CAZADERO, CALIFORNIA
We were invited by one of our oldest friends to visit his parents' farm while he (and we ) were coming through California. It would only be a few hours out of our way so it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. And man was it worth it.
The road out to the farm was an 18% grade hill, which then turned into a one lane road—where we coincidentally came upon a concrete truck ( a bit sketchy) and had to squeeze off to the side so he could pass. I swear he missed the airstream by two inches. We'd lost any cell service by now and had passed two road signs warning off any RVs and trailers. But we kept going. The road eventually turned to a winding dirt road. And about nine miles after turning off the Pacific Coast Highway we were in heaven.
Our friend and his family parked us right in front of an olive tree grove. There were four sheep ( five by the time we left ), chickens, roosters, two grande cats and a really big dog. The weather was beautiful and we sat in the open courtyard outside the house.
The house was is built starting from two ship containers and then slowly adding on. There's a hay bale house on the property, some yurts, plenty of gardens —and it's all off the grid. They have solar power and store water on their own. There's tiles and art everywhere. It's a place that feels so much like home. And Italy. I couldn't stop comparing it to the places I've been in Italy.
Fantastic.
We drank whiskey and wine—wine from the family vineyard—and sat around the giant kitchen table to eat a big dinner. At night we fell asleep to the baying of the big dog as she slept with the chickens warning off coyotes. And in the morning we were up with the roosters. We took Pepe for a walk around the property, picked grapefruits as big as a head, toured the property and discovered the new baby lamb ( yes, I know that's redundant, but seriously a BABY lamb ).
Believe me when I tell you you that these people have something special. I almost think I could do this. And that's saying a lot for someone who admits to needing wifi wherever I go.
