The second large snowfall of the season has covered Lassen Peak in a cystalline white blanket. The air is cool and fresh, scented with pine. Distant sounds of buzzing chainsaws echo through the woods. Winter is descending on our little foothill community. The nights are long. After work, men gather 'round the wood stove in the Manton Saloon, warming their hands by the crackling fire. At home, summer's harvest sits on pantry shelves in long rows of brightly colored Mason jars.... tomatoes, beans, peaches. The grapes are all picked, now slowly bubbling in fermentation vats, soon to be labeled pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, syrah.
I marvel at the thought of local tribes wintering in makeshift streamside villages this time of year, scarcely more than one hundred years ago. How did these people survive the cold winter nights for even one month, let alone the thousands of winters they occupied this land we now call Manton? Little remains of their culture which might shed some light on the answer, for their culture was simple and nomadic. Evidence of their daily lives has been decimated over the years by plunder of ancient village sites. Treasure hunters have dug up mortars, pestles, metates and arrowheads and taken them home to languish as souvenirs in dresser drawers and backyards. A few items are found in dusty display cases in corners of seldom-visited museums, a brief footnote in California history.
An interesting recently published book which describes in some detail the tribal culture of the southern Yana indians who called Manton home has the strange title, "Ishi's Brain," by Orin Starn, professor of cultural anthropology. I just read this book at the suggestion of my dear friend Scott. He and his hiking buddy Phil backpacked into the Ishi Wilderness last month in search of Grizzly Bear's Hiding Place, the last known winter camp of the Yahi band of indians. While they were unable to find the exact spot, they did have a great adventure in the difficult-to-access Deer Creek canyon, the last known habitat for a native American population still "living in the wild."
While Scott and Phil packed in their provisions and had the latest camping gear, Ishi and his companions had none of that. They lived off the land by their wits. However, Nature was bountiful. Winter run chinook salmon, some forty or fifty pounds in size, splashed up the creeks to spawn this time of year. The Tehama deer herd, still the largest migratory deer herd in California, came down off the mountain to enjoy the tender green shoots of new grass which always pop up after the first rains of the season. Abundant acorns at this lower foothill elevation were ground up and prepared as mush in tightly woven baskets. I learned that this cooking was accomplished by taking hot rounded river rocks from the campfire and putting them into the acorn mush. For shelter, simple huts were fashioned from the supple branches of creekside trees. Capes made from fox or raccoon pelts provided body warmth. Volcanic glass we call obsidian was used to make the necessary tools for hunting and cutting. These people lived close to nature, in harmony with the land and only took what they needed to survive.
During the dramatic influx of settlers to California in the 1850s and 60s, native American culture in northern California was largely destroyed. During this tragic time of transition, men, women and children were brutally murdered and forgotten. In the recorded instances of Indian resistance or retribution, white settlers were whipped into a frenzy of violence against the so-called "uncivilized savages." These brutal episodes are buried in the history books, but linger on in such local place names as Massacre Flats, Blood Island and Battle Creek.
I was very moved by the story of Ishi and what I learned about the plight of his people. As someone who lives in the same place occupied not so long ago by the southern Yana, I am haunted by their shadows and souls. I finished readng the book about the same time Scott and Phil emerged from their wilderness adventure in the heart of Ishi's homeland. As a result, I penned the following poem, which I hope you will enjoy.
Finders, Keepers...
Crossing the Milky Way
A shooting star splits in two...
Celestial heartbreak, then disappears
Foretelling heartache, pending fears
Near Grizzly's Hiding Place.
Coming up canyons to caves,
Sport-shooting, treasure-hunting,
They came to take baskets,
Volcanic glass blades to skin otters,
Raccoon capes, acorn grinders.
There are no more reminders.
Southern Yana left no trace,
Shivering in snow, watery graves.
Secrets of the Tuscan soul
Buried in black water hole.
Salt tears now wash far distant shores,
No footprints in warm sand remain.
Chants of brave hunts, fresh game galore,
Are silent in cold ash rain.
Vanished Yahi, red dust stain.
Tom Knight
October 22nd, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Trick or Treat
With the rapid approach of Halloween in our small rural community of Manton, California, we can soon look forward to hearing "rat-tat-tat" on the front door and the delightful sound of enthusiastic young voices calling out "trick or treat."
I always buy Reese's peanut butter cups and hope there will be some leftovers. For "grown-ups" who still like to dress up for the occasion, the Saloon at Manton Corners will be having a party. As always in Manton, there's something for everyone.
The remainder of this blog is about "trick or treat" in the Manton real estate market, so read on at your own peril. Anyone who has owned property for the past three or four years has been subjected to a cruel trick: the massive decline in value of equities, particularly real estate. Many contractors are out of business, including our nephew, and the remaining ones still standing are renting out spec houses they can no longer sell. It's a familiar story just about everywhere. A shockingly large percentage of homeowners who have a loan now owe more than the house is worth. Five years ago nobody even knew the words "short sale" or "REO." Now most sales are distressed properties. Can anyone say the words: "Half Price?"
Like everything in life, there is a flip side to this story. Patient savers who were priced out of the sizzling market a few years ago (does anyone remember 20% a year equity gains?) are now able to do some bargain hunting. We have become accustomed to "half price" sales of furniture and clothing, but real estate? There is a catch, of course. It helps if you are an all-cash buyer, because the banks are sitting on their cash. It's very hard to get a loan and it's very hard for rural real estate to appraise for the loan amount. However, buyers with excellent credit and a lot of perseverance can find a real Halloween treat: fine property is available in some cases at half the price it sold for five years ago.
If you are thinking about making a purchase, here's one more thing to get your mind around: the interest rate on a conventional 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 4.19%.
NOT A TYPO. As of the week ending October 15th, the advertised rate is 4.19%. If you want to pay a point or two, it's likely you could lock in a rate under 4%. OK, I'm not saying it's free money, but it's the best rate I've ever seen. Some day that forgotten word "inflation" may return, and when it does, that current rate lock will look like a stroke of genius. I don't have a crystal ball, but it seems to me that the decline of the dollar will continue as long as Uncle Sam keeps printing money out of thin air. As far as I know the word "real" is still in "real estate." And then there's the phrase real estate agents love: "land... they're just not making it any more." Perhaps that doesn't apply to the big island of Hawaii.
One more treat to keep in mind: those unadvertised properties known as "pocket listings." This term refers to properties which are not currently for sale, but owners have told a licensed broker that they would like to sell if they could get their price. Why would a person who wants to sell decide not to advertise in the open market? There are many possible reasons. Sometimes buyers are so discouraged by the "soft" market that they give up trying because they doubt they will receive the price they want or need. Sometimes a potential seller has tax considerations which might delay a sale in the current year. Sometimes the seller has signed a long-term lease which runs with the land and could dissuade an offer from a buyer who wants to occupy the property. Sometimes there are personal reasons related to issues of health or relationships. Whatever the reason, in most cases these potential sellers will let go of their property if the offer price is sufficiently attractive.
As a practicing real estate broker in Manton, I am aware of several such pocket listings. Properties I know about range in size from one to fifteen acres. Some are bare land, some have houses which are custom-built. For obvious reasons I am not able to describe these properties in such detail that they could be easily identified. However, if you are a serious buyer who has been waiting for the right time to pick up a special Manton property at a special bargain price, perhaps this is the time to TREAT yourself. Just give me a call and describe your dream property. I just might have what you're looking for in my pocket.
Happy Halloween!
Tom Knight, Broker
Manton Realty
(530) 474-1335
DRE#01441406
I always buy Reese's peanut butter cups and hope there will be some leftovers. For "grown-ups" who still like to dress up for the occasion, the Saloon at Manton Corners will be having a party. As always in Manton, there's something for everyone.
The remainder of this blog is about "trick or treat" in the Manton real estate market, so read on at your own peril. Anyone who has owned property for the past three or four years has been subjected to a cruel trick: the massive decline in value of equities, particularly real estate. Many contractors are out of business, including our nephew, and the remaining ones still standing are renting out spec houses they can no longer sell. It's a familiar story just about everywhere. A shockingly large percentage of homeowners who have a loan now owe more than the house is worth. Five years ago nobody even knew the words "short sale" or "REO." Now most sales are distressed properties. Can anyone say the words: "Half Price?"
Like everything in life, there is a flip side to this story. Patient savers who were priced out of the sizzling market a few years ago (does anyone remember 20% a year equity gains?) are now able to do some bargain hunting. We have become accustomed to "half price" sales of furniture and clothing, but real estate? There is a catch, of course. It helps if you are an all-cash buyer, because the banks are sitting on their cash. It's very hard to get a loan and it's very hard for rural real estate to appraise for the loan amount. However, buyers with excellent credit and a lot of perseverance can find a real Halloween treat: fine property is available in some cases at half the price it sold for five years ago.
If you are thinking about making a purchase, here's one more thing to get your mind around: the interest rate on a conventional 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 4.19%.
NOT A TYPO. As of the week ending October 15th, the advertised rate is 4.19%. If you want to pay a point or two, it's likely you could lock in a rate under 4%. OK, I'm not saying it's free money, but it's the best rate I've ever seen. Some day that forgotten word "inflation" may return, and when it does, that current rate lock will look like a stroke of genius. I don't have a crystal ball, but it seems to me that the decline of the dollar will continue as long as Uncle Sam keeps printing money out of thin air. As far as I know the word "real" is still in "real estate." And then there's the phrase real estate agents love: "land... they're just not making it any more." Perhaps that doesn't apply to the big island of Hawaii.
One more treat to keep in mind: those unadvertised properties known as "pocket listings." This term refers to properties which are not currently for sale, but owners have told a licensed broker that they would like to sell if they could get their price. Why would a person who wants to sell decide not to advertise in the open market? There are many possible reasons. Sometimes buyers are so discouraged by the "soft" market that they give up trying because they doubt they will receive the price they want or need. Sometimes a potential seller has tax considerations which might delay a sale in the current year. Sometimes the seller has signed a long-term lease which runs with the land and could dissuade an offer from a buyer who wants to occupy the property. Sometimes there are personal reasons related to issues of health or relationships. Whatever the reason, in most cases these potential sellers will let go of their property if the offer price is sufficiently attractive.
As a practicing real estate broker in Manton, I am aware of several such pocket listings. Properties I know about range in size from one to fifteen acres. Some are bare land, some have houses which are custom-built. For obvious reasons I am not able to describe these properties in such detail that they could be easily identified. However, if you are a serious buyer who has been waiting for the right time to pick up a special Manton property at a special bargain price, perhaps this is the time to TREAT yourself. Just give me a call and describe your dream property. I just might have what you're looking for in my pocket.
Happy Halloween!
Tom Knight, Broker
Manton Realty
(530) 474-1335
DRE#01441406
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Manton Apple Festival - Family Fun for Free
Good food, good fun, good cause... it's a great time to visit Manton, California for the annual Apple Festival, all day this coming Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 at the Manton School. Bring your hat and sunscreen. This local celebration takes place outside on the grassy athletic field. If you attend, what can you expect? FREE admission. FREE parking. FREE live music. If you want to eat, well that will cost you a modest sum, but much of the proceeds go to the scholarship fund for Manton School students. This is a wonderful way to support a brighter future for rural school children and enjoy some fabulous homemade apple pie a la mode at the same time. How can you beat that?
Many local artisans with their handmade wares will be exhibiting reasonably priced and useful items for sale under a myriad of those familiar white pop-up tents. There will be pottery and jewelry, woodworking and clothing. No commercial items are permitted, only authentic crafts from local artists. And what about apples? There will boxes and boxes of just-picked local apples, including some older hard-to-find varieties. It's been a good year for local orchards. Come and sample for yourself. Additionally there will be a variety of homemade jams and jellies, apple butter, applesauce, possibly some of Sue Young's wild blackberry jam if she hasn't already sold out. You will surely find something special to enjoy.
It's a family affair with wagon rides for kids, pie contests for all ages, and lots of good music under the big tent. Walking around looking at all those interesting booths can make a person hungry. No problem. There will be a number of food booths too, offering an assortment of savory items prepared fresh while you wait. Just a tip: you might want to get in line early. For those who have already discovered the local wineries, most tasting rooms will be open for business, affording the opportunity to take home some award-winning Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. There are a few excellent whites available as well, for your late summer sipping pleasure. I know it's Fall, but it just doesn't quite feel like it yet.
Come on up the hill and enjoy this marvelous Manton tradition. You'll be glad you did. And did I mention, it's FREE!
Tom Knight, Broker
MANTON REALTY
www.mantonproperty.com
Many local artisans with their handmade wares will be exhibiting reasonably priced and useful items for sale under a myriad of those familiar white pop-up tents. There will be pottery and jewelry, woodworking and clothing. No commercial items are permitted, only authentic crafts from local artists. And what about apples? There will boxes and boxes of just-picked local apples, including some older hard-to-find varieties. It's been a good year for local orchards. Come and sample for yourself. Additionally there will be a variety of homemade jams and jellies, apple butter, applesauce, possibly some of Sue Young's wild blackberry jam if she hasn't already sold out. You will surely find something special to enjoy.
It's a family affair with wagon rides for kids, pie contests for all ages, and lots of good music under the big tent. Walking around looking at all those interesting booths can make a person hungry. No problem. There will be a number of food booths too, offering an assortment of savory items prepared fresh while you wait. Just a tip: you might want to get in line early. For those who have already discovered the local wineries, most tasting rooms will be open for business, affording the opportunity to take home some award-winning Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. There are a few excellent whites available as well, for your late summer sipping pleasure. I know it's Fall, but it just doesn't quite feel like it yet.
Come on up the hill and enjoy this marvelous Manton tradition. You'll be glad you did. And did I mention, it's FREE!
Tom Knight, Broker
MANTON REALTY
www.mantonproperty.com
Friday, September 3, 2010
BIG FISH... Worth the Wait!
In our instant gratification digitalized consumer culture there are still a few good things worth the wait. After ten years of countless meetings, negotiations, frustrations, wrangling and horse-trading, work on the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project has finally begun.
Talk about a triumph over institutionalized bureaucratic inertia, i.e. "excuse me, this is my turf," just imagine getting agreement between federal, state, and local governments, then add to the mix the largest private trout hatchery in California, corporate P. G. & E., more than a few crusty old ranchers and a small rural community which hasn't seen much change in a hundred years... it makes watching cement dry look positively thrilling. Now that's an accomplishment worth celebrating, and indeed, the celebration is happening soon, September 15th to be exact.
Cows still graze the oak-studded pastures, but suddenly there are enormous cranes piercing the horizon leaning out over the sheer black basalt canyon walls, helicopters buzzing all day like angry potters wasps, and strange bright yellow work trucks all bellied up to the bar at Julia's Diner for Blue Ridge Burgers at lunch time. What in the world is going on in Manton, and by the way, where the heck is it? Never heard of it. Is it in California?
Yes, Manton is in California. It straddles Shasta and Tehama Counties in the foothills of Lassen Volcanic National Park, close to 35 miles east of Red Bluff and about 45 miles east of Redding. Manton is smack dab in the middle of the Battle Creek watershed, famed for its cold water springs and hence, the prime ancient breeding ground for chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
This was the home to native americans who feasted on deer, fish, rabbits, blackberries, and who always had an ample supply of acorns and cold clear spring water. Water is the key and Manton has this precious resource in abundance. That is why it was chosen for the Restoration Project.
When Shasta Dam was completed in 1944, this second largest dam in the United States was a magnificent achievement for flood control, power generation and water management for agriculture, but it meant the end for an equally magnificent fishery. The historic spawning grounds in the fabulous Upper Sacramento, Pitt and McCloud Rivers were lost forever, resulting in a precipitous decline in chinook salmon populations. In response, the federal government created the Coleman National Fish Hatchery near the mouth of Battle Creek. The State of California also noticed the terrific potential in the Battle Creek watershed and built Darrah Springs Fish Hatchery to supply numerous lakes in northern California. Mt. Lassen Trout Farm, a private enterprise, has more than twenty facilities, many situated on cold water springs. It is the largest private trout farm in the state. You can frequently see their semi-trucks heading down I-5 with thousands of rainbow trout destined for southern California.
The old-timers, and sadly their numbers are dwindling these days, tell tall tales of chinook salmon swimming up the rocky canyons of north and south Battle Creek, forty and fifty pound fish driven to return to their ancestral spawning grounds just below Angel Falls or Whispering Waters, sheer rock barriers beyond which they could not pass. Perhaps it's just a bit of nostalgic hyperbole, but these old ranchers say you could hear them coming upstream a quarter mile away and once they arrived in spectacular fashion you could practically walk across the creek on the backs of these giant fish. Could those legendary times ever return to Battle Creek? Perhaps they will, or at least, those are the hopes and dreams of all the many hard-working folks who have labored over the past ten years to make it happen.
P. G. & E. has agreed to remove five dams and take a reduction in hydro-electric power generation revenue. Hatcheries have made extensive and expensive adjustments to their operations. New and better-designed fish ladders are being installed where dams remain. Ranchers and private landowners have agreed to allow water channels to be routed through their lands. A very complex system has been designed to greatly increase water flows in Battle Creek and restore habitat to resemble more closely what it used to be long ago. Will the big fish return to Manton? Many believe they will.
To celebrate the beginning of this awesome project which will take years to complete, a private groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Wednesday, September 15th, followed by a public gathering at the Manton School with an excellent free dinner provided to all. It is the annual meeting of the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy, beginning at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by brief presentations on the dramatic events taking place right now on Battle Creek. The public is welcome. And one last comment: Welcome back BIG FISH!
Tom Knight, Broker
MANTON REALTY
www.mantonproperty.com
Talk about a triumph over institutionalized bureaucratic inertia, i.e. "excuse me, this is my turf," just imagine getting agreement between federal, state, and local governments, then add to the mix the largest private trout hatchery in California, corporate P. G. & E., more than a few crusty old ranchers and a small rural community which hasn't seen much change in a hundred years... it makes watching cement dry look positively thrilling. Now that's an accomplishment worth celebrating, and indeed, the celebration is happening soon, September 15th to be exact.
Cows still graze the oak-studded pastures, but suddenly there are enormous cranes piercing the horizon leaning out over the sheer black basalt canyon walls, helicopters buzzing all day like angry potters wasps, and strange bright yellow work trucks all bellied up to the bar at Julia's Diner for Blue Ridge Burgers at lunch time. What in the world is going on in Manton, and by the way, where the heck is it? Never heard of it. Is it in California?
Yes, Manton is in California. It straddles Shasta and Tehama Counties in the foothills of Lassen Volcanic National Park, close to 35 miles east of Red Bluff and about 45 miles east of Redding. Manton is smack dab in the middle of the Battle Creek watershed, famed for its cold water springs and hence, the prime ancient breeding ground for chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
This was the home to native americans who feasted on deer, fish, rabbits, blackberries, and who always had an ample supply of acorns and cold clear spring water. Water is the key and Manton has this precious resource in abundance. That is why it was chosen for the Restoration Project.
When Shasta Dam was completed in 1944, this second largest dam in the United States was a magnificent achievement for flood control, power generation and water management for agriculture, but it meant the end for an equally magnificent fishery. The historic spawning grounds in the fabulous Upper Sacramento, Pitt and McCloud Rivers were lost forever, resulting in a precipitous decline in chinook salmon populations. In response, the federal government created the Coleman National Fish Hatchery near the mouth of Battle Creek. The State of California also noticed the terrific potential in the Battle Creek watershed and built Darrah Springs Fish Hatchery to supply numerous lakes in northern California. Mt. Lassen Trout Farm, a private enterprise, has more than twenty facilities, many situated on cold water springs. It is the largest private trout farm in the state. You can frequently see their semi-trucks heading down I-5 with thousands of rainbow trout destined for southern California.
The old-timers, and sadly their numbers are dwindling these days, tell tall tales of chinook salmon swimming up the rocky canyons of north and south Battle Creek, forty and fifty pound fish driven to return to their ancestral spawning grounds just below Angel Falls or Whispering Waters, sheer rock barriers beyond which they could not pass. Perhaps it's just a bit of nostalgic hyperbole, but these old ranchers say you could hear them coming upstream a quarter mile away and once they arrived in spectacular fashion you could practically walk across the creek on the backs of these giant fish. Could those legendary times ever return to Battle Creek? Perhaps they will, or at least, those are the hopes and dreams of all the many hard-working folks who have labored over the past ten years to make it happen.
P. G. & E. has agreed to remove five dams and take a reduction in hydro-electric power generation revenue. Hatcheries have made extensive and expensive adjustments to their operations. New and better-designed fish ladders are being installed where dams remain. Ranchers and private landowners have agreed to allow water channels to be routed through their lands. A very complex system has been designed to greatly increase water flows in Battle Creek and restore habitat to resemble more closely what it used to be long ago. Will the big fish return to Manton? Many believe they will.
To celebrate the beginning of this awesome project which will take years to complete, a private groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Wednesday, September 15th, followed by a public gathering at the Manton School with an excellent free dinner provided to all. It is the annual meeting of the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy, beginning at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by brief presentations on the dramatic events taking place right now on Battle Creek. The public is welcome. And one last comment: Welcome back BIG FISH!
Tom Knight, Broker
MANTON REALTY
www.mantonproperty.com
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Manton Fire Department Barbecue and the Jaws of Life
Of all the wonderful community events in our small town of Manton, my favorite is just about to take place this coming Saturday, August 7th: the Annual Manton Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue. It is the best attended local event, with the possible exception of the Manton Apple Festival in October, so I know I will get to visit with lots of friends, some of whom I haven't seen since last year's BBQ. It's a great meal for ten bucks: BBQ Tri-tip or Chicken, Veggies, Salad, Beans, Roll and a Soda or Bottled Water. And don't forget the fabulous homemade desserts which are available for just a little bit more.
The proceeds go to a most worthy cause, the purchase of additional equipment for the fire department. This year the goal is to raise money for The Jaws of Life, a heavy duty apparatus used to extricate persons trapped in vehicles following a collision. As a former volunteer firefighter myself, I can testify that this equipment would be a great asset to the emergency responders. Most of the traffic accidents in our area involve high speed encounters with immovable objects. In such cases, major structural damage often occurs, making the extrication of victims quite difficult. Put very simply, the Jaws of Life could help save lives. Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated by the volunteers.
Perhaps the most enjoyable moments of the annual barbecue follow the meal, when the raffle begins. My wife has been known to buy $100 worth of tickets, and I'm sure she's not the only one. Raffle prizes range from locally produced bottles of award-winning wine to getaway weekend trips, but there is no doubt what my wife is going for: the handmade quilt! Seems like that's the prize everyone wants and I swear, one of these years she's going to win it!
Whether you are a local resident of Manton or someone just visiting from out of town, it's hard to beat the good vibes, community spirit, and just plain down home fun of the Manton Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue. As always, the location is at the Fire Station on Manton Road just as you come into town and the food is served from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Don't miss it! But if you do, the 32nd annual BBQ will be the first Saturday in August, 2011. Put in on your calendar now! See you there, this year or next.
Tom Knight, Broker
Manton Realty
The proceeds go to a most worthy cause, the purchase of additional equipment for the fire department. This year the goal is to raise money for The Jaws of Life, a heavy duty apparatus used to extricate persons trapped in vehicles following a collision. As a former volunteer firefighter myself, I can testify that this equipment would be a great asset to the emergency responders. Most of the traffic accidents in our area involve high speed encounters with immovable objects. In such cases, major structural damage often occurs, making the extrication of victims quite difficult. Put very simply, the Jaws of Life could help save lives. Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated by the volunteers.
Perhaps the most enjoyable moments of the annual barbecue follow the meal, when the raffle begins. My wife has been known to buy $100 worth of tickets, and I'm sure she's not the only one. Raffle prizes range from locally produced bottles of award-winning wine to getaway weekend trips, but there is no doubt what my wife is going for: the handmade quilt! Seems like that's the prize everyone wants and I swear, one of these years she's going to win it!
Whether you are a local resident of Manton or someone just visiting from out of town, it's hard to beat the good vibes, community spirit, and just plain down home fun of the Manton Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue. As always, the location is at the Fire Station on Manton Road just as you come into town and the food is served from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Don't miss it! But if you do, the 32nd annual BBQ will be the first Saturday in August, 2011. Put in on your calendar now! See you there, this year or next.
Tom Knight, Broker
Manton Realty
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Miles of Color, Manton's Spring Secret
The battle rages between Winter and Summer. This Spring has been spectacular, the best in years, due to copious rains interspersed with balmy warm spells. The result is evident on Manton Road (Tehama A6) right now: miles and miles of wildflowers in full bloom. Between Dales Station where one leaves Highway 36E and the crossing of the south fork of Battle Creek are wide flat plains dotted with vernal pools and now painted with color. The open vistas are compelling, mile after mile of yellow and gold fields stretching to the horizon. The normally barren rocky lava flows have been transformed into veritable oriental rock gardens.
As one continues towards Manton after the Battle Creek crossing, the scenery changes with the increasing elevation. Blue Oaks and Digger Pines mingle with the white-blooming Buckbrush and deep pink Western Redbud. Small meadows between the trees are currently violet in color with Squaw Carpet or sunshine yellow with some other brilliant ground cover. It's a field day for anyone wishing to learn about California wildflowers. For those of us a little too busy to "stop and smell the roses," the spirit is lifted just being in a "surround sound" of vibrant color. This year is a treat not to be missed, and it won't last long. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles in this area.
All too soon the blazing summer sun will win out over the blustery winter rains, and the fabulous colors of Spring will quickly fade to a brown mirage, shimmering in the heat of July. Many a traveler on the Manton Road has turned back towards Red Bluff in the mid-summer heat, unaware of Manton's Spring Secret: for a few weeks only, mile and mile of brilliant color transport the spirit back to the unbridled glory of Spring as witnessed by very few of California's urban population, quietly on display in an unspoiled and still largely undiscovered corner of old California. The deep snow glistens white on distant Lassen Peak, the southern-most Cascade volcano a superb backdrop, and the promise of cold clear water in the creeks late this summer. Gratitude is my Attitude!
As one continues towards Manton after the Battle Creek crossing, the scenery changes with the increasing elevation. Blue Oaks and Digger Pines mingle with the white-blooming Buckbrush and deep pink Western Redbud. Small meadows between the trees are currently violet in color with Squaw Carpet or sunshine yellow with some other brilliant ground cover. It's a field day for anyone wishing to learn about California wildflowers. For those of us a little too busy to "stop and smell the roses," the spirit is lifted just being in a "surround sound" of vibrant color. This year is a treat not to be missed, and it won't last long. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles in this area.
All too soon the blazing summer sun will win out over the blustery winter rains, and the fabulous colors of Spring will quickly fade to a brown mirage, shimmering in the heat of July. Many a traveler on the Manton Road has turned back towards Red Bluff in the mid-summer heat, unaware of Manton's Spring Secret: for a few weeks only, mile and mile of brilliant color transport the spirit back to the unbridled glory of Spring as witnessed by very few of California's urban population, quietly on display in an unspoiled and still largely undiscovered corner of old California. The deep snow glistens white on distant Lassen Peak, the southern-most Cascade volcano a superb backdrop, and the promise of cold clear water in the creeks late this summer. Gratitude is my Attitude!
Friday, January 22, 2010
2010 San Francisco Wine Competition: Manton Winners
"And the winners are..." With these words, wineries from all over the United States took home awards for their fine wines in the nation's most prestigious annual competition. It's a no-holds-barred blind tasting contest, which means the smallest family operation with just a few acres of vines can go head to head with the biggest and best known names in the business. Certainly Napa Valley wineries took home a hefty share of the medals, but many tiny vineyards also produced superior results. It is especially sweet when an unheard of community in an obscure corner of northern California can proudly boast three winners in the last few years, two of which won numerous awards this year. I'm talking about Manton, California.
Manton's first ever Gold Medal was awarded this year to Ringtail Vineyards for its red grape port style dessert wine "Sweet Petite," a particularly impressive feat given the fact that this was the very first year Ringtail entered the fray. Congratulations indeed! Ringtail also won bronze medals for its Petite Sirah and a Late Harvest Chardonnay. I might add that my wife loves the Ringtail Gewurztraminer. There's a bottle in the frig right now! The other Manton winery winner, Indian Peak Vineyards, won two Silver Medals last year and brought home four awards this year: Silvers for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronzes for a Zinfandel/Abstract Red and another Cabernet Sauvignon. Locals just love "Donna's Dessert Wine," a port style after dinner treat which is flying out the door by the case.
Prior to this year's competition, Alger Vineyards won awards four years in a row for its Syrahs and Petite Sirahs. John and Linda Alger are eager to pour the award winners in their spectacular tasting room, featuring local handcrafted art and panoramic views of the vineyards which stretch towards the distant Yolla Bolly Mountains of the Coast Range. Truth be told, all the wineries in Manton are small family affairs. Fred and Donna Boots of Indian Peak Vineyards will host you most any time, against a backdrop of barrel upon oak barrel stacked to the rafters. Rob Carillo and Donna Delgado of Ringtail Vineyards have a tasting room in their home, with an elegant wooden bar and views of Lassen Peak.
Another winery which I expect to win awards soon is Shasta Daisy Vineyards, owned by Carroll and Lorna Knedler. Their Pinot Noir is well worth the drive and their tasting room overlooks the gorgeous meadow at Forwards Mill, as well as the remnants of the old lumber mill. They also have cabin rentals for those who want to enjoy the incredible serenity of the mountains and see the Milky Way from horizon to horizon. Jim and Corey Livingston expect to open their doors to Cedar Crest Winery later this year, and Alain Teuschmann of Mt. Tehama Winery can be reached by appointment only, see links below.
Visiting Manton is to discover old time hospitality, visit hard-working folks who will treat you right, and taste some very excellent award-winning red wine. Rollings Hills Casino in Corning has published a brochure which features a tour of local wineries. It describes this area as Manton Volcanic Wine Country, as it is situated just west of Lassen Volcanic National Park and has fabulous views of the snow-covered volcano most of the year. An area known for its apples and celebrated each year with the Manton Apple Festival (first weekend in October), Manton is now taking on a new identity: one of California's latest undiscovered award-winning wine regions. Watch out Mondavi, there's some great wine coming from the Cascade foothills!
Links to Manton wineries:
www.algervineyards.com Alger Vineyards (530) 474-WINE
www.indianpeakvineyards.net Indian Peak Vineyards (530) 474-5506
www.ringtailvineyards.net Ringtail Vineyards (530) 474-5350
www.mtwinery.com Mt. Tehama Winery (530) 474-3304
www.shastadaisyvineyard.com Shasta Daisy Vineyard (530) 474-5262
Site under construction Cedar Crest Vineyard and Winery (530) 474-1387
Manton's first ever Gold Medal was awarded this year to Ringtail Vineyards for its red grape port style dessert wine "Sweet Petite," a particularly impressive feat given the fact that this was the very first year Ringtail entered the fray. Congratulations indeed! Ringtail also won bronze medals for its Petite Sirah and a Late Harvest Chardonnay. I might add that my wife loves the Ringtail Gewurztraminer. There's a bottle in the frig right now! The other Manton winery winner, Indian Peak Vineyards, won two Silver Medals last year and brought home four awards this year: Silvers for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronzes for a Zinfandel/Abstract Red and another Cabernet Sauvignon. Locals just love "Donna's Dessert Wine," a port style after dinner treat which is flying out the door by the case.
Prior to this year's competition, Alger Vineyards won awards four years in a row for its Syrahs and Petite Sirahs. John and Linda Alger are eager to pour the award winners in their spectacular tasting room, featuring local handcrafted art and panoramic views of the vineyards which stretch towards the distant Yolla Bolly Mountains of the Coast Range. Truth be told, all the wineries in Manton are small family affairs. Fred and Donna Boots of Indian Peak Vineyards will host you most any time, against a backdrop of barrel upon oak barrel stacked to the rafters. Rob Carillo and Donna Delgado of Ringtail Vineyards have a tasting room in their home, with an elegant wooden bar and views of Lassen Peak.
Another winery which I expect to win awards soon is Shasta Daisy Vineyards, owned by Carroll and Lorna Knedler. Their Pinot Noir is well worth the drive and their tasting room overlooks the gorgeous meadow at Forwards Mill, as well as the remnants of the old lumber mill. They also have cabin rentals for those who want to enjoy the incredible serenity of the mountains and see the Milky Way from horizon to horizon. Jim and Corey Livingston expect to open their doors to Cedar Crest Winery later this year, and Alain Teuschmann of Mt. Tehama Winery can be reached by appointment only, see links below.
Visiting Manton is to discover old time hospitality, visit hard-working folks who will treat you right, and taste some very excellent award-winning red wine. Rollings Hills Casino in Corning has published a brochure which features a tour of local wineries. It describes this area as Manton Volcanic Wine Country, as it is situated just west of Lassen Volcanic National Park and has fabulous views of the snow-covered volcano most of the year. An area known for its apples and celebrated each year with the Manton Apple Festival (first weekend in October), Manton is now taking on a new identity: one of California's latest undiscovered award-winning wine regions. Watch out Mondavi, there's some great wine coming from the Cascade foothills!
Links to Manton wineries:
www.algervineyards.com Alger Vineyards (530) 474-WINE
www.indianpeakvineyards.net Indian Peak Vineyards (530) 474-5506
www.ringtailvineyards.net Ringtail Vineyards (530) 474-5350
www.mtwinery.com Mt. Tehama Winery (530) 474-3304
www.shastadaisyvineyard.com Shasta Daisy Vineyard (530) 474-5262
Site under construction Cedar Crest Vineyard and Winery (530) 474-1387
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Retire to Manton Volcanic Wine Country
In a few weeks I will turn 65. Unbelievable! Retire? No way! I'm loving my real estate practice and plan to continue on for years to come. But for many Boomers the reality of retirement is looming large. After years of grinding out the mortgage and getting the kids through school, couples are looking forward to some very large lifestyle changes. Questions arise: where to live? what to do? how to afford? This New Year, 2010, will present many opportunities, possible new directions, great times ahead!
Some retirees will no doubt choose to stay put, having paid off the family home and developed local lifetime friendships. On the other hand, some will sell everything and purchase a home in a foreign land (check out the Living Abroad Guides published by my wife's company at http://www.moon.com/). I suspect quite a few folks will be ready to cash in their urban equity for a more relaxed, quiet and comfortable country lifestyle. Enough with mowing the lawn. Time to grow a few tomatoes instead.
Potential retirees in northern California who are seeking the country life may wish to consider the Manton area which hosts such "old time" events as the volunteer fire department barbecue in the summer and the annual apple festival in the fall. Current residents of Manton take a certain glee when telling people where they live, because most folks out there in the "real world" have no idea where Manton is. How cool is it to live in a yet undiscovered spot? Yet it's not that remote. You can be driving on the I-5 in 45 minutes or board a commercial aircraft in less than an hour. But who would want to leave a place with numerous wineries, a wild horse sanctuary, and a dramatic view of a snow-covered volcano? Want to camp with the grandkids in an uncrowded national park? It's only 45 minutes to the fabulous Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Pulling up stakes after many years in the same place is a daunting task for the future retiree.
Perhaps the best way to scope out a potential new home is to actually go there and spend some time. In a rural area with no hotels or motels, this can be a challenging proposition. The solution: http://www.vrbo.com/, vacation rental by owner. The are currently four listings in the Manton area and several more in the Lassen vicinity. I would recommend vrbo #14909 at Shasta Daisy Vineyards. Your hosts Carroll and Lorna Knedler are as gracious as you will find anywhere and have great knowledge of the area history, flora and fauna. Don't miss the dozens of hummingbirds on the tasting room deck! If a bed and breakfast is more to your liking, the Weston House (http://www.westonhouse.com/) in Shingletown has an incredible view overlooking the entire Manton area.
For guided tours of the Manton wineries, contact Donna at Ringtail Vineyards (http://www.ringtailvineyards.net/). If you are ready to view properties for sale or get the insider info on the various features of Manton, I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. Make your appointment in advance by e-mail: mantonland@frontiernet.net. Tom Knight, at your service.
It's a great time to lock up that perfect country home for your retirement years. Prices are fair once again, interest rates are at historic lows for those who might need a loan, and Manton still is the "secret" hideaway with undiscovered family wineries. How long hidden? Our award-winning wines are sure to attract attention sooner or later. An article in VIA or Sunset, and the prices will be going one way: UP! Way up. Retirees may find the perfect home in Manton. It's worth a visit!
Some retirees will no doubt choose to stay put, having paid off the family home and developed local lifetime friendships. On the other hand, some will sell everything and purchase a home in a foreign land (check out the Living Abroad Guides published by my wife's company at http://www.moon.com/). I suspect quite a few folks will be ready to cash in their urban equity for a more relaxed, quiet and comfortable country lifestyle. Enough with mowing the lawn. Time to grow a few tomatoes instead.
Potential retirees in northern California who are seeking the country life may wish to consider the Manton area which hosts such "old time" events as the volunteer fire department barbecue in the summer and the annual apple festival in the fall. Current residents of Manton take a certain glee when telling people where they live, because most folks out there in the "real world" have no idea where Manton is. How cool is it to live in a yet undiscovered spot? Yet it's not that remote. You can be driving on the I-5 in 45 minutes or board a commercial aircraft in less than an hour. But who would want to leave a place with numerous wineries, a wild horse sanctuary, and a dramatic view of a snow-covered volcano? Want to camp with the grandkids in an uncrowded national park? It's only 45 minutes to the fabulous Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Pulling up stakes after many years in the same place is a daunting task for the future retiree.
Perhaps the best way to scope out a potential new home is to actually go there and spend some time. In a rural area with no hotels or motels, this can be a challenging proposition. The solution: http://www.vrbo.com/, vacation rental by owner. The are currently four listings in the Manton area and several more in the Lassen vicinity. I would recommend vrbo #14909 at Shasta Daisy Vineyards. Your hosts Carroll and Lorna Knedler are as gracious as you will find anywhere and have great knowledge of the area history, flora and fauna. Don't miss the dozens of hummingbirds on the tasting room deck! If a bed and breakfast is more to your liking, the Weston House (http://www.westonhouse.com/) in Shingletown has an incredible view overlooking the entire Manton area.
For guided tours of the Manton wineries, contact Donna at Ringtail Vineyards (http://www.ringtailvineyards.net/). If you are ready to view properties for sale or get the insider info on the various features of Manton, I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. Make your appointment in advance by e-mail: mantonland@frontiernet.net. Tom Knight, at your service.
It's a great time to lock up that perfect country home for your retirement years. Prices are fair once again, interest rates are at historic lows for those who might need a loan, and Manton still is the "secret" hideaway with undiscovered family wineries. How long hidden? Our award-winning wines are sure to attract attention sooner or later. An article in VIA or Sunset, and the prices will be going one way: UP! Way up. Retirees may find the perfect home in Manton. It's worth a visit!
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