Wednesday Outing

Wednesday Outing - January 14, 2009.
We left Quail Creek at 10:45 Am, and headed for the Napa Valley. Tony was the driver of our Q.C. mini-bus, and Kelli was our hostess and navigator. There were seven of us seat-belted in the back.
As we headed along Paradise Valley Drive, I could see that the cable-laying crew are back - digging up the roadway to lay their cable. They were working on the other side of the road, a couple of weeks ago. They left and I presumed that the job was finished. So, more one way-controlled traffic in the area. A gasoline price of 199 and 9/10 was posted at the Arco station.
As we passed over I-80, I noticed that the traffic, down below, was lighter than usual. The weather is clear and cool with hazy visibility. We merge on to I-80 Westbound. There is major construction alongside the freeway, that will eventually link Highway 12, running east and west of the freeway. More men and equipment working on the new diamond lane between the eastbound and westbound directions of I-80.
We are now riding on the new section of Highway 12 heading west. This is the first that I have seen the new improvement. Cal-Trans has added about a mile section of an additional lane. This lane will be used by trucks which are plodding along going up the grade. Before this additional lane improvement, the trucks were chugging along interspersed with the cars, and clogging travel. In the early morning, before the improvement, the traffic feeding Highway 12 - Westbound - could be backed up on I-80 almost to the truck station.
Driving through Jamison Canyon, I noticed a young Christmas tree farm out the right side. There is more east bound traffic, than west bound. Probably this evening, this traffic pattern will be reversed. Now, there is only a single lane in each direction. There is a big need to add an additional lane, But, with all transportation needs, funding is always in short supply.
There are many young vineyards on both sides of the road. They weren’t here the last time I was on this highway.
We turn right, at the signal, from 12 onto 29. There are a lot of trucks on the road. All of this activity doesn’t translate into our current economic recession. We are passing Syars building materials plant. The recession must have slowed down their business. The Napa Community College is coming up on our left side. The Napa State Hospital, which houses mentally ill patients, is on the right. It is a very large facility,
The Raley’s Center, is off to our left, before our exit to Silverado Trail. I notice a 7-Eleven on the right. The reason this is significant is because many years ago, I was with my oldest daughter Anne, when she picked up her grandson Jobey (my great-grandson) at Mt. George elementary school. She drove to this 7-Eleven store so she could treat him to a cold drink. This was her daily routine.
Still on Silverado Trail heading north. There are many fields of grape vines - about a third way through their growing cycle. This Napa Valley is a very beautiful area - and valuable! There are about 400 wineries now in the Napa Valley, If you bought in to one of these wineries you can expect to pay $150,000 - $250, 000 an acre. I got this figure from Bill Hanna, who has a vineyard in the area. I asked him why the large spread in price. He said that it depends on the total acreage , the location and the availability of water for the required drip irrigation system.
We hadn’t traveled far up the Trail, when we turned in to The Black Stallion Winery - our destination. It is now 11:25. Cathy Cough, was our hostess at the winery, and she added a lot to our visit. She said that their particular location used to be an Equestrian Center. I had been there with Anne, as she used to board her horse there, plus took lessons in dressage. She also purchased a horse for our grandkids to ride. No wonder I had a feeling of déjà vu! The winery opened to the public in July 2007. Both the life -size sculpture of the Black Stallion, in action, at the entrance, and walls of the building covered with large stones - each individually set in place - were spectacular.
The winery is owned by Mike and Terry Maglich from Minneapolis. They produce 3800 cases a year, and the wines are not available in stores. They can be purchased at the winery or on the wineries web site - www.blackstallionwinery,com/winery. They charge $10 for tasting - 3 whites or 4 reds. Cathy poured a sample of their 2006 chardonnay for us to taste. It was excellent as reflected in the $38 a bottle price.
We left the winery at 12:25, heading back. The visibility was hazy in the Napa Valley - but pleasant. Passed some good looking sheep having their lunch in a small-beautiful pasture. What a pastoral setting. We passed the area on highway 29 where our family used to picnic - many times. We just pulled off the road, and into a driveway running up the hill. We got our lunch out of the car, and sat in this most beautiful and inviting setting.
We are now riding along Big Ranch Road. We pass where we used to go and cut down our Christmas trees - many happy memories. Our five girls would race into the area and each would select a tree that they thought was the nicest. They would stand guard by the trees until we could take a vote to select just one of them.
As we neared Trancas in North Napa, we were wondering where to go for lunch. I suggested The Sizzler, which wasn’t too far away. (That was a mistake!) - just past Queen of the Valley hospital - on Trancas. Kelli decided that was where we would go. We arrived at 12:55. Tony had trouble off loading us (two motorized scooters), and then finding a parking place. I was surprised that their prices had doubled since I last ate there. While I enjoyed their salad bar, others complained about the quality of their selections. (There is nothing like trying to please a group of old folks! No more volunteering information!) We left the Sizzler at 2:30.
We are on Highway 12 heading East - re-tracing our route. It is a treacherous road but very scenic. We pass the golf course on our right. Next, I see cattle grazing on the slope of hills which have experienced land slides.
We are back on I-80 heading East. We pass a pickup pulling a trailer holding about 8 horses. We are back on Paradise Valley drive, and the golf course looks very inviting. Tony pulls up at our front entrance at 3:15 PM, after a nice ride and a new experience.
Ray L’Amoreaux
January 17, 2009.