While this content isn’t exactly related to full time road life, it is related to my experiences on the road. I wish my dogs could have joined on this adventure, but they were back in southern California hanging out with my amazing mom Over these last few years, I’ve learned that there’s really no true definition to being a full-time nomad. Each person has their own journey. As a new day passes and another page added to my book, I can say, this is how road life is for me right now. Being able to adapt and overcome the various hurdles has made my story unique to me. The reason I went to Pebble Beach first was because Donya worked at the Concourse de Elegance. This event is one of the biggest motorsports events that takes place in this area each year where style, passion, and history are on display for all who want to see. I planned on going to Big Sur while I was in the area, but the road is still closed due to the big slide that happened earlier this year. Regardless, it was a beautiful time in Monterey.
After picking up Donya, we loaded up, and drove up to Sonoma, California. The route took us straight through the heart of San Franscisco. I’ve been to San Francisco so many times, but it’s always a treat to see the infamous Golden Gate Bridge. However, if you’re heading this direction, be prepared for traffic! Mornings start early when working in event production. We were up and ready to go by 6AM almost every day with our days ending well into the night. The behind-the-scenes tasks require tons of planning, managing, and a full labor force! Long days and short nights are a small price to pay when dealing with the scale of this type of event. While I wasn’t hired to be part of the labor crew, I was the productions crew’s support. I was a Gofer, or a runner and my job was essential to the success of the mission. I did occasionally help with setting up and tearing down the sets, my role was mainly running into town to grab supplies, pick up orders, or purchase last minute needed items. I spent most of my day driving from the Sonoma raceway to Napa, Sonoma, and Navato.
In all seriousness, I did a lot of driving. I spent hours each day running back and forth into town grabbing whatever was needed. It ranged from picking up items from a local printing office, finding the right bolts and screws and the hardware store, to purchasing a tv from best buy because one of the onsite TVs had water damage. Another advantage to staying onsite, was the fact that after 7PM, the track went silent. Most of the crews and spectators left for the day and all the cars were tucked in for the night. While our team was still working hard, if I was able, I’d either walk or snatch a free golf cart and explore around the grounds and get an up-close look at these amazing cars. In a few short hours, the track would reopen, and we’d do it all again!
In the midst of the event, I had a chance to step away from my event responsibilities to drive up to Napa, California and have dinner with some of my family. Napa Valley is famous for its vineyards and wineries, producing some of the finest wines in the world. However, for me, it’s where we’d come to visit some of my closest family members. My Aunt Kathi, Uncle Paul, and cousin Sara and I met for dinner in the heart of downtown Napa. After a delicious meal, we walked around the Napa River. Napa wasn’t always wine country. Nathan Coombs laid out the original town site of Napa City in 1847. The initial survey included the land lying between what is now Brown Street and the Napa River, extending 600 yards from Napa Creek to the steamboat landing. The spot was a natural location for the town since it was at the uppermost point of river navigation, necessitating a change in transportation mode and thus a natural trade and transportation center for travelers and agricultural, commercial and industrial goods.
The new town harbored an assortment of people from Europe and Asia, including native Indians, who established themselves in the area. Gold miners spent their winters in Napa; prices reflected the abundant supply of gold. Overall, this event was a success! I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with these awesome people, see these amazing cars, and go on a much-needed road trip with my girl, Chalupa. Being surrounded by friends and working has really helped me overcome these last few months. Cheers to this stage of life!
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