Old Sacramento

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SACRAMENTO RIVER VALLEY, CALIFORNIA





Down along the banks of the Sacramento River were some of the largest Birch Trees I have ever seen. We spent an exciting day exploring the vineyards, wineries and farm communities that stretch along the river as it winds it's way toward San Francisco. We did a wine tasting at an old coverted Sugar Mill that now houses eight family owned wineries. Not as well known as Napa and Sonoma, this area still has some excellent wines and there were no crowds and the pace was friendly and unhurried.





A serendipitous bonus was that we were able to have lunch at an out-of-the-way pizza place with an old friend. I called my long-time friend and college fraternity brother Ken Davies and he just happened to be playing in a tennis tournament in Sacramento. We made plans to meet in the cute Riverfront town of Walnut Grove at a pizza place where the motto is "We toss'em, they're awesome!". The pizza and beer were great and it was awesome to be able to spend time with Ken. Lean and fit it was obvious that the California lifestyle agrees with him also.





We finished out the day with a visit to Old Sacramento. The fully restored downtown area was awash in the boomtown days of the old west and the times of the mother lode. Restored trains, Saloons and Vintage Shops and Boutiques lined the brick-paved streets. The whole area was built up over time because of constant flooding. In a couple of places they had uncovered the old "ground" floor and made places to eat and drink below what is now street level.





We returned to Joe's house to feast on the bounty of our day. A 2007 Vintage Petite Sirah Wine, Smoked Gouda Goat Cheese, Little Falafa Cakes that you dip in Chimichurri and Aubergine, while Joe had a huge salad in his "Jethro Bodine" bowl.

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