Wednesday Sojourn

Wednesday Sojourn - June 18, 2008.
We push off from Quail Creek at 12:05 pm, headed for the Monticello Winery in the beautiful Napa Valley. Aboard are our esteemed driver, Tony, and his co-pilot, and our Hostess, Kelli. Also, there are six residents belted-in the rear of the coach - plus a motorized wheel chair, walkers and a large - wheeled -picnic ice chest.
We enter I-80 Westbound. I know that it is I-80 because of the bumpy ride - even though Tony has moved over two lanes to the left and selected the No. 2 lane - the smoothest. This freeway has been scheduled for resurfacing for as long as I can remember. Apparently, the Solano Transportation Authority and Cal Trans have agreed on a plan, and the repair work has been scheduled.
I notice a truck sitting in the emergency lane. I assume that he is having a mechanical problem - but again, he may be inspecting his load prior to entering the Truck Scales, in Cordelia, up ahead. The vibrations feel familiar, as I was riding on the same stretch yesterday - to and from Kaiser in Vallejo.
I see two white horses, keeping each other company, grazing in the noon- day sun. Next I notice a herd of black cattle descending down the path on a golden-brown hillside. I couldn’t help but wonder how they choose their leader. And, how does the leader make the decision to move on to more fertile grazing - and where?
Now, we are traveling through Jamison Canyon westbound on Highway 12. This road has a treacherous history of fatal auto accidents. They have started a widening project, with all the earth moving -equipment parked nearby. Surprised to see many new vineyards along the way. We pass the entrance to the Chardonnay golf course on our left. We make a right turn at the traffic signal and are now heading northbound on Highway 29 - between Vallejo and Napa. A Lafitte cork facility on the right. I probably noticed this because the Lafitte family is one of the French Huguenot families that were affiliated with my French ancestors back in 1685.
I notice a roadside sign that sys that employees of Genova Deli in Napa are providing clean-up for this stretch of Highway 29. If their cleanup matches the quality of their deli, it will be most satisfactory. I see many TV antennae dishes down in the flats below the freeway. Next, I notice some new housing along the highway, in the area of the Senior Housing - Atrium, that I had never seen before. This section of highway has deteriorated quite a bit since I last traveled it. The makers of this mini-bus could use both I-80, and highway 29, as proving grounds to test the road ability of their busses. A big improvement at the Trancas and Highway 29 intersection, for through traffic. No more sitting for long periods waiting for the traffic signal to cycle at this intersection.
Tony turns off Highway 29 on to Eastbound Oak Knoll. A short drive over to Big Ranch Road. This area brings back many pleasant memories of when we used to drive to the area and cut down our “living” Christmas trees. Each of our five daughters would pick out their favorite shaped-tree, and stand by it, until the family could vote on which one we should cut down. This was one of my favorite family outings, and I always looked forward to this event.
A pretty drive along Oak Knoll Avenue - healthy looking vineyards on both sides of the road. I can see Atlas Peak in the distance as we turn right on to Big Ranch Road. Very majestic standing there. It monopolizes the panorama as does Mt. Diablo to the south. A short drive and Tony makes a left turn into the Monticello Winery parking lot. We off-load about 12:55 pm.
We settled on a picnic table in a shady-grass covered area, and plunked down on two of the benches. It wasn’t long before a large (overweight) black male lab came lumbering up the walk, to check us out. He must have sensed (or smelled) the ingredients in the ice chest. He patiently laid there until we started eating. Then, he got up looking for his “serving”. When there was no more offerings, he left us, patrolling other parts of the property. While it was a warm afternoon, there was a pleasant little breeze blowing through the olive trees. It reminded me of the trade wind in Hawaii.
Kelli “packed” a very nice lunch - wrap sandwiches, potato salad, delicious fresh strawberries and seedless purple grapes, and brownie cupcakes for dessert.
After lunch, we turned our attention to wine tasting. The tasting fee was $15 per person! While this dates me, I can remember when wine tasting (and occasionally hors doevres) were free! So Kelli suggested that we all chip in and buy a bottle of wine and split the cost, and price, of the wine - which we did. This was a good idea. While we got to taste only a single wine, the $3.50 price was right. Kelli poured the Corley Family Chardonnay into our empty 8 ounce water bottles. After a short toast, we “tasted”. The small bottles had an attractive shape. Tony mentioned that they looked like an inverted wine glass - which they did. He said that we could cut out the bottoms of the bottles and have a wine glass. This was a good idea, but it would have delayed our sipping.
There was a building on the property, modeling President Jefferson’s home in Monticello, Virginia. Marie and I had visited his home, so I walked up to the tasting room in hopes that they had a gift shop with a post card of this replica. They did not, and I was disappointed.
“All aboard” at 3:15, and we are off on our return leg. Lots of truck traffic through Jamison Canyon, but Tony made good time. The travel time - 50 minutes - was the same each way! Very interesting. We arrived back at Quail Creek at 4:05pm. - tired but refreshed.
Ray L’Amoreaux
June 21, 2008.