Another Tuesday, and I am off to Napa Valley. I thought this would be a return trip to a familiar place. Wineries, galleries, and grapevines. Wrong. I was treated to an insider view of the beautiful landscape.
First stop Solano Lake Park.

Lake Solano Park

What do you see? I’m always seeing something. This time, a kind of rabbit. Or the shape of one of my grandson’s stuffed monsters
I looked up the Monticello Dam and found out that this spillway provides a safety valve during an El Niño. I guess I will need to make another visit since California is still in a drought. The concrete structure inspired this photograph.

Monticello Dam curves
Across from the dam a highway crew was shoring up a cliff to prevent a rock slide. I got the opportunity to photograph as the workers were scaling the sides since we had to wait for a lead car.

Cliffs found near the Monticello Dam

Highway crew scales cliff
The Butter Cream Bakery located in Napa provided us with a real local dining experience. Yum!
I took this photo and processed it two different ways trying to get a feeling of the age. Dull versus extreme bright colors. Which do you like?
Original

Butter Cream Bakery in Napa
Does this bring back a 1950’s feel?
Or does the bright colors take you back?

Mustard flowers grow along grapevines

Mustard blossoms all around

Napa Valley view westward

Alpaca graze in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Grapevines and Mustard

Ditto pokes his head out to say hello

More concrete forms. What is it?

Tree in winter

Wine Bottle Art Sculpture

Main Street in Napa at the Golden Hour.

City of Napa
Hope this shows a different side to the Napa experience. Traveling with my camera exposes me to so much around me. (Pun intended!) Tomorrow I am off to explore with my great camera group. New name for group coming next time.