The cities of Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff are all in the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian and American Rockies are part of the same 4000-mile mountain system, the  North American Cordillera,  stretching from Alaska to Mexico. Well, many say the American Cordillera has end points in Alaska and the Antarctic, and is 8300 miles long. The peak was Denali at 20,301 feet, but President Trump reversed the name back to Mount McKinley, even though he never visited this site. However, Mount Acondagua in South America rises to a peak of 22,841 feet, and is thus even taller. There is a lot of confusion here, for some say the Rocky Mountains extend for 3000 miles, from the northernmost part of British Columbia and Alberta down to New Mexico, and what is a cordillera anyway. Similarly, there is such a thing as the  Continental Divide of the Americas . This too is somewhat complex. There is one long vertical one for North America, with assorter others, depending on where the water goes....

This was one of the most memorable days for all of us.  A story surely from fiction, but true and real. More decor from our hotel, plus, outside, olive trees and olives. Then, a short drive to Daou for Petite Sirah and lunch. The surroundings were colorful and tranquil With Linda and Joanne under an umbrella with a spectacular view of the vineyard. These were the wines.  No Petit Sirah! Our shared appetizers. There was also a fish dish.  BUT NO PETITE SIRAH. Then a walk through the grounds. At this point, we had still not any tasting of Petite Sirah, and not even a grape on a vine. We then drove into downtown Paso Robles, walked around and had beer with mezcal and a beef taco. Then came the magic of serendipity.  It would take a long story to get to the point of stumbling into a tasting room of Vino Juan.  Here is Juan himself doing the pouring, for the staff member who was supposed to be doing this got ill, and only he was available.  Most important of all...