I didn’t buy any of.  We’re looking at the rear end of a McLaren too:

Couple of vintage Porsches to look at:

Closer look at the McLaren.  They unlocked it and opened the door for me.  I am not sure I could have easily gotten into the car:

More vintage:

Big screen showing all things Porsche media related:

I thought the big screen would show up in the pictures a little better:

And that’s that.  It was a fun day.

Checking Out the Bodega Bay Harbor

February 1, 2021

Spud Point Marina

Driving out to Bodega Head I pass an area where folks park and fish.  I’ve often thought that that’s my kind of fishing.  Just unfold your chair and throw a line in the water then sit down and watch the world go by.  I am doing something but not too much.  So we headed that direction to check it out.

On the way we pass Fisherman’s Cove, aka The Bait Shop, where we go often for their oysters:

It is popular:

No indoor seating and you order from outside at a window, like a hamburger stand from the 60s:

And right next door is the famous Spud Point Crab Co; featured in Sunset Magazine and newspapers and TV:

Bigger lines here:

But here’s why we came, to scope out a parking spot for fishing and boat watching.  This is the breakwater at the entrance to Bodega Harbor:

Channel markers into the harbor:

More channel markers looking across the bay to the town of Bodega Bay:

This is looking across the channel at Doran Park:

This looks relaxing:

Swimming in February in 50 degree water:

I think there’s a trail here that will take you out to the breakwater.  I will check this out real soon:

And, since we’re in Bodega Bay, let’s stop at the Tides and get some crab:

Nice day.