AN ACTIVE WEEKEND

First: the Shrimp with Carrot Slaw was delicious – and yes, I boiled the shrimp.  It was a wonderful meal for the hot, hot weather, since the shrimp only cooked for 3 minutes.  I added the recipe – along with my own notes and suggestions - to the recipe archive (left column) in case you want to give it a try some hot day.  We had Trader Joe’s potato salad along with the shrimp and slaw.

Since we first arrived in Napa a week ago, we had been looking forward to Blues, Brews and BBQ, a downtown Napa festival of music, microbrews (and of course there was wine, too) and BBQ of all kinds: ribs, pulled pork, turkey drumsticks… 

Saturday was the day, and it was over 90 degrees by noon.  The festival was scheduled from 1 pm until 6 pm.  In spite of the broiling sunshine, we headed downtown and joined the other hearty BBQ and music lovers who gathered there. 

As you can see in the photo on the right, EVERYONE squeezed into whatever slice of shade they could find!  We were lucky enough to find a couple of unoccupied chairs in a bit of dappled shade, where we ate ribs, drank a couple of brews, and bobbed our heads in time to the music for a hour or so.  When the owner of the chairs showed up to reclaim them, we gave up – it was just too hot to stick around.  :(   I believe the mercury finally topped out at 104 degrees.

On Sunday, it was as if we were in a different state!  We took off early in the cool, cool morning to revisit Sugarloaf Mountain in Napa’s Skyline Wilderness park.  The trail head is at 100 feet elevation; the mountain peak is at 1640 feet, and the round trip distance is 7.5 miles.  We hadn’t hiked over three or four miles in awhile and I rather wondered whether I could!

The hike climbs fairly continuously, in both shade and sun.  Throughout the climb, a breeze evaporated the sweat we generated, keeping us comfortable even in the sunshine.  What a welcome change from Saturday’s weather!  I don’t think the temperature even reached 80 degrees on Sunday. 

We had a great view as we climbed higher and higher.  In the photo below, you can see what the weather forecasters call “the marine layer”, off to the west: the fog generating the welcome change in temperature.  Excellent hiking weather, and we both completed the hike in high spirits.

We had another early day this morning, heading up to Sacramento to run several errands, then to visit my dad, mom and sister Sydney visiting from Bisbee, AZ.  Daddy looked great, is walking more steadily, and seems to improve a little more each day.  Again, thanks for all your good wishes, comments and emails.  We all are feeling optimistic about his recovery.