July 29 - Wine Country

Yesterday was a travel day.  We tried to avoid the heavier traffic by going slightly inland. Unfortunately the goal was Sonoma area so that was only partly possible. We settled on 680, which was the eastern-most freeway through the bay area. It was still busy!  5 freeways northbound and still massive traffic even after rush hour!
But the biggest congestion was the KOA in Petaluma.  A huge campground with no parking for registration. RV's were lined up out to the main street! People were abandoning their RV to search for a way to get registered and the road was blocked for almost an hour!  Couldn't turn around, couldn't go forward! This place was a disaster!
But then someone finally came out and discovered to her amazement that people were trying to get in. After a few minutes of digesting this, she stopped selling softdrinks and candy and actually started registering people.  We got in and started to be on vacation again.  This was Sunday, so I guess it was a complete surprise. Yet even on Monday, the campground was full. But we had a reservation, so here we are!

Sherry performed research on just where we should go to get the wine-tasting experience.  Suddenly, we were shocked that there were literally hundreds (over 400) of wineries in the Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino (and surrounding) counties.  Lots of web sites that offer suggestions.  Yet  we weren't planning on staying that long so seeing even the most popular became impossible. So we retreated to local brochures, chose a region (Sonoma because it was close), chose road (12) and started driving.  As it turned out, we stopped at only two wineries, yet enjoyed the experience! 

Our first stop was Ledson Winery (we picked from a list of recommended lesser-priced wineries in Sonoma).  It doesn't have distributors and most of the grapes are sold to other wine producers.  But they do bottle a small number for their own label.  We shared a tasting (6 wines for $15).  Steve loved the Zinfandel and Sherry loved it too, so we bought a bottle. 

We stopped and ate our picnic lunch before continuing down the road a few miles more.  Our second stop was Kunde.  Sherry previously developed a fondness for a Reserve Chardonnay from there, which was no longer available.

This place turned out to be the largest family-owned vineyard (1800+ acres being cultivated).    One hill had a cave which housed over 6000 barrels of wine.  They still sell 40% of their grapes but have enough left over to make a few bottles (each barrel can produce 300 bottles! - or so we're told)

Still early in the growing season but there were lots of grapes to see!
We again shared a tasting and Sherry found her Reserve Chardonnay (only available to club members and visitors due to limited supply).  So she became a club member (which obligates us to a case of wine - aughhhhhhhhh - shouldn't decide such things after a wine tasting).  We also got a copy of the DVD 'Bottle Shock' which was a 2009 movie dramatising the 1976 (bicentennial) tasting in which California wineries surpassed French wineries on certain wines (including a Chardonnay).  We didn't see that winery (Chateau Montelena) but part of the movie was filmed in Kunde winery!

Our next destination is Northern California coastline and on to Oregon!

July 27 - Winchester Mystery House

I convinced Steve to visit the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose because the kids had spoken of it so often.  Ends up that it was indeed odd but not as mysterious as I had thought. 

Mrs Winchester had moved west after her only child had died very young and her husband, her parents, and parents-in-law all died in one year and I psychic told her that the spirits of those killed by the Winchester rifle needed to be appeased.  I realized that after all the talk of her speaking with psychics and basing large decisions on what they said, that no one mentions how prevalent a practice that was in the late 1800's.  Years ago, I read a book about one of the prominent psychics of the day and how she had advised presidents, industry leaders, etc. and how many decisions they made were based on her readings.   So, whatever her motivation (if interested, check out the website for the house - pretty interesting), it's a beautiful Victorian house with amazing architecture.  And if we all had limitless funds, we would probably make a house as specific to each of us as she did. 

But she did build without stop, 24/7, for 36 years.  She rang a bell at midnight and 2 AM every night.  So there were definitely some eccentricities going on.  Her favorite number was 13, so it's repeated everywhere.  13 bathrooms, 13 pillars (upside down) holding up the rounded porch, lots of rooms and outdoor siding with 13 panels.  She also liked daisies and spider webs so those motifs are all over the place too. 

She was very intelligent: spoke four languages, was an accomplished musician and horticulturalist, and had very good taste in building materials.  They spoke a lot about her being a recluse, but she stayed on top of the engineering accomplishments of the day and had electricity and indoor plumbing added early.  She had elevators and converted to the automobile early on.  And the interesting ways that heat, hot water, etc. were delivered into the house was fascinating.

It was definitely worth hassling a downtown situation to see.  It reminded us a bit of the Molly Brown House in Denver, now surrounded by condos.  Cody - the gardens were amazing.  I took lots of pictures of the arbor because it's something I think we could definitely adapt for the CR backyard , in our own small way.

July 26 - Half Moon Bay

At the request of our neighbor, Denise, we ventured to the coast to visit Half Moon Bay.  Steve doesn't remember ever going there before and knew for sure that the section of Rt 1 would be a first.  Unusual for him and always a goal for me (to find places he has not seen).

Not surprising, the drive up the coast was beautiful (after we got through Santa Cruz).  But unfortunately the marine layer was pretty thick so I don't think we got the full view of the Bay at its best.  We had our picnic lunch over looking the Bay and being overlooked by one very anxious seagull.  For his patience, Steve gave him a few grapes which the gull caught on the first bounce every time.  Where are the sports scouts when you need them.

A pretty peaceful day.

July 25

Steve said he wants to be part of this so he will be putting in his two cents too.

Didn't write yesterday so to catch up...  We had a wonderful evening on Tuesday getting caught up over dinner with our friends Doug and Katie Varner.  These trips to CA are too far in between so there is never enough time to get everything said, but it was great seeing them and our other CA friends and family. 

Wednesday was a travel day.  A long straight boring for me - tedious for Steve - drive up I-5 (we're allowed to call it 'The 5' since we are in California - Colorado people, it is 'I5') to our home base for the Central CA part of the trip.  We are staying in Casa de Fruta (on state 152, Pacheco Pass) which started as a fruit stand in 1908.  Lots of old farming equipment and peacocks.  The RV camp is nice and will be home base for 3-4 days.

Thursday, finally a day to tour.  Today was our day at Monterey.  A beautiful drive there through rolling golden hills to the fog enclosed coast.  But once on Cannery Row, the sun came out with a wonderful blue sky.  After a very luxurious lunch overlooking the bay we walked to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Steve's pictures came out much better than mine and we are sharing some of those with you.

We have been pretty good (for us) on the souvenir front, but couldn't not get something for our granddaughter Lana.  So with Crush in hand we were the envy of every kid under 10 we passed. (Steve) And the adults liked him too!

We then did the 17 Mile Drive around Pebble Beach.  Incredible scenery and some unbelievable mansions.  No pictures of those, but trust me...

These are the coastal cypress trees that have been photographed by so many.  Hard to believe this is a golf course.

This just made me laugh since we get the same warning signs "if there's a flood get to higher ground".  Duh.  But I doubt the little guy on the sign has enough time to be clear of that wave.

This is Bird Island, just covered with black birds, sea lions and seals.  The smell was horrific but the sight amazing.

Steve's cents #1

A few pictures from Monterey.  This one was of jelly fish 'Jelly Mon'.  Amazing aquarium.  BTW, this is Sherry's first visit to Monterey so the aquarium was a new, and fun, experience. Those who know me, well we hear that after Labor Day on weekdays, it isn't so crowded :-)



The seahorse exhibit was great! And so lifelike!

Another Cypress tree.

It is our intention to head North on PCH (US1 Pacific Coast Highway) and head towards Santa Cruz and farther tomorrow. 



July 23
I had promised to start this at the beginning of our travels and here we are at the beginning of week 2 and I have just figured it out.  Hopefully, it will be better going forward.  Short synopsis of the trip so far...  We started out on Monday 7/15.  I was a zombie and slept through most of the day having way overextended the day before.  Our first stop was in Clifton CO outside Grand Junction and it was just a place to sleep.  Day two had us going through Utah and some of our favorite views on I-70.



Stop # 2 was in Beaver UT, another place to sleep.  Then on to Las Vegas.  We had hoped to see Love again but poor planning put it out of financial reach so we opted instead for a really bad Johnny Depp movie.  107 degrees outside and it only went down to 92 at night.  REALLY glad to leave.

Then finally reached the San Diego area.  We spent then next four days visiting with family.  Raphael and Lilia kept us busy.  We played marathon dominoes followed by a day at the races (a first for Steve, and a first time in 30 years for Sherry).  We both won a bit which made a very fun day even more so.  A long walk on the beach completed a really nice visit (plus we made our plans for going together on an Alaskan cruise at the end of August). 

Sunday evening was spent visiting with my cousin Debbie, Bob, Vanessa and my Aunt Marge.  It had been way too long since our last visit and this one way too short but it was wonderful getting caught up even a little.

Back on the road on Monday as we made our way north to LA.  A bad drive any time but really challenging for Steve pulling the RV.  But the day ended with dinner with my best friend, Suzanne, and Jeff.  We always feel immediately at home with them both so it was a wonderful relaxing evening.

So that brings us up to date.Today is a relaxing day with me trying to figure this out, ending with dinner with our friends Doug and Katie.  Tomorrow points us North and on to adventure.