5.26.2011

Napa Valley and Northern California

We couldn't get any more reservations in Yosemite, it was time to go. But we just couldn't bear to leave yet, so we found a parking spot and spent the day crossing swinging bridges and chasing waterfalls. We took a wrong turn somewhere, and found ourselves traversing the boulder walls of the raging river to get up the falls. When the rocks became too slippery, and the drop down to the water too nauseating, we had to go straight up the cliff. Mary Lou almost lost her footing and refused to go any further, but Nicole was able to talk her back up to the trail.

By the time we got back to the RV, out of the park, and on the road, we were exhausted. For the sake of our brakes, we chose a more level road out than the one we came in on, through the mining towns of the 'Gold Coast'. At Sacramento, we hung a left and "Oh! Will you look at that! We're in Napa Valley!"

Derek Mims, Wine Consultant, had given us his suggestions, and we were happy to take them! Before parking up for the night, we had time for one vineyard. St. Supery was a great place to start. Their self guided tour takes you through the entire process of winemaking, closing with an aroma booth, where you stick your nose in a plastic tube, open the valve and inhale the essence of olives, cut grass, wet soil, grapefruit and many other yummy things you can smell in wine. It wetted our appetite and we enjoyed a great, closing-time tasting. We walked out with three bottle of white, the first time that's happened (usually, it's three reds)!

The next day, we toured the castle-like Rubicon, a Coppola Vineyard. Stone vaulted ceilings and dark wood, private tasting rooms. . . not too shabby a place. It's full of memorabilia from the entire family, including Oscar awards for Francis Ford, his wife and Sofia and an incredible collection of antique kinetoscopes, zoetropes, stereographs and motion picture projectors. Lunch was burgers, and milkshakes at Gott's Roadside, and then a tram ride over Napa Valley to reach the Sterling tasting room. We enjoyed the view of the volcano that formed the valley and deposited all the minerals and dust that gives the wine the Napa wine its distinct flavors. We kept calling it 'Mt. St. Helens,' but its really St. Helena. Tsk. Tourists. . .

Drove North, spent the night at a KOA that was overrun with albino bunny rabbits, and then back to the Pacific Coast Highway. We went for a late evening walk through a pine and rhododendron forest. We happened upon a herd of deer, who allowed us to sit and watch them as they grazed along the more open meadows. As we continued through the clearing, we saw a tire swing hanging from a robust, sunlit tree. As Nicole ran ahead to jump on the swing, she noticed some wooden planks up the trunk, like a ladder. Up in the tree was a totally fantastic tree house. Six different levels, carpeted, all with a different view of the forest, the valley and the lake in the distance. There was an old leather car seat way out on a limb as a lookout perch. We stayed and played for a bit, then headed back to grill ears of corn and hotdogs on the campfire.

We enjoyed the next few days in Mendocino and Humboldt County. Total hippy territory. The grocery store in Eureka was full of organic foods and unshaved armpits. Stopped for some smoked salmon filets and smoked trout jerky. Drove North through Redwood State and Redwood National Park. Took all the scenic roads, camped overnight on 'The Avenue of Giants'. We stopped for herds of Elk crossing the road. And drank lots of coffee. On every block around here is a tiny little espresso booth. Some sell hotdogs or donuts too, and they give you a little chocolate covered coffee bean on the lid of your cup.


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