Friday, August 22, 2014

Tahoe Bound....

Randy, Jan, Terry and I at Findleton's Estate Winery on the way up to Lake Tahoe.  What better way to make the trip up except to stop by for some wine tasting?

After packing up the vehicle with necessities for our four night stay at South Lake Tahoe, we made a leisurely trip up through Apple Hill.  It is located in the western Sierra Foothills in El Dorado County on US 50.  There are fruit orchards (many variety of apples--hence the name), tree farms, breweries and wineries.  We stopped at one of the farmer's markets to check out what they had to offer.  Jan and I tasted some of the fresh jams, oils and vinegar, while the guys checked out the produce.  It was a beautiful drive with rolling fields of grape vines and other produce growing on either side of the winding roads.

 Randy and Terry chat with the server (Eldon) from Findleton Estate Vineyard and Winery.  Wooden barrels decorate the place, as well as artwork from the owner's wife, Pamela.  She also designs the labels for their wines.
Eldon and winery owner Tom (black and white shirt), serve us one of their 14 varieties of wine.  It is a family run vineyard, with their five grown children being involved as well. 
So of course, we had to add our names to the ceiling!! The ceiling was covered with others who have visited their winery.  Randy and Jan are members of their wine club....and so you know that we had to join as well!! If you want to check them out online, just go to

Next up...we walked next door to the Illuminare Winery.  Owners Aaron and Cherie Hill fell in love with the area and scenery in El Dorado County when on a trip from Alaska...and that's how it all began.  We enjoyed tasting their unique and flavorful wines, especially the Pinotage.  Cherie was our hostess for this day of tasting, and her assistant was their five-year-old son, Chase.  I had fun sharing silly pictures with him...I am sure that his mom wondered why there were crazy pictures of me on her phone later that night.  Here are the ones I got of him...


He was quite a character!  His giggle was precious and contagious....and so of course, we had to join this wine club as well!  If you want to check them out more...


Some of the scenery as we traveled to Tahoe. Oh...by the way...we were not traveling on the Harley this time.  Randy drove his truck, and Jan organized food and supplies for the four nights we were going to be in Tahoe.  They were quite experienced at preparing and organizing for these expeditions!

Breathtaking views...
Terry trying to figure out his phone....just kidding!!  It is impossible to be surrounded by all of God's natural artwork and not snap a few photos.
Stopping to take pictures as we leisurely made our way to South Tahoe.  

 You can see so many different land forms as you travel the California highways.

We finally settled into the condo that we would call home for four nights in South Tahoe.  The view of the mountains from the deck with the sun preparing to disappear for this Saturday evening. (these two photos courtesy of Randy Beckman)
 The view of Lake Tahoe from our deck. So relaxing...and so amazing to finally see Lake Tahoe.  It was a place that I had never been to but had always wanted to see---a lifetime dream come true!  
The wines that we picked up from the two wineries that we stopped at on the way up....Jan was wondering how we would get them all back to Oklahoma on the Harley....let's just say that not all of these seven bottles made the trip back down from Tahoe!!  

Join me for the next installment as we travel all the way around Lake Tahoe...and find some yummy places to feed our faces!! Enjoy!!

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