California

We enjoyed a wine and food sampling at The Ridge, a local vineyard near San Jose the day after we arrived with Vic and Bill and friends. The day was hot and shade was limited but the wine and food was superb. The vineyard sits atop a hill overlooking San Jose and some days there is a clear and stunning view however on the day of our visit it was hazy.

Afterwards we went shopping for skis and boots and we were successful – now to get the gear home! We have several flights to negotiate yet so will see how we go with 4 sets of skis and 4 pairs of boots and 2 helmets. This is just the ski package!

Chef and sous chef at work.

Vic and Bill busy cooking our finale dinner. After a fresh food buying spree at the Farmers Market they cooked lemon and buttered asparagus followed by baked wild salmon accompanied by 3 different types of mushrooms and a minted orange and peach sambol. Just wonderful with some NZ sauvignon blanc and a moscato finished off with fresh blueberries and strawberries and a cheese plate. Magnificient!

Main course.

Here is Vic, the chef, showing her recent birthday present – a pair of beautiful citrine earrings.

The well loaded Prius just before leaving for our flight from San Jose to San Diego. We now have 4 bags to check compared to 2 on the way over 3 months ago.

Looking up at planes flying low over us while waiting in the long pre July 4th queue for our rental car. The runway was the other side of the busy rental car offices making it a very noisy place to be.

Alice and Doug Diamond at home in San Diego.

The superb view from their dining room out to the beach.

The San Diego boardwalk attracts all the beautiful people out either running, walking, rollerblading or cycling. Some even sit on the beach or swim!

Julia and Staff’s colourful garden in San Juan Capistrano complete with the flowering agapanthas that some Melbourne family members have considered ‘weeds’! Hummingbirds are attracted to these flowers.

Oriole’s feeding on sweetened water from the feeders in their backyard.

Amelia,the rescued racoon, enjoying her late afternoon snack of dried cat food outside the back door.

Our July 4th lunch on the patio with the characteristic red, white and blue theme.

An evening meal. Again it was outside in the Chenery’s exotic garden. The weather was perfect – in true Beach Boys style – ‘it never rains in southern California’! It sometimes looks like it might but it doesn’t.