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Hey there sports fans,

What a great day for a ride! It is Indian summer here in Northern California. Days have been dry, sunny and windy.

The location for my bike club’s Saturday ride was the scenic wine country north of the Napa Valley. We met in the small town of Yountville and rode 20 miles out to Calistoga along the historic Silverado Trail. There was little, if any, climbing on this ride. The route featured a few gentle rollers and one or two slopes uphill but nothing too gut busting or difficult for an average rider like myself. The primary challenge on the route was the wind. We rode into strong 10-15 mph gusts the entire way to Calistoga.

The scenery is best described in one word: grapes. We rode past mile after mile of grapes hanging like black pearls from the vine.

We stopped for coffee in Calistoga. This town, famous for its hot springs, mud baths and mineral water, was crowded with people and cars. I did not realize how tired I felt from riding against the wind until we stopped for a break! A decaf soy Latte brought me back to my senses and I felt ready for the 20 mile ride back.

For the return trip, we looped back onto Highway 29 and headed south through St. Helena, Rutherford, and Oakville. This time the wind was at our back as we blasted our way back to Yountville. The road through Oakville was pockmarked and filled with loose gravel. I worried that the rough road surface would blow out my tires but the tires held up well. Road conditions improved as we rode back into Yountville. By this time, the town’s bistros and cafes hosted a throng of hungry locals and tourists. It was lunchtime in the wine country.

Riding on,
TL