Written in April 2024
🚵🏻♂️ Prelude 🚴♂️
Nearly 50 years ago in November 1974, four senior engineers from Hughes Aircraft Company go on a men's-only bike ride through the wine country in Napa and Sonoma Valleys in Northern California, One of the guys invites my friend Marlene and me to 'crash' the ride.
🚵🏻♂️ Preamble – My Early Engineering Career 🚴♂️
In June 1962, I receive my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University (MSU). I have been awarded the Amelia Earhart Fellowship for $2,500 to pursue graduate studies in aerospace engineering at the university of my choice.
June 1962: My graduation photo from Michigan State University
In June 1962, I leave MSU and head west for a summer job as an engineer working on the Minuteman missile system at The Boeing Company in Seattle, while I decide on a graduate university to attend. The $2,500 fellowship amount will not cover prestigious private universities like Stanford or USC, so I apply for and am accepted at UCLA in Los Angeles.
In September 1962, I enroll in graduate studies in electrical engineering at UCLA, majoring in spacecraft guidance and control systems. In October 1962, Zonta International invites me to Scottsdale, AZ, for their annual convention so they can officially present me with my award. The Arizona Republic newspaper features me in the following article.
During the Fall of 1962 at UCLA, I am dating Mike Ayotte – my undergraduate electrical engineering classmate from MSU – who has moved to the Los Angeles area to work for Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City. Mike and I are married in early 1963,
September 1962: Mike and I in my apartment near UCLA
In late Spring of 1963 when my scholarship is coming to an end, I realize that I need another income to finish my graduate studies. I apply for jobs with several companies in the area.
I get a full-time job at the Space Systems Division of Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo. I report to Jim C, a department head on the Surveyor Lunar Program. My job at Hughes entails programming equations and running computer simulations for the terminal descent phase of the Surveyor Moon Lander – the first American spacecraft to land on the moon or any other extraterrestrial body.
I work full time as an engineer for Hughes for nearly two years until I complete my Masters Degree at UCLA in January 1965 – all while attending graduate school full time, giving birth to my son Mike during mid-term exams in November 1963, and being a full-time wife and mother.
November 1963: I am holding my three-week old son Mike in our rented home in Manhattan Beach.
With my Masters Degree in hand in January 1965, I leave Hughes for greener pastures. I am happy to have been able to work at Hughes when I needed a job to finish my Masters, but I know that I am underpaid compared to the other (all male) engineers. When Jim C doesn't come through with a promised raise when I receive my M.S. degree, I take a job at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach for a few months, working on the Maintenance And Reliability System (MARS) for the C-5 cargo aircraft – the largest airplane ever built.
In the Fall of 1965, I land the job I have been searching for at The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo. There I start out working on computer simulations for spacecraft attitude control systems (keeping satellites oriented properly in space).
🚵🏻♂️ Preface – Early Long Distance Bike Rides 🚴♂️
In 1970, my husband Mike and I part ways. I stay in our Manhattan Beach home with our son Mike (age 7).
For the first time in my life, I am single with a successful, well-paying job at The Aerospace Corporation, and the time to pursue new pastimes. Aerospace provides four weeks of vacation a year, as opposed to two weeks at other companies in the area.
I have a continuing friendship with Barbara B, who is the secretary to Jim C, my former boss at Hughes Aircraft Company. Barbara B and her husband Larry got me into skiing several years earlier. She introduces me to George, a senior engineer under Jim C, who organizes extended bike rides.
February 1969 on a ski trip to Aspen, CO: I am on the left, Larry is second from the left, and Barbara B is on the right.
I meet my lifelong friend Marlene through Barbara B. Marlene also works at Hughes and does bike rides with George.
November 1975: Marlene during a bike ride with me from San Francisco to LA
I call my five years in the early 1970's 'My Glory Years,' because I am free to explore so many new activities. In addition to skiing and bike riding, I take up tennis, whitewater rafting,* skydiving, sailing, and scuba diving.
* I meet my husband Stan on a raft through the Grand Canyon in 1972, but we don't start dating until late 1975. I name the following nearly 50 years with Stan 'My Wonder Years.'
During my five Glory Years, I go on four long-distance bike rides in California with the Hughes Aircraft group from 1973 to 1975.
🚵🏻♂️ Wine Country Safari – The Bike Ride Marlene and I Crash🍷
Nearly 50 years ago in November 1974, four senior engineers from Hughes Aircraft Company go on a men's-only bike ride through the wine country in Napa and Sonoma Valleys in Northern California,
This three-day bike trip is planned by George, who organizes all of the overnight bike rides that my friend Marlene and I participate in during the early 1970s. This particular trip is different from the other rides, because no women are included.
One of the guys named Chuck invites Marlene and me to 'crash' the bike ride – i.e., come along on the trip unbeknownst to the other guys. We know it is supposed to be a male-only ride, but Chuck assures us that he really wants us to come, and that it will be all right with the other three guys.
In addition to George and Chuck, there are Jim C (the department head I worked for when I was at Hughes in 1963-65) and Ken. George and Jim C are both married, Ken is dating someone steadily, and Chuck is single. Marlene and I are both single and unattached – it will be more than a year before I start dating Stan.
In accordance with Chuck’s plan, Marlene and I drive up to Napa Valley on Thursday, 7 November 1974 (the same day the four guys drive up), and we stay in the same motel in the town of Napa. We purposely don't let the ‘boys’ know that we are in town until the next morning, when we pop up and surprise them as they are getting their bikes ready to ride.
Once they get over the shock of seeing us, they reluctantly agree to let us join them on the ride – with the understanding that we will not appear in any of their photos (and, of course, that we will not discuss the trip with anyone that might pass the word back to their respective other-halves).
On the left is a photo of five of the six of us, taken outside our breakfast restaurant on the first morning of the ride.
From the left are Ken, Chuck, Barbara (myself), George (trip organizer) and Marlene. Missing is the elusive Jim C.
Jim C will not allow himself to be in any of the photos on the trip, nor have it mentioned that he is even ON the trip with the other guys!
After the trip, George writes an “official” IDC (InterDepartmental Communication) to Jim C reporting on the trip, with copies to Ken and Chuck. The IDC is included below with my added annotations, photos and minor edifications.
I have changed the names in the IDC to match the names that I have used in my missive (which are the real first names of each individual).
I have also included maps with elevation curves, where colored annotations inserted in the text correspond to map points: green = start of the route, orange = waypoint, and red = end of the route.
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InterDepartmental Communication (IDC)
TO: Jim C CC: Ken, Chuck Date: 11 November 1974
SUBJECT: Trip Report – Wine Country Safari From: George
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PURPOSE
This IDC is to detail the trip taken by Ken, Chuck and George on November 8, 9 and 10.
DISCUSSION
Thursday, 7 November: LA to Napa by Car (460 miles, 8 hours counting stops)
Messrs. Ken, George and Chuck left Los Angeles at 1:00 PM and arrived in Napa, CA at 9:00 PM. They checked into the Jefferson Motel, where they had made reservations before leaving LA. Reservations were as planned and no problems therein were encountered.
They enjoyed a steak dinner and a bottle of Los Hermanos Burgundy and Tawny Port at the Napa Valley Inn. After dinner, they consumed a bottle of Charles Krug Claret back at the Motel.
Day 1 – Friday, 8 November: Bike Ride through Napa Valley from Napa to Calistoga (32 miles)
(Jefferson Motel, Napa: Day 1-Start) The next morning, they departed at 7:30 AM and rode approximately 4 miles to Yountville. After a tasty breakfast at the local Greyhound Depot and Post Office (Day 1-1), they resumed their ride, particularly mindful of the invigorating, sunny, crisp fall weather.
The first stop was at the Robert Mondavi Winery (Day 1-2), which is the most modern (1966) winery in the Napa Valley. The following wines were tasted: Fumé, Gamay ‘74, Gamay ‘73 and Zinfandel.
The group then detoured to the east toward the Silverado Trail (Day 1-3/4). Along this road, they found many large walnut trees with lots of walnuts lying under them, many of which they picked up and tucked away for later. They then rode through the old Covered Bridge over the Napa River.
Anticipating a picnic lunch, the men stopped at the Olive Oil Factory in St. Helena (Day 1-5), where they purchased salami, two kinds of cheese, French bread and fruit.
Top left: George, Ken & Marlene making final adjustments to their bikes prior to starting out on Day 1.
Top right: Barbara at the entrance to the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville.
Bottom left: Marlene on a bridge over the Napa River.
Bottom right: George, Marlene, Chuck & Barbara at the old Covered Bridge over the Napa River.
The next stop on the trip was at one of the oldest wineries in the valley, the Charles Krug Winery, where the following wines were sampled: Vin Rosé, Chenin Blanc and Gewürztraminer. They also purchased a bottle of Charles Krug Moscato di Canelli to add to their picnic lunch.
The Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park in the Bothe Napa Valley State Park (Day 1-6) was the scene of this carefully planned picnic.
The old Bale Grist Mill where we had our picnic lunch on Day 1 is the site of a 36-foot water wheel which powered the grist mill that was built in 1846.
It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The mill remained in use until the early 1900s.
The Moscato di Canelli went very well with the pleasant, sunny day, which was not marred by the appearance, soon after they departed the park, by the first of two flats which occurred during the trip. It was repaired quickly, and the group cycled the remainder of the 32 miles for that day without incident.
The motel at Calistoga (Day 1–End) where they checked in provided hot mineral baths which were enjoyed by Messrs. Ken and Chuck. After a very informal dinner at Calistoga and a stop at the local bar for an assortment of B&B, Scotch and Galliano, the group retired to the motel where they played poker and consumed the rest of the Charles Krug Moscato di Canelli, as well as a bottle of Christian Brothers Claret.
Day 2 – Saturday, 9 November: Bike Ride from Napa Valley to Sonoma Valley over the “Terrible Mountain” (28 miles, 11.5 hours, 1,100’ elevation change)
(Motel, Calistoga: Day 2-Start) After a very restful night, the group was on the road at 7:30 AM again. They ate a hearty breakfast at the Wagon Wheel Cafe in Calistoga.
They then set out on what proved to be the major cycling event of the trip – i.e., the climb over the “terrible mountain” from the Napa Valley to the Sonoma Valley.
This mountain proved to be as difficult as expected. Even George, whose bike sports 28-ratio “Alpine” gears, had to walk a short distance up the “terrible mountain.” In spite of the ordeal, the group managed to pick some walnuts, which they tucked away for later.
The Petrified Forest (Day 2-1) approximately at the crest of the mountain, proved to be of great interest, where they hiked and viewed a 300-foot-long petrified redwood tree.
The 300-foot-long petrified redwood tree is lying on the ground.
Approximately 3.4 million years ago, a volcano eruption at Mount St. Helena in northern Napa Valley (not to be confused with Mount St. Helens in Oregon) caused the trees to become petrified. The petrification process took thousands of years to complete.
The Petrified Forest that resulted is in Sonoma County, California. It is the only petrified forest in California from the Pliocene Epoch (which extends from 5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago). This forest also has the largest petrified trees in the world.
After the Petrified Forest, there was a wild downhill ride into the town of Glen Ellen. Their appetite being sharpened by the morning adventure, the group consumed another picnic lunch in the Sonoma Valley Regional Park (Day 2-2), differing from the first only by the addition of beer.
Bicycling along side roads, they reached the Sonoma Mission Inn at Boyes Hot Springs (Day 2-End) about 7:00 PM, thus concluding their 28-mile ride for Saturday.
After registering at this delightful old Inn, the group refreshed themselves with some beer and wine. This was only a preliminary to the gourmet dinner they subsequently enjoyed.
Day 3 – Sunday, 10 November: Bike Ride from Sonoma Valley to Napa Valley (15 miles)
(Sonoma Mission Inn, Boyes Hot Springs: Day 3-Start) On Sunday morning, the group left the hotel about 8:00 AM and rode approximately three miles to the town of Sonoma (Day 3-1) for breakfast at the Werewith Inn.
This was followed by a leisurely ride to the Hacienda Cellars and Haraszthy Cellars (Day 3-2). Colonel Haraszthy was the individual who introduced wine growing to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Top left: An unidentified winery that we biked up to on the trip.
Top right: George & Ken at the Napa Picnic Area near Napa.
Bottom left: The Napa Picnic Area near Napa.
Bottom right: Chuck, Marlene & George at the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma.
At the Haraszthy Cellars (part of the Buena Vista Winery), which are limestone cellars cut out of the mountain, the group sampled the following wines: Grey Riesling, Green Hungarian, Rosé Brook and Johannesburg Riesling. A bottle of Green Hungarian was purchased and the group rode on via side roads from the Sonoma Valley to Napa Valley.
After a stop at the Napa Picnic Area, where they had a delightful picnic with the Green Hungarian wine and assorted cheese and luncheon meats, they proceeded to the town of Napa and on to their car, which they had left at the Jefferson Motel (Day 3-End).
This concluded 15 miles of cycling in delightful sunny, clear weather. Prior to leaving the Napa Valley area, the group stopped at Swensons for ice cream sundaes, a somewhat surprising, but altogether tasty conclusion to a trip through the wine country.
Nearly 50 years ago in 1974 in Napa at the end of a great 3-day bike ride
through Napa & Sonoma Valleys:
Left: George, Marlene, Barbara & Chuck
Right: Marlene, Ken, Barbara & Chuck
Missing: Jim C
CONCLUSION
The following conclusions were agreed to by all:
A three-day trip of this magnitude presented no problem due to the distance or logistics.
The group should look for another wine area and formulate plans for another trip ASAP.
A group of from six to eight people is probably, at most, optimum for a trip of this type.
A good pocket knife is essential in order to prepare lunch.
Seven to ten pounds of luggage and tools are more than enough for a three-day to two-week trip.
Leave enough extra space in the panniers to carry wine, lunch, walnuts, etc.
Full preparation for foul weather riding might change some of the above slightly.
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🚵🏻♂️ Epilogue 🚴♂️
Our Wine Country Safari trip is a good warm-up for the real thing a year later. In 1975, Marlene and I, along with George and a new guy we girls didn't know named Eddie, biked nearly 500 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
The ‘boys’ did the trip in seven days. Marlene and I sent them on ahead after Day 6. We took it easy and biked the last 100 miles in two days instead of one – a total trip of eight days for the ‘girls.’ Below is a comparison of the two bike trips.
* The girls rode less miles on the 1975 trip than the boys because Barbara’s bike broke down on Day 1 after 38 miles, with 38 more miles to go that day. A passing pickup was flagged down, and Barbara & Marlene hitched a ride with their bikes to a bike shop in Santa Cruz, the destination for that night.
You can read all about our bike trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1975 in my separate missive by clicking on the photo on the right of the four of us from that trip.
1975/October-November: Eight-day bike trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles – Eddie, Barbara, George & Marlene
As for the elusive Jim C, he is in the photo below taken nearly two years earlier in March 1973 on another bike trip that George organized between Monterey and Carmel. I was also on that bike trip, but I am not in this photo.
March 1973 bike ride between Monterey and Carmel: Ken, Marlene, George & Jim C
I have no recollection as to why the guys didn’t want their other halves to know why Marlene and I were on our Wine Country Safari bike trip, nor why Jim C didn’t want it known that he was even on the trip with the other guys.
🍷🍷 Based on George's IOC, we all consumed a lot of alcohol on the trip (with the exception of Marlene who doesn’t imbibe). It’s amazing we could even ride the days after.
🚵🏻♂️ Postscript 🚴♂️
I lost contact with everyone but Marlene after I started dating Stan in late 1975 and we began pursuing our own adventures together.
After a lot of research online, I have discovered what has happened to my fellow bike riders from our Wine Country Safari trip in 1974.
As of April 2024, three of the six of us have passed away: Chuck (2011, age 78), George (2013, age 85) and Jim C (2016, age 88). [Marlene and I attended the memorial service for George.]
The remaining three of us are still kicking: Ken Beall (age 97, as far as I know), Marlene (age 90) and I, Barbara (age 82). I am the youngest of the group by several years.
Marlene and I keep in touch with each other frequently, although we don't see each other as often since she moved south to Laguna Niguel several years ago (nearly a two-hour drive from my home in Rolling Hills).
🚵🏻♂️ And Lastly, One of My Favorite Wine Songs🍷
A favorite song of mine to go along with the Wine Country Safari theme is titled, "Cracklin' Rosie," which was written and sung by Neil Diamond. It was released in 1970 and became the highest ranking No. 1 song in the U.S. for that year. It was also Neil Diamond’s first No. 1 song.
Of all the classic songs he’s written, “Cracklin’ Rosie” has been the one Neil Diamond has spent the most time explaining. No, it’s not about a seductive woman – not literally, anyway. Nor is it about a fast train, even though it opens with the words “get on board.”
But if you thought of red, red wine, you’re on the right track – another great song by Neil is titled, "Red, Red Wine." “Cracklin’ Rosie” is about wine – cheap, sparkling rosé wine to be precise. When Diamond wrote “Cracklin’ Rosie,” the options for sparkling rosé were sparse.
It all began with a story he learned while touring in Canada. After chatting with an interviewer whose parents were missionaries, he asked her for some of the local folk tales. The one that stuck with him was about a reservation where men outnumbered women. Over the weekend, “these poor chaps would rush down to their local general store and get themselves a large bottle of a very cheap wine called Crackling Rose. The story goes that the wine becomes their woman for the weekend.”
Click on the image of Neil Diamond above to view him singing “Cracklin’ Rosie” in 1970. The lyrics are below.
Lyrics:
Aw, Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board.
We're gonna ride
'Till there ain't no more to go,
Taking it slow,
And Lord, don't you know,
We'll have me a time with a poor man's lady.
Hitchin' on a twilight train.
Ain't nothing here that I care to take along,
Maybe a song
To sing when I want.
No need to say please to no man
For a happy tune.
Chorus:
Oh, I love my Rosie child.
You got the way to make me happy.
You and me, we go in style.
Cracklin' Rose,
You're a store bought woman,
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin,'
So hang on to me, girl,
Our song keeps runnin' on.
Play it now, play it now,
Play it now, my baby.
Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile.
Girl, if it lasts for an hour, that's all right,
Cus we got all night to set the world right.
Find us a dream that don't ask no questions
Yeah
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