I think I'd vote for Cleone.  I don't think we get value out of Howard Creek
Ranch for trips like this, it's too far away and we don't spend any time
there.  Last time, Amy and I had to beg for breakfast so we could eat
something before getting to Lari's for the ride.
pat

-----Original Message-----
From: Madeleine Todd [mailto:Madeleine@madeleinetodd.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2001 8:35 AM
To: afinch@iasco.com; Jeff.Dasovich@enron.com
Cc: 1gr8coach@home.com; cwfinch@flash.net; Jeff Walker (E-mail 2); Jeff
Walker (E-mail); Kari Ontko (E-mail); Lori Hom (E-mail); Nora McGee
(E-mail); Patrice C Scatena (E-mail); pmurray@ccac-art.edu
Subject: RE: Mendocino


Thanks Amy for doing all of this leg work. I still vote for Howard Creek
Ranch Inn. It is great and it looks like we can have breakfast on Sunday
morning. The drive to Fort Bragg is beautiful. While Howard's is very
rustic I promise you will love it.

I have a hunch that Walker is coming as well...he's not so great at
checking his e-mail.
Madeleine


-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Gustafson Finch [mailto:afinch@iasco.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 4:11 PM
To: Jeff.Dasovich@enron.com
Cc: 1gr8coach@home.com; cwfinch@flash.net; 'Jeff Walker (E-mail 2)';
'Jeff Walker (E-mail)'; 'Kari Ontko (E-mail)'; 'Lori Hom (E-mail)';
Madeleine Todd; 'Nora McGee (E-mail)'; 'Patrice C Scatena (E-mail)';
pmurray@ccac-art.edu
Subject: RE: Mendocino


Hi group,

I emailed Lari (who confirmed that we are on the reservation list,
without
credit card numbers or deposit because she knows us ...) that we think
we'll
have five for an all-day ride on Sat. (Pat, me, Cal, Pippa and
Madeleine)
and six for a half day on Sunday (same plus Nora).  Jeff may join us.
Lari
is aware the actual number may be slightly more or less, but obviously
if
you decide not to go, the earlier she knows, the easier for her.  We
start
at 9:30 a.m. on Sat, and 10:00 a.m. on Sun.

Jeff, we hope you can make it.  If anyone else wants to join also,
please
let me know.

Re hotel, right now there is moderate availability in Mendocino/Fort
Bragg
for that weekend in Sept. (nights of 21-22), but most of the hotels up
there
charge a cancellation fee of anywhere from 3% to $20.00, no matter how
early
one cancels.  So it probably does not make sense to reserve rooms at
several
places thinking we will decide later.

Please give your vote, which of these would you be interested in (or if
you
have another suggestion, please feel free to offer it -- I'm overwhelmed
with the many other choices and have no personal experience with any to
rely
on):

Cleone Gardens, recommended by Lari, literally across the street from
the
ranch on the north end of Fort Bragg, with a number of rooms in the
$85-$100
range, also some multi-bed rooms for a little more; it looks nice and
comfortable on the website though not really "fancy" (there are links
from
Lari's site, www.horse-vacations.com).  Breakfast can be ordered.
Because
of proximity to ranch and town, this is my preference.

Howard Creek Ranch Inn (Madeleine's preference), in Westport, north of
Fort
Bragg.  Very quaint renovated farmhouse B&B, Martha Stewart type garden,
private rooms are around $105, and some two-bed rooms are between $105
and
$160 if we don't mind sharing rooms/living room sleepers.   The upside
is
the charm and ambience, the downside is the remote location and the
distance
from Fort Bragg (30 minutes fast driving) and that we may therefore miss
breakfast both days.  They serve it at 9:00 a.m., and with the minimum
30-minute drive to the ranch, that makes getting to both breakfast and
riding on time unrealistic.  And, as we all know, rides may start late,
but
they always end on time, so its important to be prompt to get our full
riding time!  I asked if the B&B is willing to do breakfast at another
time
and they said no (they start cooking before 7:00 a.m. even to meet the
9:00
deadline, so I'm not sure how much earlier they could really do it).
(www.howardcreekranch.com)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Amy