Of Nature, Architecture and Viticulture

This past memorial day weekend the family enjoyed a round trip of around 600 miles visiting various vistas, both natural and man made in the northern reaches of the state of California. We started going out north east past the country's largest olive growing and processing regions, as yet an unknown to us, and stopped by an Olive processing facility to take it all in. Oil of varying kinds and the fruit itself. It was quite a different treat. While we did not witness the physical processing of this pitted fruit since that only happens for a short period in late fall, we did get a tour of the facility. Later we learned how olive oil like wine making or scotch making also lends itself to the single flavor concotion or a blend. After having smoothed our way out of there we headed to a local abbey that cranks out wine of the dry kind. The abbey itself was cool and ancient looking in the middle of nowhere but the wine too dry for our liking. So onward we went and stopped at our first rest area that of Redding CA. Redding was established during the huge gold rush and sits in the bottom of the Cascade Mountains with majestic Shasta and Lassen peaks to its north and east. Majestic mounts both there was snow on the far reaches over 10,000 feet by estimation. While that was all well and good our first stop in Redding was to check out this wonderful Sundial bridge.

Unusual architecture this looks like a giant silver harp jutting out from the Sacramento River. Beautiful sight to behold. Our daughter made full use of its large cables to swing herself up high like an aspiring gymnast and had fair success (no head injuries to count). We had encountered a smiliar bridge designed by the same architect all the way over in Seville Spain. Not quite sure how it works like a sundial but apparently there is some science to it which this old brain could not fathom. Next day on the behest of the little one and her growing awareness of the local geography we visited a magnificent cascade of water further north east of Redding. The place is Burney and the falls are named McArthur Burney falls. Labeled as the eighth wonder of the world these are truly awe inspiring as any of natures giant creations tend to be.

After lunching on some good Olive Garden preparations (without a hint of olive but a preponderence of fat from the pasta and beef in the food - good stuff) we headed due west to the coast. Reached late evening in a town of Eureka. This is the region where the giant American Redwoods make a more than subtle appearance. The coastal region is chock full of these massive creations some that have been around since man learned to count time - they are over 2,000 year old living creatures. I mean to just look at these and take in their magnificence belies the true beauty and grandeur. All at once the trees have a tendency to make you shhh...no one in the vicinity of the woods was speaking over 10 decibels. It was like an opera without the music. Pindrop silence and peace. There was one where we actually did get to drive through so that was a hoot.

The last part of this amazing journey we wrapped it in port. The dark sweet drinking kind that was available in wine country on the way home.

Of course at the end there was this glowing sense of accomplishment - we did our part for the economy - by being the quintessential consumers - aiding local and metropolitan businesses in one round trip. Take that Uncle Bern.