18 june

Yesterday was a big day in every way. We had our first big walk together at 6am, using the new walking path to tanforan shopping centre and in a roundabout way to Starbucks for our first of our regular morning visits for the next week or so. So we managed our way through our first experience of trying to order a flat white and be met with blank stares! Next stop was lucky supermarket where we cruised every aisle and had a blast looking at all the stuff and spent our first $50. Back at non is we had to hike back down to the Farmers market to get some groceries for auntie lindy and belt back up because they were coming to pick us up for a day at the wineries. Amazingly enough Dad had never been to the California wineries so this was ex icing.
Auntie lindy had an idea of where she wanted to go but uncle mikes car had different ideas so we had to wade through some tension in the car which dad did not help by asking frequently Are we there yet? But all good fun, lots of laughs. Our first stop was the Olive oil factory, a funky little olds style shop which sells salamis and cheeses cut with a wire and where the guy uses a roll top desk for his cash register. Once again uncle mike and dad were there to buy and eat and we were there to shop. One more small drama before we could eat, we had to get back into the car to go find a bottle of wine but once this was solved we were back under the trees at the olive oil factory for. Wonderful lunch, including some Free oranges from the trees nearby.
Uncle mike and dad were sent into raymonds winery to get some wine for our picnic while the girls were going to set up lunch there but they were having a private fathers day function and gave us the thumbs down. So when the girl inside started the big speeil we just interrupted and said just give us a bottle of red for a picnic.
Then it was all systems go for lunch.
After lunch, we then went to another winery, harrisons and did the tasting thing. Ten bucks a head to taste but if you buy a bottle, one of the fees is discounted. They also gave us a short tour of the winery. Dad also hooked up with his new best buddy, Ron from Jamaica,......I don"t like cricket.....
Then it was off the Sciandris house in Nappa to check out their digs. Very flash. But they weren't supposed to be home except that they were and not only that, they were hosting a wedding of a distant relative on the gardens around the house which was big, beautiful, and overlooks their own vineyards.$$$$$
Ron and Roberta came out of the magnificent garden to drag Mom in to meet the bride and see Roberta's mother and wanted us to just join the wedding crowd as lunch was just being served. But we talke our way back out on got back on the road.
So then technically we were on our way home and looking for ice cream to finish off our day. Little did we know our day was far from over.
We found an ice cream shop in Sausalito just before the GG bridge and then cruised the town looking for shoe burgs, a famous guitar shop and then went looking for Fort Baker which is just under the bridge where Uncle Mike did his stint in army reserves. This is where we ran into the Bombshells and Rockstars Charity Festival and BBQ. But I will save this story for the next posting.