Other CA diversions when the snow is gone

Tony Crocker

Tony Crocker

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On Memorial weekend, after skiing Saturday and hiking Sunday, Andrew and I rafted Cherry Creek and the upper Tuolumne River. The Sierra has an abundance of raftable rivers, and Cherry Creek with its average 110 ft/mile gradient is possibly the most challenging. It was near its runnable maximum flow of 2,000cfs, so as with the main Tuolumne at 7,000cfs two years ago we ran Cherry Creek in combination oar/paddle boats. The guide with oars has more opportunity to control the raft if the paddlers screw up, and I suspect the heavy metal oar frame makes the raft more stable and less likely to flip or wrap on a rock.

It's quite clear in my mind what's meant by Class V rapids after this trip, as many of these rapids were more continuous, had bigger drops and required more technical maneuvering to stay out of trouble that the ~15 other rivers I have rafted. And you definitely don't want to be a swimmer! The disposable camera pictures don't do justice, so I think it's better that I refer to an excellent website describing both Cherry Creek and the main Tuolumne: http://www.tuolumne-river.com/welcome.htm . Cherry Creek detail: http://www.tuolumne-river.com/cc-mile-by-mile.htm . Season and river flows: http://www.tuolumne-river.com/t-flows.htm . We first ran the main Tuolumne in very low water, around 900cfs I think, in August 2002.

For last weekend's more sedate but still enjoyable recreation I headed up past Santa Barbara to the central Coast. The occasion was a Saturday wedding at Sunstone Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. This is the wine region made famous in the movie Sideways, so (as I'm sure admin can appreciate after enjoying our annual Iron Blosam festivities) I spent some time checking out the area.

This area is now as heavily planted in vineyards as I recall Napa/Sonoma 30 years ago. And the main town in the area, Solvang, was already a tourist attraction for its Danish architecture dating from its original settlement in 1911. There are numerous resources online for the movie buffs http://www.santabarbaraca.com/docs/sideways-map.pdf , and further research gave me ideas on which wineries/tasting rooms to visit.

The same cold water (55F even midsummer), fog season and thermal winds that make the central Coast a windsurfing Mecca draw consistent cooling breezes a few miles inland that enhance the conditions for producing premium wine. There is great wine being made, but as in Napa/Sonoma not at the bargain prices of 25-30 years ago.

On Sunday afternoon I did the tour of Hearst Castle: http://www.hearstcastle.org/ .

I had not been to Hearst Castle since the 1980's, so I had not heard that a considerable group of elephant seals had taken up residence on nearby Piedras Blancas beach in 1990, and have occupied it nearly continuously since then. http://www.elephantseal.org/ It's right next to Highway 1 with a boardwalk viewing area, and there were probably about 200 of them there on Sunday.
 
Tony Crocker":387h4zxp said:
For last weekend's more sedate but still enjoyable recreation I headed up past Santa Barbara to the central Coast. The occasion was a Saturday wedding at Sunstone Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. This is the wine region made famous in the movie Sideways, so (as I'm sure admin can appreciate after enjoying our annual Iron Blosam festivities) I spent some time checking out the area.

This area is now as heavily planted in vineyards as I recall Napa/Sonoma 30 years ago. And the main town in the area, Solvang, was already a tourist attraction for its Danish architecture dating from its original settlement in 1911. There are numerous resources online for the movie buffs http://www.santabarbaraca.com/docs/sideways-map.pdf , and further research gave me ideas on which wineries/tasting rooms to visit.
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In wine tasting around Santa Barbara county, I found Melville Vinyards to be one of the few places uncorrupted by "As seen in SIdeways". Most places have jacked up their prices for, at best, average quality swill. Melville is just up the road from Solvang before you get to the center of Lompoc. Melville's "Estate" Pinot Noir is quite good. Their reserve Pinot Noirs "Terraces" and "Carrie's" are outstanding and very complex. They also make a very nice Viognier and Chardonnay. I've had them ship me 5 cases of wine over the last year and a half.
 
Thanks for the tip. I will check Melville out the next time I'm in the area. I did not do my usual travel research for last weekend, just an hour or two online. Saturday afternoon we visited Firestone for its winery tour, then Foxen, which has a small tasting shack by the side of the road, but was sold out of its highly rated Pinot Noirs. Then Sunday morning we hit Tastes of the Valley shop in Solvang for a premium tasting from 6 different vineyards. Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir at that tasting was the best wine of the weekend.

The Santa Rita hills in Santa Barbara County (the cool Chardonnay/Pinot Noir microclimate) mark the point where the mountains start running east-to-west instead of north-to-south. The mountains continue east, gradually increasing in size, for over 200 miles (longer than the Uintas) to San Gorgonio.
 
Tony Crocker":36qbwaor said:
The same cold water (55F even midsummer), fog season and thermal winds that make the central Coast a windsurfing Mecca draw consistent cooling breezes a few miles inland that enhance the conditions for producing premium wine. There is great wine being made, but as in Napa/Sonoma not at the bargain prices of 25-30 years ago.
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This makes San Francisco miserable in the summer. I use the heat more often in July than March or April or November. I hate it. Need to plan warmth escape!!

For a developing wine region, you need to go north of Napa into the Alexander Valley....or the Russian River NW of Sonoma/Santa Rosa. But like everything in California, it's still not cheap. Anyways, the organic farmers are taking on the wine-makers in this region.

I had not been to Hearst Castle since the 1980's, so I had not heard that a considerable group of elephant seals had taken up residence on nearby Piedras Blancas beach in 1990, and have occupied it nearly continuously since then. http://www.elephantseal.org/ It's right next to Highway 1 with a boardwalk viewing area, and there were probably about 200 of them there on Sunday.
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I missed these a year ago.
 
This makes San Francisco miserable in the summer. I use the heat more often in July than March or April or November.
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I believe Mark Twain had a famous quote about his coldest winter experience being July in SF. There's an exhibit at the Monterey aquarium describing the unusual 3-season Central Coast climate.

I recall visiting a couple of Alexander Valley wineries in 1987. Development was just starting then, but I assume there are many more now.

The Hearst Castle visitor center now has an Imax theater. In its waiting area is an exhibit about the elephant seals. But we had already heard about them at our hotel in Solvang when we mentioned we were going up there.
 
NIce trip ideas.. I've been to most of those areas as my dad lives in Morro Bay, but not done all those activities. I'd love to go up and spend a few days in the winery areas of SB county.. but my wife hates wine and I don't have any friends that are real interested in it either. :( btw, I loved Sideways.. a classic movie! :lol:

Also a nice place to camp is Jalama beach, near Point Conception, great surfing,(Tarantulas i think?) excellent windsurfing, and one of the best burgers ever at the little grill they have at the campground. Unfortunately, its packed all summer, and it's first come first served.. and its about a 40 minute drive from near Refugio Pass.. so if it's full, there's not alof of other options close to there that I know of..

I'm off to Mammoth this week for some R&R.. incuding some hiking, hot tubbing, and maybe fishing if I can get al lmy gear together.
 
Jalama is indeed well known for the windsurfing and the burgers. But the more casual beachgoer is going to go to the Santa Barbara beaches for less fog and warmer water. The water warms more between Jalama and Santa Barbara (50 miles) than from Santa Barbara to San Diego (200+ miles). Pt. Conception marks a sharp coastal climate divide. For premium wine or windsurfing you want to be north of that divide.
 
I finally made it to Melville Winery in my last free week before returning to work. Excellent Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Terraces Pinot Noir was the highlight. They also make a good Syrah, in a somewhat softer style than most.

The Von Siebenthal Carabantes Syrah blend (on the extensive review of Chilean wine Geoff sent me last year) is probably the best I've had in recent years. Most of these wines will make their way to the Iron Blosam in coming seasons.

And while on the subject of California wine, don't miss the movie Bottle Shock. This was rather nostalgic for me, as that era (late 1970's) was when I got into wine due to the amazing quality available at dirt cheap prices. The featured winery in the movie, Chateau Montelena, was one whose 1974 Cabernet I bought by the case for $8/bottle. Alas, I saw a recent vintage on sale for $109.
 
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=623 http://www.paradisecovemalibu.com/beachcafe/ and yes their is a winery off of Kanan Dume Road turn right on Troutdale Road, the next left, the next right. Paradise Cove at the very North end of Malibu is awesome, not the crowds or pollution of Santa Monica or Venice. It is 25.00 to park or 3.00 if you eat at the fabulous restaurant. Discovered by family for anniversary lunches, unforgettable. The prices keep the yahoo's out. Even the beach side bathroom is immaculate with attendants. The Cabannas are for rent. Then, we huffed it to Zuma beach and hiked up to the top of Pt. Dume, indescribable on a clear day. I thought it would not be much of a hike from a half mile down the beach with 10 pound weights on my legs. But, it was! Well, anyway, have to get in shape for skiing somehow. And that NSP refresher???????????? Have I time to patrol with work and school that will flunk you in a minute if you are not on top of it. Going from nurse to nurse practitioner who can prescribe, diagnose and interpret is not without effort. Almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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