Vineyards and Peggy Sue's 50's Diner

 We got a late start out of Sweetwater Lake Campground in Chula Vista but it wasn't a long drive up to Ramona. For the next 3 nights, we planned stays at Harvest Host locations. We joined this organization (along with Good Sam and KOA) before leaving Vermont. And it has been the best decision. They have over 2,000 wineries, breweries, farms, and other interesting members where you can stay one night free. After these 3 nights, we will have stayed 5 nights at wineries, 2 farms, 1 historic home, and a diner! All this for our $79 membership fee and of course, buying some wine, produce, breakfast, and a tour. But the best part has been an opportunity to meet and get to know our hosts and often, other guests at the location. 

The wine tasting location at Correcominos Vineyard in Ramona on the next morning after they 
closed up the tents. I should have taken one the night before. They let us plug in our computers
to charge them up. We have no electrical hookups for the next 5 nights.

Our first night was at the Correcominos Winery in Ramona. This small family-run vineyard produced some delightful wines. We chatted with the owners for a while during our wine tasting and then met a couple at the table next to us, who coincidently owned the very same model trailer as ourselves. They had only recently purchased it and enjoyed seeing all the improvements Scott has made to our's. They spent 20 years in Vanuatu, which was fascinating. 

The next morning we went into town and did some shopping. Our battery connection came loose and Scott needed a hardware store and I picked up some groceries. We enjoyed a walk along some back roads before packing up and leaving late morning.

Just one corner of the vast tasting set up at Akash Winery. 

Getting to our next location took much longer than expected. We chose to avoid highways and ended up driving up one mountain and down the other. It was a beautiful trip! This second night was also a Vineyard, but quite different. Akash Vineyard is a big operation. Temecula has back-to-back huge vineyards that host weddings and hundreds of wine tasters at a time. We shared the back parking lot with 2 other RVs and joined one couple for our wine tasting. Carl and Karen Newton became full-time in their beautiful Airstream about a year ago. They have been all over the country. It was a fun evening but the wine tasting cost twice as much as our previous night and we got 1/3 as much wine!

The next day we drove north to Silverwood State Park Recreation Area. We had lunch there and walked around the park, including a short hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, which goes through this area. From there we took the scenic longer route further north to Peggy Sue's 50's Diner, another Harvest Host member. Built in 1954 with 9 stools and 3 booths, it was bought and renovated by Peggy Sue and her husband Champ. Their extensive movie and record photos and memorabilia decorate every inch of the place, along with dummies of many famous singers and actors - and dinosaurs and King Kong! We had dinner and breakfast there (and ate another meal on the leftovers!) before heading north again to Death Valley.

On the way to Ramona from Chula Vista

On the way from Ramona to Temecula. The hairpin turns through the mountains didn't allow us 
any photos but when we went through the valleys, we could pull over and admire the orchards and
farms.

Greg and Jill at Correcaminos Vineyard

Carl and Karen at Akash Vineyard

The Marina at Silverwood Lake State Recreation
Area

Heather poses next to the signpost
on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Lake from a viewpoint on the road into the Park

The view from our trailer into the "Dinersaur
Park" behind Peggy Sue's 50's Diner

The original diner section - now there are lots
more rooms, including a Pizza Parlor

This sight greeted me in the Women's Room. It's
a dummy, Dummy. The second dummy is me as
I was startled and reported a man in the lady's room,
much to the amusement of the waitress!

We had dinner and breakfast here - good diner
food and plenty of it!