Day 479

The 4th of July in Nipomo started with Lynn's favorite - crullers from the Nipomo donut store by Starbucks. Breakfast included a cooking demonstration on making very thin omelettes. Morning chores included collecting eggs. Then off to Circus Vargas on the field at Madonna Inn. What a hoot! We were front and center! Seeing the various acts close up was amazing. Then home for the rest of the day, bonfire, sous vide tri-tip, some good wine, s'mores, and fireworks (including a good cigar). All the day's photos start here.

Meanwhile, back at the Compound, the rest of the fam camped out on the 18th hole for the Flying Horse Fireworks.

18th Hole at Flying Horse for the fireworks!

Lynn's fave!

Trevor's thin omelettes.

Chores include collecting eggs

Circus Vargas!

Front and center!

Now there's a lighter

Day 478

After a leisurely morning with Underwoods, including breakfast at Lido's, we headed south to the Fosters' house in Nipomo. Our room there for the next few days included a welcome note from Hannah. We checked out the property a bit, including a fresh peach right from the tree and the 30-some chickens. Then the adults were off to Daou Winery for a delightful afternoon of tasting and pairings. Then to Novo's for a somewhat-belated birthday dinner for Trev. Today's photos start here.

Breakfast at Lido's

"Welcome to Nipomo!"

The only tacky thing at Daou.

Day 477

We had two scheduled tastings today, Turley and Tooth and Nail. We found ourselves with a little extra time and Lynn thought to throw in Hunt Cellars where we found probably our all-time favorite for the trip, Cabovation. Dinner at Conners' house! Photos for today start here.

Meanwhile, back at the Compound, the rest of the fam went to a Rockies game. Tracy, Fina, and the littlest one met the rest of the gang at the ballpark after having the little one's arm casts replaced.

Hunt Cellars

Tooth and Nail

The rest of the fam at a Rockies game!

New arm casts (he threw up on the originals).

Day 476

Nana and Papa had a nice leisurely morning at Allegretto having breakfast and exploring the grounds. Then it was off to Sculpterra, a favorite winery for enjoying a bottle of their viognier while enjoying the sculptures around the grounds. Then back into town to meet up with Bob and Sandy at a favorite French place, Bistro Laurent (now renamed BL Brasserie). The first wine tasting for all four of us was at Epoch Estate Wines. Definitely worth the visit! We closed the day wine tasting out our own hotel (Allegretto) followed by a great dinner at their restaurant. The day's photos start here.

Labyrinth at Allegretto

Chapel at Allegretto

Sculpterra

A little bobble for Lynn

Then off to town to meet up with Underwoods...

Bistro Laurent for lunch, now BL Brasserie

Epoch Winery

Tasting at Allegretto

Day 475

We enjoyed the Vespera on Pismo Beach as long as we could then headed back up to Paso Robles for a couple days of wine tasting, one with Bob and Sandy. We mosied around downtown Paso a while, had lunch at Taste, then headed to our digs for the next couple of days, Allegretto. We spent a couple hours scouting Epoch Winery to see if they were worthy of being put on our schedule; they were. Then back to the Allegretto, dinner at Cello, a visit to the hot tub, and that's it. The photos for today start here.

One last view of the ocean from Vespera.

Painted flower pots are a thing in Paso Robles.

 

Courtyard at Allegretto.

Over 2,000 years old, a sequoia.

Epoch Winery

The view from our room at Allegretto.

Allegretto's restaurant, Cello.

Day 474

It was a day with the Foster grands in Pismo Beach, and as you might imagine, the big event was exploring the beach. We found all kinds of stuff from shells to live clams and crabs, to big jellyfish and more. And we made it all the way up to where Papa Jamie used to lead geology tours on the beach (PDF). Then lunch at the hotel and swimming! We finished up with ice cream at Doc Burnstein's and dinner with including Trevor and Jen at Las Cazuelas in Nipomo. Today's photos start here.

The jacaranda at Cazuelas was in full bloom.