Napa Holiday

It's not easy to get to Napa from Palo Alto but we made it, finally. One wrong turn sent us on a 30-minute detour (with not a little wailing and cursing, all courtesy of me). The worst part of the drive is up the East Bay corridor which sucks major lemons. I wish I could learn not to go cattywhumpus when I don't navigate directions correctly.

But we're here now at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford and the driving stress has leached out, we're getting mellow. Nothing to do, I'm sure, with the Schramsberg Blanc de Noir. In any case Jim was imbibing coffee and a tiny chocolate cake. The suite is all tarted up in Christmas fol-de-rol including sweet tree with fairy lights and ornaments. What fun, we haven't had a tree in ages. 

Tomorrow we'll be doing part of the Ritchey Canyon loop at Bothe-Napa State Park. http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ritchey-canyon-trail-and-coyote-peak. Assuming the rain isn't as heavy as predicted. Early dinner at Farmstead in St. Helena. Saturday, on the basis of the current sunny forecast, we are thinking of hanging at the well-heated pool and lollylagging with books and chess.