Monday, July 13, 2009

Wine, Dairy, and Horse Country -- Napa, Sonoma, & Marin


July 9 -- We are on our way from Benecia to San Francisco, driving the indirect scenic route through the North Bay. Our quest is to take an advance peek at the places where, a month from now, we will be enjoying Brad & Becky's Rehearsal Dinner and celebrating their wedding.

The lush geometrics of the vineyards, with their even rows of healthy grapevines, are as pleasant to view as the wine will be to drink. I am reminded of the makeshift arbors that my aging grandpa struggled to tack up on the back of his city tenement building in Dorchester, MA, as he grew his own precious grapes to make wine for his daily kiddush (blessing). The city Board of Health eventually made him take them down. But here in the North Bay, the grapevines rule, and the stern warning signs that "Fireworks are forbidden in Sonoma County" reinforce that message.

In Santa Rosa, we stop at Safari West, to check in on rehearsal dinner arrangements. We are greeted warmly by the enthusiastic staff, who no doubt remember being charmed already by Becky & Brad. They give us a brief tour, and I am able to snap quick photos of some of the giraffes and birds.

Then, following a tip from Micah (my significant-other-in-law), we stop by a cheese factory that's only slightly off-route, to taste some award-winning brie. It does not disappoint!

The journey down to San Francisco takes us along the Coastal Highway, through the Point Reyes National Seashore, to the Golden Gate Bridge. Breath-taking views, which my little camera can't begin to capture.

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