It's been sunny but blowing like stink the past two days. We took that time to get engine work done for the last step down the coast. We changed oil and filter, changed transmission fluid, added oil to various oil-needing-items, and restocked things that we needed. When we do leave on Sunday, I think we'll be set for the rest of the trip.

Our dear friends, Holly McLean, husband Richard, and daughter Emma, plan to drop by on Sunday, after which we will leave scenic Newport, weather permitting.

Today, we rented a car, and after completing some re-stocking tasks, drove to Corvallis to meet up with friends of the Galins, the Esterlings, who own a vineyard just outside Corvallis. What a lovely place! Their home is beautiful, by their design, and their vines are also lovely. They predominantly grow Pinot Noir, but some Pinot Gris as well. They sell their grapes to Spindrift Cellars to produce the wine (http://www.spindriftcellars.com/) Bob and Kim Esterling were delightful hosts and Bob was, apparently, interested in Physics: needless to say, he won over Bill's heart! In addition, both are mechanics and "can do" people so they got along famously. Conni and Kim also meshed well.

We'll have cocktails and champagne with our Canadian friends, Doug and Lynn. How much fun! They're celebrating their first ocean passage and we're glad to help.

Tomorrow, Holly, Richard, and Emma arrive, we hope. We're not sure what we'll do but the five of us lived at our house for many days and know that we're completely compatible. Can't wait!

We arrived in Corvallis a bit early, so we found a local winery, Springhill Winery (http://www.springhillcellars.com/). The owner came strolling out of his house carrying two boxes of glasses (which Bill helped carry) and we had him and his excellent wine to ourselves. They make great Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Owner and winemaker Mike McLain has also started making a fine Port as well. We purchased a few bottles for ourselves. Mike and his wife Karen started making wine from estate-grown grapes in 1988, some of the first Oregon Pinot growers in the Willamette valley. He's an interesting person and a true visionary. In 1976, when he started thinking about growing grapes, no one thought that Oregon was a possible site for it.