A Vineyard

I just love walking out and seeing these grapes hanging.



Our view of vineyards


The harvest is finished for whites and the harvest of reds is now beginning.


Another sculpture at Sculptura Winery. They have made this big cat their logo for the winery. The owner is a doctor and his two sons have degrees in viticulture and are now the winemakers.

Wine---Wine---and more Wine!!!

Paso Robles is the third largest wine region in California and the fastest growing. There are over 180 wineries here. Most are small to medium wineries that only sell out of their tasting rooms. Our RV park is adjacent to one and they have a gate so we can walk out through the vineyards. We can look out and see others all over the hills. ( RV park's name----Wine Country RV Park. ) We have toured several---our favorite was Sculptura. It had gardens full of sculptures and the wine was good also.
Fred admiring the sculptures.



We have learned about wine growing and tasting. We bought lots of wine so when we get back, if you like wine, come over for some.


Eberle Winery has built caves that are 68 ft underground to keep the wine cool and cut down on utility costs.


Robert Hall Winery has caverns that are 38 ft underground. Here we are in the cavern tasting "new" wine right out of the barrel.

Driving Hwy 1 to Big Sur

Saturday, we drove from Paso Robles out to the coast and up Hwy 1 to Big Sur. This is a national scenic drive and we were not disappointed as the pictures show. When we started out the temp in Paso was near 99 and as we drove over the mountain it dropped----88--then 75--by the time we reached the coast it was 67 and at one point got down to 61. But when we got back to Paso Robles late afternoon, it was 104. We are amazed at the variables in the temp from one side of the mt to the other and from day to night. On the news, they give temp charts for beach, city, valley, mountains, and desert. It is very confusing, but now we are getting used to it and have learned that the wide differences between day and night temps are what make the grapes grow so well here. One day it was 107 and that night got down to 68.
This drive goes by Hearst Castle, the elephant seal colony and several beach towns. Then it hugs the cliffs and is very rugged for many miles before you reach Big Sur.


We loved the bridges and rock formations with waves crashing over them.





A dive boat---I still can't see how people get into such cold water!!

More of Big Sur

What a fabulous drive and a beautiful day!!!








Our picnic spot.

Surfing California Style

Several places along the coast, we have been able to watch surfers. Some of them are really good!!! Just like in the movies. However, the water temp is 57. They wear wet suits and stay out longer then I would. I guess you can get used to anything because their water never warms up like ours does. Some of them were more expert than others. The waves are big but not at big as they get when storms are offshore. Surely is fun to watch---reminds me of my Gidget movies way back when!!!

Hearst Castle

We have been on the central coast of California for 4 days now. Really love California each time that we visit. Today we toured the Hearst Castle at San Simeon. William Randolph Hearst made his fortune as a publishing magnate and built this mansion on his ranch over a period of 28 years. He lived here occasionally with his companion, Marion Davies, a film star. His wife lived in New York and would not give him a divorce so he and Ms Davies had a romance that spanned 30 years until his death in 1951. The castle is magnificent--Casa Grande (the main house) and three guest houses(each had 6 bedrooms)( We toured the guest house where Bob Hope stayed.) He used the house for entertaining--- flying hollywood stars and important people in his jet for weekend parties here. The house is 1 1/2 miles from the coast and up about 1300 ft in elevation. What fabulous views!!! At one time the family owned 250,000 acres. The family still retains 90,000 and over a 100 acres and the house have been donated to California state parks. He also had a private zoo here and still some of the animals remain. We saw zebras grazing with the cows down by Hwy 1.

The house is surrounded by over 100 acres of gardens with fountains and terraces.


The Neptune pool was enlarged 3 times to accommodate the number of guests. There is also an indoor pool, the reflecting pool.


The view from highway 1.


The main building "Casa Grande"

Elephant Seals

Just north of Hearst Castle, there is a colony of 10,000 elephant seals at Piedras Blancas lighthouse. This is unusual because they usually gather on rocks farther out at sea. These are on the beach and nearby rocks. They come here to have their babies and teach them before taking them out to sea. What fun to watch them and hear them bark!!!




They waddle onto shore to sleep.


They use their flippers to throw sand on themselves to protect from the sun.


The colony was divided into pockets down the coast.

Lazy Days in Laughlin

Well, we made it to Laughlin Sat night. Stayed longer than planned. Such a nice RV park. We caught up on rest, got laundry and housecleaning done, watched 2 nights of football (Cowboys lost), stocked up at WalMart, went to a couple of movies, I shopped some, and oh yes, we did a few hours of gambling each day. Didn't win much but had a whole lot of fun. We left Colorado where it was so cold and were hoping for warmer weather----try 106. Yes, that's what we went into from such cold days!!!!



It is hot but we stay in the AC. Lots of people are out on the river---The Colorado River. It is so beautiful and such a shock to see it out here in the desert.


The casinos run lots of tour boats for sight seeing and also offer a jet boat tour down to see the London Bridge in Havasu City. We took that the last time we were here and really enjoyed the scenery.

Here is what Tex has been doing!!! He is such a bored little pup and can't wait for us to take off tomorrow for California.

More of Telluride

Mesa Verde NP, a World Heritage Site

Today we toured Mesa Verde where they have over 4,000 Pueblo Indian dwellings spread out in the canyons. We drove 21 miles into the park to reach the Cliff Palace which is the one we toured.




I Made IT!!! But I almost chickened out. We had to climb down 150 feet through the rocks on winding 12" wide steps carved by the CCC long ago. The ranger told up all about the people and how they lived. Then we had to climb more narrow, steep steps and 5 ladders to get out. Here I am on one of the short ladders.





Here Fred is walking on the edge---I stayed way back against the wall---that fear of heights, you know!!


We got our new tire today after ruining the other one on the sharp rocks in the mountains. We are leaving tomorrow (earlier than planned) to go to Laughlin NV. Why??? Dallas Cowboys game, of course!!! Fred is afraid they won't broadcast here but at the casinos, he will be able to find a sports bar. He can't miss that first home game of the season.

Southwest Colorado

Four Corners Monument where New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona meet. This site is on Navajo Indian land and is way out in the desert in the middle of nowhere. Fred couldn't believe we drove this far but so did a lot of other people. Been there, done that.




We also drove from Dolores where we are camping to Telluride. Beautiful drive through valleys along the Dolores River and up through a mountain pass. Telluride was busy as people are arriving for Blues and Brews Festival this weekend. Tenters were setting up everywhere and there didn't seem to be any parking left. Glad we came before all of that started. We took a
couple of 4-wheel drives while there---one up to Bridal Veil Falls. The other up to an alpine lake--started raining and got really cold. We started out in the AM at 62 and ended up by mid afternoon at 46. On the way home, we went through another hail-sleet storm. Colorado has the weirdest weather.




Just below Bridal Veil Falls



Our view of Telluride from above.