vineyard autumn

on saturday, kelsey and i woke up early and drove north for a bike ride through the sonoma vineyards.

it was a really stupendous day. i just cannot get over those gorgeous rows of foliage, gilded under the slanty autumn sunshine. a napa/sonoma bike ride in the fall is something i have done every single november since i moved to northern california {2010 / 2011 / 2012}, and it’s just the best (i daresay vineyard autumn competes with mountain autumn!).

this is me saying, “can you believe how magnificent this day is??” we enjoyed splendidly perfect weather.
we went down some random dirt road and found the most amazing untouched spot – we were seriously stunned. it was incredibly peaceful and outrageously beautiful.
  
after our ride, we drove up sonoma highway to have a picnic in the gardens at the st. jean chateau winery. 
and stopped at another winery that also had an olive tree grove and olive oil tasting.

 

we ate dinner at a celebrated restaurant in the town of sonoma called the girl and the fig. the food was very california fresh and super tasty.

and then we drove back to the city, blasting beautiful music, as the sun set. of course we had to stop at the lookout point in the marin headlands to soak in the perfectly clear view of the bridge and the city, as well as the full moon moonlight on the bay. i’ve never been in that spot without being really cold and nearly blown over by the wind – but saturday night it was so calm and pristine and perfect. we just watched the bridge glow and the city glimmer for a while.

wow! the world is deliciously beautiful.