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Sometimes a destination is close to home. Our mountains (hills) to the west separate us from Napa Valley. This marine layer is good for the grapes.

Yesterday the marine layer was lingering throughout the hills.

Cotton candy looking clouds formed a bank that hung suspended from the sky. You could see forever under and over the layer of clouds.

Above the clouds…aka marine layer.

Traveling this fall? Want to compare airlines on their baggage fees, carry on sizes allowed or what they charge for overweight bags?

This site is a favorite of mine…www.smartertravel.com. I can compare a whole bunch of airlines and their particulars in one handy ultimate guide.

Check it out.

We were at a BBQ in the vineyard at Chase Family Winery last weekend. Colors were awesome…food was good…wine was wonderful.

These leaves showcased the true colors of fall.

These Zinfandel vines have grapes ready for picking.

If you are in the Paso Robles area of California, check out this winery. Calcareous is named for the limestone type of soil found here. Grapes do well in this poor looking dirt.

Lloyd was from NW Iowa. His wine making career started in the Paso area and his daughter is now carrying on for her dad.

Inside the tasting room, everything is done first class. From orchids to wines…

And of course every winery needs animals. Calcareous has three dogs. This one doesn’t believe in wasting any good sunshine.

Twisted Sister…well you just have to taste it. You won’t be disappointed.

Not only is the winery, tasting room and plaque a fitting memorial to “Moose”…but the wines are first class as well. Definitely worth a trip. And most definitely worth looking for the Calcareous wines.

Looking for a B & B in San Luis Obispo, California? Look no further than Petit Soleil.

It is billed as a “touch of European charm in the heart of San Luis Obispo” and they are right.

Located at 1473 Monterey Street, it is close enough to downtown restaurants and shops. Looking a little like an old motel that’s been redone, we first wondered about it. Stepping through the courtyard, its charm extended from the front door all the way to the rooms.

The front desk staff and cooks greeted us upon arrival with fresh baked cookies. You would have thought we were old friends as easily as we were welcomed.

An eclectic back court yard seems to work for them. Sit and enjoy the waterfalls, watch birds, or just read the paper with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. Priced as most B & B’s it’s more than your everyday hotel. Customer service, wine and hors d’oeuvres, cooked made-to-order breakfast, fresh pastries and comfortable quiet rooms make it worth the little extra.

We’ll be back.

Morro Bay, a California coastal town, is about halfway between LA and San Francisco. Birds, sea critters and scenery make this town along the Big Sur coast a popular stop.

Pelicans congregated in bunches, armadas, fleets or whatever it is called when Pelicans get together. Fishing must have been good.

Big rolling waves tumble onto the beach all along this working fishing village.

Hard to tell in this photo…but otters were busy playing and rolling in the kelp a few yards from shore. Joining them were seals and more Pelicans.

Of course the noisy gulls were keeping an eye on everyone. Fish, Fish, Fish? Mine, Mine, Mine they screamed over and over. Pelicans would congregate…gulls would swoop in. Otters would roll and splash…gulls would be right there. Seals would dive, surface and blow air…gulls would land close. They even watched me taking their picture. Perhaps I had some food they could steal.

October 3 and 4 this year was the annual Harbor Festival in Morro Bay. If you are looking for art, food, wine, views and sunshine…make plans for next year.

This is Morro Rock, up close. Sitting in the harbor it was named by explorer Juan Rodriguez.

Take a visit to this part of California’s Big Sur along Highway 1. You won’t be disappointed.

Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, CA hosted South Dakota State University in football this past weekend.

It was a gorgeous night to start with, then became “football weather”. Temps were in the 40’s by the end of the game. SDSU lost their quarterback to a knee injury early in the game and the freshman replacement did okay until the end. SDSU lost 21-14 in the last two minutes. What a heart breaker.

J. Lohr Winery hosted an event for South Dakota State University Alumni this past weekend. Tours were given and a BBQ lunch for over 300 people was served. This is no small operation. See for yourself…

Lots of grapes…lots and lots.

Inside one of the barrel rooms was where the lunch was held.

Grapes being dumped into the conveyor system.

Grapes moving on up.

Jackrabbits and wine…great combination. Of course the Jacks play football…

Inside a barrel room

Grapes being dumped into the machine with a large rotating auger.

Grapes being moved along…only one step of many in the fruit to bottle process.

Cambridge, England was a few months ago…but these images bring back fond memories.

Along the English Channel

Just a yard we walked by on our way to our morning coffee and pastries

They even serve wine

The River Cam and punts

Anyone know what these are?

This doesn’t really qualify as a travel blog entry…but it does have something to do with my ability to write today. Apparently last night was a good night to race in our hallway…all night.

Now, I know there is a full moon coming soon…but these two decided to start early with their shenanigans.

Of course, today they are both sleeping all day. I have some writing deadlines to meet and all I want to do is take a nap with them