Since the Trials are through I have a month of active rest to get my feet under me, or over me. Cloud me! Cloud me!
The adventure continues. . .
My cousin, Jules Maltz, married Kelly Greenwood July 12th at Viansa Vineyard in Sonoma. I made the trek south, and have been wine tasting ever since. I have been thoroughly exploring Sonoma, Napa, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek, Rock Pile, Russian River, Garcia River, Anderson Valley, Navarro River and everything in between. A story couldn't possibly do justice to my journey. My zigzags have taken me over hill, dale, river and everything in between. I am sipping on Dry Creek meritage blend at the moment: the flavor, and warmth is very grounding. I have been searching for the perfect big Red, a cab that can age 15 years, hold its bite, while maturing the tannins. Rafinelli's unfiltered cab has changed my life and my palette forever, and I can thank Kelly and the Roger's family for opening up the wine cellar to me, and their kitchen. However, Rafinelli's does not sell its wine but to an exclusive list of patrons, of which I am not included. Unfiltered wine has all of the microbials buzzing around in its raw essence, piercing the soul, chakras inflamed, singing to angels.
Two nights ago I descended three miles down the sharp canyon walls of the Garcia River, from Fish Rock road outside Point Arena on the Mendocino Coast. I took no water, and had no provisions. My goal was to find the remote hot springs five miles up the river from its ocean confluence. However, with only rough directions from John the bartender at the Lost Whale Inn, the treasure hunt took on epic proportions as I set off down the cliff at close to 9pm with only 45 minutes of twilight before dark. I managed to reach the river at around half past 11pm by pure determination. No hot springs. The trek back up the steep hillside in the dark, through brush, fallen trees, and obstacles of immeasurable description, was one of the most challenging of my career. Luckily it was a full moon! Yet, as midnight came, so did a mist that covered my trail. Soon I was very lost, thirsty and fatigued. I dug a bed out of the hillside, using a log for my base, and covered my self in leaves to keep me warm. I slept most of the night in the woods to the sound of owls.
Now water turns to wine and I am grateful for the simple blessings of life.
I will be at the Afro-Cuban dance and drum camp all of next week. At the closure of camp I will be the featured speaker at the Humboldt Cross-Country camp, coinciding with my own. The last week of July and the first week of August I will be training in the the second level of the Orff Schulwerk at the San Francisco School. Orff is a methodology for teaching music to children! It is my dream to be a children's choir director someday, and this is the perfect training grounds.
I plan on making it back to Eugene August 10th or so, but who can tell where the adventure will take me until then. There are many more valleys to explore on my way. . .
Gabriel
