Sunday, October 17

Suck Ass Weekend

At least that's how Susan felt this morning, as we were filling the car with rain-soaked camping equipment that we never really used...

It started with great intentions, wanting to take advantage of what could be our last open weekend of 2004. Susan got some tickets to Great America from work, so I planned the weekend on the assumption that Great America = Six Flags, a la Gurnee, IL. We got a walk-in campsite at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, and set the tent up just before it got hella dark.

On the way through St. Helena, I noticed a banner announcing a Harvest Festival that included a Pet Parade. The nice folks in the supermarket told us the parade was at 11 AM, but when we showed up the next morning a few minutes late, it was all over (started at 10). We headed 30 miles south to cash in those free tickets at Six Flags, only to realize that we actually had tickets to Paramount Great America in Santa Clara - 70 miles away. We swallowed that one and made the trip, arriving at the park 3 hours before closing time.

3 long ass lines and 3 decent rides later, they kicked us out. We got back to the campsite around 9:30, put down the obligatory s'mores and headed to bed. It started raining in the middle of the night, and stopped right after we put the tent away this morning. Taking a shower hepled immensely - as did wine tastings at Beringer, V. Sattui and Ballentine before calling it a weekend.

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posted by Brad at 10/17/2004 07:52:00 PM | permalink | 3 comments

3 Comments:

• I was very excited to read the blog...it has been way too long since I have been able to read about the day-to-day happenings of one Bradley P Johnson. I am hoping Derek and I will soon get one of our computers fixed and perhaps get internet in our apt. But then they may actually start charging us for cable...this is quite a predicament...quandary of sorts. Perhaps the almighty blogger himself could offer up some advice?

  By  Anonymous, at 10/18/2004 1:40 AM 

• Brad & Susan's weekend could have been much worse. No one likes rain when you spend time outdoors, but four months ago when they moved to Calif they probably never expected to not have any rain at all in those 120 days! Planning the perfect weekend takes a bit more Map Quest and Park Location Information. A thing like missing a pet parade never hurt anyone. If you think that was all bad, how about a weekend spent with 6.5 hours of total furstration on Saturday over computer issues and having to purchase and install two new toilets in a week. Believe me when I say, you managed to have some quality time together, see some new sites and enjoy some new wineries. In comparison to many, you had the time of your lives. Now you have a bench mark for a low point, only 3 hours at an amusement park (free). Only one day of rain in 120. Most anyone would be very pleased with that as a GREAT weekend. Signed Bob Johnson II, Brad's Dad.

  By  Anonymous, at 10/18/2004 7:43 AM 

• Boy, that last guy sounds like he didn't have any fun. Sour grapes?? He's just jealous.
  The only winery I remember is the "vsattui".....we went there 20 years ago before wine was cool! We bought wine in a wooden crate and saved it for so long it went bad! Love ya, Mom

  By  Anonymous, at 10/18/2004 10:20 AM