THE WEEKENDER-SANGUINE, WINE, SAX AND BLUES

SANGUINE ON THE COAST

     Pacific blue, lined by rocky coast and wide brown sweeps of sand roll to the horizon ahead and to the right as I cruise south on Highway 1 from San Simeon to Cambria.

       Son House rhyming and proclaiming John the Revelator is the audio marriage to this far western shore of the US, passing at 55 mph.  Knots of tourists on vista points collect memories.

       

        Rich colors, shades and hues in spreading patches, sweep the rolling pastures and mountain hill sides. Gold, yellow, blue, white, red and pink flora blend in and out of still spring green cattle grazing ranges. They come in long and tall miles of coast grazing lands.  Cattle roam those miles where the mountains fall to the Pacific.  Earl Hooker is "bluesifying" with Is Yo Ever Seen a One Eyed Woman Cry? 

Ticket to a Hooker video interp.

This is why California has always been a "car state," moving from shore to mountains, into broad high deserts, through farm land and vineyards while the music plays. As did this from Boz Skaggs, a Californian, who has driven the highway where now he is the sound track.

     North Korea is behaving like lunkheads.  Official Washington appears bought and paid for and apparently not the least bit concerned about it, the President can't hit the basket, his jump shot not there, and my team is not in the Big Dance, but none of it seems to matter, so much. 

A SIDE TRIP 

AN ULTIMATE WINE CELLAR

   As guests of Diane at a recent Halter Ranch wine pick up  we visited the cave beneath a hill of vines.

   The cave is perfect for barrels and Sax.

 A SAX TEASE

    The loading and process area provides space for a buffet and "slider tasting" contest.

  The Halter covered bridge is reminiscent of the bridges in Parke County Indiana.

     Have a good weekend.  
     See you down the trail.

A SPRING MOMENT IN WINE COUNTRY

AN ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON

     Friends Bob and Jan were up in the Paso Robles Wine region and staying at the guest house at Bianchi Winery where the tender new growth is out.

    It became a good reason for a visit and dinner in the guest house.  

     The weather also provided marvelous hospitality. Dry, mid 80's, cooling breeze.

  On the east side, that portion of the Paso appellation east of the 101, the greening and budding is on.

     Jan does business with Bianchi and knows the product well
which added to the charm of the evening's menu.

     The Paso region was in its spring glory.

  As the sun began its descent, Bob went to work with the beef and mushrooms while the roast chicken I had been minding, was ready for viewing.

 Diane from Bianchi and a friend of Jan's and Chuck joined us. Sadly we were having such great time I failed to get pictures of Bob's superb rendering of Hearst Steaks, or the salad, or Lana's homemade bread and Thai Noodles. Suffice it to say
it was a splendid spring afternoon and evening in Wine Country. 

Cheers.

See you down the trail.