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| Daffodils |
It was a sunny, breezy Sunday, the third day Daffodil Hill was open. Daffodil Hills is a 4 acre farm owned by the McLaughlin family since 1887. The farm began as a 36-acre ranch and toll road for travelers and teamster hauling timber. In the 1930's, the first visitors stopped to admire the family's garden. Responding to public interest, the family began expanding the flower bed. Today the farms has over 300,000 flowers when they are all in full bloom. For more information on Daffodil Hill, you can go directly to their web site...
www.amadorcountychamber.com/Historic/daffodil_hill.html
Julie and I met Jerry and Doni at the Starbucks in Brentwood. After coffee, tea and pleasantries, we hit the road. The ride across the delta was exceptionally windy. It was one of those cross winds that blow so hard you have to lean into it to ride a straight line. The wind, aided by our speed, entered my left nostril and exited my right. As you might imagine, this gets pretty old, pretty quick.
Once in the foothills, the wind let up and the ride was gorgeous. Green grass, leafy trees, flowers everywhere and wide open roads. When you arrive at the farm, you will certainly be struck by the amount of organization round a free display. The entrance is manned by a State Police officer who directs traffic in and out of the farm and helps the crowds get across the road without injury. There are volunteers that direct parking which includes an area specifically for motorcycles. My only complaint about the parking is dust that is kicked into the air by the traffic in the dirt field that ends up clinging to the bikes. This year was not too bad as the dirt was somewhat moist.
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| Mild Hogs at Daffodil Hill |
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| The Farm |
On the way back we stopped at Mel's and Faye's Diner which is biker friendly and has outside seating. The food is typical diner fare, not bad and reasonably priced. We also decided to swing by the Jackson Harley dealership...it's gone! My guess is that it is a victim of the poor economy and the location. Jackson is not very large and it surprised me that it could support an HD dealership. Well, I guess it can't. We did make a quick stop at the local feed supply store so that I could purchase a bandanna to cover my face (nose) for the ride home. They had a variety of chicks outside, no, not the kind you are thinking...actual poultry. Doni and Jerry took a brief journey back to the farm as they enjoyed the chicks while Julie and I perused the feed store. We managed to find a blue bandanna which Julie tied around my face for the journey home, protecting my sinus from the inevitable reverse flow. It worked, but I still cannot get the smell of feed store and Chinese workers out of my mind as the bandanna was embedded with that particular scent.
Spring is here, so look for more Mild Hog adventures in the near future.
See you on the road.
