On the Tuesday I accompanied Barry to Freemark Abbey and as I had done on the Saturday, reconnoitred the area after taking over the wheel. I decided to do a circular route via Crystal Springs Avenue and Deer Park drive over Howell Mountain to Pope Valley, driving along Chiles Pope Valley Road past Lake Hennessey, which is not far from Lake Berryessa,Monticello Dam and its bewildering Glory Hole, before rejoining the Silverado Trail. I drove past Freemark along Highway 128 to the upmarket Healdsburg, located in Sonoma County, where I had been previously in 2005, in the winter months. I put in $20's worth of gas and returned to pick up Barry at 17h00. En route I stopped in Calistoga for a sandwich, which filled the spot as a late lunch. The barbeque had been rescheduled for my last evening in Napa and Barry had invited step-daughter Olivia (engaged to be married) and Alesya.  Olivia played drums in a band for a scream metal band apparently, which I was told incorporated high-pitched rasping and other unfamiliar vocal techniques. Suffice to say I was impressed with the rhythm section of the band.

Wine farm at the junction of Sanitarium and Deer Park Roads, before taking the pass over Howell Mountain, Napa, California..

View across the valley on Howell Mountain Road, en route to Pope Valley.

Wine farm off Deer Park Road; Driving Chiles Pope Valley Road; Wine farm off Chiles Pope Valley Road (same stop).

Rolling hills and wine farms off Chiles Pope Valley Road, en route to Lake Hennessey.

Lake Hennessey; Wine farm near Calistoga, Napa Valley; The wine farm residence.

Wine farm off Highway 28, near Freemark Abbey, Napa Valley, where my good friend Barry works.

Barry took me to the bus terminus at 07h00 in time to board the airport bus at 08h00. I had enjoyed my stay and would certainly miss the old geezer!  The flight was at 13h30 from SFO airport, however, my name was called out at the check-in desk. To my great bur rather pleasant surprise, United Airlines had upgraded my ticket to business class, despite the flight being full. I found the air hostesses in business class extremely polite and friendly, who tend to be more senior and experienced than the rest of the cabin crew.  One, as it turned out, had been born in South Africa and had lived there till about 12 before relocating with her parents to the UK and Hong Kong.  She was married to an American and lived in Seattle. Just before we landed at Heathrow at 06h25 UK time, she kindly presented me with a complimentary 750ml bottle of Concannon Chardonnay, which I had been consuming on the flight. The wine hails from the central Californian coast, which is better known for its buttery Chardonnays. 

En route to Healdsburg in Sonoma Valley, just after Calistoga.

En route to Healdsburg; Wine farm near Healdsburg on Highway 28; Highway 28 - Lichen-carpeted trees.