Life of Wry

I’ve lived in Davis for .. let’s see .. almost 46 years. Long time. I’ve known Napa Valley’s an easy drive from here for most of that time. What I didn’t really figure out until recently, though, was that if I drive one block south, to the corner of A Street and Russell Blvd and turn right, and then stay on that road without turning — not even once — I can follow Russell Blvd all the way to Napa Valley, arriving in about one hour (give or take) and without traffic because it’s all backroads.

It goes like this: Russell Blvd becomes Road 32 as you drive out of the city limits, becomes Hwy 128 as you drive through Winters, then past Lake Berryessa, then you have a choice of Napa Valley destinations.. 1) continue on 128 and take it to a point on the north-ish side of the valley (about Rutherford, with St. Helena slightly to the northwest of that or Oakville slightly to the southeast), or, 2) at the fork, bear left off on Hwy 121 which will drop you at a more southern part of the valley (the city of Napa). Both options cross the Silverado Highway, and then continue to Hwy 29 that runs right up the middle of the Napa Valley. If you’re going to Yountville (along 29), then it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other when deciding whether to go 128 or 121.

But how about that! One road, basically. One hour, approximately. From one valley (the great Central Valley), over the hills to another, albeit smaller, cozier valley (the Napa Valley). Yay California.

And those mountains? That’s our own Berryessa Hills, viewable from our side of the valley.

Not my drone photo… wish I could attribute it… it’s just beautiful, whoever took it.