Days 5 & 6 in Cali Wine Country

Yesterday was fantastic! After Carmel I said our goodbyes with my bro and his family we headed out of L.A. on the Pacific Coast Highway touring through wine country. We stopped at Solvang (Danish Land) and San Ynez Valley for some incredible sights, smells, and (free)tastes. We settled down at beautiful Cachuma Lake Park Campgrounds ($6/night), where we blow up the air matress and laid out our sleeping bags. A toasty little fire and a starlit California sky was all we needed to slip away into a quiet slumber.

Friday morning I awoke to find Carmel already up and getting into her morning routine. I have been so impressed by how beautiful she is in everything she does. From all her little quarks I've witnessed while spending hours and hours in the long car ride, to her determination to keep the camp fire going, and her incredible spirit of life while climbing rock faces with me, she is absolutely amazing. After we took some quick pics by the lake, we headed out to Los Olivos to do some vineyard touring. What an awesome testament to God's beautiful creation! The extraordinary sight of the countless rows of grape vines, coupled with the enormity of the gigantic vats of fermenting juice at the winery were absolutely unforgettable.
After Los Olivos we went through Santa Luis Obiniso, and up to Paso, Robles. We've ended the night in King City, and plan on heading up through Montery to stay at my cousins place in San Jose tomorrow night.

Incase you're wondering why I mentioned (free)tasting and ($16 a night campsite), it's because funds are pretty tight right now. But it's OK. Actually, it's more than OK, the seminary in Portland called me today and said I was approved for an additional $1000 scholarship I applied for. I'm still about $3000 short on my tuition, but I know the LORD will provide. Please continue to pray for additional financial support to come in this week. God love you like crazy. Keep on a rockin'!
Life is good.

Check out some of the pics:

http://www.myspace.com/benmalick