16 Sunday
Russell drove us up to the wine country at Sonoma Valley today. At first we thought we would go to Napa Valley, but after inspections of maps and driving times we reconsidered and decided Sonoma Valley was better and closer. We came upon an information center (or bureau as the Sonoma Valley likes to call it - a touch of snobbery perhaps?) as soon as we turned into the valley and from there we decided to look at the neighbouring Roche Carneros winery on a small hill that also afforded good views for photographs.

Looking up into Sonoma Valley

There was quite a crowd gathered and we wondered about this until we realised that it was Fathers Day in the States.  We wandered around inspecting everything and sampling the different preserves they had out for tasting and then decided to have lunch there.

Memorable lunch at the winery, but for the wrong reasons

Lunch took an hour and a half to deliver after ordering.   Leaving the winery we travelled further up the valley, noting the Jack London Historic Park as we passed along.   At one stage I saw a magnificent gothic styled castle tucked away amongst the vineyards. (Web research later revealed the following: known as the "Ledson Castle" by the locals, the Ledson Winery is not only a valley landmark but a dream realized for third and fourth generation Sonoma Valley farmers, the Ledsons. It is a remarkable vision as you drive along Highway 12, just 15 minutes north of the town of Sonoma. It emerges like a gothic blast from the past out of acres of rolling vineyard and pastoral calm").  Further along the raod we got to Santa Rosa where we connected up with the 101 and headed back south. Instead of going directly through San Francisco we took highway 580 across the San Rafael bridge to Richmond then highway 80 and then highway 880 until we came to the Moteo bridge where we headed back across the Bay to Pala Alto and then home.  It sure is good having a chaufer who knows where to go!