"If you need me, I'll be tasting wine." 🍷
The drive from Manchester Beach and Mendocino Coast to the San Francisco/Petaluma Koa North was short but treacherous for Fern and me. It was only 100 miles and should have taken us about 2 1/2 hours, but it was a much longer day.
We left a little later than usual because I visited the Point Arena Lighthouse in the morning before leaving. It's possible I was still absorbing what I had seen that morning and didn't pay attention when I chose our route... Who knows? But... the way we took it was a nail-biter! Shortly after leaving the campground, the GPS directed me to turn right onto an unassuming narrow road. We were roughly a quarter of a mile into it when I started seeing signs advising against large trucks and vehicles pulling trailers continuing on this route. Several expletives came to mind, so I looked for a place to turn around. As my luck would have it, there were none! There were a couple of tight options, but nothing I was comfortable attempting with Fern. So... I took a deep breath, and with a death grip on the steering wheel, we proceeded with cautious optimism.
The optimism quickly disappeared as the incline up the mountain began. Mountain View Road would become our nemesis! There were times when we could barely muster 20 mph. Don't get me wrong, the view was gorgeous, but the journey was intense! Luckily there wasn't much traffic. Apparently, everyone else knew not to take this route! I remember calling my son and telling him, "You're not going to believe what I've gotten myself into this time!" We trudged along switchback after switchback for almost 20 of the longest miles of our entire trip. We finally conquered Mountain View Road, and once on CA-128, we started seeing some beautiful vineyards lining the highway. It made all of the effort worthwhile.
The San Francisco/Petaluma Koa North campground was the largest we had stayed at and was considered a resort. There wasn't a pull-through site available, so we had to back into this one. Luckily my neighbor was outside and helped guide me in the tight space.
The forecast was calling for rain the next few days, so the night I arrived would be the best if I wanted to see Sonoma. I settled in the campsite and hit the road to Sonoma for dinner. It was a beautiful 30-minute drive, winding around vineyards and the gorgeous California countryside.
It was the perfect evening to walk around the plaza for a little wine tasting. I tasted all my favorites, Pinot, Cabernet, & Champagne. I purchased a bottle of Cabernet and later opened it while chatting with a friend on the phone.
The plaza had tasting rooms, hotels, boutiques, and galleries. I could have spent an entire weekend here instead of hours. Sonoma has over 400 wineries spread out over an area twice the size of Napa, and it is often referred to as the quieter sister of Napa Valley.
In the center of the Plaza is a beautiful park. I walked around and drank some wine. It's worth noting that Sonoma County was named The Happiest Place in California and the #1 Wine Destination in the USA. I was certainly happy here!
I sat for a while, enjoyed the beautiful evening, and did some people-watching before having dinner.
The Girl & The Fig was recommended, so that's where I went. It had a French country flair, and the food was delicious. I sat at the bar and had the Wild Mushroom Risotto with a glass of wine and was delighted with my experience.
This was one of those evenings I wish I were sharing with someone. Wine tasting alone is enjoyable but would have been more fun with a companion. (The two restaurant pics are from The Girl & The Fig website.)
Camping is not glamorous for many reasons, but sometimes it means packing and hooking up your camper in the rain! I would have liked to have stayed longer and explored some vineyards in the area, but it was raining and predicted to rain for several days.
Next stop... Bakersfield, CA, on the way to Joshua Tree!
Stay Wild 🌿
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