We got an emergency notification from Lisa. "Ethan is almost ready to walk", she said. When your Grandson is ready to walk, a Grand mom has to be there.  Besides it had been eight months since Marion had been to California.... All the pictures, and letters, and phone calls just don't do the job. Lisa was returning to work; a day care facility had been selected. All this needed to be checked out by Marion.  We were in the middle of upgrading the electronics on Remedy but that could wait.  "After all," I've learned to say, "we are on vacation."

Lisa and Duncan have a spacious three bedroom home in the foothills of the Sierra mountains about 30 miles East of Sacramento. The house is on several acres of mountainside, but they might as well lay claim to the whole valley of the Cosumnes River because their property abuts the Bureau of land management swath which borders the river. It's very peaceful, and you have to look real hard to see three other homes visible from their front porch.

We had plenty to do beside rocking on the front porch. Their small garden was full of cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, basil and oregano that needed harvesting. Marion and Lisa put up tomatoes and made a batch of pesto and lots of good Italian food. I did steaks on the grill one night and introduced them to Dancing Chickens on another.

Duncan and I tore down his trolling motor and replaced the water pump. We also installed a second phone line for their home office computer. They both work for the State of California and Lisa is able to work Fridays at home with the computer and Internet hookup.

I got the job of childproofing the cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom. Ethan was already into them. Let me tell you about Ethan. (I'm his step grandfather so my testimony is unbiased.) Ethan is the happiest baby I have ever met.... all smiles and happy goo goo talk. He only complains when there is a reason, like hungry or diaper. Then he shuts up when you get his message. He is not quite 9 months and is the size of a 20 month boy. He started to walk a few steps unsupported while we were there.
 

It's 49'ers Gold Rush country, and the new gold is Chardonnay from the nearby El Dorado County vineyards. We packed extra heavy, bringing some household stuff that would have gone to storage.  That would provide enough space in the luggage for a case of wine on the return trip.  Duncan and Lisa are expert on the local vineyards and lead us to their favorite. OakStone vineyard is over the middle fork of the river, and up the hill to Fairplay. Then a winding circle takes you by a half dozen wineries, and you are there.

Karen was our hostess, and she had us sample each of the dozen wines they make. All were good to excellent and we picked a case made up of Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanca.  Karen owes us her recipe for the spinach dip that goes so well with the tasting.
 

All great trips to California pass through San Francisco. Ours was no different.  We rented a car in Sacramento in the morning and drove to the waterfront in time for lunch at Neptune's Treasure on Pier 39. There were about 8 sailboats on the Bay. I would have expected more on this unusually warm and sunny day. Most were attempting a wing-on-wing as they sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and passed Alcatraz.  The traffic was a continuous stream of Bay tour boats that circled Alcatraz, and returned to Pier 39.

Afterwards we shot some pictures of the sea lions on the floating docks. They play king-of-the-float. The one to the left of the Pier 39 sign has successfully pushed two of his buddies off the dock. The one beyond the "King" went first, the second is in the water ready to vault back out. Once considered a nuisance by the Marina... they are now protected as a valuable tourist attraction.

We were worried about the traffic, so we rushed for the airplane. Even with circling the airport (by car) we made it in time... It was a great relaxing break from our boat preparations.