Crystal’s father visited this week and the only real item on the agenda was visiting this restored, and fully operating steam powered locomotive in Felton, Ca - roughly half way to Santa Cruz for those of you who live around me. I never knew this Roaring Camp Railroads existed, although have heard the train while cycling through the Santa Cruz mountains. I was rather excited, I haven’t been on a real (by ‘real’ I mean old, vintage, or plain out-dated) train since I was a young kid…so naturally something inside me ticked.

Roaring Camp was not only an operating steam powered railroad, but an actual old town which boasted one of the oldest school houses in the area. I think the school house was no larger then my current bedroom with an outside porch which hosted maybe 3 tables. I thought they were all props, but as we went about the train ride our conductor told us that it was in fact an actual school house for the tiny community that once occupied the area that is now Roaring Camp Railroads.

The place is complete with a group bar-b-que/picnic area, along with a cafeteria, general store and banquet hall - however I found the train maintenance yard the most interesting. Yards and yards of spare or used parts waiting to be reconditioned, polished and put in use. There were rusted gears, chains, axels, wheels, you name it and it was probably there including an old/vintage trail maker thing.

The train ride was about an hour and fifteen minutes in total, and there were a whole lot more people who showed up to ride the train then I had ever imagined. I must say it was a rather entertaining event. Open box cars, pillowing steam and the chuck chuck chuck of the locomotive’s two massive pistons.

The locomotive took us through the redwood forest of Santa Cruz. Its narrow track just clipping the nearby flora - clovers, evergreens and the ever present poison oak. As we neared the half way point it started to drizzle, and throughout the rest of the train ride the drizzle was on and off. We had our fingers crossed that those afternoon showers the forecasters predicted were downgraded to a drizzle…

Fortunately for us, it only drizzled until the end of our ride. We pulled in the station and the train readied for its next haul. Those on the waiting platform look excited! Well…as we were walking back toward Crystal’s car, about 20 yards away from the train the sky opened up and let the rain fall. Wow! Talk about timing!

Naturally I was glad it rained after we got off the train, but what were the chances? Quite an experience. If you happen to find yourself within the area and looking for something to do I highly suggest taking the Roaring Camp Locomotive. Costs are $7 for parking and $21.50 for an adult admission (13 and above I recall). It’s a bit steep, but where else do you know of an operating steam engine?

The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful. Looked at a few Land Rovers, but did not purchase any - zipped through a couple sessions at LeMans Karting with Sunny then checked out some of the new construction condos in Downtown San Jose. The condo prices have plummeted, I could literally trade my old condo in Cupertino for the most expensive unit in The 88 and still come out on top - although, as they say…location, location, location and apparently I win with my current condo when it comes to that. Anyways…with location in mind, it’s still Downtown Palo Alto that’s teasing me…we’ll see.

So, it’s time to wrap up another weekend and get back to the grind come Monday. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend as well!

-Wallace

After a long debate about going to Healdsburg for their annual Barrel Tasting, we had to thank Crystal’s friend Olivia for pushing us over the fence. We went to bed early Friday evening and woke up bright and early Saturday, hopped in the car and drove 1.5 or so hours up to Alexander Valley / Lytton Springs to sample the stuff they’ll be bottling in the upcoming 3 months or so.

We started our day at Sausal Winery where we left with two wine bracelets and an excellent bottle of Old Vine Zinfandel. Very pretty winery, the day’s task was to visit wineries that we were unfamiliar with - and so the day begins.

After our initiation at Sausal we kept to the plan of meeting Olivia’s group at Bella Winery & Caves, to our surprise they actually got on the road after us so we took a detour and found ourselves at Rued Winery which had some excellent Zinfandel along with a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Although I’m sure commonplace amongst winery workers and restaurant staff, they had a wine glass rinser on the grounds that we thought was brilliant. We left with sparkling stemware.

Another bottle of Zinfandel and we were on our way to Bella Winery & Caves. They ushered us right to the front of the Winery and we waltzed into the first tasting area where we realized that they had a western cowboy theme going on - definitely the liveliest winery of the day, and although decent wine we found it very average over all. Lots of smoke, but no fire. Would absolutely go back just for the experience though, a cool winery indeed. Olivia’s group still hadn’t showed so we zipped down to Preston Organic Winery.

We just so happened to pass Oliva’s group on the way to Preston, but anyways…so Preston… Usually when ‘organic’ and ‘wine’ is mentioned in the same sentence I run, never have I had an organic wine that dazzled me, but I decided to give Preston a chance because Paul of Paul Kirchner Studios recommended it to me, and wow…I was absolutely floored. Never would I have imagined organic wine tasting so appealing. I even bought a white from Preston, and I can’t remember the last time I seriously bought a white with that much enthusiasm. If I ever find myself back in this area, Preston is definitely at the top of my list - Crystal also loved their fluffy cat, and he seemed to enjoy her company as well.

Fitting those bottles into the boot was like stuffing clowns into a clown car. They originally gave me a box for all the wines, but I soon realized that it would not fit in the Gallardo’s boot no matter which way I turned it. Thanks to wine skins, we were able to carry our look home.

We pulled out of Preston decided to snap a few beauty shots, it just so happened that Olivia’s group caught us in mid-shoot. We zipped over to Zichichi Family Vineyards with them for some actual barrel tasting and a few of them checked out the car.

Zichichi offered some beautifully crafted wines, and an incredible view from its deck area. It didn’t seem intentional unlike the monster wineries in neighboring Napa - imagine Sterling, Mondavi or Opus One, but calm, peaceful and charming rather. Next up was Michel-Schlumberger, which was located at the end of Dry Creek Road.

They had an incredible cheese selection waiting for us, the most memorable being an aged gouda. Michel-Schlumberger also had the most manicured grounds, I really enjoyed their courtyard. We left bottleless and decided to pass Mount Winery due to the rolling dirt roads. I’m pretty sure Rick would have killed me if anything had happened to this car.

We jumped back on 101 and quickly found ourselves transported into downtown Healdsburg. Parked and strolled out to Williamson’s tasting room as well as Selby’s per Walter’s recommendation. To our surprise the only winery that we repeated on this trip was Selby. By this time we were hungry and decided to duck into Barndiva for a bite, while we were sitting at the bar feasting on the most excellent mac & cheese, reuben sandwich and the poshist arnold palmer I’ve ever drank, Crystal felt the vino and became drunk, and drunker. She eventually caught the hiccups and decided that napping on the bar counter was an acceptable idea - in her defense I did the same at Sia’s birthday and again in Tahoe.

How many people could actually tell you that they’ve fallen asleep while in a Lamborghini? She slopped all over that seat until we were in Greenbrae re-filling the tank. So speaking of the Gallardo, I’m sure many of you want to know how it drove.

You have to keep in mind that I’ve lusted after Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s all my life. The Testarossa and Countach, then the F355 and Diablo were vehicles I’ve had plastered on my walls since elementary school so not only having the opportunity to get behind the wheel, but to have the vehicle at my disposal for a couple days was naturally exciting. However, this is the second time I’ve taken the particular car out and my first time was rather disenchanting. If driven by a civil foot this car does most of the driving, but after being able to fully open the throttle, forcing all that air out through the tubi and having the car hit 40 to 130 in matter of a couple blinks it was more then intoxicating. My mind has changed about the abilities of this car; it is incredibly capable and a beautiful machine…however it has no place being in a suburban setting, this one strives to live on long, un-abused, wide open country roads…either that or the German Autobahn.

Fantastic Saturday.

More on my Flickr.

-Wallace

Barrel Tasting in Healdsburg is this coming Saturday and despite an incredibly tiring weekend we made time to prep by visiting Thomas Fogarty Winery. This has been one of our favorite wines, everytime Crystal sees their “Skyline” red wine on a restaurant or bar’s wine list it becomes difficult not to order a glass. Therefore we made it a point to visit.

Despite the freezing weather it was a gorgeous day. To our benefit there was not an event this day, so we were able to scope out the Fogarty grounds. An absolutely stunning house was the centerpiece of an incredibly well designed business center and event grounds - the majority being weddings.

We left with a few bottles and smiles. Highly recommended if you’re in the Woodside area. Crystal is now plotting on the cat’s untimely disappearance. She figures a cow colored rabbit and a cow colored cat would make a perfect pair, Sniffy apparently thinks otherwise.

Stay tuned!

-Wallace

The past few weeks weren’t exactly the best in my life, but will go on as some of the most memorable, and even most cherished. This past Friday family drove and flew in from all over the country to bid farewell to their father, and my grandfather. We buried him, per his wishes and true to form, in a quiet, simple, and traditional ceremony.

Although my grandmother lost her husband, my father, his brothers and sister lost their father, and my brother, cousins and myself lost our grandfather - in his going, he has brought all of us together again. After the ceremony, there was ample story telling, release and closure for all of us. It’s a new chapter for all of us, and I believe we will carry through in an honorable fashion.

So this is how I will remember my grandfather - an ever patient grandfather, a soft-spoken man of principle, a gentle forgiving soul, a man who’s generosity was only bound by his ability, a humanitarian in spirit and above all a pioneer who left his future in a country so familiar to him for the opportunity and promise of a nation across the Pacific.

Godspeed.

-Wallace