Apples, apples, apples, and, oh yes - Apple cider!

Wednesday, 26 September.  Laren and Teena drove out to our TT Ponderosa campground today to get a “tour” of our Winnebago Journey 35-ft motorhome.  After providing them the royal tour, we all headed into Placerville for some sightseeing in this historic California Gold Rush town – and to find some a place for a bit of lunch.  Laren and Teena suggested we hit the local hardware store first, since it’s one of those places that has just about everything – and boy, were they right.  We wandered up and down the aisles for a good 30 minutes, thoroughly enjoying looking at all the goods/merchandise offered for sale.  Once Teena bought a couple things she just couldn’t do without, we decided it was time for that lunch.  We found a nice deli-style café just off the main street where we all had some great sandwiches; I should say HUGE sandwiches.  While Laren managed to woof down his whole sandwich (little piggy), the rest of us took half of ours with us to eat later.  Great little deli, can’t remember the name, but it’s right off the main drag in Placerville.

After lunch we then headed out to Apple Hill for some more sightseeing and to maybe buy some apples or other fruits grown in this area. Apple Hill is located in the western Sierra Foothills in El Dorado County, just an hour’s drive from downtown Sacramento.  Just a few minutes from Placerville, Apple Hill was once a fledgling association comprised of 16 original ranches. Today it boasts more than 50 ranches including Christmas tree growers, wineries, a micro-brewery, a couple spas and several vineyards. And the fruit ranches here produce some of the best apple ciders I’ve ever tasted – and remember, I grew up in the Yakima Valley, one of the best apple-producing regions in the world.  There are numerous websites available on Apple Hill – here are a couple of the better ones: http://sacramento.about.com/od/traveltourism/a/applehill.html and http://www.applehill.com/site/guides.html. Once we had fully sated our appetites by sampling several apple varieties and some of the most delicious apple cider I’ve ever tasted, we headed back to the TT Ponderosa campground where I grilled burgers for everyone.  We ended the day dining outside listening to the nearby rapids of the South Fork of the American River – and thoroughly enjoying the family camaraderie with my brother and his wife.

Laren, Teena, and some orange-colored "friend" of theirs! 

Teena, Lynette and the "Apple Hill Gang"