A Castle on a Hill At Dusk

On my way home from Templeton to Paso Robles tonight, the sky was so beautiful and the field around the vineyards so green, I found a way to park and get some photos of those fields before they turn brown again.  I love the rural areas when they are so green. That only lasts as long as we get rain. This is usually the last month we get rain until fall or winter.

After I took the pictures here, I crossed the street to get some photos of the wineries. I want to share this one of Tooth and Nail Castle from a distance at dusk. When I'm at the castle or too close to it, I don't get the full effect of it being on top of the hill.

Tooth and Nail Winery used to be Eagle Castle, and although I have heard from some people that the wine wasn't much to rave about, the castle itself was something worth seeing. Not so much now. All the lovely antiques are gone, but you can still see them as they were in North San Luis Obispo County's Other Castle: A Pictorial Album. 

A Visit to the Tooth and Nail Winery Castle

Ever since Eagle Castle Winery Closed over a year ago, I had been waiting to see what it was destined to become. I finally found out on November 29, 2014, shortly after the Castle had reopened as Tooth and Nail Winery. Although the parking area and the entrance have been redesigned and changed a bit, it's still recognizable as the same old castle from the outside. To compare, see San Luis Obispo County's Other Castle, a Pictorial Album. It shows you what Eagle Castle was like inside and out. It includes a video tour of the castle interior as it was then.

The castle still has its moat. Here is a better view of it. You can click any photo to enlarge it.

When I was there last week , the clouds were putting on quite a sky show. So I was trying to get as many pictures of it as I could. That's one reason I wanted to go to the castle. It has great views from the second story veranda. I took this next shot from there. The view extends across Highway 46 West and all the way to the mountains.

Most visitors to the castle are more interested in the tasting room inside than the scenery outside. Since I don't drink wine, I'm an exception. That's why I don't attempt to review the wines themselves. But I can show you the tasting room. Since the castle changed hands, it looks a bit bare to me, since I remember how it used to be when it was filled with treasures to look at and to buy. Now there is only what most people come for -- the wine and a place to enjoy it, inside the tasting room or out on the veranda. Here is a group enjoying their wine in the tasting room.

There was also a group by the fireplace on the other end of the room and a few people at the counter. It was too cold for anyone to be outside on that late November day. I took the outside pictures on March 2, but it was still pretty cold. Below is how this corner looked when it was still Eagle Castle.

Old Farm Equipment Turns Ornamental

Paso Robles has many vineyards and small farms, often in close proximity. Arbor Road is one of those roads that has both. The same day I was following Kiler Canyon Road in quest of blooming almond trees, I also continued on to Arbor Road to get to Templeton.

The North end of Kiler Canyon is entered from Vine Street near the Marriott Hotel. After passing the almond trees and some small farms and vineyards, it veers off to the right and continues all the way to Peachy Canyon Road over a long dirt road though an old old forest with some amazing trees to be seen. You can see the photos I took on that part of the road in this article: Kiler Canyon Road, A Scenic Drive in Paso Robles.

If you turn left at the intersection of Kiler Canyon and Arbor road, you will also find yourself on a dirt road for a while, but it's a smooth dirt road. It was on this road I found the farm that's in this photo. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can read the lettering on the old wagon to see how this farmer uses it now to make a statement, or, perhaps, his prayer: "God Bless America."

Continue on this road a couple of more minutes and you will come to the paved portion that ends at West Highway 46, the door to the 46  Wine Country beside Summerwood Winery. To go from Vine Street to 46 West will take about twenty minutes -- if you don't stop to take pictures. It's a beautiful drive on a sunny day. If you are ever here, don't miss it.

Antique Corner in Paso Robles

Antique Dolls at Two Susans, © Barbara Radisavljevic

Most people think of shops on Spring Street when they are looking for antiques, but on a stroll down Pine Street one day in March, 2013, I discovered a row of antique shops on the corner of 14th Street and Pine. I was delighted at all that was available inside. I posted some photos about those shops then in my article, Downtown Paso Robles: An Insiders View. The photo above was taken at Two Susans Antique Store in 2013.

This week I went back to see what had changed in almost two years. In a word, everything. The merchandise in both The Cottage and Two Susans appeared to have completely turned over, and the proprietors confirmed that new items are always appearing to replace what has sold. I did notice, though, that there seemed to be less antiques this year and more simply nostalgic gift type items than when I was last there. The proprietors of both Two Susans and The Cottage stock their stores themselves. This photo shows their storefronts. You can click any photo to expand it.

The largest store in this row of antique stores, Reminisce,  is really more like a mall with separate booths managed by those who use the space. The storefront, or at least part of it, is pictured below. It is right on the corner of 14th Street and Pine.

Window of Reminisce Antique Shop Paso Robles,© Barbara Radisavljevic

Each display has its own character. I snapped a photo of this display which shows the average size of the spaces and how much can be displayed in each booth. I can't say this display is typical, since, of course, every display has unique items and its own character. Some are thematic and some are a bit more inclusive of just about anything that appealed to the curator.

I found the mailbox below in the corner of a neighboring booth. It appealed to me because I like unique mailboxes and because I'm a bookseller. So why would I not love this?

If you come to Paso Robles in search of unique items in an out of the way corner of downtown, be sure to visit these shops.