Wednesday morning, James and I were lounging around, enjoying not having to be anywhere when the phone rang. It was our co-worker John Ford. He and his wife were on their way up to Solvang and San Luis Obispo for some post holiday cheer. They had invited us a few days prior but I didn't want to make any commitment on account of my certain lack of health. But we were feeling spontaneous and decided to go for the Solvang part. Why not? I've never been before. So we hopped in the car and headed out for a delightful road trip.
Solvang is about 130 miles north of Los Angeles in the Santa Ynez Valley. It's become quite the little wine country. But the town itself is a little bit of Scandinavia in the middle of Southern California. Most places have windmills on them and Dutch names like Skaarsgaard or Van Hooten. Not long after we arrived, we met up with John and Audrey who regaled us with tales of wine tasting and bottles of wine to prove it. We were ordered to drink up and catch up. We did and we did. And then we were off to the Hitching Post for steaks! The restaurant is featured in the film Sideways as the place of employment of the Virginia Madsen character. For some reason, after an appetizer of a tiny, helpless quail, Audrey decided to ask pretty much everyone in the restaurant what color eyes I have. James insists they are blue. I always thought they are green. Most people assume they are blue, as in blond hair/blue eyes. I seem to remember my optometrist telling me they are blue with gold flecks. Audrey has the most amazing bright blue eyes, so next to hers, mine look darker and more gray or green depending on how you see it. I think everyone else may have been as drunk as I was because I don't remember anyone coming up with an answer. After a lot of time quizzing the general population of Solvang, I still don't know what color my eyes really are. But the next day they were most assuredly red.
That didn't stop us from wine-tasting our way back and forth across the Valley, stopping only to pet the ostriches who wanted to eat my sweater. James and I made one more stop before heading back to LA: The Hitching Post for one more steak. And that is where I left my camera. hopefully they will mail it back since I'm not looking forward to making the 3 hour trek back anytime this week. John and Audrey headed up north and the Madonna Inn.
I can't wait to get my camera/pictures back. And to hear all about the crazy pink rooms at the Madonna.
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