Wine Tasting Finally!

So we've been here in Northern California Wine country since before Thanksgiving and just now got to visit some wineries!! We are surrounded by them it seems, yesterday went for a drive to Kelseyville, stopped at 2 wineries along the way, nice small tasting rooms with friendly people and free wine tasting, not the $5 fee like you see in Walla Walla! And excellent wine too! It was a sunny day, about mid-70's.

Today went to a salvage yard to find mirrors for the truck, it was flooded with knee deep red clay mud, we had to get creative to reach the truck that had mirrors we wanted, but only paid $25 for the pair, with brackets.

Seems like there's a winery every other block, it's like Halloween for adults. This one was closed, however.

Gregory Graham winery, lots of ribbons, excellent wine, bought 2 bottles on sale $8!!

Wildhurst Winery, downtown Kelseyville, much more generous with the tastings!

Nice place, I was the only taster there! Bought one bottle and some yummy jam for Mike

Everything's blooming!

Interesting lake, right next to the salvage yard. 

Should have brought waders!

I am sure there's some sort of environmental law being violated here.

Lakeport to Point Arena, California

We left Tuesday morning for Point Arena, all excited about the free fishing from the Pier in Point Arena, the plan was to spend one night there and then travel on up the coast to Fort Bragg, spend one night there and then back home. We lost our atlas when we moved so didn't have a proper map to look at, so I programmed the Garmin (aka Carmen) and off we went, ended up on this goat trail called Mountain View Road, with Mike yelling at Carmen for putting us on this "sidewalk" of a road. Do NOT ever take this road if thinking of heading to the coast from Ukiah!!
But once we got there it was beautiful, spent 2 nights at the Wharf Masters Inn, with fireplace (fake) and a huge jacuzzi tub, and balcony with ocean view. Supposed to be a pet friendly room, nothing pet friendly about all white linens! I would stay there again though, it's within walking distance of the pier and a couple of nice laid back restaurants. Behind the Inn is BLM land and you can hike to the Point Arena Lighthouse, approx 3 1/2 miles the Innkeeper said, I didn't go that far, I don't have a 3 1/2 mile bladder. Ha!   (Click on Pics to see bigger!!)

Gnarled trees on Hwy 1

Dairy farm on the ocean!

Made it to Point Arena, 1 hour to drive 27 miles!!!

We didn't catch fish but saw others catch some nice Perch

The Inn on the hill. The big yellow tower is to lower boats into the ocean for $25, that would be quite interesting to watch.

Surfers

The sun on the rocks

Coast Guard Head Quarters

Our balcony

Nicest breakfast room ever!! and no one there.

View from bluff above Inn, all BLM land with hiking trails

World War 2 submarine spotting tower, now owned by private party

Just feet from death!

Fork in the trail. I go where my dog pulls me.

View of Point Arena pier

Cool carved bench!

Fancy bar on the pier.

More gnarly trees.

 Storm rolled in, we made it home OK, now back to work!! Bought a new atlas. Wish I could find a good app for planning the best driving route without massive mountains!!