Old Sonoma Rd., Napa - July 10, 2010

Walking Distance:  2.1 mi.
Walking Time: 52 min. (5:53 - 6:45 p.m.)
Start and End Point: dirt/unpaved pull-out area along Old Sonoma Road, Napa area, CA

This evening I returned to finish another segment of Old Sonoma Road, West of (downtown) Napa, CA.  I started near Vine Village (4059 Old Sonoma Rd.) and ended at Buhman Ave. This relatively rural stretch, with low rolling hills, vineyards, and tall eucalyptus trees, with a few pastures thrown in for good measure, was a pleasant area for walking -- but for the areas where there was just a few inches of walking space between tall weeds and the road. It was nice to have some shade and a little breeze though. (Example of "shade tunnel" at right.)

This lack of walking area/shoulder situation is not uncommon in the North Bay section of the Bay Trail. And, based on my walking experiences thus far, this week I will add a "Pedestrian Advisory" page to this site that will list sections with less than six inches of walking space along roads. I also plan to add pages for "Dog Friendly" sections of the Bay Trail, and "Trail Overnights" -- with possible overnight trip suggestions.


But, back to this evening's walk...I did see a few small birds darting about, and lizards were zipping into the tall, dry grass so fast as I walked by, that I was unable to capture any with my camera. I saw many more "blurs in bushes" (18) than I did wholly formed, verifiable lizard sightings (4). It was easier in the Spring (when I believe for mating reasons) they were perched in more obvious locations and would happily (it seemed) pose for pictures. I did notice a very calm herd of cows grazing in partial shade just up the hill from me. They were so quiet and peaceful, I would almost call them stealth cows (shown at right).

On the drive back home, I stopped at the Schellville Grill, in Schellville (a few miles south of Sonoma) for dinner. (They are only open for dinner Thurs., Fri., and Sat. -- and I was happy to catch them on a night they were open. They had been closed when I walked by the restaurant during an earlier, mid-week walk.)

Wildlife Sightings:
27 little brown jobs (LBJs); 4 lizards; 2 doves; 14 cows; and 1 hawk screeching around tall eucalyptus tree; and 1 mattress.

Highway 121, Schellville/Sonoma - July 10, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.2 miles
Walking Time: 37 minutes (4:23 - 5:00 p.m.)
Start and Stop Point: Parking at CornerStone, Sonoma, CA

Today I walked along Highway 121 (also known as Arnold Drive), and stopped at three different establishments: 1.) Angelo's Wine Country Deli (for homemade turkey jerky); 2.) CornerStone (shops, galleries/artworks, and Roots wine tasting); and 3.) the Sonoma Valley Airport to see about a bi-plane ride in the future. All interesting things to do.

I'd finished my last walk down Highway 121 at Angelo's a few days ago. The store had a nice (fake) cow in the roof; so it's relatively easy to find. They made several meat and condiment items themselves.

At Cornerstone, a group of three statues (shown at right) caught my eye, in the outside area behind "A New Leaf Gallery." There was also a tree that had been covered in blue forms, giving it a surreal appearance.

The airport was a small airport and the "RIDES" banner out by the highway got my attention. They had already put the red bi-plane away for the day; but I did gather some information about possible future rides.


I did not see much in the way of bird or wildlife (with the exception of a few crows squawking around a tree -- one is pictured at right); although there were a few fun-looking visitors from different parts of the world at CornerStone.

Crows are smart birds, and this seems to be one reason why they have
multiplied greatly in the past few decades. The photo of a crow (at right, sitting on a tree branch) is a bit small to make out its expression; the bird was cocking its head and looking at me (from a fair distance away), thinking....Well, I can only imagine.


Wildlife Sightings:
4 crows, 1 little brown job, 1 rusty screw

Fremont Dr. - Arnold Dr., Sonoma - July 7, 2010

Walking Distance: 3.3 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 11 min. (7:04 - 8:15 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot at the corner of Arnold Drive and Fremont Drive, Sonoma, CA

I walked from the Schellville Grill (near Broadway and Fremont Drive) to Angelo's Wine Country Deli (23400 Arnold Drive). Unfortunately, both establishments were closed for the evening by the time I arrived. However, it was a very pleasant night for a walk.



I crossed over Sonoma Creek, and it was good to see some water on its way to the San Francisco Bay. (Most of the current Bay Trail in Sonoma County is along rural roads north of the Bay.) I passed berry bushes, a tile shop, old rusting trucks and farm equipment, and the Vineyard Inn. However, most of the land was relatively undeveloped and much of the open land was devoted to agricultural use (primarily grapevines and some hay).

Wildlife Sightings:
14 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 crows; 2 doves; 1 yellow and black bumblebee (?); and 1 rusty screw.

Arnold Drive, Dog house, Sonoma - July 7, 2010

Walking Distance: .65 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 20 min. (6:30 - 6:50 p.m.)
Start and End Point: unpaved shoulder/pull-out area, along Highway 116 East (Stage Gulch Rd.), Sonoma, CA

I had walked this stretch of Arnold Drive (from 116 East to the intersection of Arnold Drive and Fremont Drive) before. I succeeded, with the exception of about 1/3 mile (x2) of Arnold Drive where three houses had barking dogs -- and in two cases the dogs either ran out into the road, or started to head my way.  While I can't say I was looking forward to this, I forced myself to complete this segment this evening. Fortunately, the three dogs in the final yard or two, across the road, did not run out into traffic, but they looked like they might. Keep this in mind if you are passing through this area either in foot or on a bicycle. (My advice, stay on the East side of Arnold Drive - the furthest away from these few houses with loose dogs.)

Not many pictures in this entry; I was too busy keeping my eye on the dogs.

Wildlife Sightings:
13 little brown jobs (LBJs)
1 hawk
3 farm dogs barking at me

Old Sonoma Rd., Napa, CA - July 6, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.5 miles
Walking Time: 39 min. (8:47 - 9:26 p.m.)
Start and End Point: shopping center parking lot on Old Sonoma Road, Napa, CA

This evening I arrived in the Sonoma area too late for my walk along Fremont Drive, so I used the time to drive upcoming trail segments in Sonoma and Napa. And I finished walking a segment of Old Sonoma Road (in Napa) that I hadn't quite finished more than a month ago.

It was dark, and so I covered the more rural part of this segment first (slight incline that slopes down into a more developed, residential area. I paused mid-way for a piece of flan to go, and I stopped (at the stop sign in fact) when I reached the point where Old Sonoma Road intersected with Freeway Drive. By this time the flan was gone, and I walked back to my car.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 little brown jobs (LBJs); it was too dark to see anything else.