The bus at the Napa county fairgrounds in Calistoga. We scored a tree. I went biking around town and the vineyards today. It is late in the year the only vines with any grapes have raisins. Some of the vines still have some nice fall leaves.
I rode to Sterling vineyards. They have beautiful fall colors, roses and flowers. The beautiful blue sky and vineyards at Clos Pegase winery.
Sunset from the fairgrounds tonight. The basket is looking good. I love the colors. The small beads are clear with dichroic turquoise in them, so they are clear, flash bright blue and sometimes are purple or yellow. I had meant for this to be a kind of wide flat basket, but it seems to want to be a kind of taller round one so far.
The basket is really taking shape. I like the lines and colors in it. A side street in Calistoga, California on my bike ride today.
We went to Vincent Arroyo Winery today. It is an appointment only for tastings, also a mile and a half walk from the campground. They have their xmas lights up. Jeffery our bartender for the tastings. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The wine was wonderful. We got a bottle of the chardonnay which was $30 and the cheapest. One of the brewery dogs-they are the brewery ambassadors who are each very skilled winemaker's in their own right. They each make a signature lend each year. They welcome each and every opportunity to share their wines with the guests.
One of the Vincent Arroyo vineyards in sunset as we walked home. The road was closed on the way to the winery, the bridge was out. We had to climb over the barricade to be on time for our tasting appointment. On the way back we didn't care.
After the winery we went to the Calistoga Inn brewery and had brews and a dinner pear and blue cheese and some more things pizza for dinner. I finished the basket. I really like it. Most I don't like while I am making them, and many not even when they are done. But I really like this one. It is 11 x 6 inches. Glycerine, plain, purple and wine colored long leaf needles. I got the big purple beads on a necklace at the thrift store. The little blue ones are clear glass with dichroic bright blue inside. They and they and the rhinestones in the necklace flash light.
Redwoods and bare trees in the campground at sunset.
One more sunset from the campground.
We started out in Calistoga under foggy skies. We passed
through the east bay area, also in fog.
We passed ships and lots of industry. Then the fog burned off and the sun came
out. It is green and lovely. It only rains in the winter in California and when
it does the hills turn green. Downtown Tres Pinos, ranchland with rolling hills
and oak trees and a couple vineyards.
We stopped in Hollister for fuel. Topped off the tank with 47 gallons of
$4.04/gal diesel. The young man in front
of us filled up a couple tanks while we waited to go by him . Then his truck
would not start. We are waiting, he is futzing with his truck, no one else is
there to jump him. So we unhook our car from the back of the bus, jump him,
reattach the car and are on our way. Delayed us quite a while. Our destination is Pinnacles National
Park. The park is 2/3 of an ancient
volcano caldera among rolling oak covered hills. Huge pinnacles of rock tower
over the rest of the park. The park sits
on the San Andreas fault so the other 1/3 of the park is 195 miles southeast. here is the bus at the campground among oak trees.
We hiked 1/2 round trip to the Bacon ranch. The Bacons
ranched here from late 1800- early
1900's. They owned all the land that is now Pinnacles National Park. This is
their barn and inside of the garage. They had the first car in the valley. I
love these old oak trees. I grew up in the bay area in the rolling hills and
oaks. Reminds me of home.
Wild turkeys under the oak tree in fall color. Pinnacles
National park, oak leaves on the ground, Caution Due to an unusual number of
tree falls some campsites have been
closed for your safety. Don't park under trees.
deer and turkey under the oaks. Acorn woodpeckers drill these holes in
the trees and put acorns in them. They store them so that they can eat the bugs
that move into the acorns. Squirrels and blue jays steal some of the acorns and
eat them. California condors have been
reintroduced here. The photo shows a condor with a vulture. The condors have a
9 1/2 foot wingspan and are the largest birds in north America. The sliver new
moon with pink clouds.
Sunset was stunning from the campground.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.