Friday photo – Rock spiral on a Napa trail
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Napa trail spiral - in one end, out the other
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I was out hiking by myself on a trail up in the hills above Calistoga (north end of Napa Valley), when the trail took an unexpected detour. One minute I was striding down a fairly typical trail, admiring the views of the valley. Then next, I was going around and around and around in circles! Then back to the normal trail — just carry on as though nothing had happened. What an odd feeling!
Somebody had put in considerable effort, out here in the middle of nowhere, to add this rock spiral to the trail. What you can’t tell from the photo (because I didn’t have the bird’s eye view) is that it’s a double spiral, so you go in one end, follow it into the center, then keep going and you come out the other side.
Now I know that some people would say the area should stay as natural as possible, and would want to remove this spiral. Personally, I thought it was a lovely, unexpected addition. After all, the other 99.99% of the area is still left as-is, and this is rearranging a few rocks that were already there, not pouring concrete. Of course, if there were rock spirals everywhere, that would be a different matter, but it doesn’t seem to have caught on that well. 
The trail is up in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. On our Napa Valley tours, we visit this park and take a different trail, so that we can see the site of his famous abandoned mine honeymoon. I still wonder what his new bride thought of that!
On the way back to the car, I found I was looking forward to finding the spiral again.  Sure enough, it was still there. (It’s hard to find a more distinctive trail marker!) I dutifully walked through it the other way on my way back.
Afterwards, I had a thought. Does reversing the steps through it undo the magic from going through forward the first time? Could I have won the lottery and found true love if only I didn’t “unwind” the spiral on the way back? Shoot! I might just have to go back. 
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We’ll be back in Napa Valley this Sept/Oct for our women’s trip to San Francisco and Napa. I love going back there every year! Both San Francisco and Napa rate way up there on my list of favorite places on earth.
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8 responses so far ↓
1 Sam // Mar 29, 2009 at 5:47 pm
That is an awesome and unique find. I love when you go out looking for something and find something even more expected and greats, it is an amazing feeling.
2 Emiliano // Mar 29, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Haha sounds like a fun time!
I think i may just need to visit this spiral one day myself.
3 Josie // Apr 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Wow, that spiral looks awesome! What a neat find.
Did you take that picture yourself?
Great blog – I absolutely LOVE the title, too!
4 Deanna // Apr 2, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Josie – Yep, that’s my photo (which is why you get the “trail’s eye view” instead of the “bird’s eye view”)
Glad you like the name!
Deanna’s last blog post.. San Juan Islands – The ferry ride
5 news // Apr 24, 2009 at 5:53 am
this thing is unique..
I am sure !They worked hard to make this spiral of stones
news’s last blog post.. Cine pierde ?i cine câ?tiga în real estate ca urmare a deprecierii leului
6 Kerala Tourism // Oct 8, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Its looks funny, I am remembering,,, I heard about Napa valley from Road Rash, The amazing computer game.
7 peak district dweller // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:47 am
you have done so much traveling! im so jealous. however your blog is very inspiring. i cant wait to get my walking boots back on again! im sick of rainy old england.
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8 Deanna Keahey // Feb 10, 2010 at 8:02 am
If you want to do it, I’m sure you’ll make it happen! (-:
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