That said, here is an attempt to recapture all of the incredible beauty that is the northern half of California. We decided to skip southern CA -as wonderful as it is- because I've spent time there growing up and we are racing the weather. Besides, we need a reason to go back and visit when my wonderful uncle Joel is home from touring.
After enduring the Nevada desert without air conditioning, we were happy to roll into Lake Tahoe and cool down in the mountains. Ben was quite proud that the bus tackled such a long stretch without any problems. What a champ. Tahoe is a funny mix of expensive cuisine and time- warp resort living. I felt compelled to watch The Great Outdoors and return for a family reunion. It was a brief stay, but left me feeling nostalgic. Next, we visited our dear friends Kathryn and Ryan in Redwood City, just outside of San Francisco. Ryan is in the wine industry, and our wining/dining experience was top notch at hacienda Woodhouse. Plus, we got to shower! Note: though we are growing quite accustomed to the once-a-week rinse off, a luxurious, un-timed shower experience is a real treat. You will likely see future references to showers in posts to come.
Ben and I celebrated our first anniversary with breakfast with friends, a picnic lunch at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge (which was lovely even shrouded by fog), and a drive through wine country. This was our first trip to Napa/Sonoma. We avoided the crowds and tour buses by seeking out smaller wineries that Ryan recommended further down the valley. With so many to choose from, we decided quality over quantity and only sought out a handful. Which, done right, was plenty. My highlight was sitting at a picnic table, dogs at my feet, with a bottle of white and a spread of fruit, cheese and sushi from a nearby shop as we overlooked the valley. By ourselves. Best seat in the house.
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