Olives and Brie

The 5th of July was another full one for the crew of Hotspur Two. We started the day off on the shores of Lake Tahoe, watching yellow labs chase tennis balls while searching for coffee. We found coffee and a few breakfast treats after the short climb up to Truckee, an old California town just down from Donner Pass. We found the pass, too, and were relieved to find that our climb up Spooner Pass yesterday had put most of the climb behind us. In short order, we were looking at a sign that warned of steep downgrades for the next 40 miles. It was music to my eyes, and to my engine, too, although the brakes and the tires of the woody got an extreme workout on the way down. The roadway was rough, and rutted, but traffic was light until we hit Sacramento and the last stretch to Napa.

We climbed up Napa Valley and down Sonoma, and crossed between on a narrow winding road that looked like the large intestine on our trusty Garmin. Our wine-country adventure lead us to Petaluma, where we enjoyed the farmer's market and a picnic lunch of good bread, creamy brie, and fresh pesto. It was almost perfect.

The road from Petaluma to Point Reyes Station was perfect, and with the sun on the rolling hills, I though we passed through some of the most scenic land in this great country of ours.

We landed in Point Reyes village around six o'clock, and I was surprised to hear someone calling my name from a passing car. It turned out to be my friend Nancy, who later expressed her delight in catching us going through town as, in this remote outpost, mobile telephones do not often work. Nancy gathered us up and brought us up to the country estate where she and several others are enjoying an artist's retreat and workshop. The setting seemed perfect for clearing the head and getting the creative juices flowing. After breaking bread with Nancy's housemates, she, Madeline, and I strolled around the village and made a plan to collect Nancy to join us on our trek to the sea in the morning.

Madeline and I were greeted at the Inverness Motel with a welcoming note on the door and the setting sun. What a great spot, and a great place to stay, too. We were thrilled, and exhausted from another day on the road. A great day on the road.