Sacramento

Great to find time to spend a few excellent days with family in Sacramento, I fly down whilst the bikes are having an overhaul, we had intended to ride directly to California, but the tyres were almost down to the canvas and the engines were pleading for attention. Mine  especially was making some odd noises, probably nothing but lets get it checked before we drop off the Husqvarna dealer network and head into Russia.Liz and Andy show me around, giving me a insight into real life in California, you will not find this experience in any tourist brochure, its quality family time and its brilliant.

Harley Davidson….stay strong Dave

I am not a natural Harley Davidson chap, but I have to admit this is one nice looking bike, the salesman is very very good and offers me a test ride right there and then….……..so so tempted to blast around the streets in the sunshine for an hour, but  what if I liked it…..Tim Smith would never speak to me if I got a Harley 🙂

Napa Valley

I get to visit Napa Valley, a beautiful valley area with vineyard after vineyard carefully laid out on both sides of the winding road….The facts…..Napa County is north of San Francisco, in California. It’s known for hundreds of hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley wine region. In the city of Napa, Oxbow Public Market features regional gourmet food. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a vintage locomotive and traveling restaurant running through the valley. Northwest of Napa is Yountville, a town known for high-end restaurants and sparkling wine.

The towns are smart and the climate perfect.

Mending Wall Vineyard

We visit the Mending Wall Vineyard…..

……where Anie works….…..this operation is very impressive….….with tasting rooms that remind me of France……..and my luck they are bottling when I visit…..the team work flat out in 8hr shifts, carefully filling, labelling and packing the wine in cases, the specialist equipment all housed within a visiting truck.

Costco

Ok I admit it, I love this place at home, you go in for some Wine and Beer and come out with a jet wash and a tool chest…I had lost or broken two pairs of Costco reading glasses and we were only two months in…..Imagine my happiness when we visit this US store for replacements…simple things eh!

Liz’s Parents

Wine making is in the family, we visit Liz’s parents who also have a small vineyard on their land, also some very interesting toys and a garage I can only dream of…very interesting people and I could have talked all afternoon..……before I leave I am given a challenge to track down the ancestral home in England……….this is thought to be in Cornwall, check out the lighting and period clothing….any ideas anyone?

Davison Iron Works

I get to visit the family business, Davison Iron Works, Inc. which has been an established industry steel fabrication leader in the Sacramento area for over 60 years….……my roots are in manufacturing and engineering so this is a really interesting place to visit for me….……these days, by the time I visit a new site all the core construction is done, here I get to see how the steel structure is designed, fabricated and shipped ready for erection.

We zoom around the vast facility in a electric golf buggy, stopping at specialist machines which have mechanised many of the processes…..……trucks are parked with flat pack buildings loaded ready for delivery, how cool is that?

Farewell….

……I am taken back to the Airport after three very full days, rested and batteries recharged as we near the next phase of our journey, and head towards Russia via South Korea.

So a massive thank you to all the family for making me so welcome and showing me around.