May 17,18, 2013

Friday May 17, 2013

Well after a delightful day with Jean and David from our neighborhood we headed to Sonoma, California to check out the wines from that area. We still can't believe that we were able to meet up with them, 3000 miles from home.  Robin did make a trip to the store this morning for food and supplies. Yes, oreos and animal crackers were on the list. The jars were extremely low:)).

Off to Sonoma.
We stopped at a few wineries and sampled a little. Wine before noon can work on you a little so it was very few sips for sure.



                                     A couple of the wineries that we stopped at. Viansa was one.

                                                 The rails were wrought iron with grapes.

 

We know you know this name.

 

Robin tasting the olive oil.

 

A small bottle of wine for the long trip home.

 

These places are just indescribable in beauty.

 

Finally arrived in the town of Sonoma after a beautiful drive through the country side. Seeing field after field of grapevines was fantastic. Then Dennis wanted to eat, imagine that! His metabolism must be 10 times that of mine. He says that driving is hard work. Who knows. Any way we found this cute little place in the square and had a salad and a sandwich.

 

                               Dennis was talking to Scott outside the restaurant, Mary's.

Dennis saw this motorcycle outside the restaurant. You might not be able to see the insignia but is from the "Orange Country Chopper" shop.

 

After lunch we headed back, but of course stopping at a few more wineries. Stocking up on the good buys if we saw any. Its a long trip home so hopefully purchased enough to get back, maybe have enough to share with our friends and family. Its five o'clock somewhere, right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This one is Sebastiani

                                                          Okay, we liked this one.

 

The Ravens Wood!

                       Headed back to the campground to get ready for our dinner train ride.

 

 

Our train ride started at 6:30 and ended at 9:30. We picked up our neighbors, Rob and Dawn from there campsite and drove over to the train station. It was right down the road so we had time to go by a couple of stores and see the little market place before we checked in. The train ride consisted of  samples of 5 different wines from the valley with a delicious appetizer with shrimp and cheese. We had a wine host who explained each wine and some of the history behind each of the wines. After the tasting we left one rail car and then went to the dinning car for dinner. Had a nice salad, sorbet to cleanse our palate, and then all of us ordered the special which was a steak, mashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables, mmmmmm good!!, and a glass of wine. A delightful dessert of crème brulee and Dennis ordered the chocolate tirimasu.

 

 

 

                                                                               Our Train

                                                             The man with the ticket!

 Our camp neighbors, Rob and Dawn, from Colorado, by way of Kansas, and Raleigh, NC

                                                                Our conductor, Rudy.

                                                                      The wine taster!

                                                         Going to the dinning car.

                                                        See us in the background.

                                                                      Nice salad.

 After dinner, we tried to get a picture. It took us six tries before we were able to get one that was at least somewhat focused. The waiter tried, the couple across from us. Then finally Dennis put it on a timer and had the guy hold the camera still until it flashed. As you can see we were all dying laughing.

                                                       The final chapter of the train ride!
                      Lots of fun, good food, and great company with our new found friends.

 

 

Sweet dreams!

Robin and Dennis

 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

 

Got up this morning and prepared Buttercup for travel, but before we left Napa I wanted to go back to the market we saw last evening to get some cheese. Well, we lucked out and went there but they also had a farmers market. So cool. We picked up some vegetables and then purchased some cheese from the inside the market. Then back to the campground and said our goodbyes and we were on the road north. Our travels took us toward the coast and through a lot of redwood forests until we stopped in Eureka, CA.

 

 

 

I got Dennis to pull off and let me get some cherries.

 Don't they look good!!!!!!

 

Look at these trees and scenery.

Grand Father Tree

 

 

Dennis set up our camp and we went into town for some local seafood. We road around and found a neat little place neat the marina and downtown. Dennis had some scallops and I had the oysters. Of course we split both meals so we could have a taste of both. Delicious!!!!!!!!!

 

 

After dinner we walked across the street to see some turkeys that a guy had brought  to the corner. Yes, in big box on wheels, he had 3 females and one tom. We have no idea why but we are in California and anything can happen.

 

 

                             This picture was just across from the restaurant, right on the water front.

                                                                   Our turkey friends.

 

 

                                                 Take note of the warning sign in Eureka.

 

 

 

We then rode around the town and went in a couple of shops but it was pretty chilly. Dennis saw a little coffee shop and they actually had a band playing some music so we went in. I ordered a mochaccino and Dennis had a hot chocolate. Oh, I almost forgot, they had chocolate covered oreos too! You guessed it he had to have one!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He will buried with them I am quite sure.

 

Well this will be a first for us, remember I said anything can happen in California, so here it is. You won't believe what happened to us while sitting outside the coffee shop. Only in America and only in California. There were a few homeless folks walking by, even one of them looked liked she or he, we weren't sure, had a bed cover like the one we have in our guest bed room at home. Anyway, here it comes, the next guy who walked by and said, and I quote, "Would you like a joint for a donation". He had a handful of joints!!!   Could not believe it!!!   Of course we said no thanks but had to laugh to ourselves, it was just too funny. I am not sure if we mentioned this before but when we were at the Dude Ranch in Texas the two guys from Australia and mentioned that when they were in San Francisco the same thing had happened to them. Of course we got a big laugh then but a much bigger laugh now that it had happened to us.

Okay we decided at that point it was time to head back to our safe campground. Only in Eureka!!!!!!!!

It was right beside a Harley store.

 

 

Night!

Robin and Dennis