Ukiah Retreat
The first week of March, six of us hopped into two cars and drove north for a two-night retreat in Ukiah. It’s only been two weeks since this trip, but of course our realities have shifted completely since then. I’m incredibly grateful for the continued support of our Office of Accountability community in these uncertain times, even if we are seeing each other only virtually, from a great distance, these days. Here’s a look back on the retreat and these wonderful times filled with hugs, home-cooked meals, relaxation, a little bit of work, and a few cathartic tears too.
Stop one: Sol Food in San Rafael.
Arriving at our incredible home for two nights. Springtime looks beautiful in Ukiah.
Hammock. My happy place.
The sunken living room.
Magic hour.
Game night: Ticket to Ride and Betrayal at House on the Hill.
Cassie’s amazing sesame noodles. So good. Thank you for feeding us so well.
Breakfast, with pancakes by Do-Hee and Cassie.
Then we made an excursion to Vichy Spring Resort for their ‘champagne springs,’ one of only three naturally carbonated springs in the world.
The tubs definitely look their 160 years of age. But they’re pretty cool, just driven by gravity. You unplug one end, the water rushes in, and you plug the other end to fill the tub.
They have a pool and a hot tub too! It’s definitely more rustic than luxe, but I really enjoyed our visit and am so glad we went.
Then, back at the house, it was time to get ready and all dolled up for our portrait session. With five photographers on the trip (plus one designer), we all photographed portraits of each other, which I really loved. Portraits in a second post to follow!
And after another lovely dinner and night in at the house, we checked out and then made one last stop in Petaluma for some ice cream, a visit to the seed bank, and a little tour around the shops downtown.
Finally, my little sketch of one of the cool midcentury modern chairs in the living room.
Such a wonderful trip. Thank you Cassie, Chelsea, Courtney, Do-Hee, and Meg. If this was our last big group gathering for a long, long time, it was a great one.
Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco. She creates beautiful, soft, and timeless imagery while capturing the most fleeting of moments. View her work at annawu.com, follow her daily adventures on instagram, and contact her to book your own session today.
