The coast (really, this time): and "what do you do when you have WAY too much money?"

Hi, again, readers!  Last night's blog was interceded by cards, internet problems and sleep.  So, we'll catch up in a quick one now.

Or, as Michael would put it: we had a billion things to do.

Yes, Michael exaggerates.  He says it's exaggeration.  In Tehachupti (or something like that) on Thursday, we were looking for the Sonic and it took "forty-five minutes" (we went four blocks) and when we had to recircle to get into its driveway he said "we passed a billion places to eat."  Karen and I laughed (I'm not supposed to include Barb in this).

Now, of course, every chance we get, it's "a billion" of this...a billion of that.  After awhile, you have real money.

Speaking of real money: first stop yesterday was Hearst Castle.  That's not what the Hearst's called it, but what did they know?

Here's the shot of the front:

Like Versailles, this was a "camp." Right.  I don't remember how many rooms are in it, but there are either 31 or 41 fireplaces (the Michael effect, again :))

We did the ground floor tour (you'll see picks in THIS LINK), then the cottages and kitchen tour.  If you don't know, William Hearst had a lot of Hollywood "friends" come stay.  He owned part of MGM at one point, as well as the most powerful newspaper chain in the country (the comparison to Rupert Murdoch was made).   

The Castle has wonderful vistas -- it's 1,500 feet above the visitor center, which is down on the coast, like 6 miles of winding private road away. 

And there are cottages -- we toured two -- which are ornate, too.  Two, four, and eight bedroom cottages.  The largest, Casa de Mar, looks at the ocean. I'd take that one.  Not the "Grande House."  

It's quite a place, as you can see.

Then a surprise stop: we saw a sign for elephant seal vista.  

Damn! were the bulls playing and loud!! 

Then two hours south to *Sideways* territory: wineries.  Where we started at Fess Parker's place.  Yes, like this -- 

The wine glasses had a coonskin cap engraved in them. 

You can see the tri-tip steak sandwich which they were serving, and we had, as it was about 3:30.  It came with an interesting apricot bbq sauce: apricots are in season here (we saw lots of them in the central valley on the trees).

Then to this lovely little winery (far less commercial than Fess's place) called Demetria -- named after the owner's son, Demetri.  Up on the hill, shaded by the funky California oak trees, with everyone "chilling" (as Karen put it) and enjoying the wine.  We bought a bottle of their rose, tried their brut rose, which wasn't as good as some others we tried (though at $50 a bottle seemed to be a good price), then headed down the highway.

Dinner was at an Italian place (we struggled to get into places at 8:30 on Saturday night) but Michael got us onto the patio there -- they said "we've got heaters" (it was like 65)...SoCalians don't seem to want much chill (in the air).  The food was good -- Karen had lasagna, Barb and I varieties of risotto, and Michael linguini de la mar -- but no one thought to take pictures.  

Today to Anaheim.  We "only" have five days left. ):  Bon jour!