On the River
Rachel and Mike found a cool, two-story cabin on the Russian River in Healdsburg. Why? So they could treat Mike's folks, who were visiting from Chicago, to a California experience in the Sonoma Wine Country. They invited us to tag along for a couple of days. Dylan and Emi came for awhile, too. I call that a party.
It's just the right kind of river for throwing stones. You can see Dylan and Emi looking for just the right ones (though Dylan is holding a small football, there). Small, flat, round. Mostly folks stayed up on the great deck overlooking said river--That's Bob and Jean (Mike's parents) and Rachel and Emi soaking up rays. What amazing weather for February! The place has a hot tub, a sauna, a BBQ, kayaks, etc., and this sweet lounge-y thing.
Sunday afternoon was wine-tour time. I am the perpetual DD, so no worries. Altogether, we hit four, I think. All quite different; all quite lovely. But, there must be hundreds of them, all trying to be unique in some way. There's our group tasting in the first one--Spanish/contemporary, airy, bright, up on a hill. Mike and Bob hanging out. Munching our picnic at the tables. Outside view of That One (can't remember any of their names).
The vineyards truly are beautiful, and, the weather being extra springy, the hills all around are bright green. Here's a nice shot of Bob and Jean in front of the Next Place (aren't they the cutest?). It is stone and cave-ish, set into the hill. You walk through the barrels to the tasting room. Tom found his favorite wine. We saw Stanford (Emi) and Cal Poly (Dylan) as well.
The third winery was hip and cool and glass and concrete and stylish. There's our little party at the counter.
Later, we were lured into another tasting room by a cute dog (doing his job) as we were walking along the street of Geyserville. Nice folks. No actual geysers, to speak of. Everybody speaks Wine, which I mostly don't understand, but it was a very friendly establishment and we hung out there awhile.
Back at the cabin, we're eating wonderful veggies made by Rachel and Jean. There is a crazy-enormous dining table--we could barely deal cards across it. Both evenings, we played Oh Hell. Jean cleaned our clocks.
We loved having the opportunity to become acquainted with Jean and Bob. Interesting and funny and, well, I could go on and on, couldn't I? Gifted and accomplished. One sees where Mike comes from, that's for sure.
Tom and I had Somewhere To Be on Monday, so we had to leave, alas. But we could make a habit of hanging out on the River.
