Day 7
Today we started in – Lake Tahoe
We finished in – Napa
Miles travelled today – 166
Miles so far this trip – 856
Tonight we are staying at – Wine Valley Lodge
Friday 29th March – Day 7
The fresh inch of snow on our car this morning tells us there must have been a small sprinkling overnight,
Nothing like what we have experienced the last couple of days though. Almost incidental.
I head to reception to see if I can secure a cup of tea. Nope. Breakfast in the room, and the tea will have to wait.
We stop by Glazed & Confused again, for one more donut run. The lady dotes on Max again, changing TV channels, and giving him a couple of tattoos that I fear will prevent any serious hand washing for the next day or so!!
Lazily, we take the car around to the other side of the hotel for a few more photos at the lake. The icy wooden steps to the “beach” catch me out and before I know it I slip down landing uncomfortably on my wrists.
I am more worried about my camera than my wrist, but luckily both survive. Minor scratch on my hand, nothing to note of damage on the camera.
One more stop to make before we head out of town, and that is to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. We always grab a T-Shirt from any city or town we visit with a Hard Rock. Lake Tahoe could be no exception.
One thing we have noticed as we walk up and down the snow riddled roads, is the JCB’s with their scoop out front, grinding on the road, just pushing the snow out of the way. This keeps the roads clear, and we also figure this is why the road markings around here are so faint and vague. Scraped away with the snow and ice we think.
We head out of town, avoiding the Agricultural Inspection Station, just.
The sat nav tells us we have 145 miles on the same road. Second from what we recall, to the 165 we spent on one road during our 2013 trip here.
Eventually, we arrive in Napa, and are instantly impressed with our motel. Although the lady on reception was less than helpful when we asked how to get into town.
“It’s only a mile, walk it?” she suggested.
“We have a 4 year old, and will need to get back later tonight too” came my reply.
“Uber?”
“Are there no busses?” I enquire.
“Uber is your best bet” she insisted.
So we Uber’d. First time ever, and I must say, remarkably easy and efficient.
A 45 minute Wine Tasting session in what was the first real tasting room we stumbled upon. 8 small glasses of wine, and 81 dollars poorer and we walk away with 2 bottles. One red and one white.
We are saving them for our trip to New York to share with our family there.
We head to Oxbro Market just across the bridge, and slightly out of town. It reminds us of Granville Market in Canada.
Instantly engulfed with sights, sounds, smells. Hustle and bustle. There is something for everyone here. Including stalls that you wonder how they survive.
We enjoy a simple 2 pizza tea, accompanied by beer, wine and Fanta before wandering back downtown.
We realise Napa is the perfect place for over indulgence. Restaurants, bars, tasting rooms for wine and cigars. It is clean, sharp and shiny.
Modern but with an air of history.
We head to the Angel Hotel, a tip given to us earlier in the day after Max accosted a couples dog as they walked to tea.
We head up to the roof top bar. An hour later and we have parted with $51 for 5 drinks. But the Whiskey and Bailey’s measures are impressive.
Before long, the patio style heaters are less effective. A chill in the air and tiredness, exaggerates our coldness. As we leave, Max finds time to join the crowd at the bar, cheering on the Basketball game!
We leave, utilising the simplicity and Ubering home again for a drunken sleep.
See Full Itinerary of our trip here
Day 1 – London to LA
Day 2 – LA to Sequoia National Park
Day 3 – Sequoia to Yosemite
Day 4 – Yosemite to San Andreas
Day 5 – San Andreas to Lake Tahoe
Day 6 – Full Day at Lake Tahoe
Day 7 – Lake Tahoe to Napa
Day 8 – Napa to Half Moon Bay
Day 9 – Half Moon Bay to Monterey
Day 10 – Monterey to Big Sur
Day 11 – Big Sur to San Simeon
Day 12 – San Simeon to Pismo Beach
Day 13 – Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara
Day 14 – Santa Barbara to Santa Monica
Day 15 – Santa Monica
Day 16 – Santa Monica
Day 17 – Fly to Manhattan
Day 18 – Manhattan
Day 19 to 24 – Long Island