Between keeping abreast of the world cup final, meeting up with a friend for lunch in Fremont and getting ready for the wedding in the evening, did not have much time today but to pack and get some writing and picture organization done before we caught our red-eye back to Atlanta. Next trip out is to Savannah on the Georgia coast - another place that I've visited more than 5 years ago but excited to go see what's new and happening. Stay tuned for pictures from my trip coming up over the next few days.

Managed to get out and on the road to Napa just around about noon today. As predicted, husband's flight in was pretty late followed by a late night dinner at PF Chang's and a late start from the hotel after figuring out breakfast on the go. We did the first winery we saw as we hit the main street and that was Trefethen. The drive through the rows of vines was beautiful. We did taste a progressive flight of 5 wines there that we were able to share thankfully. Then we proceeded to drive to the very last one that I thought would accept us without appointments - last in the sense along the drive. Monteleno wines (refer movie Bottle Shock) was that stop and though they don't do tours on weekends they do have tastings and we were able to head in for that as well as check out some of their surrounding garden and lake area which, in fact, they use for parties and renting out the gazebos is a good idea. By this time we were hungry and needed to do a late lunch but every restaurant we stopped had either already closed (this was close to 4pm) or had long lines. We finally did manage to find a place to eat only to learn as we drove out after tat pretty much all wineries had closed by that time or were open only because of appointments. I did wish we had made an earlier start then and taken the time to make some appointments although it wouldn't have been so relaxes a trip then. At leaf I get to tick a day at Napa off my list

Stayed in today to catch up on some writing and also do some homework on a one day visit to Napa! The husband joins me tonight for a wedding we attend day after but for tomorrow we pan to hit up Napa and do some wine country visiting. A lot of vineyards I am looking at online seem to show up as appointment only so looks like I will have very limited choices to where I can go. Besides we are not really looking for a winery tour so much as we are looking to get a taste for some good local wines. Folks have recommended the wine train but at about $100+ person I think that option only makes sense if I am there at sunlight and leave later than sundown - not a practical or possible proposition this trip. The good part is seeing that many places will let us share our tasting so we do not have to pay for both of us doing the same fleet of wines. Also depends on how much time we can make - husband has a late flight in which means a late start out, and driving over through to Napa takes some time as well. Most wineries close about 4pm so I'd be lucky I think to visit maybe 3 while there.