Jack the Squirrel's Adventures in Washington Wine Country

Jack the Squirrel is one lucky squirrel.  His life started in some faraway land like Taiwan or China.  I'm sure he has plenty of great stories of his journey from said country to the United States, but he has yet to share those with me.  In time, I'm sure he'll open up.  Once in the US he found himself in a bin near the registers at one of the biggest and coolest REI's I've ever seen in Seattle, WA.  I was drawn to him immediately; me with my love of squirrels, he with his love of humans who love squirrels.  It was destiny.

Jack became our mascot for our road trip to wine country.  And, as luck would have it, he also really likes wine so he fit right in like a long-lost friend.

Sometimes Jack got to ride up front with Lisa and Dan and help navigate

Other times he just hung out

Our first stop of the day was Kestrel Winery in Yakima Valley.  Kestrel is actually a small falcon, so, rightfully so, Jack was a bit nervous about this stop.  Luckily, though, the wine was delicious and we did not encounter an actual kestrel.  It was a good start to our day.

Next we stopped for lunch at Wine o'Clock and enjoyed some pizza and some Bunnell Family wines.

 

Our next stop was Fidelitas Wines located on the slopes of Red Mountain.  This was Jack's favorite stop of the day.  We tasted a flight of Cabernet's that he fell in love with.  He did have to get a little assistance from Eric to pose for his photo, however.   

 

Our last stop of the day was at Kiona Vineyards.  At first, Jack was a little nervous because we saw the bed of what appeared to be a large dog.  But we soon learned that the dog was not there so Jack got comfy in his bed!

I don't care about no dog!

Jack enjoyed the Dry Reisling...we bought 4 bottles!

The next morning we headed down to Walla Walla.  Our first stop was in a cozy old farmhouse called Woodward Canyon.  The wine was exceptional and man doing the pouring was quite knowledgeable.  Another good start to our day.

Jack relying on Eric's height once again

Happy Jack!  After the tasting!

We finally arrived in Walla Walla after a beautiful drive through the countryside!  Our first stop ended up being one of our favorite stops of the entire trip...Charles Smith. The wine was delicious, the girls pouring knew how to pour, the music was rockin', the sun was shining.  Jack was happy as a squirrel who found a deserted picnic!

Yay for Charles Smith!

We eventually, begrudgingly, had to leave Charles Smith. But I'm happy to report that we found Rotie Cellars and more delicious wine!  Jack started feeling really good at this point and got a little more playful.

Here he is trying to check out the lovely lady's cleavage!

 

Here he found a bannister to run along like a tree branch...such a squirrel!

Our next stop of the afternoon was Kerloo Cellars where we found good wine and a fun gal pouring the wine!
 

Jack the Squirrel peeking out the Kerloo window

Our cute girl letting Jack take a ride on the Rose'

After Kerloo we went right next door to the quaint, family owned Maison Bleue where we got a table to ourselves to enjoy some lovely wine

Jack's smile got bigger and bigger (okay, I may have helped it along with a Sharpie)

Looking out the window of Maison Bleue

Finally, it was time to go camping!  Jack the Squirrel was in his element...outdoors, picnic, trees, wine, and good company.  No complaints!

Jack settled in to his camping chair and a glass of wine from Kiona

Cheese and crackers and his new DMB t-shirt!

The next day we visited Cave B Winery just up the road from the campground.  It was here that Jack felt most welcome, as they had a special squirrel section in their cave!!

Jack located this special squirrel table and made himself at home

He was promptly served a glass of wine

And Jack was in heaven...feeling like he really fit in here at Cave B

We ended the day drinking wine by the pond with old and new friends, listening to music and enjoying a perfect day.

Hanging out

Enjoying Phil's music, the beautiful surroundings, and some wine

Group photo

Since the trip, Jack has settled in nicely here in Phoenix.  He is looking forward to our trip to Napa next month with the girls.  Stay tuned...

"Life is complicated, stupid, confusing, and annoying.  Why couldn't I have been a squirrel?"
~author unknown


“To A Squirrel At Kyle-Na-No

Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I'd a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go.”
 ~W.B. Yeats

Meet Me In...Washington Wine Country!

Last weekend was one of the best of my life.  Eric and I met our friends, Lisa and Dan, in Seattle and from there we drove down to the wine regions of Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities, and Walla Walla.  The scenery was stunning, the wine was superb, and the memories we made will last forever.  On Saturday we drove up to the Gorge to see the Dave Matthews Band...our real reason for the trip.  We camped at Wildhorse Campground and made so many wonderful new friends in those two nights.  The people were so kind, the music was the best ever, and I survived camping!

Our first afternoon in Seattle we spent waterside eating oysters at Westward.  The nautical themed restaurant was so cute and the oysters were quite good!

Captains

Oyster bar

Beautiful view

Dan, Eric, and Lisa at the Westward oyster bar

Happy Girls!

These were really good...I'm not usually an oyster person

The hazards of being 6'5"

Cute LITTLE hotel...our key had a picture of Kurt Cobain on it

Staple and Fancy where we had dinner

The next day we got up and went to the three story REI in downtown Seattle to pick up our rented camping gear.  What a great store!  We were like kids in a candy store, but we finally made our way out and pointed our minivan in the direction of Yakima Valley.

On the drive from Seattle to Yakima Valley

Our first stop was at Kestrel Vinters and their wine was a delicious way to start the day

Our next stop was for lunch at Wine O'Clock which was run by the Bunnell Family Cellars.  We shared a couple of wood fired pizzas which were delicious!  We also each got a flight of wine and bought a couple of bottles to take with us.  Good stuff!

The Wine O'Clock cottage

My wine flight

Cheers!

The outdoor patio of Wine O'Clock

Our next stop was at Fidelitas Wines in the Red Mountains.  This winery had some big, bold cabs that were delicious!  And their surroundings weren't awful, either!

Their wall of wine

Clouds reflected on the table inside Fedelitas

The 'unfortunate' view

Fidelitas grapes

That evening we had a lovely dinner at J. Bookwalter where we, again, enjoyed a beautiful view, good wine, great music, and friendship.  The following morning we left our hotel and started off toward Walla Walla.  Our first stop was at a small farmhouse winery called Woodward Canyon Winery...one of the oldest in the region.

Woodward Canyon Winery tasting room

The backyard of Woodward Canyon Winery

Eventually we arrived at downtown Walla Walla.  It is full of wine tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops.  Our first stop after finding parking was at Charles Smith.  I think this is my favorite tasting room we visited on our trip.  The wine was good, the atmosphere was fun and young, the music was awesome, the girls pouring the wines were sweet and knowledgeable.  We were all quite happy at Charles Smith!

Large warehouse space of Charles Smith tasting room...and Lisa wants that table!

Tasting

Eventually we pulled ourselves away from Charles Smith to grab some lunch.  And then we headed to Rotie Cellars.  We enjoyed some wine and some laughs in Rotie and the owner's wife enjoyed us so much she waived our tasting fee!  Fun times!

Rotie Cellars

A new friend I made at Rotie

Stay tuned for the story of Jack the Squirrel!

Before leaving Walla Walla for our hotel we made stops at Kerloo Cellars, Maison Bleue, and a cute little cheese shop / gourmet grocery called Salumiere Cesario.

Kerloo is the call of the crane...oh, and good wine!

Interior of Maison Bleue

FINALLY, Saturday arrived!  It was my Labor Dave Weekend!  We set up camp at the awesome Wildhorse Campground and made new friends with our fellow campers immediately!  Walking around the campground you could see the joy and happiness all around.  It was a beautiful day!

Columbia River

Wild Horses Monument

Our campsite

This is how we camp!

Wine, cheese, and meat from our wine country travels

Wonderwomen and Boyd Tinsley!  LOL

Okay, they may have us beat!  Nice!

They've got their Tight Pants on!

Doing their Tight Pants dance (these guys are married to the Wonderwomen)

And they carried around a yummy watermelon cocktail bowl!

She walked by just before this shot in just her bikini and said "I hate when I can't find my one-piece fishnet body stocking."  Who doesn't?!

Fun on the big ball!

And then the concert!  Walking into the Gorge for the first time...any time...is breathtaking.  I just wish I could have taken in my DSLR.

The Gorge

Yeah!  We made it!

And we found a giant cock!

The lovely and talented Brandi Carlile opened for Dave and the boys.

The sky during Brandi's show

And then the reason for the trip, The Dave Matthews Band.  Special guests on stage included Brandi, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and The Lovely Ladies!

David J. Matthews

Stefan Lessard

Boyd Tinsley

Brandi and Dave

Day 2 of camping we enjoyed outdoor showers and then hopped in the minivan to go right up the road to Cave B Winery.  This winery had one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen.  The wine was not as good as what we enjoyed previously on the trip, but it wasn't bad!  And it just so happened that Dave and the band were staying at the Inn on the estate.

The buildings off to the right are where the band stayed

Don't know what's prettier, the view or the lovely Lisa!

Wind turbines

We met a group of people who were jamming to some DMB on the guitar and we sat by the lake and enjoyed a perfect Sunday with new friends and old sharing Cave B wine!  Oh...and during this time I met Dave Matthews!!

This couple got engaged over the weekend!  So sweet.

Dave signing my arm!

So happy!

My good friend, Phil, found us chilling and joined us!

And he borrows the guitar and begins to jam...who knew?!

A wonderful day indeed, followed by another great concert that night. I could do that weekend over and over and over again.  However, on Monday it was time to get back to Seattle, return our gear to REI, have dinner, and fly home.  It was another beautiful evening in Seattle before flying out, which made it all the more difficult to leave.

The seagull on the balcony of our room

Dan made fast friends with him by feeding him!

View from the room

We rarely get clouds like this in Phoenix!!  Beautiful!

This was a trip that will be remembered always and forever!  Good friends, good wine, good music, and the beautiful surroundings of Washington.  We are blessed.

“Troubles, they may come and go, but good times, they're the gold.”
― Dave Matthews Band

“Celebrate we will, because life is short but sweet for certain”
― Dave Matthews Band

“Turns out, not where, but who you're with that really matters.”
― Dave Matthews Band