| Salinas Valley - Pinnacles and Fremont Peak, Sep. 2, 2001 |
| We woke up in Soledad, a sleepy farming town with unusually wide streets. Everywhere we looked, vineyards were extending to the foothills of mountain ranges on both sides of the valley. Driving toward Pinnacles, we passed two Mexican Cow Boys by the field. They waved at us and bowed slightly, sitting high on their handsome horses. |
| Hiking on the sun-baked Balconies Trail, and climbing Chokestone Dome helped us to return to the time and space we were familiar with. However, once we left the park, the Chalone Winery amist more vineyards on the gentle rolling hills slowly but surely transferred us back to Steinbeck's time, Steinbeck's country. The gracious host, Mr. Dale, who greeted us at the tasting room was as wise as Adam's housekeeper/friend/cook/philosopher Lee from East of Eden. When we asked whether the towns we have passed - Greenfield and Soledad - had seen better days. He laughed, "It is the better days!" |
| Still dazed and deliciously drunk from the aroma of the lovely Salinas Valley, we stood on Fremont Peak at San Juan Bautista, watched the Gabilan Mountains turned golden then red in the setting sun and the day slid to a comfortable darkness... |
