Temecula wine tasting

As Raya's visitation date approached Jennifer, Marla, and Raya began collecting wine tasting Groupons.  We spent one afternoon at Frangipani's and another at Longshadow.  Both of them have their perks.  What they both have in common is delicious wine and gorgeous locations.    

Frangipani (affectionately known as fancypanties) has boccee ball and a beneficial device called a wine thief. 

Longshadow has port in a chocolate boot and baby alpacas!  

Bloody Mary in a boat

For Father's Day this year we took my dad to one of his favorite places, Oceanside harbor, and rented an electric boat for a few hours.  I suppose its the least I could do since I won't be here to celebrate his birthday...

Yay to being a tourist in your own town. I even had a few Bloody Mary's before heading out.  

As it turns out Bloody Mary can't drive a bloody boat.  I don't know why anyone agreed to me being the captain, being that I have never commandeered a boat.  I mean, I did volunteer to do it and quickly jumped into the captains seat, but I wasn't asked to prove anything ability or credential-wise.  

I hope someone would stop me if I sat in the captain's seat of a plane, especially after drinking... but only time with tell.  

My dad had a fabulous time, as did everyone else.  We told cheesy Jungle Boat ride jokes, and ate Nothing Bundt Cake cupcakes... my dad loved it so much he wants to go back when I get home from my trip.  

I suppose we can do it for a belated birthday present... 

dang it.  I thought I was off the hook.

Look at all of these people I could have been mowing over if I was in charge.  

SUPing at the harbor is risky business.  

Tecate, MX

I heart Mexico.

Raya, Josh and I took a trip to Tecate for the day.  Tecate is unlike any border town that I have ever seen or heard of.  It is small and sleepy, and has so much character and history.  

Unlike many places deep in Latin America I do not have to fight to speak Spanish.  It is the best place to go for a taste of Mexico without a flight or long car ride.  

Now that I have explored on my own and with company over the past 8 months I have my set walking route of Tecate faves.   

La Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, built in 1955.

El Mejor Pan, a family owned bakery established in 1969.  

My museum, el Museo Comunitario de Tecate, a more recent addition.  

The Frank Lloyd Wright inspired railroad station built in 1915, a major contributor to the town thriving.   

Another major contributor to the success of Tecate since 1944, la cerveceria.

My absolute favorite taquería, Los Panchos.  

And finally, el parque Hidalgo.  I do not know when the park was constructed but I think the roots of this tree speak for the themselves.  

Loop to Taquitz Peak

There is no better way to kick off summer vacation than going on a long hike.  

Summer vacation!!  

And yelling summer vacation.   

 Lisa planned for us to hike 10.5 miles, starting at South Ridge trail then looping around via Devils Slide to Ernie Maxwell trail.  The total loop ended up being about 12 miles because the parking area at the end of Ernie Maxwell is over a mile away from the parking area at South Ridge, straight up.  I don't think we sweat at all until we were hiking back to the car at the end of the trip.  I think the best plan would be to park at the end of Ernie Maxwell and then hike to the South Ridge trail head from there, getting that part out of the way initially when it is cooler, but you live and you learn.   

There was an elderly couple staying at Taquitz Peak who invited us in to sign the guestbook.  Even though from the looks of this picture he had something more on his mind.

It is the only lookout tower in the area that is a 'hike in only'.  They said it isn't as quiet as you would think.  You can still hear cars, and people talking and laughing below, but the stars are incredible.  

I am not used to seeing snowplant in Southern California, because I do not usually hike at elevation.

  It just reminds me of hiking in Tahoe.  It is a mycoparasite, a parasite that lives off of fungus.  It is an interesting relationship as the snowplant lives off of the fungus which lives off of the tree.  The tree depends on the fungus for water and minerals, the fungus depends on the tree for sugars made during photosynthesis.  The snowplant takes advantage of their mutualistic relationship.