Pausing in Paso Robles

We've come over the hills from Moro Bay and the ocean traveling easterly to Paso Robles in a rare and greatly appreciated rain storm.  It was not a significant amount of moisture, but they will take anything they can get out here.

Paso Robles is a nice stay where we settle into one of the premier parks we are able to enjoy in California during our work travels. The town itself specializes in vineyards with lots of focus on tasting rooms and wine related gift shops for the tourists who come here to experience the wine industry.  We've not had an opportunity to visit either this year, but nevertheless there have been some nice scenes to record here.  We also made a trip across Route 46 through an area we have never traveled through before to visit a park further east near Interstate-5 in a little town called Lost Hills. But more on that later...

The vines are just getting started along their wire rows winding their way over rolling hills like pinstripes.  The color and amount of the grape vine leaves varies depending upon the grape variety.  Some varieties put out much thicker foliage than others.  Some have very dark leaves while others are a very light green.  Looking at some of the wineries, I am reminded of a couple of Hollywood love stories that revolved around vineyards.  It is intriguing to imagine what it would be like to own and operate such an endeavor.  I suspect more work physically than I could complete at this age (well at least until I got into better shape.)

We heard the story of one vineyard here that has rewarded their workers with some vines of their own to cultivate and then from what they grow they produce their own wine for sale.  They are given the opportunity to sell their wine and any profits go toward a fund to cover their medical needs in an emergency.  The idea was born when one of the workers had a son who needed medical care for a heart defect.  Since then their employees have successfully marketed their wine creations building production each year.  It is a win-win for everyone involved.  Hurray for the owner who had the foresight to come up with a plan to protect those who are integral to his own business success.  Need I say more?  No, you can surmise the benefits to all who are involved.

We also passed an interesting, life size iron sculpture here of a stagecoach and horses.  We saw it in a horse pasture with a real horse standing next to it.  The photo we took doesn't show the real horse, but it is a nice example of what talented people here have created.  We toured a beautiful sculpture park here last year that I posted photos of in early May called "Sculptera" that you may recall.

On the way to Lost Hills, we saw come pretty terrain, a huge oil field, the almond trees of Pacific Almond and a blimp.  The latter was rather a surprise as it headed easterly above us.  Most people know that California produces 90% of the world's almond supply.  It is amazing to see them growing in almost desert-like conditions.  With a 25 percent mandatory reduction in irrigation, I have to wonder if the orchards will survive.  It is a sad proposition to think the abundant crops California traditionally produced may be curtailed or worse go away altogether.

 

Well, I am going to copy Snoopy and catch some sleep before tomorrow gets here and we hit the road for the next stop.  Check-in soon and we'll update you on the next few miles up the road as we head for Monterey and back on the coast by the end of the week.