Paso Robles.......I decided to visit Paso Robles rather than returning to Napa/Sonoma.  I have been to CA many times but never in the central part of the state.  So new experience with new wineries.  This picture is from Justin which is the far end of the wine country.  Very pleasant and very nice....but expensive.  I went to two other wineries close to town and enjoyed them also.  At the last one, I had a very pleasant young lady who was my hostess and she was a recent graduate of USC and earning all the money she could to pay off student debts.

One of my questions was why so many of the vineyards are on these very steep hills.  She explained that the land is basically limestone and the vines actually grow out of the rock.  The limestone provides needed minerals for growth and the steep hills forces the vines to work harder which increases the richness and taste of the grapes!  What a revelation for me and I thought it is not much different for people.  We need some challenges and difficult times to really grow and succeed.

I also asked Alexa where I could go for a nice steak in town,  as she has lived there her entire life, and she directed me to Fish Groto.  I went back to my room and after watching the news (very sad news yesterday) I went to the restaurant and headed for the bar for dinner.  I had ordered a glass of wine and suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder.  It was Alexa and she asked if she could join me for a glass of wine while she waited for friends.  We shared a glass and her friends showed up and invited me to join them.  I did decline but felt great all night when you are "hit on" by someone that could be the age of my grandkids!    Feels good for an old man!