Classic trailers of all types to converge on Old Town Auburn, CA, on September 25 and 26.
Since I had my Airstream polished earlier this year, it turns heads where ever I take it. Driving in the slow lane on freeways, other drivers honk and wave as they pass by. Seems like everyone gets a kick out of old travel trailers, and as I learned quickly when I started organizing an exhibition for this fall in Old Town Auburn, there are many people passionate about them.
In April, I participated in an event called the Coloma Campout, held annually at a campground near the Gold Discovery site about 15 miles from Auburn. This gathering drew nearly 50 vintage trailers, and though it was not open to the public, everyone granted tours to other participants.
It was so much fun, I thought it would be very cool to do an event in Auburn, so I pitched the Old Town Business Association (of which I am a member) and the group loved the idea. My goal is to get at least 25 trailers to participate, and we are well on our way to hitting that mark.
I prepared a news release for local media, and rather than rewrite it for my blog, it is reproduced below, along with a fact sheet. If you own a trailer and would like to participate, please contact me as soon as possible at gary@carpevinoauburn.com or 530-308-2698.
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The very first Old Town Auburn Vintage Trailer Classic is set for September 25 and 26 in the Juror’s Parking lot across from the Placer County Courthouse in Auburn, CA, just off the Maple St. exit on I-80. Sponsored by the Old Town Business Association and Carpe Vino, a wine shop and restaurant, more than 25 vintage trailers will be on display. Visitors will be invited to get an up-close look at trailer interiors.
This is the largest coach to be displayed in Old Town Auburn in Sepetember, a 1986 Airstream, owned by Eray Honeycutt of Berkeley.
A highlight of this free event will be an entry from Vince Martinico of Newcastle, the leading expert on vintage trailers in the United States. His coaches have been featured in books, movies and television shows. Trailers on display will range from completely restored examples to those that are in rougher stages.
“California is a hotbed for RVing, and people really seem to have an appreciation and fascination for old trailers that evoke a different time and way of life,” said Gary Moffat, organizer of the event and owner of Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn. “Vintage trailers from all over northern California will be on display, including a number of entries from enthusiasts who live in the Auburn area.”
Many of the coaches showcased will be classic Airstreams, the all-aluminum clad trailers with unique “bullet” styling, the iconic land yachts that launched a nomadic lifestyle on America’s burgeoning highway system. The brand was the brainchild of Wally Byam in the mid-1930s, and the goal for this event is to include at least one example of an Airstream representing each decade from the 1940s to the present.
“We’re anticipating at least 25 vintage trailers representing a range of makers and sizes,” Moffat said. “We’ll have everything from a 13-foot Airstream Bambi to the giant rigs in excess of 30 feet.” All trailers will be open and available for viewing, giving visitors and glimpse of beautiful wood interiors and period appointments.
Moffat, who owns a brightly polished 1972 Airstream Globe Trotter, said the event is seeking out more trailers, and anyone interested in displaying can contact him for more details at gary@carpevinoauburn.com. Though this will be a “dry camping” event with no hook-up services, participants are encouraged to stay overnight in the parking lot. On Saturday evening, Carpe Vino will host a wine and appetizers event at the restaurant in Old Town for all trailer owners participating.
One of the smallest trailers on display is a beautifully restored, pink and white 1959 Traveleze, owned by Rachel and Joel Harp of Penryn, CA.
The Old Town Auburn Vintage Trailer Classic is intended not only to be a fun event, it is also designed to encourage locals and out-of-towners to visit the historic district. “The Old Town Business Association is always searching for new ideas to draw people into our shops and restaurants,” Moffat said. “With the long-time popularity and success of Cruise Nite Downtown, we think there will significant crossover interest that will hopefully translate into good crowds.”
Moffat said the trailer show is just one of many attractions on a typical weekend: “This is a great opportunity for people to take the Saturday morning guided tour of Old Town, visit the Farmers’ Market, explore the shops and have lunch before the trailer show opens at 3 p.m.”
For more information and updates, visit www.vintagehighway.com.
Just the Facts:
Event: The Old Town Vintage Trailer Classic
Sponsors: Old Town Business Association, Carpe Vino, VintageHighway.com
Where: The Jurors’ Parking Lot, Auburn Folsom Rd and Lincoln Way, Old Town Auburn, CA
When: Saturday, September 25, 3 to 7 p.m.; Sunday, September 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Trailers Sought: All types, at least 30 years old, though we will be seeking a few newer Airstreams to demonstrate the evolution of the brand. Condition of trailers is not an issue. . .no matter if trailer is in rough stage or totally restored
Set up: Starting as soon as the Farmers’ Market exits on Saturday, by about 1 p.m.
Cost: No cost for exhibitors or attendees
Services: We are hoping to provide electricity; no sewer or water hookups
Exhibit: All trailers must be open for viewing.
Reception: A wine and appetizer event will be held at Carpe Vino in Old Town for all participants (no cost)
Overnight Parking: Participants are welcome to stay overnight in their trailers on Saturday, though no services are available
Promotion: This event will be highly publicized through newspapers, television, radio and direct contact with trailer and RV organizations
Confirmation Information: Name, phone number, email, trailer type, length
More information: gary@carpevinoauburn.com or call 530-308-2698.
Lake County, Part 3 of 4. . .
Gregory Graham is a no-shit kinda guy. . .okay?
He is the quintessential, no-pretense, no-hidden-agenda, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, it’s-my-way-or-the-highway, irrevocably driven winemaker.
He’s my kinda guy. . .okay?
None-the-less, I was a bit apprehensive about meeting him for the first time. Though Carpe Vino has successfully represented his brand by selling an enviable amount of his wine, Greg and I had never shaken hands. And then there was a sticky business issue that we had resolved, but I worried there might be residual feelings with which to deal.
The fact that Greg welcomed me to park my Airstream on his property for a few days helped mitigate my lingering apprehension, and after I arrived and finished setting up, he warmed up quickly. . .even though Moose—all 15 pounds of him soaking wet—was a knucklehead, attacking Greg’s boots and making a lunge for Rex, Greg’s sweetheart of a chocolate Labrador.
Greg is an accomplished and savvy winemaker who brings instant legitimacy to the Lake County AVA, a region that is a kind of awkward youth with boundless, raw energy and enthusiasm yet struggling for recognition in the presence of much more refined and proven siblings. Before launching his own label, he worked for 21 years for the Classic California Chardonnay Juggernaut, Napa’s Rombauer Vineyards, most of it as winemaker.
- Greg and Marianne Graham
A native of Ohio, he helped work his family’s Concord grape vineyard as a youth; before moving to California in 1980 he served in the military and graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Then it was on to U.C. Davis where he earned a B.S. in enology in 1983. After a successful career toiling for others, Greg and his wife, Marianne—an attorney employed by Marin County—purchased 13 acres of hillside winery property in Lake County in 2000.
At an age when many people start thinking about retirement, Greg built his a crush pad and winery building in 2006, and went full time on his own project in 2009. The estate, with the Crimson Hill Vineyard as its centerpiece, now encompasses 27 acres where Greg—who wears dual hats of viticulturist and winemaker—grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel and Syrah.
Greg, who is fit and lean from a combination of laboring in the vineyards and riding his bike in the hills of Lake County, sells his Cabernet grapes to big dogs such as Stag’s Leap, Hawk’s Crest, Sutter Home and Rombauer. He reserves enough of his finest fruit and purchases a limited amount of grapes to produce about 3,500 cases of Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Zinfandel, Riesling, Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The Graham’s personal residence sits atop the estate, at about 2,000 feet in the Red Hills AVA, which could be one of the hottest up-and-coming appellations in California, with soil so densely red it should be ground up as a pigment for artist’s paints. This stuff is volcanic, rocky and like a submissive, grape vines seem to beg to be abused by this rich but arid dominatrix of a terrior that peaks at about 3,000 feet.
- The view from near the top of the Crimson Hill Vineyard. . .it is a lot steeper than it looks!
Imagine looking out your front window every morning—as the Grahams do—and being greeted by a staggering view all around, 180° of lush vineyards, with mountain-clad Clear Lake in your front yard, so close it seems to be yours. Just beyond the base of the estate are never-to-be-developed McVicar Wildlife Refuge and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Still water backs up to the property in the form of Pinkeye Lake, a vernal pool that fills with seasonal runoff and is home to lake egrets and groves of walnut trees.
It seems that every component of the terrior is essential to developing the rich qualities of the fruit here, but it is clearly Clear Lake that makes all the difference. At 43,785 acres, this is the largest natural, freshwater lake wholly in California (Tahoe isn’t), 18 miles long and seven miles at its widest point, with 127 miles of shoreline.
You can almost hear the sucking noise as cool airs pumps across Clear Lake from the Pacific in what Greg calls “mistrals,” cold dry northeasterly winds, the kind that blow commonly in the south of France. In the evening, as I experienced during two nights of rocking in my Airstream, the wind can resolutely demonstrate its chilly will.
Unlike Napa, there is little fog in Lake County and temperatures can swing 50 degrees during the day. Relentless sunlight and UV rays call for a different kind of vineyard management, as Greg learned early on. “Initially, I tried to import the Napa footprint, but I’ve come to find it doesn’t work here,” he said. The issue is vertical shoot positioning exposes too much light to the fruit, encouraging it to ripen too early, resulting in unfavorable brix and PH levels. So, Greg has participated in a “Red Wine Working Group,” to develop vineyard management methods that are more protective of the fruit. This results in optimum ripening and development of phenolics and tannins—the components that influence color, flavors and mouthfeel of wine—especially in Cabernet fruit of which he cultivates 13 acres.
The winery is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there is no fee to taste. You can call ahead to make an appointment for a private tour of the estate, and you are welcome to bring your dog along when you visit.
Sometime soon the tour will include a look at the Graham’s guest house, which is in the final stages of remodeling. The house, which has a huge deck and spa with a stunning panorama of Clear Lake, will sleep eight people and features amenities that rival anything I’ve seen in Napa. It is sure to rank as one of the top accommodations in Lake County, and no doubt it will be heavily booked.
Let’s talk wine, okay? The first varietal we encountered was the Gregory Graham 2007 Zinfandel (Crimson Hill Vineyard), and it was an instant hit in Carpe Vino. Big raspberry flavor up front with dark chocolate and orange zest. It is priced nicely at $24, and a new vintage is in the batter’s circle.
The trend I observed across Lake County is that wines are priced fairly. Same at Grergory Graham where most wines are under $20. “Wine should not be a luxury,” Greg said. “People are starting to get it. . .expensive wines are not necessarily better.”
Here’s something cool. . .no wine before its time: Greg normally ages wine in the bottle for a full year. “Why sell the wine before it tastes good?” he asked. “I know you can drive the business based on the numbers, but we want to put quality wine out there.”
I sampled through Greg’s entire line-up in the tasting room, and I enjoyed a host of his wines at dinner in his home. Marianne made a delightful Cesar salad and an amazing risotto with sausage, peppers and asparagus that I enjoyed with Greg’s Pinot and Zin. It was a great evening of food, wine and wine talk.
Actually, I liked the wines so much, I pitched Greg and Marianne on doing a wine dinner with Carpe Vino, and they agreed. They’ll be joining us on Thursday, July 29th for a five-course dinner. Check the Carpe Vino web site for details.
Gregory Graham Winery
13633 Point Lakeview Road
Lower Lake, CA 95457
707-995-3500 707-995-3500
Click here for a link to winery web site
Part 2 of 4 Posts. . .
It didn’t take long to get the Airstream settled in at Gregory Graham, especially since Greg agreed to back my trailer down the short grassy lane that terminated under the massive limbs of a walnut tree next to his Cabernet vineyard and adjacent to an 1,800 square foot guest house he’ll soon have available for rent. I really hate to back my Globe Trotter, particularly when other people are around. There is something particularly debilitating to one’s manhood when you fail to maneuver in a straight line in a single, sweet swing. I find it less of a blow to my ego to solicit help rather than to demonstrate my total incompetence, though in private moments while backing into a space at home, my rudimentary skills are beginning to surface.
I had an appointment for the early afternoon to meet with Matt Hughes, winemaker of Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, and it appeared to be less than 15 minutes away, so I headed straight over. The winery association’s map was a bit out of scale, so while I knew I was on the right road, my internal GPS taunted me that I had gone too far, especially when I passed Action Sanitary, a purveyor of portable potties.
No matter, I continued until a telltale vineyard appeared and I turned into Six Sigma’s 4,300-acre estate. Though there was no way I could miss the tasting room, I drove and drove and drove with my GPS alarm nagging again. Turns out it is a full two miles from the gate to the tasting room! This ranch is huge, clogged with massive trees and pierced by 38 miles of gravel roads and trails. Yet with all of this lavish space, there are just three vineyards comprising about 50 acres. . .leaving tons of room to grow and to support other agri-enterprises, such as raising beef cattle and sheep.
At the end of the day, though, this place is all about conserving a vast tract of Lake County. It is the private preserve of Kaj Ahlmann, former CEO of Employers Reinsurance, a part of GE Capital Services. At one time a board member of General Electric, Ahlmann was born in Denmark and graduated from the University of Copenhagen where he earned an MA in mathematical statistics. Though now retired, he still travels most of each month fulfilling business commitments.
The Six Sigma logo is a variation of the symbol for "perfection".
There is something incongruent–even a bit disturbing–to me about the name “Six Sigma,” a registered moniker that springs directly from high-tech manufacturing. In the quest to achieve perfection in building anything, Six Sigma is as close as you can come. General Electric’s web site definition: “Six Sigma is a highly disciplined process that helps us focus on developing and delivering near-perfect products and services. . .To achieve Six Sigma Quality, a process must produce no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. An “opportunity” is defined as a chance for nonconformance, or not meeting the required specifications. This means we need to be nearly flawless in executing our key processes.”
When applied to making wine, seeking Six Sigma is a futile pursuit right off the bat if natural corks are employed as closures. With a failure rate estimated as high as five percent, pursing Six Sigma will make you crazy. If, however, the dream is to make a “perfect” bottle of wine with amazing aromas, flavors that stagger the palate, characteristics that evoke the terrior, that pairs exquisitely with food and drives the person sipping to distraction. . .then I suppose I come closer to understanding.
I spent the bulk of my career in telecommunications, writing about and talking about technologies that I rarely fully understood (so don’t ask me to explain ISO 9000, another standard for measuring quality). And that’s why I love working in the wine industry. Basically, you need to satisfy two questions: Does it taste good and is it affordable?
So, I expected Kaj Ahlmann–who appears rather stern in his marketing photos–to be a digital kind of person, with the Nordic demeanor of “it is either mandatory or forbidden.” Thankfully, that just wasn’t the case when I met him, though even clad in ranch wear of plaid shirt and jeans, his corporate persona shone through brilliantly.
Here is a person who has the extraordinary means to just relax and enjoy his retirement, but, instead, takes on an entirely new challenge that remains true to his Six Sigma dogma. And while I am certain he has the resources to simply throw money at building a winery empire, he isn’t. He isn’t exactly taking baby steps either, but this place definitely is being built out one piece at a time (unlike Lake County neighbor Brassfield Estates, but more about that in another post).
Already completed is a cave for storing 350 barrels. Wine is made out-of-doors on a completed concrete crush pad; structure to come. A house on the ranch was converted into a tasting room, but a new, three-storey, multi-function building is underway, though construction is temporarily halted because of a low water table issue. The completed facility will include a wine-making component, tasting room, offices and four guest rooms.
I met Kaj and his winemaker, Matt Hughes in the tasting room. Actually, I met most of the family. . .Christian, his son and viticulturist who earned a degree in horticulture from Kansas State; wife of 39 years, Else; and a daughter, working in the business while home for the summer from university. . .but she was mesmerized by Moose, and I didn’t get her name (though the Ahlmanns have four children, daughters Marianne and Annette, plus another son, Michael).
During our preliminary chat, I got all the basics: The ranch was purchased in 2000; vineyards range from 1,400 to 1,700 feet and are home to Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Pinot Noir vines. This year, the winery will produce up to 8,000 cases, with an aim of peaking at 25,000.
Matt offered to take me for a tour of the ranch, so he fired up the Austrian-made 1973 Pinzgauer 712M, a six-wheeled troop carrier that goes anywhere. I had been looking forward to meeting Matt because I knew he–like me–lived in the Chicago area before moving to California to work in wine.
Employed as a server in various restaurants, Matt was bitten by the wine bug while at Carlos’ in Highland Park, an affluent North Shore suburb of Chicago. Carlos’ is noted for contemporary French cuisine, with a wine collection that Matt said fills an entire building.
His story is remarkable. . .he landed in Lake County 10 years ago with limited credentials and was able to get on at Wildhurst Vineyards in Kelseyville. From there, he moved to Kendall Jackson in Lakeport and then on to Vérité in Sonoma where he apprenticed under noted winemaker Pierre Sellan. Then it was back to Lake County where he served as the first president of the fledgling Lake County Winery Association and was appointed winemaker for Six Sigma in April, 2009.
Winemaker Matt Hughes and Owner Kaj Ahlmann
Matt’s laid-back personality makes him a perfect fit in this job and in this place, but he’s still getting the hang of piloting the Pinzgauer. We ambled up to the Christian’s Diamond Mine Vineyard (all of the blocks are named after the Ahlmann children) at about 1,700 feet, dismounted and walked the entire perimeter. Moose was beside himself with all of the space, and ran himself into the ground.
Talking to winery people all over Lake County, it was clear that the growing conditions are vastly different than neighboring Mendocino and Napa. There is no costal fog, and temperatures can swing 50 degrees over a single day.
“We’re really conscious of sunlight here because we have so much of it,” Matt said. “We have a difficult style of farming here, but we think it works pretty well.
He described some techniques used at Six Sigma to try and get optimum sunlight to the vines as well as using the 40 sheep on the ranch to help in the vineyard. They are called upon for a variety of services, from mowing to fertilizing to experimenting with suckering.
Back at the tasting room we sampled through Six Sigma’s entire line-up of a half dozen wines: two Sauvignon Blancs, a Rosé, Tempranillo, Pinot and an interesting Bordeaux blend called Cuvée Pique-Nique, a combination of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc and 2% Petite Verdot. It is 100% Lake County fruit aged in French oak for 18 months with a modest 13.4% alcohol. At $18, it is a huge value, and soon we’ll be offering it for sale at Carpe Vino.
Though Kaj and his family have yet to achieve Six Sigma, I for one would stay out of his way. His is a lofty goal, but he has the will and experience to try.
Six Sigma Ranch and Winery
13372 Spruce Grove Rd.
Lower Lake, CA 95457
707-994-4068
www.sixsigmaranch.com
Next: Gregory Graham Wines
Part 1 0f 4 Posts. . .
I awoke Saturday morning with sun blazing through the windows of my Airstream, where I was parked for three days at the Gregory Graham Winery in Lake County. Moose, my year-old Italian greyhound, was asleep under the comforter, and I had to basically boot him out of the trailer to do his business. He glared back at me standing between two rows of Cabernet vines with his ears pinned back against his skull, a sure sign he was not happy in the frigid morning air, but he peed none-the-less.
My traveling companion, Moose.
After making coffee, I had my second consecutive meal of Raisin Bran cereal with strawberries and sheep’s milk. Friday night I was prepared to cap a perfect day by grilling a steak to pair with a very nice Paso Robles Tempranillo from Four Vines called “Loco”, but a fierce wind storm erupted out of nowhere through the hillside passes surrounding Clear Lake just below the vineyard where the Airstream was parked under a giant walnut tree. Lighting the grill was not possible, so I discovered that the creaminess of the sheep’s milk, the crunch of the bran and the sweetness of fresh strawberries rouse the rich, dense fruit flavors of the Tempranillo. You should try it. . .not.
So, I can hear you thinking. . .of all the places to travel, what was Gary doing in Lake County? Good question, actually. I’ve driven Rte. 20 across the top of Clear Lake many times on my way to the coast, but other than stopping at Ceago Vinegarden, an interesting newer estate built from old Fetzer money, there wasn’t a hook to make me pull over. This stretch of road clinging to the lake reminds me of when I was a kid in Chicago, trekking up to Wisconsin and staying in a tiny, moldy cabin with my family. It was raw, primitive and uncomfortable; all I wanted to do was go home after the first damp night.
When you think of the top growing regions in California, Lake County doesn’t even come up on the radar. For a host of reasons, it’s just not part of the conversation among wine buyers. . .when have you heard someone say, “Wow, I just had this fabulous bottle of Cab. . .from Lake County.” In terms of consumer consciousness, Lake County might as well be on the moon. . .but I have the sense this will change, and it will change quickly as the wine community here gets its act together and as more external wineries highlight “Lake County” on the wines they are making from fruit sourced here.
I decided to make a Vintage Highway stop in Lake County after doing some research for our Wine Club tasting notes for a Molnar Family Pinot Noir and learned that the fruit for Obsidian Cabernet—part of the family’s Tricycle group of labels—is made from grapes grown at about 3,000 feet in the Red Hills AVA of Lake County. That struck me as very interesting since Molnar Family is regarded as the founding family of Carneros, with a stellar vineyard at the furthest northern edge of San Francisco Bay. If Molnar has established a vineyard in Lake County, the place must be for real.
Then I began noticing that we’re introducing more and more Lake County wines in Carpe Vino. Jelly Jar, a wildly popular Zinfandel made in Napa is produced from fruit sourced in Lake County, as is Sonoma’s Jus Soli Zinfandel (Madder Vineyard, Lake County). And then there is Gregory Graham, late of Rombauer for 21 years. We’ve sold a ton of his incredible Zinfandel, and that’s why Moose, the Airstream and I were parked in Greg’s Cab vineyard with a drop-dead gorgeous view of the mountains surrounding Clear Lake.
2006 Derenoncourt Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills Vineyard), $40
More evidence that Lake County is for real: French phenom Stéphane Derenoncourt–who consults for some 70 wineries around the globe–recently released a 2006 Lake Count Red Hills Cabernet Savignon that Wine Spectator’s James Laube awared 92 points (June 15, 2010). It is $40 per bottle, a pittance compared to Derenoncourt’s soldout Napa Cab that went for $220 per pop. Laube’s column extols the numerous virtues of Lake County’s wine industry, yet presents a dispassionate assestment of its challenges and liablities.
I have yet to taste the Derenoncourt Lake County Cab, but I’ve ordered six bottles through the winery’s web site (www.derenoncourtcalifornia.com), and I’m talking to Stéphane’s people about bringing the wine into Carpe Vino if we can get it wholesale. It is confirmation from superstars such as Derenoncourt that could help catapult this AVA from relative obscurity.
And there are other notables involved here. Andy Beckstoffer owns a vineyard; Jed Steele, formerly of Kendall Jackson, toils along side his son, Quincy. And Robledo Family Winery has just opened a new tasting room here, extending their reach into this burgeoning region. Patriarch Reynaldo Robledo last month was a guest at the state dinner hosted by President Obama to honor the visit of Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon, where five cases of the 2007 Robledo Los Carneros Chardonnay were served ($38).
Entering the sweet spot of Lake County after turning left on to Rte. 53 and dropping down to Lower Lake, I understood why I did not more fully appreciate this region. Grape growing and wine making encompasses the rim of the entire lake, and I had seen but a fraction of the action. Thriving vineyards climb the steep slopes at regular intervals, but, remarkably, there is scant signage pointing the way to the individual wineries that are the foundation of this nascent agri-industry.
These days, it takes a lot to get me excited, but even a crusty old character like me could not resist the allure of this place. I was smitten by the magnificent landscape; by the bootstrapped family wineries; by the fabulous, affordable wines I found on virtually every stop.
I’ll fill you in the next few posts on what I learned and my impressions of this gratifying stop on the Vintage Highway.
Next: Six Sigma Ranch & Winery
The setting at Coloma Resort was just amazing. . .first it was necessary to traverse a one-lane bridge across the American River.
We get our first campground experience with 41 other Airstreams and vintage trailers in Coloma, CA.
The setting at Coloma Resort was just amazing. . .first it was necessary to traverse a one-lane bridge across the American River.
The thing I appreciate most about owning my Airstream trailer is that it provides a platform for escape. When I park my rig at a winery, I know that at least during the evening hours I will have the place to myself. Don’t get me wrong–I really enjoy meeting people and talking to old friends–but I relish the opportunity of isolation, unless of course my friend, Ellen, can join me.
Until this weekend, I never understood why folks who own trailers pull them long distances to faraway campgrounds to park bumper to bumper in a lot full of other trailers. It just never made sense to me why people would want to intentionally live in tenement-style conditions, with the ability to look straight into another mobile home. Privacy is limited and there are no secrets in any RV campground.
But after spending the weekend at the Coloma Resort, just 17 miles from Auburn, I get it now. . .sort of. Ellen and I participated in the Coloma Campout 2010, a gathering of more than 40 vintage trailers and a few newer coaches. Most of the rigs were old school Airstreams, including a number of 1950s-era “Bubble” models, tiny trailers that cram in a kitchen, toilet, bed and table in as little as 13 feet of living space. There were other great nameplates such as Cardinal, Jewel and Boles Aero. For someone with a new interest in venerable trailers, it was a tasty feast.
The Coloma Resort isn’t your typical campground. It is situated directly behind a state park at Sutter’s Mill, the 1848 gold discovery site on the American River on Rte. 49 between Auburn and Placerville. Each trailer site backed right up to the river, which was flowing swiftly–thanks to a heavy spring thaw in the Sierra–and carried ample raft and kayak traffic. Everything was green, the weather cool with threats of rain each day of the weekend.
As soon as I pulled up, I met Bob, who guided me backing my trailer into my spot. He gave me a ton of great advice–especially how to level the trailer and maintain the hitch system. Actually, everyone at the event was great. . .we were invited into every trailer to take a look and there was plenty to see. Many of these folks have spent an incredible amount of time and money to refurbish their trailers, and they are happy to share what they know and to show off their rigs.
What became abundantly clear to me was the importance of the social aspects of the meet. Many of the participants have been coming to the event for years, and many in the group had travelled directly from a huge rally of about 250 trailers at Pismo Beach, perhaps the most prestigious of all shows of the genre in California. Just about everyone was acquainted. . .Ellen, Moose and I were newcomers, but welcomed none-the-less.
Unfortunately, other than visiting with just about everyone, we failed to penetrate the highly developed party circuit, and that was our fault. Ellen and I went to Cafe Mahjaic, a fine dining restaurant in Lotus on Friday evening. Saturday evening we had to return to Auburn for a wedding reception, and we slept in both mornings. . .effectively missing all of the planned potluck meals and social functions.
I think we may have screwed up, but no one seemed to miss us. If we’re invited to go back next year, we’ll do it right. . .especially now that we know how it works; this was, after all, our first formal event.
Bottom line is we had a great time, and with more experience, I’m starting to become more comfortable using my Airstream. Now, I need to get a small leak in the plumbing fixed and figure out where my next stop will be on the Vintage Highway.
This blog will follow my monthly trips into wine country across California, Oregon, Washington and, some day, around the country. As the owner of Carpe Vino, a wine shop, wine bar and fine dining restaurant in Auburn, CA, I have direct access to the leading wineries and winemakers in the business. I’ll be traveling the back roads of wine country to find the true gems, small production wines made by truly passionate people. In my nightly blogs on the road, I’ll tell their stories and describe what I’ve seen, learned and tasted.
