Sonoma valley

Oh wine country you lived up to all our expectations today. The day started out foggy and cold as we toured the benziger family winery. They are sustainable, organic and biodynamic, which makes for a very cool place with delicious wines. The sun finally came out as we made our way through several other wineries. The people here are so friendly they invited us to an evening food truck rally and concert at yet another winery. At that Concert Chad met another OU alum named Chad. I think the probability of this happening is very small which just goes to show you that wherever you go you will find nice people maybe even from your university, maybe even with the same name. So get out there and start exploring, its a small world after all.

Yosemite

Yosemite national park has to be one of my favorite places in the world. It has captured the imagination of many artists and writers, just like it captured mine when i first visited as a teenager. I couldn't wait to go back and share the place with Chad. We weren't disappointed. Within hours of arriving we saw a bear. Then we hiked down the panorama trail from glacier point to the valley below. We had amazing vistas and passed 3 waterfalls. Then we picknicked in an alpine meadow and saw a mother bear with cub. To top off or trip we took a moonlight bicycle tour, and saw the mountains in a completely different light. What an inspiring and beautiful place!

Monterey peninsula

We didn't have any plans or expectations today except to make sure Chad experienced the golf Mecca of Pebble Beach. We started the day hunting for the previous home of Chad's parents on seaside, then drovealong the coast on 17 mile drive. This road is perfect for the 2 of us with beautiful golf courses on Chad's side of the car and marine life on mine. Stopped for lunch in Carmel and then on down the coast to Big Sur where McWay falls empties into the Pacific ocean. We ended our day with music, wine and sunset in Monterey.

Driving route 1

We kicked of our California vacation by driving down route 1 from San Francisco to Pacific Grove. We saw surfers, seals, lighthouses and organic farms. We ate clam chowder, Mexican, and tried the local wines. We feel like we can go home now since we experienced so many classic California things in one day. We spent a few hours in Santa Cruz enjoying the nostalgic boardwalk too!

Ready for California!