CAVERNOUS BEAUTY

Calaveras County has a series of underground venues-Mercer Cavern, Moaning Cavern and Cave City. Since Mercer is near Stevenot Vineyards, that was our first choice.
Mercer is a big cave and dates from 1865. The guided tour history is well done and fascinating when you review how Mercer and his friends went in on ropes with a candle for light, all of which is demonstrated.
Now stairs, (152 of them), platforms, and electric lighting, reveal the beauty of the formations. Mercer Cavern contains a rare formation that has a specimen housed in the Smithsonian. The place, in a word, gorgeous. Don't miss it if you travel to Murphys. Its only one of the reasons to love the motherlode

It was serendipity to meet Mike, the friendly, knowledgeable tasting room concierge. I've been here 31 years and still learned something new about wine. I love the Chardonnay and 2004 Cabernet. Mike found out about my friends, and our finding each other after sixty years. They found out it was his birthday, and serenaded him. So, of course we had to have a picture.
Can you tell we are having fun?

The lady at Upscale Resale in Murphys suggested we come to her store AFTER we went wine tasting. Love her sense of humor. And we did.

WINE COUNTRY CALAVERAS AND STOP LIGHTS

There used to be a bumper stick around that read: "Napa makes auto parts, Calaveras makes wine." Not nice but funny. Wineries were few, then. Liz Milliaire, then public information officer for Stevenot Winery, once said, "Bardon Stevenot hopes that anyone who visits Murphys can walk down the street and ask where Stevenot Winery is, and anyone in town can point out the directions." Holy Cow! Now you can't walk down Main St. Murphys without bumping into a tasting room.
What is equally nice is watching the vines green up, and fruit, and remind us what wonders wine has brought to Calaveras. Good restaurants, cottage boutiques and jobs. Calaveras is truly wine country now. An appelation renewed since the original vines were pulled during prohibition. The saying goes, 18 wineries, 3 stoplights. Don't ya' just love it.

HIBERNATION-HIDING FROM THE SNOW

Jim arrived late yesterday and we put the motorhome in hibernation. I didn't know a motorhome could hibernate but with snow predicted, we hastily drained tanks and insulated vents, etc. But my guy, he showed up in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. I tell ya, these follow the sun types haven't a clue. But my rover enjoyed a taste of Red Rover Prosecca by Stevenot Winery and we celebrated his arrival. Then, he admitted, he felt a bit cheated because the snow didn't show up as predicted. What I'm gonna do with this guy?? Actually he's my hero. He has promised to take care of me when I'm incapacitated by shoulder surgery. (He is clueless but I love him.)