The CIA

When I first moved to Napa, I met people who said they worked at the CIA. I thought how strange that they live in Napa and not Washington DC. I now know when locals say CIA they mean Culirnary Institute of America. CIA's Napa Valley Campus has occupied the former Christian Brothers Winery — Greystone Cellars “the largest stone winery in the world.” Greystone is on Highway 29, just north of the town of St. Helena.
Greystone's exterior walls are 22-inch thick tufa stone. Built in 1888 it has survived two major earthquakes. Greystone was used by the Christian Brothers to make sparkling wines from 1950 to 1989.

Zinfandel Lane Bridge

The casual tourist might not realize this, but Napa County has approximently 60 bridges. Many of them are from the turn of the century and are on the National Register of Historic Places. I took this shot yesterday at the Zinfandel Lane Bridge, built of stone in 1912 across the Napa River.

Linda Falls

Today I got up early and went on a great hike with the Napa Photographic Society. It was a cool and foggy morning as we drove up to Angwin and hiked to Linda Falls which is part of 39 acres of old growth douglas fir and Manzanita chaparral that was donated to the Napa Land trust. Napa County has some of most beautiful places to hike. Thanks to the Napa Land Trust over 50,000 acres in our county are preserved openspace.

Ducks at Dusk

I took this one a couple of weeks ago at the Napa River. As I was driving out of the parking lot, I saw these ducks out of my side window. I stopped the car real quick, but did not get my camera out quick enough to get a good shot of them.

Accidental Find

When I was out on my drive yesterday taking the photo posted yesterday, I noticed a large church in the hills across the street. I drove over and found that it was a monastery. It is called the Carmelite House of Prayer and it open to the public. The grounds were beautiful and there was not a soul in sight. It was late in the day and I was having problems getting the exposure right, but you can see how tranquil it was. I will be visiting here for shots often.

A New View

I have not posted in a few days because I have been very busy moving into a new house. Well, new to me. I still do not have a good unobstructed view of sunsets which disappoints. Here is a quick photo from the best vantage point, the front door. Guess I can't complain too much.

CRIMSON LEAVES

There is a row of 5 maple trees outside my office complex. They have been slowly turning for about 2 months now. All the leaves are now a deep crimson red.

Beringer

It was overcast and dreary today and I never got out to get any photos. So here is a shot I took a couple of weekends ago at Beringer Winery.

SUNSET

HAPPY SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I took this shot a couple of days ago while coming over the hill from Sonoma County.

TO SEE OTHER BEAUTIFUL SKYWATCH FRIDAY PHOTOS CLICK
HERE AND SCROLL TO THE LINKS AT THE BOTTOM

A Quick One

The sunsets have been spectacular lately. But now that daylight savings is over, I do not leave work in time to be able to catch them. About 515p I walk to the other side of the the 6ft row of cubicles in my office and stare out the glass window that go all the way across the back of the room and curse that I am not on the river or up the valley wall in time to get a good shot. As I was leaving the office tonight I leaned out the narrow back balcony and grabbed this quick one. The colors had already faded at that point. This shot has not been photoshopped, altered or enhanced in any way.

Down by the Lazy River

You would never know it by my previous posts, but there is a river the runs right through downtown Napa. At the north side of town the river is narrow and in the summer time is not much more then a creek. At the south end of town where this shot was taken, it widens and turns into a sweeping estuary with acres of wetlands and empties into San Pablo Bay which is the northern part of the San Francisco bay. A great place to see sunset and many bird species. Herons and Egrets are a common site. To read more about the Napa River click here.

Here is an aerial photo of the river. This photo is taken in the spring looking due north. The shot from today was taken looking north as I stood on the east side of the river, a few hundred yards north of the overpass that is in the foreground. Image courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library, taken May 2007.

Gold rush

After looking at my favorite city daily photo blogs, I am trying to look at things a little differently, trying macros, trying different angles, etc. Below is my 1st attempt. The 1st photo below is my more abstract view. The second photo is what I would have usually put in my view finder. These were taken in downtown Napa next to Fuller Park

A WALK IN THE PARK

I usually do not include people in my photos, but as this couple walked by with their dogs I thought they were quite cute, holding hands as they walked. Kind of reminded me of a Kay Jeweler commercial. So I left them in. Took this at my neighborhood park, Fuller Park.

Beringer Winery

Went for a drive around the valley today to see all the fall colors. On the way through St. Helena I stopped at the beautiful Beringer Winery. There is a wonderful website about the history of the winery here. This is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley and the first to offer public tours.

Colors in the Vineyards

Went on a drive today in search of fall colors. Stopped on Sonoma Hwy across from Stanley lane and walked through a vineyard. It was ridiculously hot today, about 85 degrees

Domain Carneros Winery

This is one of my favorite views in Napa. I took this photo from the patio of Artesa Winery which is about 4 miles east of where I live. In this shot we are looking SW to to Domaine Carneros which is where they make my favorite, Taittinger Sparkling Wine.... Cannot legally call it Champagne unless it is made in France.