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Sonoma - Napa, June 2018
River, sloughs, marshes, grapes, trees, boats, railroad, and bridges: A Photographic Log
26 June 2018, 50 miles

I like exploring terra incognita whenever possible, but I also enjoy returning to some of my favorite haunts over and over again.

So it is with riding through the wetlands and sloughs of the Carneros wine region between the towns of Sonoma and Napa. (Those are also the names of the counties in which each is located). I try to pedal some variation of that route at least once a year. In fact, it has been almost exactly one year since I last rode from "Grapetown" to "Wine City."

This morning I drove to Sonoma (about twenty minutes distant), saddled up the Ogre, wandered around, and ended up at the city limits of Napa. Then I turned around and wandered back to Sonoma.

If you ever visit the northern edge of the San Francisco Bay area, don't miss this scenic cruise on quiet back roads. Heck, I'll give you a guided tour.


Into the Carneros wine region we go.

The grapes are doing their thing.


I've lost count of the number of photos I've taken from the bridge over Hudeman Slough. Right up there with the dam at Lake Ilsanjo as one of my favorite Kodak venues.

A little hazy today—probably due to smoke from the Pawnee fire in Lake County, our neighbor to the northeast—but still a beautiful, bucolic scene.


Looking back at the bridge over Hudeman Slough.


Wait! What's this!?!

These guys have torn up my favorite lunch spot and they've been hard at work laying down gravel roads atop some of the levees on Skaggs Island. I suspect some of the quiet hayfields might be converted into more vineyards.


The deserted, dead end road along Second Napa Slough on Skaggs Island.


Right now this area is nothing but wetlands and hayfields. But the land would be far more valuable planted with grapes, so you know what that means.


Nearby, I spotted rusted farm equipment.

Figured I should get a photo in case that becomes a Cycle365 Challenge of the Month.


Pond along Milton Road on Edgerly Island. Beside the pond, those are the railroad tracks running between Sonoma and Napa.


Another bucolic scene.


A flotilla on a pond between Mud Slough and the Napa River.


Napa Valley Marina on the Napa River.


Peeking over the levee that protects Edgerly Island from the Napa River.


The Ogre poses on the tracks at the lift bridge carrying the railroad over the Napa River.


In central Illinois, cornfields line the rural roads and block the view during the summer. Around here, vineyards do the same.


Now we're in an undeveloped (for the moment), discontiguous part of the city of Napa.

Busy Highway 12 can be seen beyond the trees, but we'll stay on quiet Stanly (no "e") Lane.


Stanly Lane dead ends under the Highway 12 flyover just beyond Starmont Winery.

On the other side of the trees, many years ago the old Suscol ferry was the only way to cross the Napa River.


Rich has his party bridge on the Vermilion River. Judging by the broken bottles, discarded clothing, and other debris, locals have their own party spot under the Highway 12 flyover at the end of Stanly Lane.


Back on Stanly Lane, which has almost zero traffic anyway, this flattened sign wasn't really necessary.


For just a moment, I imagined I was Em cruising along a eucalyptus-lined lane in Australia. Verne and Kermit quickly snapped me back to reality.


On the way back toward Sonoma, I detoured down to the boat launch facility on the Napa River at Cuttings Wharf.


I think this vessel, "Lisa Marie," probably qualifies as a yacht.


Not quite a yacht. The one in the middle doesn't seem to be doing any dog-paddling.


Fisheries research boat ties up at Cuttings Wharf.


Bouchaine vineyards off Buchli Station Road. Good view of grapes, grapes, grapes.

Years ago, Buchli Station was a stop on the railroad between Sonoma and Napa.


Another view from Buchli Station Road.

The lift bridge carrying the railroad over the river is visible in the distance.


The main building and outdoor tasting area at Bouchaine.

Today's ride took me past at least a couple dozen wineries.


Green vineyards on the knoll, and fire-ravaged hills beyond.


Vineyards at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery, with burned hills in the distance.


Closer to Sonoma.

I've never seen grapevines this tall. These look more like grape trees, with bunches over my head.


A forest of unusually tall grapevines. The vines must be very old.


Those aren't grapes.


"Hey, how come my buddies can hide in the tall blond grass, but I'm always visible?"


Veterans' memorial at the Sonoma cemetery.



Summary

Date: 26 June 2018
Time: 10:30 - 4:00
Weather: 65-80° F, sunny, breezy
Route: Sonoma to Napa and back through the Carneros
Distance: 50 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo




Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.

~ 103 ~



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