A Blue Billed Duck - Still more Wine Tasting

 The last week of my month in Morro Bay began with a road trip south to Oso Flaco lake and Guadalupe- Nipomo Dunes NWR.

  What attracted me to Oso Flaco was the 4 mile long beach to the south and the 1/2 mile to the north. The south end is only easily accessible due to the width of the dunes from Oso Flaco. There are also other "entrances" to the south but you have to walk a mile or so over very large dunes to get to the ocean. At Oso Flaco, California Parks has built to walkways over the lake and the dunes, each around a mile long. A much easier slog.

 Oso Flaco Lake with the dunes in the background.

 Mary on the walkway where she spotted the Blue Billed Duck.

 

Male Ruddy Ducks, during the mating season, have a sky blue bill. I'd never seen any thing like it. I've added this link so that you can see it.

 https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/north-american-ruddy-duck/

 We made it to the beach overlook then went down a steep dune and began walking south. Because there as so few people on the beach there, there were tons of birds feeding in the surf. And I do mean tons. Sandpipers, Snowy Plovers and Herons.

  

Us on the deserted beach.

 

Since it was still early when we got back to the parking area, we decided to have some lunch in Avila Beach and take a drive over the mountains to Los Oscos Valley.

 

We had picked out a place called Fat Cats Cafe. First we went into town and walked around looking for it when I remembered seeing it on our first trip there on the same fishing dock that we had a beer and snacks at Mersea's.

 

I had a Seafood Philly (interesting) and Mary ordered a open face crab salad. One bite into it and Mary pulls out a piece of what looked like plastic. A second bite, same thing. She asked the waiter what it was and after talking with the cooks, said that it was crab cartilage or something and normal. Ruined Mary's lunch. She wouldn't be wanting crab for a while after that. However, the waiter did the right thing by apologizing and taking her meal off the bill.

 

We headed out of town via the See Canyon Road. It wound up thru the foothills eventually turning to dirt and then back to pavement. Once on top we were treated to awesome views of Los Oscos Valley from the Rock to San Luis Obispo. Very cool.

 

 The next day we returned to Paso Robles after our morning beach walks for a visit to Dark Star Cellars, a favorite of both of us for their Rhone blends.

 

As we were getting off the Old Creek Road, Mary found the address where a few years ago she and our friend Chris had spent a week in a house they rented. It was way more remote that I thought from hearing about it back then, but a great location for relaxation. She also brought up a winery that they had visited and loved the owner who worked in the tasting office.

 

So on our way back to Morro Bay, we found Rocky Creek Cellars and pulled in. It's kinda hard to find, but if you're out that way it's near where Hwy 41 meets Old Creek Road. 

 

We walked into the tasting room and no one was around so we just kinda looked around. Mary remarked that the decor had changed a bit but we were in the right place.

 

In walks a gentleman eating some sort of BBQ and said " I didn't hear you pull in".

 

Meet John Somogyi Jr., a Hungarian immigrant who owns the winery.

 

 

 John is a guy who, in my opinion, has had a incredible life. I believe he told us that he was 84 years old and still working everywhere in the winery. He has worked in the timber industry, owned and ran a ranch and now owns a winery. There were so many other jobs that I can't remember all of them.

 Rocky Creek Cellars hand picks all of their grapes unlike the bigger wineries. He recruits his family and workers and all their kids to get it done. They make 6 different single variety wines About a 1000 cases I think he said, sold only at the winery. We were happy to by a few bottles and support him. It was truly a gem of a find. Kudos to Mary for sharing it with me.

 If your ever around that area, please drop in and see him. You won't regret the effort.