Today is Saturday. Duh. I woke up early, which is very unpleasant when you have all morning to sleep. I woke up worrying about all sorts of things I can’t change, especially from my position in bed. So I got up.
I got the usual things done – pets, breakfast, coffee. I had a newspaper but Saturday’s paper is never any good. Now what?
Well, we have guests tonight. And party tomorrow. So that means today we clean. Because every gathering requires two cleanings. Before and after. Fun. And I clean up both times. Punished as if getting older is not enough. So, I mowed the lawn, emptied cat boxes, changing the other two beds, vacuum and mop. And straighten up. Emily did everything else. I am sure after I will need to go to the store. Because you have to buy crap if people show up. Yay.
Emily worked on the beef Wellington, which is a two day process. Each step looks easy, but there are lots of steps and each one must be perfect or, failure. She won’t accept that. And the rest of us thank her.
I did end up going to the store. Heavy cream and something else I have forgotten. I reminded Emily we were leaving early, for dinner in Port Costa, so we could wander around the stores there. When I say stores, there are 4 and all sell junk and old clothes. But you never know.
By 530 we were on our way. Smooth sailing with the top down. Beautiful early evening which got cold suddenly just east of the 37 exit where the land drops down toward the bay. Always cold there. Heater on. For those of you unfamiliar a convertible can be kept warm with the heater in spite of the top being down.
We cruised across the Al Zampa bridge at Carquinez and off 80 to the road along the shore of the SF Bay at Crockett. Though the tiny hamlet of Crockett into the rural area beyond. Funny thing is, Hwy 80 is now 3 miles behind you as the crow flies. There are 100k cars a day going by and here, a mere 3 miles alway I am alone on a twisty road along the water. Just us. 4 miles to Port Costa and all I saw were a few cattle. The first time through here, years ago, I felt like I had entered a foreign land full of aliens, just past the edge of civilization. But now, I know I have. It’s a little like Deliverance.
So, now, former factory town (C & H Sugar) of Port Costa. Small, few citizens, one main road in, Main Street 150’ long (really), and zero parking. I always find that strange. Funny thing, the only spot I found was on the street directly in front of where we were going. Like a birthday gift from the town.
We discovered that 2 of the 5 (oops) stores were closed. So we trolled what was open. No big. Fun to rummage through the crap they have. Gasp at the prices. Grope a few items. Have fun. Strangely, I found a mid century modern cutting board for a bartender. For cheap. So I bought it. I already have two but I may need a spare. I threw that in the trunk. We headed into the former hotel at the corner, next to the water. Inside is a cafe and a bar, The Warehouse. Our habit is to hang here and have drinks prior to going to the restaurant. Not a healthy habit, but so what.
I ordered a Manhattan, only whisky choice was JD or Jameson. Not really a choice but I did pick. Emily had the Mai Tai on the chalkboard, always on special, for 10$. Actually an ok mai tai. Not my fave type. My manhattan 7$ was ok. I wasn’t looking for perfect.
We got most of the way through our drinks, spending the time looking at he locals who obvs belong isolated out here, and Em’s sister Dee showed up. Was close to 8, had a reservation at 830 so we headed across the street to the Bull Valley Roadhouse. Their drinks are excellent and so is the food. Years back when I first dragged Emily out here, I wanted to try the Pre-prohibition cocktails. Turned out they were incredible. But, so was the food. So we come back as often as makes sense.
Today I am going off the diet. So when I sat I ordered a cocktail and the bread and butter. The cocktail is a bourbon whisky with a touch of sweetened lemon. A particular favorite. The bread, homemade with fancy butter. I ate half a loaf. I have not had carbs in a few weeks. Emily ordered a house cocktail that resembles an old fashion. Dee was being good on her diet and drank seltzer. Good for her. Great for me.
The rest of our party, two nephews and a girlfriend, got here about a half hour later.
And, Dee tells me she is paying cuz it’s my birthday. How nice. I really don’t order any differently but it is nice to get the nod on my day. Thanks Dee!!
We ordered up. All served family style sonyou miss nothing. And we sat and ate and chatted and shut down the restaurant. I did not notice the time passing. Very fun evening.
We went home. A lot different through there in the dark. It’s rural as hell so it’s black at night. The only lights are across the bay. But, also more fun to drive through. Last time here, we saw a red fox run up the road in front of us and a couple deer. Like I said before, right next to crowded civilization but still totally rural.
Got home in about 45 minutes, top up. Dee and one son are spending the night. Big breakfast in the morning. Should be fun. I sat down and fell asleep. Woke up and they were still getting settled. I went to bed. They can handle it.