Calistoga! It took over eight hours to drive there - and it felt like it! We had the roof down, which we think was a mistake. Nice when we arrived, though. Keith and Amanda arrived just as we got back from buying breakfast goodies at the excellent supermarket at the end of the road. It was lovely to see them and to catch up on events - including seeing pictures of Bruce's wedding in Australia. Looked like a good Trickett bash.

Calistoga hasn't changed much in two years. We ate a lot, drank a lot and generally enjoyed it. More about the wine later. We are staying at Hideaway Cottages, where we stayed two years ago. It is comfortable, old fashioned and must be one of the last US hotels not to be on the internet!

We revisited the Sharpsteen Museum. Sharpsteen was one of Disney's right hand men before he upped to Calistoga and built the local museum, using many of the techniques he had perfected as a Disney Imagineer. The story of Calistoga is a good one. It was founded in the 1840s as a spa and resort town. The name came from the founder, Sam Brannan, who wanted it to be 'the Saratoga of California' - but, since he was fond of a drop or two, it came out as Calistoga!