We woke this morning to sunny skies over Puget Sound which is not a very common event. Generally, this part of Washington State sees plenty of rainfall and more than its fair share of gray, misty days. So the sunny skies also upped the temperature a bit so it was very comfortable for us southern folk.
We headed out after Jeff and Ivette fixed us a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and bagels. We faced a four hour drive which I knew would undoubtedly be five after several stops for gas, photo taking and just a leg stretch.
The boys were fooling around at one of the gas stops, thinking about buying a beat up camper.
It was amazing how the topography changed as we passed over the mountain range heading towards Lake Chelan.
After five hours through scenic countryside, we finally reached Lake Chelan.
I met my friend Judy when I was 14 years old in East Hampton, CT where our parents owned cottages on Lake Pocotopaug. We spent a lot of time together as teens and saw each other at times when we were grown. Judy came to my weddings; I went to her weddings. But she moved to the Northwest and I moved South. We figured it must have been almost 20 years since we last saw each other but time has not changed that bond we once had.
Judy and her husband Don run a fabulous winery called “A hard row to Hoe”. There’s a double meaning to that name and a history behind it. In the 1930’s a man ran a row boat taxi ferrying miners to a brothel located at Point Lovely on Lake Chelan.
Although I’m not a drinker, I did taste some grapes and also had a gala apple from their apple orchard. Judy explained the wine making process and some of the differences in the reds and whites.
After an enjoyable afternoon learning about wine making, we followed Judy back to her house. Thank goodness we were following her and it was still light out. We went 7 miles up a mountain with some crazy hairpin turns.
Judy and Don’s house, set atop a mountain, had breathtaking views. The house was a warm and welcoming abode with rustic timber beams.
We had a delicious dinner of ratatouille, steak and corn on the cob along with lively conversation and a great time with an old friend.
And for a few magical moments, I watched the moon rise above the mountains. What a wonderful day!
thefouramigosblog 