39 replies to this topic

[Pauli]

What an amazing trip! I feel so guilty just showing up and having such a great time knowing all the work that goes into this behind the scenes. Flash once again orchestrated everything to perfection, and did a ton of work to make this all happen w/o a hitch. Bandit did some great recon work as well - What an awesome course! He did a terrific job of being the rabbit as well - What a way to get your adrenaline going! It was great to see some folks that I met two years ago, as well as some new faces - Just a great group of people to spend time with. Hats off also to the dedication for those coming from afar - The Canadian's, New Yorkers, North Carolinian's, and Pennsylvanian's - Hope I'm not leaving anybody out here. Well it sounds like this may have been the end of a decade of great Paso Wine Tours and Fun Runs. As we all know, Flash beats to a different drummer (In a good way) I wish I had his energy. That being said -.What would you all think about having an event on the west coast at around the same time each year whereby a different person would host it each year? We could keep the same theme, as there are numerous wineries from the Canadian Border to Mexico. Maybe one year someone could host a micro-brew tour in Oregon for instance - Maybe it's just left up the host. That being said, I could start by offering to host in the Napa Valley in 2014. I could host all the meals at the winery (Flora Springs Winery) in St Helena. We also have a 33 room inn just 3 minutes away in Rutherford (Rancho Caymus Inn) where I could get a very good rate on rooms for everyone. I could arrange some very interesting private tours and tastings at various wineries with winemakers and owners. There are countless spas in the area as well - So for those interested in that - Have no fear. There is a fair amount of bicycle traffic in the immediate vicinity, so the fun runs may go through the Napa Valley and over to the Sonoma Coast etc... Plenty of time to figure out all the details of that though. So do you think there would be enough people willing to host to make something like this work? In the meantime, maybe folks could chime in w/ their 2 preferred months (Sept - Nov are out for me due to harvest) i.e 1st choice April, 2nd choice June etc.... How many people would be willing to head to Napa Valley? Flash, if you want to post this in another area, so it's not on your Paso thread - Go ahead. I just wanted to touch base w/ those that I know were on the Paso run. I'll put a few pic's here of where I would host some events at the winery and a picture of our Inn. Thanks again for a great time in Paso everyone! Pauli p.s If winter months work better - We also have an Inn in Scottsdale on a golf course - (Southwest Inn at Eagle Mountain) No wineries, but lots of golf and spas - Just sayin......Might be able to get a larger gathering from other states. Let's start w/ the Napa one first though.

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•  Flora Pavillion.jpg   161.63KB   1 downloads
•  Rancho Caymus.jpg   290.63KB   1 downloads
•  Eagle Mountain Arizona.jpg   70.81KB   2 downloads
•  Eagle Mountain.jpg   56.62KB   2 downloads

[Pauli]

Re-Post from Paso thread

[ryker]

Pauli,
Great to meet you this weekend! What a fantastic trip, and a great group of people. You know I would be down for a Napa trip. I'm there every couple of months as it is. I think anytime in the Spring would be nice because of the cooler temperatures, and everything is so much more green than Summer. There are so many absolutely amazing wineries. It would be interesting to see which ones you choose for the group.
Ryker

[bva]

where's the sign-up sheet?! Robin and I are in.

would also be willing to set up a Santa Barbara county event in the future that could also include a stop at Firestone Brewery if there was interest.

[Chris Vais]

I'm in.

[ds968]

Yup, I'm in as well for a Napa meet. Definitely not in the summer though.

As for the opposite direction ( Santa Barbara ) since I really like Firestone beer, a tasting tour would be a perfect diversion :-) so count me in for that one also :-). Alena will no doubt join me for the SB trip ( we absolutely love Santa Barbara, our best friends and my godson live there, we're in town at least three or four times a year, more for me because I drive to LA another three or four times annually, and then attending the Pacific Open Polo tournament at the beautiful SB Polo Club has been also an almost-annual tradition for a decade now,, etc, so yeah, I can probably force myself ( ourselves ) to make that trip , LOL

[tamathumper]

We're in.

[Rap]

We're in. We had a travelers nightmare getting back. Flight cancelled out of LA. Rebooked to Phila, got there just barely for the last connection home and that cancelled. So now it's 11 pm and they want to put us up in a hotel. So we rent a car and drive home. Of course I get pulled over for speeding in a construction zone. Most of the trip I'm more than following the speed limit. But I'm tired and get pulled over doing 66 in a 40. Really bad results can occur from that infraction. But using my best oratorical skills, I talk my way out of a ticket. Is there a God or what. Despite all we had a blast!

[banditsc]

I'm in...

[Tom030]

Where do we sign up?

[Langley968]

Darlene and I are in Sonoma at the moment, slowly returning to Canada from Paso. This is beautiful country at this time of the year. Would we come down next year again? 1200 miles each way is a LONG way... Maybe ....

[flash]

april is obviously a problem for me, but if it's in june, i'm in.

[PorscheG96]

I'm in.

[tom968]

Sounds good.

It is a long drive for the so cal group. Paso is a 2 day event. In past years
1 day.

I would need 3 days. So 1 year in advance all I can say is maybe.

[Langley968]

Sounds good.

It is a long drive for the so cal group.

I had to chuckle when I read this.
I just drove 1200 miles to get to Paso, so no sympathy for the SoCal group!
LOL

[lbpesq]

Having unfortunately missed Paso this year, I'd jump at the chance to do it in Napa next year. I'd vote for June as the weather is more predictable and warmer.

[flash]

lol - no complaints about the distance here. i dragged my car to the east coast a couple of times for a ridiculously lame swap meet in the rain.

[DaveN]

2400 miles is a doddle for us tough northerners! Now where's my Prep H and my doughnut again?

[tamathumper]

Glad you made it back safely. Has your son recovered from the fun run yet? I would *not* have wanted to be a passenger on those cliff-bordered twisties.

[DaveN]

He screams like a little girl but I have to admit when he was driving a few times I said a few choice words too