Day 4

We started the day in Brian’s honor by going to Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, which is good, because he didn’t get to do anything else he wanted today (he wanted to go to the Catholic Church and Point Reyes, but there wasn’t time)!

Unfortunately, because it’s July 4th, the bookstore at Grace Cathedral was closed (a big bummer for all of us!) However, there are two prayer-walk labyrinths there (one indoor and one outdoor -- check out the picture of Robert), as well as a number of icons, pieces of art and some AMAZING stained glass.

The streets in San Francisco were an additional challenge (we didn’t know EVERY street was a mountain)!! Brian was driving and Ryan was navigating and Johnny and Robert were taking pictures.

We stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf (again note the picture) and then crossed over the Golden Gate bridge. We took a brief side venture by turning west on the coast road (CA 1) and went out to Muir Beach. Johnny, Brian and Robert went out and stood in the water and called many of you while I drove around and around in this puny parking lot waiting for someone to come out.

Finally someone did, and I headed toward the beach, meeting the boys about halfway down as they were coming back to the car. Brian and I went down to the beach and took each other’s picture with the Pacific Ocean in the background.

Then it was off to Napa Valley (we were hoping for a vision of Tuscany, and it fell a little short) and did a wine tasting at the only winery we could find open on July 4th, the Madonna Estate winery. We took a taste of 6 wines (we got to keep the glass-a major bonus!), and we bought a couple of bottles of wine (which were more money than we wanted to pay).

Tomorrow we are hitting the Umpqua Valley Wine Region in Southern Oregon, where we are hoping the wines are cheaper to purchase and more distinctive in flavor than what we found in Napa Valley. Then it’s on to Portland, and Powells Books, Mount Hood and whatever else we find.

Everyone is fine -- including Robert, who sprained his ankle mildly yesterday at Yosemite. But, you can tell we’ve been on the road for several days as our patience levels are not as high as when we started. Pray that we can continue to be a team as we experience this beautiful country together.

We are driving North on I-5 as I type this and have decided to stay the night in Medford, OR! Have a GREAT Thursday!