What a wonderful weekend. It was the third annual Slow Bowl – a get together of friends who have met online at Slow Talk – the forum for Slow Travel. We all love to travel slowly – staying in one place for a week at a time and getting to know an area in depth.

We have been organizing get togethers or GTGs as we call them since the forum started in 2001. In February 2007, Shannon thought it would be good to have a GTG in the Paso Robles area during Super Bowl weekend. We could spend Saturday visiting a few wineries and Sunday watching the Super Bowl. We had a tremendous turnout the first year and have held it for three years.

We gathered on Friday and had a lasagna smack-down. The winner – a gorgeous porcini goat milk lasagna with home made noodles. Saturday, we met at 11:30 at Midnight Cellars for our first tasting. From here, we moved on to Jada Winery. A smaller group moved on to Adelaida Cellars. My favorite – Adelaida Cellars hands down. Not only was the server very knowledgeable but the wines were excellent.

Sunday, a few went to our group favorite, Castoro. One of the other moderators and I went down to Montana de Oro State Park for a quick bluff walk before returning to watch the bowl game.

Monday, it was time to leave. I took a leisurely drive back on a small backroad that ran parallel to Hwy 101. Highway 25 wound along through the San Benito hills which were lovely spring green. The day was sunny and warm. I didn’t want to leave.

I love spending the weekend getting to know my on-line friends. It is always great to take social networking ‘off-line’ and meet other Slow Travelers face to face. Friends, great food, wonderful wine, beautiful memories.

View of the wineries on the west side of Paso Robles