Sunday Drive

One of the most wonderful things about being a “new-bee” to Northern California is EXPLORATION. Nearly every Sunday we hop in the car and head out in a direction to see what’s out there. This past Sunday we drove north through Alexander Valley where green vineyards roll over golden hills.

Driving along with all the windows down, like two happy puppys with our noses out, we breathed in the fresh valley air. Ahhhhhhhhhh! Then Ted’s attention was grabbed by a long driveway with a fat hedge of French lavender and we just had to turn in.

Hanna Winery sits on 100 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards. The building is a contemporary fusion of Early California Mission style with an Asian open space sensibility. Strangely, neither one of us was in a wine tasting mood, but the vision of the place was simply scrumptuous in itself. Ted took some great photos, then we headed out again.

The road through Alexander Valley going north is a giant bouquet of vineyards and ends up in the once sleepy turned up-scale town of Healdsburg. We “puppys” were hungry so we stopped at the Costeaux French Bakery to pick up a quick sandwich — Black Forest Ham and Jarlsberg cheese on a thin, crusty but soft baguette smeared only with butter. Simplicity at its delicious best.

Hopped in the car again and drove back south to A Place To Play Park in Santa Rosa for “Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise” display of early 1900’s to 1976 vintage cars. We’d seen the actual Cruise down Fourth Street the night before and were propelled into another time by an enthusiastic crowd. Peggy Sue would have been proud.

The Cruise cars were on view at the park — rows and rows of hot rods, low-riders, roadsters and plenty of ‘50s Chevy Bel Airs with painted flames in candy colors. A live band played “Rock Around The Clock” (Bill Haley and The Comets), “Tequila” (one hit wonder The Champs), and a bunch of tunes by Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly ... well you get the idea.

I remember poodle skirts when I was little and there they were, pink and black skirts, and white-haired folks dancing in their saddle shoes like they were teenagers. And there were teenagers too, and little kids, not in poodle skirts, but hopping around to ‘50s music, proving once again that rock and roll will NEVER die!

Oh, and who were those young women with their butt cheeks hanging out (see photos)? Well, we left soon after we saw them, so I guess we’ll never know. On to the next adventure ...