Day 17 September 26 - Free Day and Farewell

Sadly it came the dawn of our last day. It was a "Free Day" so we could do whatever we wanted.
The morning started out wonderfully when we gathered at the invitation of John and Rita Ham to enjoy her award winning coffee cake. She won't give out the recipe. It melts in your mouth and tastes heavenly. She also made each couple a wine identifier for bottles and glasses although Tom thought he should wear his.

John Ham, Barbara McCray and gang went geocaching. His total finds logged for the period of time since the caravan began through today is 78 caches, 14 of which were "First to Find" and two Travel Bugs (one you move to another cache when you find it). Geocaching is a wonderful way to treasure hunt and find the "treasures" of the places you visit by seeking out the caches. For more information see http://www.geocaching.com/.

Some groups again toured the country side at a more leisurely pace to soak in one last glimpse of the bountiful grapes ready for harvest. Other shopped. Some prepared their coaches for departure. And others just vegged out!!!!

Family Portrait: Our Canine Companions......9 coaches, 18 members and 7 dogs....

Joann with little Sandy, Linda with Chester and Bebe, Gerri and George with Merlin and Maya Lynn and Khaki and Jana without Bud and Susie. As our human traveling companions got along tremendously, so did they.

At 5:45 pm the members of Monaco In Motions "Wines, Mines and More" Caravan gathered for one final car pool to our farewell dinner in Sonoma at Estate Restaurant. It was our "last fling" in the gastronomical adventure of the past 17 days. The sun was going down as we arrived and were escorted to our specially set table in the "wine room". Each participant was a given a personalized menu with his or her choices for the experience that was to follow. At a leisurely pace and with many "ooh's" and "ahhs" and picture taking of the food presentations weenjoyed our food also known as "pigging out"After the first course our various entrees including pasta, halibut, steak, chicken, lamb, and trout (by no means as plain as these words imply) were presented accompanied by wine and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Tom and Dee Irwin thanked the various "campers' who had helped make this caravan so successful. Gene and Linda Barron co-leaders for arranging the Napa/Sonoma part, all the cooks who helped prepare some of the meals, Wayne McCray for his mechanical expertise and technical assistance to all those in need, George Cederholm for his photography and group pictures, and yours truly, Joann Bush for the blog. I would also like to thank Bill Beckley, my editor and Bud Walsh and Linda Barron for additional photography.
The group then presented Tom and Dee and Linda and Gene with a Vinolator (a wine aerator to help decant wine) to represent the Wines part of the caravan and several dinner gift cards to represent the gastronomical part of our adventure. We definitely learned a great deal about this part of our beautiful country and saw much of its bounty and good people along the way.




After the dessert course varying from gelato and sorbet, cheese plate, berries, cheese cake and chocolate budino we had one last treat.




Jim Law writer, producer and director, brought forth his players Stan Jones, Barbara McCray, George Cederholm and John Ham with a hysterical spoof of United Trails Campground (Truckee) and its very "colorful" owners as well as all the members of the group and various happenings along the way. We all laughed until we cried.
Since some people (who will remain nameless for starting their engines so early in the morning) had to hit the road early to get where they were going, we said our fond farewells before heading back to the campground.
And so another MIM Caravan is history. Another Monaco coaching experience featuring good times and great friends.

Day 16 September 25 - Viansa and Sebastiani Wineries

Sonoma was the destination for today. After driving up a beautifully landscaped hill lined with hundreds of olive trees, Robert Domenici, a fifth generation Californian, greeted us at the beautiful entry of the Viansa Winery. This winery is thoroughly Italian in concept. However, the first fact explained to us was Viansa has no translation. It is not Italian, it is a made up word for Vicki and Sam, the owners. Their idea was to build a Tuscan sanctuary where wine, food and Italian traditions would be shared and celebrated in a natural environment For a few hours we felt like we were in old Tuscany

When they started making wine here in 1989, 4000 cases were produced. Now the count is 64,000 cases specializing in Italian style of 15 varietals. Olive oil is also produced here from their 1000 olive trees. While relating history of their wines and explaining how they process it, we walked through the aging area underground. The oak barrels used for aging the wine cost $1200 each and are used for only two years

Following him outside, the valley opened before us and the vineyards seemed to stretch as far as we could see. Huge clumps of grapes were hanging from the vines. It is harvest time. They hand pick their grapes from August to November. Grape vines are deep rooted and can live over 100 years. Pruning of the vines takes place in January and is done in the same manner as rose bushes

Sonoma is the Native American word for crescent which is how the Sonoma Valley is shaped. In addition to wine this valley's other industries include sheep, cattle, goats, dairy, apples and other fruits. Robert gave us a short history of this region known as Los Carneros. He pointed out a unique 90-acre natural preserve the owners set aside that’s home to native California plants and wildlife.

Wine tasting and lunch took place outdoors overlooking the valley. Robert assisted by Vicki (not the owner) gave us many wine tasting hints as we tasted several of their wonderful wines. After an Italian picnic lunch under the vines on the patio, many of us browsed the retail area, the cheese and condiment counter (for tastes of course) and the dessert case. Vicki even entertained us with some songs and a little demo from her former acting career. It was a very pleasant and relaxing visit.

Guess what John did????Yes he did, another geocache at Viansa.

Our second destination in Sonoma Valley was Sabastiani Winery where the very first vineyard ever planted in the area was started in 1823 by Franciscan priests. The grapes were appropriately called "mission grapes". Our guide, Bob, recounted the historical and geographical significance of the region in his "Soil to Bottle" tour followed, of course, by wine tasting. Samuel Sabastiani founded this winery in 1904 and produces 250,000 cases in Sonoma.

During the wine tasting, Bob taught us a great deal about how the soil, the sun, elevation and water allows the growth of particular grapes. How vineyard managers know when the grapes are ready to be picked, who picks their grapes, how to tell the probable alcohol level, storing wines and tasting. Their vintner (wine maker) has been with the winery for 30 years. Last year Bill Foley, owner of First National Title Company, bought Sabastiani.

Of course we all visited the retail area and enjoyed the beautiful setting. Then it was back to the campground where we enjoyed some time sitting in our chairs and talking about our wonderful time in Sonoma.

Day 15 September 24 - Muir Woods and Point Reyesa National Seashore

Over the river and to the woods, then through the woods we went. Caravaning over hills and on winding roads in the fog we entered Muir Woods National Monument and stood in awe of the giant redwood trees.
In 1905 William and Elizabeth Thach Kent bought land in the valley in order to protect the last stands of giant redwoods. So many of them had been cut down to build and then rebuild San Francisco they were afraid of extinction. To ensure its permanent protection, they donated 295 acres of forest to the Federal Government and in 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed it a national monument. Kent requested that it be named to honor John Muir, a noted conservationist, author and earlyadvocate of preservation of wilderness. Now there are also areas of redwood that are protected in other State and National Parks.


Muir Woods is one of the most beautiful and easily accessible of the famous redwood groves which covered a great deal of the northern hemisphere 140 million years ago. These coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) now only grow in a 500 mile strip of Pacific coast from Big Sur to southern Oregon. They are the tallest of all tree life although not as large in girth as the giant Sequoia (Sequoia gigantea). The coastal redwoods reach heights of 380 feet and a diameter of 22 feet. We actually gazed upon some redwoods that are over 1000 years old.


It was a serene, beautiful walk through the woods. One group opted to do the two mile loop and enjoyed getting out and stretching our legs for a change (and maybe using up just a few of our wine calories).

Next stop was supposed to be the Muir Beach overlook for group picture taking and to see the high coastal bluff. However, "somehow" we missed it in the fog.

Onward over the coastal mountains our "hungry" gang drove. At a few points as we rose higher, we were above the fog and could see some of the beauty of the forest below and glimpses of the ocean. Ending up at Olema we were treated to a delightful lunch at the Farmhouse Restaurant. If you ever go there, be sure to share a dessert. Each of us were served a fresh berry and apple cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream served in a large cereal bowl very hot. Each one could have served 4 people but I did notice a few clean bowls.


Someone began to wonder if there were any geocaches in the area. John pulled out his magical Iphone and sure enough, he found one near our cars. Everyone gathered around to watch while John, Barbara and Gene signed in as finders.



Point Reyes National Seashore's main visitor center is the Bear Valley Center a short distance from our lunch stop. More than 350 species of birds and 72 species of mammals inhabit the 65,300 acres along the coast and inland. Due to the fog no one opted to travel the additional distance to see the famous lighthouse built in 1870 to help prevent ships from hitting the rocky shore.

The main attraction for our group was the Earthquake Trail which circles near the San Andreas Fault (blue posts mark the fault line). Along the trail were many interpretive signs explaining what was happening beneath the earth below our feet. We were standing where the Pacific Plate that creeps northwestward about two inches each year and the North American plate moving even slower westward grind together. At one point there were pictures of the fault and a fence demonstrating how one side of had been displaced 16 feet during the 1906 earthquake.

Each car could then decide where to go next, where to stop and what to do on the way "home". One group took their "pups" down to the ocean for a romp in the water. Another group opted to continue on to San Francisco, see the Golden Gate Bridge and have dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. Others took different highways home seeing more of the beautiful country side where cattle and dairy farms thrive.


Another successful day came to an end.

Day 14, September 23 - Van Wine Tour Day

Another day in wine lovers paradise, filled with fun and excitement, especially since we were picked up by a "luxury van" and driven around the valley. That meant we could taste to our hearts delight........and we did. There are 350 wineries in Napa Valley (but we won't be able to visit them all) with many different varieties of grapes and wines. Although only 4% of California's wines comes from this 35 mile long 4 mile wide area, they are world renowned thanks to the efforts of Mondavi.

The first treat of the day began when we entered the hillside driveway approaching the Castello di Amorosa Winery. As we passed row upon row of grapevines laden with grapes, a castle appeared before us. From that point on we were totally captivated as Joshua Meyer shared his knowledge and enthusiasm about the valley, the castle, the winery and its owner, Daryl Sattui.
Sattui spent about $30 million dollars and 14 years building the medieval Italian replica castle on the vineyard grounds. First opening to the public in April 2007, the Castello di Amorosa Winery is the project of this 4th generation vintner. He also owns and operates the V. Sattui Winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in San Francisco in 1885 where we would later have lunch.

The castle interiors, which include 107 rooms on eight levels above and below ground, cover approximately 121,000 square feet. It has a moat, a drawbridge, defensive towers, an interior courtyard, a torture chamber, a chapel/church, a knights' chamber, and a 72 by 30 feet great hall with a 22-foot coffered ceiling. There are frescoes painted by Italian artists and a 500 year old fireplace in the hall. The masonry, ironwork and woodwork was fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Building materials included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone, in addition to paving stones, terra cotta roofing tiles and bricks imported from Europe. Adjacent to the castle is a labyrinth of caves (glad we had a guide).
Beneath the castle is the two acre barrel cellar. Also beneath the castle are tasting rooms where we sampled the delightful wines sold there.
In addition to all the lessons we learned from Joshua about growing grapes and producing wine, one of the most important one is that "wine is a side dish to you meal, not a cocktail".

Our driver helped us load our cases of wine into the van and we proceeded to the V. Sattui Winery for a picnic lunch, tour and tasting as well as shopping in their gourmet deli. Most of the information our guide at Sattui related about growing grapes and making wine was the similar although we did take a walk into the vineyard to see the grapes up close. One new fact we learned is the reason rose bushes have been planted at the end of each of the rows of grapevines. Its to keep an eye on mold because roses have the same type of growth system as grape vines. If mold appears on the rose bushes they can catch it on the grape leaves.

The final destination of the day was the Hess Collection and Winery located in the historic winery originally constructed in 1903 by Theodore Gier and formerlly part of Christian Brothers winery. The experience here was completely different because the winery also house the "interesting" (modern and somewhat different to most of us) art collection of the owner, a Swiss entrepreneur, Donald Hess. No pictures were allowed of the artwork only the tasting. He purchased the vineyards on Mount Veeder in 1978 and has made it a leader in sustainable and organic practices.

Hess started collecting art in 1966. His collection is driven by a relationship with the artist and not monetary or current trends. He strives to understand what is driving an artist to create and collects from about 20 living artists. He collects from lessor known artists who go on to become well known and respected.

Suffice it to say, our culinary and wine tasting experience was thoroughly enjoyed by all as Larry (our guide) directed us to first taste the wines alone, then with exciting cheeses he provided and then with nuts and fruits and chocolate. Wow!!!!!!!!!

As the sun set on a great day, the van wound back down the mountain carrying our group of tired but satisfied "happy campers".