Llano Estacado Road Trip Anyone?

We will be leaving town this weekend to partake in some wine tasting at Grape Day 2008.  I can already hear your 2 questions:

• Why go back to Lubbock, haven't you heard that song about happiness and rearview mirrors?
• Why drive to a Grape Day when you live so close to Grapevine, TX which has an annual Grape fest?

First, I have heard the Mac Davis song, in fact if you were at our wedding you have a much coveted CD put out by Big Kev productions, called Good Times Great Friends that touts this song.  I have to out myself and admit, Lubbock and the Llano Estacado are rooted in my soul.  I love the culture, people, friends, cool evenings, scenery and beautiful sunsets.  If you can ever get your hands on a book by Dan Flores called Horizontal Yellow: Nature and History in the Near Southwest it is a good read.  His beautifully written descriptions speak to the things I love about this region.  In a perfect world Dan Flores and Georgia O'Keeffe would have worked together.

Second, Grape fest in Grapevine is a carnival that happens to sell wine.  For determining if it is a wine worthy event I have a simple rule:  If cotton candy is sold don't go.  Good quality wine-making grapes don't grow in the clay soils and warm evenings found in the Metro-plex.  So for a truly authentic grape day we are heading West.  Although this is the 15th annual event at Llano Estacado this will be our 7th time to participate.  As always I am sure we will enjoy local culture, West Texas music, regional food and when it is all said an done one of us will be labeled as the person who had too much fun this year.