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Posts published by “Brad Wiley”

France Meets Anderson Valley: Arnaud & Floriane Weyrich

During a three hour mid-day meal at the Bewildered Pig last month Floriane and Arnaud Weyrich told me the tale of how they migrated to our Valley, raised a family, and upon retrospect found very…

Donald Pardini Remembers Old Navarro (Part 2)

In 1942 Donald finished seventh grade at Navarro’s Laurel School, and began middle school, 7th to 9th grades, at Boonville’s Con Creek School, today the Anderson Valley Historical Society museum.  The bus ride from Navarro up to…

Donald Pardini Remembers His Navarro Childhood

One drizzly afternoon last week I sat around his dining room table with Donald Pardini and son Ernie and listened to Don’s recollections of his early childhood in post-milltown Navarro. What stories and what power…

My Travels With Wes, VI (The Last Ride?)

This “last ride” actually occurred a couple of weeks ago during our voyage from Josie Brusa’s home on the old Deadmeades winery property back to Boonville via the Walter Prather home visit and stop by…

At Susan’s Grave: Her Rose Today

A sunny warmish early afternoon day last week, and retired logging industry truckdriver Morgan Baynham, New Jersey suburbanite “city person” friend visiting me, Suzanne Glatt, and I teamed up to visit the Evergreen Cemetery and…

My Travels With Wes, V

A couple of weeks ago Wes and I drove another leg of our roadside visits to Highway 128’s historic and iconic buildings. This one was an easy jaunt from the Hamar Olsen ranch, formerly Edmeades…

My Travels With Wes, Part IV

Wes and my Navarro road trip recounted in last week's Advertiser continued south, stopping next at the Floodgate shopping mall Rock Stop store.  The house across the street on the east side of the highway’s origins have…

Travels With Wes III

The end of La Nina drought has been like no wet winter I remember in my half century living in The Valley. From the day after Christmas until Wednesday ten days ago over three weeks…

My Travels With Wes, 2: Back On The Road Again

Ward Ranch homestead, milepost 43.67 Last week’s travelogue ended up at Wes Smoot’s childhood family home on the Morrow Ranch, Highway 128 milepost 44.75. From there Wes and I motored another mile down the road…

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