# 134 - October 29th, 2008

Greetings one and all…Are you sitting comfortably - then I shall begin…As usual, let’s start with a Valley Quiz!...This time it’s based on my adventures this past weekend out and about in The Valley - answers at the end…
1. Who is the quarterback for this year’s high school football team?
2. How much does it cost to park and walk at Hendy Woods?
3. Who are the owners of the Apple Farm?
A Vulture’s weekend…Last Friday afternoon, accompanied by the Silver Skylark, I decided to fly down to Santa Rosa to watch the A.V.H.S. Boys play a crucial soccer game at Roseland Prep. Along with about thirty other A.V. fans who had also made the trip, I very much enjoyed the remarkable comeback by the Panthers from 0-3 down to tie 3-3 and thus almost certainly secure a second place league finish in the regular season and a home game in the first play-off round…Following all this excitement I quickly turned round and zoomed back to the Fairgrounds in Boonville in time to see the second half action as the Football Panthers clinched an excellent victory, 14-12 against a fine Rincon Valley team, also setting up the real possibility of a play-off game…Panther sports – clearly it’s the place to be!…
Despite a mild hangover as a result of my celebrations on Friday night, I found myself flying over Navarro Vineyards on Saturday morning and, along with Skylark and fellow visitors, joined winery ‘owner’ Sarah Bennett and Border Collies, Grace and Rose, as they attempted the very difficult task of moving a flock of seventy-five sheep through the low-lying vines to new grazing pastures up in the foothills on the eastern side of The Valley. One hour later, and after some chaotic moments, the job was complete – well done to all!…It was thirsty work so a visit to the Apple Farm and a cool bottle of apple juice was next on the schedule. It’s very pleasant that in this day and age the Apple Farm is still able to offer the ‘honor system’ and customers are trusted to help themselves to the fine array of products on display and pay what they owe by leaving the money in a box. Not only did I devour two juices but I also bought some crispy fresh Philo Gold and Baldwin apples – and truly delicious they were too…
Next stopover was Hendy Woods just a little further along the Philo-Greeenwood Road where there is a similar “trust” method on the charge for a walk in the beautiful and majestic Redwoods. Obviously there is nothing wrong with that but, unlike at the Apple Farm, there is no change box and so what are you to do if, like me (I only had a $20 bill), you do not have the exact change to leave in the envelope that is provided? I went in anyway and hoped the Ranger would understand my dilemma, and that of other visitors I’m sure. After a peaceful, serene, and at times mesmerizing walk (if everyone could do this once a month I’m sure the world would be a better place), the Ranger arrived as I was flying away…I would like to think that he would have understood, or even better, will come up with a way of rectifying this situation…
After a brief break to nibble on some carrion, it was down to The Deep End for the final live music night of the year at The Navarro Store. As I arrived I was greeted by a wonderful smell emanating from Pablo’s grill along with the superb sounds of the Bobby Young Project resonating from the stage. The “usual suspects” were all there and by the time the headline act, Willie G and The G-Spots, were in mid-set, there was a crowd of about one hundred people having a wonderful time. Following a most satisfying plate of ribs washed down with some cold beers, I was just thinking that Dave Evans and his staff have provided a wonderful regular gathering place and event for the community all summer long when, for reasons that are still unclear, some serious “Deep End Discussions” broke out…It was quite ugly and several innocent by-standers became unwittingly involved. One very inebriated, dark and curly-haired individual completely lost it at one point, turning over three large picnic tables and swinging out wildly at anyone within range. I left shortly thereafter, as did many of those present – which was just too bad. Once again, and even in such an out-of-the-way place as Navarro, the enjoyment of so many had been spoilt by the selfishness of so few…
On Sunday it was time to pay a visit to one of my favorite Valley events – The Barn Sale on Anderson Valley Way. On my arrival, Bill Holcomb was busy at the grill with wife Eva, Gloria Ross, and friends graciously helping the many customers. I picked up a couple of bargains and as I devoured my succulent Holcomburger, I was able to watch three sheep dogs being put through their paces in the field alongside. From what I could tell, they appeared to be mostly in control and, following the successes of the school sports’ teams, in football terms, it seemed to be about a 28-7 victory to the dogs – yer gotta like that…
Meanwhile, I hope you have all been working on your Halloween costumes because there are a couple of big events coming up in The Valley this weekend. On the night itself, Friday October 31st, there’s a costume party with all sorts of other goodies, not to mention ‘Scary-oke’, at The Boonville Lodge, and on Saturday, 1st November, it’s the Magic Company’s “20,008 Leagues under the Sea” costume party at The A.V. Grange - I’ll be one dressed as some sort of bird of prey!...
Well, after such an intense few days of “top quality investigative reporting” around the Valley, I shall not feel guilty at all about receiving my huge salary from the A.V.A. this week!...I’ll get my coat, shall I?…Be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts, and may your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at …turkeyvultutre1 @ earthlink.net
Quiz answers…
1. David Swanson is the school Q.B. who has led the Panthers to their unbeaten record so far…
2. $6 – and for such a special place, it’s a no-brainer…
3. Karen Schmidt and Tim Bates are those trusting souls who produce some of the best apples anywhere