HERE WE ARE

at the first winery of the day. (Yes, it's still Tuesday)


The place is Saucelito Canyon, with vineyards planted in 1880!
Out of a list of wineries that the Bro-in-Law put together,
I wished to come to this one because it is so old.

The man in the pink shirt tells us stories from

the vineyard's history.

And then, along with a few other guests, we taste the wine.
 

Reader Dear, much as I enjoy hearing the history and seeing the old photographs...even more, I relish tasting the wine!

We take our time, and savor it.  The Bro-in-Law and I, of our foursome, we are the twosome who do most of the tasting.  Even at our relaxed pace, before I know it  we are off through the beautiful countryside to find the second winery we have chosen to visit.

It is Wolff Vineyards,
where I am delighted to find that a Wolff is our host. 

There are other things that delight me here, as well:

The garden!

The bluebird in the garden!*

And once again, the wine, of course!

Then, too, high on the list, I am delighted to meet Charlie and Barbara, our fellow wine tasters!  I must introduce you to them, Dear Reader, (as they shall [happily] be a part of our day tomorrow!)

When I chat with them, they tell me they are touring with a Broadway musical, Nice Work if You Can Get it.
Charlie is the Musical Director, and Barbara has a non-singing role.  "You wouldn't want to hear me sing," she laughs.

They are friendly and charming, and as soon as our foursome has left the winery, we make a unanimous decision (with only a little cajoling) to attend the performance, scheduled for tomorrow evening at Cal Poly (most official name: California Polytechnic State University.  It is located in nearby San Luis Obispo).

We are so eager to make sure we get tickets, that we drive by the University on our way back to our rental house and purchase them.                        

Also enroute to our house, we make a stop for supper in SLO (you know, it's San Lois Obispo, Reader Dear; I'm learning the acronym, so you can too.)

I sort of hate to say it, but our little group makes fools of ourselves by walking in, being seated, and walking out of two restaurants in SLO before we end up at this very nice one, where we stay long enough for me to take a photo and order food (not to mention receiving and leisurely consuming the food)!  Lots of details could be elaborated upon, including scampering out a side door, vehement scolding of the Bro-in-Law, and extensive, hilarious laughter; but I fear, Reader Dear, you'd have had to have been there (though perhaps you do not relish playing a fool).

Thus ended Tuesday, another VG day in California!**

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 *It seemed to me like the Bird of Paradise, but it did not fly up my nose, Reader Dear.  Nor did the Elephant (seals) caress me with their toes, it rather goes without saying (though I couldn't resist saying it).

**This acronym you saw on all your grade-school papers, surely, Reader Dear!?

TUESDAY IN CALIFORNIA

The four of us had preordained Tuesday as  "Wine-tasting Day."

 
But, before we set out for the vineyards, we decided to visit the little town of Morrow Bay and see Morrow Rock up close.

Ah, Viewer Dear, there was so much wildlife at the rock!  I can't resist showing you all of it!

There were the Otters frolicking about!

There were lots of Sea Gulls!

And there was a Peregrine Falcon! (Only one that we could see).  He garnered a lot of attention as he sat, very high on the side of the rock, guarding a nest that was hidden from view. There were telescopes, and cameras, and school groups visiting the rock on account of this Falcon and 

 his family-to-be!

                  

Getting his photo at that great height was not as easy as one might assume, Viewer Dear!

Well, then there was the lone squirrel.

I was the only one clamoring for his photo!

The final type of creature I filmed while out at the rock actually looked a bit like you, Reader Dear!

They appeared to be black, and frolicked in the water somewhat like the otters.

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Eventually, it was time to move on, and we headed off in search of  the grape-growing area (a vast one, as we discovered!)

You can be sure I'll take you into the wineries as soon as we get to them, Viewer Dear!
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OKAY, ONE MORE

look at my chubby little buddies, the Elephant Seals (They are mostly young'uns.  Their mamas weaned them and abruptly left, en masse [so says our informative guide].  Now they must get themselves into the water and learn to find food!)

Go ahead, watch it* as often as you like, Viewer Dear!
As soon as you're ready, we'll travel on up the road, catching sight of glorious view after glorious view of the Pacific Ocean.

There are not a lot of commercial spots in Big Sur, but our party finds a small restaurant where we have lunch, looking out at the Pacific, of course.

We overhear the waitress instructing the couple dining next to us to be sure to visit the monastery just up the road.  If you like chocolate, you must go there! she says. "They make a delicious fudge."

Hmmm. We decide to go there.

























It's way up at the top of a mountain.  We buy a box of fudge, and meet the gregarious Frenchman who was our fellow diner.  This man has traveled the world!  He entertains us with stories, while his patient wife waits in the car. (I totally forget to take photos at the monastery...)





Continuing north, we stop often for photos, or to walk down to small beaches. 

The weather is sunny and in the lower 80's.


(I think I am in heaven.)

To be continued...(Well, what did you think, Reader/Viewer Dear. This trip's going on for a few more days!  [Not the trip to Big Sur, please  understand.  No, today we return to our rental house in the evening.  It is too late to see the sun set over the Pacific, but we hope to take that in another day])
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MORRO ROCK

is our view from the rental house at Morro Bay, California.


The four of us vacationing here get to look out at this fantastic piece of the natural world every morning as we drink our coffee, and every evening as the sunset bathes it in colored light.

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Monday morning, after that super-smart Bro-in-Law sets us all up with wi-fi connection via his super-smart phone, we climb into our rental car and head up to Big Sur (which, I discover,  is an  approximately ninety-mile stretch of the Central California coast where fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean and the  rocky California shoreline make me suck in my breath around nearly every curve in the road). See here, Viewer Dear:

Big Sur is also a place where one can gaze upon Elephant Seals.  Seeing these odd-looking creatures was a highlight of the trip for me, Viewer Dear; I was so taken with the fat blubbery bodies, the carefree lolling on the beach! 

I'm afraid  I photographed the little tubs of lard rather obsessively, Viewer Dear.  I know I had a big grin on my face as I watched them scratch themselves and yawn and nuzzle and play footsies.  I promise I'll show you more, before we continue on our way north.
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CONTINUING ON

into the California weekend, Viewer Dear,  we arrive at late Saturday afternoon, and we also come to Occidental College (in Pasadena).

Those who are here to visit this campus--myself and The Yard Man, his sis and her husband--are privileged to have Erich Frey, Professor of German, Emeritus (1960-1996), to show us around (The Yard Man and I are staying at his house.  We are fortunate to have him and his wife, Irmgard, as our gracious hosts for the whole weekend*).  




He knows this beautiful campus well, and gives us a splendid tour, ending at the large open-air arena, where graduation ceremonies are held.

I'm fascinated, naturally, by the natural sound system (no man-made help needed to have one's message heard from below).

Likewise, impressive:
"Who is your most distinguished alumnus?" The Yard Man asks of Erich.

"Why, the current president of the United States," says Erich.
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Saturday evening we are treated to a delicious German meal, prepared by our hosts (featuring homemade spaetzle [a German noodle], beef roast, and also borscht [cabbage cooked in red wine...(I'm raving)]), at the dining table where we earlier enjoyed a very good European-style breakfast.

 

(Reader Dear, considering the fine weather, the fine fellowship with our hosts, the fine landscapes, the fine food and fine wine, the fine lodging surrounded by blooming things, ...is it any wonder I was forever falling over myself in gratitude at my fine fortune?!)
 
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Which carries us to Sunday, and a visit to Erich and Irmgard's United Methodist Church to attend the Sunday morning service.

The set of buildings (church and chapel, open courtyard between) had me uttering superlatives again--such wonderfully and intricately crafted works of art!



                                                        Finally, then, after a five-star  Italian  meal with our hosts (dining  out), we bid them a fond farewell, uttered our heartfelt thanks, and  headed up the western rim of the country.
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The Yard Man and I, his sis, and his bro-in-law are traveling toward a rental house in Morro Bay.

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In our journey north, we make a stop at Stern's Wharf.

Where we see penguins up close, and two of us eat ice cream over the Pacific Ocean.  It's where I'll end this tale, Reader Dear, of my warm and wonderful West Coast winter weekend.



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*I must explain to you later on, Dear Reader, how we made the acquaintance of this gentleman, Erich Frey. It's an interesting story, involving two families, two countries, and several generations!
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