|
Somewhere in our unnamed Universe, in a Galaxy some know as the Milky way, on a small dirty ball known as Earth there is... Lodi, California |
|
First, we have to dispense with the official Chamber of Commerce propaganda on Lodi:
Lodi is located just south of Sacramento and north of Stockton. To the west are the thousands of miles of waterways in the Sacramento River Delta, and to the east is the historic Gold Rush country of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The area enjoys mild winters and long, relatively rain-free summers, tempered by a 'Delta breeze' which comes in from the west, along the waterways, bringing welcome coolness from the Pacific Ocean. |
|
|
And so on. It's a little warmer than they lead on, needless to say. Low 90's in the middle of the re-union. But, much dryer than what I'm used to. When you dig a little deeper you find the big events for the month of reunion included the Lodi Pet Fair, the Trix Run --although they didn't mention silly rabbits or whether it was just for kids--, the country fair, a crawdad festival, the visit of the Presidential Yacht Potomac and something sounding vaguely like a revival. The vaguely part may have something to do with all those people distilling... err fermenting wine. And even more importantly, all the people drinking it. If you're curiousity strikes you, there are a bunch of places specializing in high-dollar swillable get-you-drunk grape juice. I'm beginning to like this place. |
|
Wait a minute... is that grumbling I here through the modem? Oh, don't deny it. You want to know where you can get your hands on the hard stuff, don't you. And you think I'm avoiding the point, hiding the goods, stashing the map, denying your god-given right ot free access to information, self-inflicted liver damage and an all-around good time? Well, fine. Here they are: Delicato Vineyards, The Lucas Winery, Woodbridge Winery, Oak Ridge Vineyards, Peirano Estate, Phillips Vineyards, Spenker Winery, St. Amant Winery and Gnekow Family Winery. Just don't blame me if in the morning you can't remember how you ended up in some kid's sandbox wearing a diaper. Unless of course, I'm driving... |
|
|
Now, in case you think there's nothing to do in Lodi, you're wrong. Granted, we didn't stay in Lodi or eat in Lodi or do anything but the reunion in Lodi, but there's stuff to do. Once you spend the day getting warmed up with a wine-ing tour, they've got nightlife, too. It seems to consist of a Cocktail Lounge, Coffeeshop, a couple of bars with live music and, my favorite based on not having been to any of them, the Lodi Casino, officially billed as a "Card Room..next door to Del Monte Bar". Sounds nice and intimate, no big ten-table casinos to bring out that claustrophobia. |
|
Okay, so I'm in avoidance. Micke Grove Park is the thing in which the consciousness of the reunion was caught, so I should be saying something about it here, shouldn't I? Let's see, if you troll the internet you find the chamber of commerce page on the park and the official park website. But, wait, let me you save you a trip --and I quote, steal and liberally borrow:
Micke Grove Zoo is a five-acre AZA accredited Zoo with mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. Micke Grove Park also features a Japanese Garden, San Joaquin County Historical Museum, Rides, and picnic areas in a beautiful oak grove setting. You'll find some pictures of the park and zoo if you follow the links, but I've included a few that I shot to the left. Click on any of them --heck, click on most pictures in this little escapade-- and you'll see bigger versions. |
||||||
|
|
||||||