No, the end of the road is the moniker attached to friend Phil Johnson's spread in Carmel Valley located at the end of the road. Phil's an accomplished architect and has over the past 10 years of hard work (he formed his own adobe bricks on site!) renovated a gorgeous home on a spectacular piece of property with 500 year old oak trees scattered throughout. One of them recently died and through his careful research could only assume that it died of old age! Hell, 500 years is a good run I'd say.
We spent the day sampling the local grape juice and came away with some tasty treats and had a great time sitting and laughing with Phil under those magnificent oaks and enjoying each others company.
And Al Barnes, we are on the lookout for some of that Hahn Chardonnay you were so fond of, we'll find it and toast to you my friend.
Phil, we had a ball and enjoyed your company! Debbie really enjoyed getting to know you and hopes that we can get together again soon. What a fantastic way to start the trip - thank you very much my friend!
OK, so you guys want to talk old ass trees? Stay tuned.......
Phil Oaks also has Caesar, a majestic 120 lb shepherd (a sweetheart like his owner), deer on every street corner(much like the tasting rooms) an alligator (scared the s#@% out of me) & a visiting bobcat. E coupon ride!
ReplyDeleteNotice the excellent job of parking within the cones that Howard pulled off with the Blue Whale! Their comments make it sound like they were on vacation, however it should be clear that Howard worked very hard with the golf club at blasting the dogs tennis ball through the obstacle course in the corral and mapping out the neighborhood long before anyone else wakes up, while Debbie struggled to answer the age old question, "exactly which IS the best Tequilla". Others of us here were enlisted in that quest, for which we will need to take a few days off as they ride into the sunset, resting up for the return leg. Have a great time guys, may great weather follow you all the way. - Phil
ReplyDeleteCheers to that Phil. We had a ball visiting with you and thanks very much for your hospitality and friendship.
DeleteAs a very frequent guest of Phil Oaks RV Park and Swinging Bachelor Pad (I say this as the only female that visits regularly), I concur with Howard and Debbie that Phil is the "Host with the Most." It was wonderful to meet the Alaska bound adventurers. Look forward to your return and more Tequila Taste testing. Tavvauvusi. (Tav-a-oov-oo-see) that is Good Bye in Inuit. I couldn't find a translation for Bon Voyage. Christine
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well wishes Christine. We really enjoyed hanging with you and Michael. We'll do it again soon, take care and thanks for the crash course in conversational Inuit!
DeleteSo cool! Great start to the trip of a lifetime! Love you birds-sclo
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue. Can't wait for the meet up in July - it'll be here before we know it. Love you, see you soon.
Deletetequila and pre-dawn neighborhood mapping.
ReplyDeleteHowie and Deb are officially vacationing!
Tequila was more of Mom's bag baby. I was on the whiskey taste testing crew, very nice! The neighborhood mapping detail was quite a stroll...vacation indeed!
DeleteYou had me at tequila.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at tequila.
ReplyDelete