A few Montanas pulled out this morning. I guess those were the ones that had to go back to work. One of the representatives for Montanas was supposed to show up sometime during the Rally. He showed up today. He went from rig to rig answering questions and problems each rig had. We heard he had to leave by 2:00 PM and would not meet with us as a group. So about 1:00 we left and went to tour 2 more towns, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez.
We had several things planned to visit in these towns. We did not pay attention to the days and times they would be open. The places we had planned to tour were closed until closer to the weekend. So we just drove through the towns and then out in the beautiful countryside looking at the vineyards, farms and homes. As we were finished and ready to head back to Buellton and were just entering Highway 101 we saw a sign for Firestone Winery Adopt a Highway. That name sounded familiar. How and why do I know that name? At the same time Rick saw the real sign for the Firestone Winery and made a comment about it. Click-Click Click—my mind is working. Every season I watch The Bachelor on TV. Rick watched it the first season and now he only watches the last couple of shows of each season. I know FIRESTONE Winery from Andrew Firestone who was advertised as the rich bachelor on season 2003. The family used to own Firestone Tires.
Rick turned around and we drove out in the country to the winery. It was open and they had a beautiful tasting room. We went in and sampled 3 white and 3 red wines. Through a big picture window we could see a big, old white house across some vineyards while we were enjoying the wines. We asked if the family lived on their land and the girl pointed to the house we had been looking at during the wine tasting. As we were finishing up, Rick went to take some pictures. When he returned he told me to go check out a room with some photographs of the older generation of Firestones with Presidents and other dignitaries. While I was in there I heard Rick laughing and talking to someone. I came out and he introduces me to Kate Firestone who we figured was Andrews mother. As we were leaving we pulled over and let a dirty white Volvo pass us. It was the same lady we had talked to in the winery. We followed the car down to the main road and watched her turn into the Firestones driveway. It really was his mother. For a botched up planned day, it ended up being an unexpected entertaining experience.
Firestone Vineyard Entrance
Vinyard and Wine Tasting Room from Road
Firestone Home 
Room of Famous People
We returned to the RV Park and passed the clubhouse that we have been using for the Rally. They were having a meeting and we were missing it! So we parked and walked to the clubhouse to see what was going on there. The Montana rep. had decided (or been urged) to stay and held an impromptu gathering to improve the dialogue between owners and the factory regarding positive and negative feedback.
Another fun day.
WOW!! Was the wine good? That is the beauty of unscheduled, unhurried, unplanned travel–it is often the unexpected that turns out to be the most fun.
Don’t you think?
Sis