Monday, December 3, 2018

Adventure #35 - Our Last Adventure to the Napa Valley for the Year

November 28, 2018 

We might have made good time from Hearst Castle, reaching the south bay area around 5:30...

...But we didn't make it to our motel in Fairfield until 9:30!

Amazing how quick we forget what California traffic is like, and then how fast we remember when we arrive. 

November 29, 2018

It was miserable outside come morning! Even being prepared for rain and cold didn't make it any better. As we waited for the sale to start, it began raining buckets. The only thing missing was the lightning and thunder! 

       

Usually, opening day is fun! The chit-chat, the drawings, always some humor. The rained surely drowned it out this year! The sale was okay. I didn't buy but a few things we needed. There wasn't much new stuff, a lot of what was there last year. Once we grabbed what we needed, we were out the door and on our way to breakfast by 9AM!

The drive up to the mountain wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. The rain had died down some leaving behind fresh, and bright colors of what was left of Fall.




By the time we checked into our hotel the rain had stopped.

Our room was on the waterfront, so I stepped out to snap a picture and was greeted with a rainbow...


We went for a drive, and it was like the rainbow was following us!


As we circled around, it looked as if we were going to see the end of it...


This is the closest I have ever gotten to a rainbow!

November 30, 2018

After a wonderful lunch with our friends, we headed down to the valley. By the time we arrived the sun was setting. Went to dinner with his brother, and checked out some Christmas light, and called it a day.

December 1, 2018

The day began with a shopping excursion with my sister-in-law and sister. Lunch at Red Robin and a surprise visitor, my niece from Grass Valley. She drove down just to see me. I wish I had known sooner so we could have spent more time together, but the time we had was precious and very pleasant. We had dinner with my family for my brothers birthday. It was a blast!

One of my favorite parts will be a memory forever. After we all had sat down, and I think it was after ordering, a drink arrived for my brother. No one knew where it came from and figuring it out became comical. Then another drink came for his son. I told the waiter if someone is giving away drinks, I'll take a rum and coke. Imagine how surprised we all were when it arrived! At one point, I swore the back of a woman on at the bar resembled his older daughter. It might not have been her, but it was her, her hubby, my other niece, and her hubby, tucked back on the side of the bar, out of our view. They had a great time playing a joke on us oldies, but goodies. What a fun night it was!

After dinner, hubby had a surprise for me...



He knows me so well!

He and his brother found it earlier in the day while I was with the sisters. What a beautiful display in remembrance of their parents. There was a sign at the front honoring them. So beautiful.

After that, he took me to see my very, very best friend (61 years of friendship, though our earliest memories start about age 3) We talked and talked, and laughed, and had such a great time. I couldn't believe it lasted till midnight.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Oh, I also got her and my other besty a gift that says, "Lettuce Romaine Friends Forever." I believe it was made by a local artist. Since Yuma is the lettuce capital, I won't say of the world, but at least in our area, it was a perfect gift.

I found it at a little boutique in town called Dandy Home & Ranch.


December 2, 2018

Time to head home, but first breakfast with my other bestie! We've been friends since 1964. She's an excellent cook, gardener, mother, grandmother, and friend! She's the one who came all the down to help me when I broke my shoulder. She is like a sister. I love her dearly.


One more adventure ends. The conversations, the laughs, the family and friends we share our time, created another one that will always be remembered.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Adventure #34 - Hearst Castle

We woke up to rain. We weren't surprised but expected it later in the day.


Over breakfast, our waitress tells us she heard the 1 north was closing before Big Sur due to potential mudslides, and there is no detour up that way. Which means if we go ahead for the misty views and head that way, we would have to backtrack to get to the 101. An hour and a half each way in normal conditions, could add up to a 3-4 hour detour, not quite what we had time for.


We decided we would go as far a the Hearst Castle since we had reservations and turn around there. It would only mean a twenty-minute backtrack to Cambria where the 46 will take us over to the 101.


Since this trip had a wash-out, we plan to return at another time. 

We arrived at our destination and just past the entrance was a big Cal-Trans sign of the closure ahead. It's official, we will turn back after our adventure of the castle. 



From here, I will share photos only. 

No way could I write like the curator of a tour...you should really take a tour if ever in the area. We did the Grand Room Tour with accessibility. We got to go in through the kitchen which is not part of the tour and met up with the regular tour group inside the Grand Room. Next time we hope for better weather and will do a different tour and hang out longer.

The Side Courtyard: The Architects Office was off the kitchen.


 The Kitchen:




The Dining Room:


The Grand Room: For someone who loves Christmas, this was the perfect first visit! There were two towering Christmas trees on each end of the Grand Room. One tree is for the girls, the other for boys. The children were instructed to pick one toy, any toy form under the tree. If plans develop as we hope for next Christmas, we hope to do the Twightlight Tour.




The Billards Room:


Outside:



We went across the street to the Hearst Ranch Winery at Sebastian's. Picked up a bottle of wine and a few other souvenirs. On the property was this church or maybe a schoolhouse? There is also the Adobe Ranch House that can be rented for a more lavish experience.


The little town of Cambria requires another visit as well.


Heading over the 46 was a bit foggy.


Traveling up the 101, parts cleared up, while ahead we could see more storm clouds to come.


Arriving in the bay area at commute time is not the best idea, but it moved along and made our way to Fairfield, our next stop on this adventure.