Triathlon returns to its roots

In the early days of triathlon, the popular resort destination of Bass Lake hosted the first national championship for the sport. Now a group is reviving the event with the Bass Lake Classic Triathlon, taking place June 4, 2011.

Tucson Racing, which has put on world-class events at numerous venues throughout the United States, is producing the event. Tucson Racing owner Jonathan Grinder, a USA Triathlon-certified race director, said excitement is already growing for the resurrected event.

"Bass Lake still holds a lot of fond memories for pioneers of the sport, many of whom are still involved. So we're standing on the shoulders of giants to bring back this class event," he said.  

"Racers back then raved about the venue, about the hospitality and organization. Things have only improved since then, and I'm looking forward to what's going to be a world class event," said Grinder.  

The race will include an international distance and sprint distance competition, as well as a 5K run. The race will start at 7:30 am June 4 from The Pines Resort, the host hotel for the event. The swim course will start at the beach at The Pines and head south before going back to the transition area. From there the athletes will ride their bikes along the eastern shore of Bass Lake to the nearby mountain community of North Fork before coming back and riding along the western shore of the lake back to the transition area. The run will wind through the community of Bass Lake. "It's a beautiful course which is one of the main attractions for a lot of the competitors," said Grinder. "The scenery makes for a fun race."  

Bass Lake is a popular summer retreat, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Named as one of the West's Best Lakes by Sunset Magazine, the mix of full-service resorts, rustic cabins and camping opportunities makes it a great spot for vacationers looking for just about any type of lake experience. In addition to the triathlon, racers and their families can enjoy boating, skiing, wakeboarding, fishing and just about any other aquatic activity they can imagine.

With the rich history of triathlons at Bass Lake combined with the current popularity of the sport and the attractiveness of the destination and the community support in bringing back the race, Grinder is confident this will quickly grow in to a world class event.

 "People here, Bass Lake, did such an excellent job in the past, we want to take what they did and build from their enormous success from their prior experiences. Our goal is to put on a race with all the bells and whistles but retain the spirit of adventure and camaraderie from the early years of this race," he said.

For more information, visit www.BassLakeTri.com, or find it on Facebook by searching Bass Lake Classic Triathlon.

Wine and Chocolate Weekend Feb. 12 and 13

The Madera Vintners Association's family wineries are proud to present the Madera Wine Trail's "Wine and Chocolate Weekend" on February 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Valentine's Day with your loved one and friends as you taste the award-winning wines of the Madera Wine Trail!

Madera's warm climate and geographical features give our winemakers the ability to craft wines that offer distinct flavors of unique varietals. Wine Trail visitors will have the opportunity to taste a variety of aperitif, table and dessert wines that are sure to satisfy any palate! There will be indulgent chocolates and truffles, food, local art and live music along the trail, providing the perfect setting for Valentine's Day celebrations.

Give Wine!  Are there wine enthusiasts amongst your family and circle of friends? Then, share the gift of Madera wines. Say 'I love you' and pick out just the right varietal for that special person.

Ticket Information                                                                                  

Madera Wine Trail Passport Glasses are available for $25 from any participating winery both days of the event, and is your pass to free wine-tasting on the Trail all weekend long.

Pre-sale tickets are available for $20 and may be purchased in person at the following locations thru February 11, 2010: Designated Drivers are always welcome on the Madera Wine Trail, and they are always free. Be sure to ask for a "Designated Driver - Madera Wine Trail" VIP kit at your first stop on the Trail.

Participating Wineries

Birdstone Winery - 9400 Road 36, Madera, (559)645-1825, www.birdstonewinery.com 
Begin your 2011 Madera Wine Trail Wine & Chocolate Weekend experience at Birdstone Winery.  Birdstone will host live music with two terrific bands, Bellarios on Saturday and the Henderson Project on Sunday.  For lunch each day enjoy a delicious dish of Mazzoni Penne Pasta, a garden fresh Salad, and garlic bread or Bruschetta topped with Pesto and Roma tomatoes - all prepared by Chef Michael Mazzoni and Chef Cathy Barrows.  Great food, music, award winning wines, specialty chocolates and warm friendly people make Birdstone Winery a necessary stop on this wine trail adventure.  Come taste the passion.

Chateau Lasgoity - 11219 Road 26, Madera, (559)674-8291
Please join us at Chateau Lasgoity during the February Wine and Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend, where you will find exceptional wines offered at great prices.  Live music Saturday and Sunday provided by Mary Smith and Anita Pazeian of Harps at Play.  Lunch is available from Full-O-Bull deli of Madera.  Woodcrafters Cindie and Phil Goff of Casitas Trading Post in Coarsegold will display furniture made from recycled wine barrels.  The Sierra Lions Club will be featuring an assortment of dark-chocolate covered strawberries, nuts and pretzels for your taste buds indulgence.  Chateau Lasgoity will also be providing barrel samples of our 2009 Pinot Noir.  

CRU Wine Company - 20146 Road 21, Madera, (559)673-6372, www.cruwinecompany.com 
Experience a fairy tale romance by coming to CRU Wine Company for Wine and Chocolate Weekend, where we are transforming the winery into a land far, far away.  Bring your sweetie and indulge in luscious wine, including all our new releases, and delectable treats. We are known for our exceptional coastal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but have many delicious and unique varietal blends to be experienced as well.  Shakey's acoustical guitar music will be gracing our wine kingdom while Sissy's BBQ will be providing enough delicious food to promote a feast fit for a king (or queen).  Come and savor No Joka Roca's mouth-watering toffee, The Frosted Muffin's captivating cupcakes and Truffle Gateau's luscious Belgian Chocolate all within the same castle walls. There are numerous other vendors, gifts and surprises in store so come to CRU to discover what is awaiting you in your Happily Ever After.

Ficklin Vineyards - 30246 Avenue 7 ½, Madera, (559)661-0075, www.ficklin.com 
Ficklin Vineyards invites you to experience friendly people and over 60 years of valley wine making history.  Taste our extraordinary ports and outstanding table wines. Explore the vineyard to see the gnarly old vines of classic Portuguese port grape varieties, tour the historic adobe wine cellar, see the antique wine-stained basket press, and count hundreds of well-used barrels filled with port, mellowing with age.

For this special weekend Ficklin Vineyards adds to the usual winery charm with lively music, delectable chocolates, fine small-lot cheeses, beautiful handcrafted jewelry, fragrant cigars and cigar-rolling demonstration by Aldo Rodriguez of Casa de Tabaco, charming wild cats from the non-profit Project Survival Cat Haven, and savory tri-tip sandwiches. We are here to make your Wine and Chocolate Weekend wonderful.  

Idle Hour Winery - 41139 Highway 41, Oakhurst, (559)760-9090, www.idlehourwinery.com 
Start your wine trail at Idle Hour Winery. Celebrate Valentine's Day with your sweetheart amid spectacular mountain views. Taste our award-winning wines while enjoying our 6 acre property on the Fresno River. We will be pouring our new Pinot Noir, Viognier, Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Syrah and barrel-sampling new vintages. Bring a picnic. Local artists: photographer Rikki Alley and painter Judy De Rosa will display beautiful photos of the Yosemite mountains area, paintings and handmade jewelry. Local musicians will entertain you. Or better yet, end your wine trail day at Idle Hour Winery and book a room to celebrate with your sweetheart at the Queen's Inn Saturday evening, where you can enjoy the blazing fire pits and a great selection of wines and beer in the wine bar! Call 559.683.4354 to make your room reservations today.

Quady Winery - 13181 Road 24, Madera, (800)733-8068, www.quadywinery.com 
Quady Winery is excited to celebrate its 10th annual art show Reveiller, an Exhibit of Regional Artists. From the many artists that have been juried in the show over the past nine years, thirty have been invited to return and display their work for this unique event.  Diverse media in sculpture, painting, photography and installation art will be displayed. Art lovers and wine aficionados alike will love this beautiful and ambient setting while sipping wine and enjoying sweet and savory treats.  Our Muscat wines Essensia and Elysium will be paired with Chocolate Truffles. We will also be pouring Deviation, our mysterious herbal lover's romance wine that is perfect for a spectacular Valentine's Day.  New releases of Electra and Red Electra will also be available.  Our gift shop will be filled with Valentine items for your sweetie. 

San Joaquin Wine Company - 21801 Avenue 16, Madera, (559)673-0066, www.sjwineco.com 
Bring your sweetheart to San Joaquin Wine Company this February Wine Trail.  It will be the last chance to win the beautiful diamond, amethyst and ruby pendant to benefit the Madera Community Hospital Foundation.  The Foundation will be drawing the winning ticket at SJWC on Saturday afternoon. Plan on tasting our newly released 2008 Cabarnet Sauvignon, 2008 Zinfandel and our 2010 Muscato. All will surely please your palate. There will be chocolate and other delights to tempt your love. Enjoy the sounds of our Moody Press favorite, the Rhythm Review Band. Asian noodle boxes by Fresno caterer Michael Anthony will be available for lunch each day.  SJWC looks forward to your visit.

Westbrook Wine Farm - 49610 House Ranch Road, O'Neals, (559)868-3499, www.westbrookwinefarm.com, Reservation Only

Set hearts aflutter with your first tastes of Point Blanc, our new co-fermented four grape white Rhone-style blend and

Point Noir, a bold co-fermentation of three red Rhone varieties

from our refreshingly inventive Farview Farm Vineyard series.

Impress your sweetie with the uncommon complexities of our

estate grown red Bordeaux style field blend, Fait Accompli,

two diverse Cabernet Sauvignons, Uber Rhenish Dry Riesling, Viognier,

Rosato Romantico and Gambono "G-3".  

You may even wish to purchase or place your pre-release orders at special weekend prices.

Proprietors, Ray and Tammy Krause will be accepting but fifty reservations for each day

from serious wine lovers so please call 559-868-3499 or email westbrookwine@netptc.net

to confirm yours soon.  Thank you.

www.westbrookwinefarm.com

Wines hand-crafted using the economies of skill.

Must be 21.  A non-smoking property.

King Vintage Museum hosts event

Look beyond the bonnet and rejoice in the 12 stories of women who embodied independence, wit, charm, intelligence and determination with the "Ladies of Lincoln's Era " traveling exhibition at the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum, 40680 Highway 41 in Oakhurst from Sunday, March 13 to Sunday, May 8.   

The exhibit features short biographies of a collection of the most influential women of the 1860's.  These mischief-making, trend-setting, and pistol-wielding women faced unprecedented challenges as abolitionists, spies, humanitarians, and agents of change.

From the feminine wiles of "Wild" Rose Greenhow to the first First Lady of California, Jessie Benton Fremont, these unconventional women are still being talked about 250 years later. Other women featured in the exhibition include Harriet Tubman, "conductor" on the Underground Railroad; Clara Barton, who established the American Red Cross and Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and women's rights advocate.

The Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum collection will augment the stories with their collection of fashion, fashion accessories, military uniforms, military memorabilia and more.  The "Ladies of Lincoln Era" exhibition follows the 2010 "Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America Learning Station Exhibit that the museum hosted.  

The "Ladies of Lincoln's Era" exhibit was produced by Mission San Juan Capistrano and is toured by the California Exhibition Resources Alliance.

The mission of the museum is to foster an awareness and appreciation of the history of vintage fashion, to ensure the conservation and preservation of the collection for generations to come, to offer an education for all ages on the lifestyles and fashions of past eras, and to provide an education on the conservation and preservation of textiles from the past.  The museum collection dates back to 1790 with a pair of ballroom slippers.

The Wild Wonderful Women and Friends, Inc. will kick off the celebration of the "Ladies of the Lincoln Era" exhibition at the Valentine Chocolate Extraordinaire Dinner on Sunday, February 13 at ECCO with a special tribute.  For tickets or more information about the dinner contact Toni at 559-683-3600.

The Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum will again host "The Civil War Living History" at the Oakhurst Community Park on Friday, March 25, "Education Day" and Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27 for the community.   The event is produced by the National Civil War Association in conjunction with the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum.

The Golden Chain Theatre will perform the historical drama "Wild West Women"  by Richard D. Parks and Diane C. Aubry with artistic director Roger Clugston.The kickoff performance will be Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m. with a performance Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m.Performances will continue each Saturday at 7 p.m. and each Sunday at 2 p.m. from April 2 through April 17. The Golden Chain Theatre is located at 42130 Highway 41, Oakhurst.  For tickets or more information contact the theatre at 559-683-7112.

The museum will host other events in conjunction with the exhibition such as book signings, demonstrations, lectures, music and more.  Details on these events will follow.  The museum will be open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will handle special tours outside those hours by special arrangement. If you want more information on the museum visit the website www.kingvintagemuseum.org.  

If you would like to make reservations for the exhibition or get more information. contact the museum at 559-658-6999 or Toni at 559-683-3600.

Stay and play for less in California's Gateway to Yosemite

Enjoy the beauty and natural splendors of Yosemite National Park for a two night stay at the award winning Apple Blossom Inn. You'll be provided with deluxe accommodations, gourmet Candy 'Apple' breakfasts each morning, Yosemite National Park entrance fees (good for seven days) and a country-style picnic lunch packed in an insulated cooler back pack, including Sparkling Apple Cider and our homemade trail mix. After hiking and picnicking at the various scenic sites of Yosemite, return to the Apple Blossom for a relaxing evening in the spa under the stars overlooking the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Two night packages including lodging for two, breakfast each morning, a picnic lunch and Park entrance fees, start at just $346 plus the applicable 11% room tax.

Download the Chimani Yosemite National Park Ap for both iPhone or Androids for only $4.99 between February 9 and 14.  

Enjoy a delicious, romantic Dinner at Ducey's on the Lake, located at the Pines Resort on beautiful Bass Lake. Click here for their special menu and pricing.  

Cruise the Madera Wine Trail aboard the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce's Valentine Wine Express. Tickets are on sale until February 9. Guests on the express can enjoy a dinner from Farnesi's Steakhouse, which is offering discounted dinner tickets ($16). The menu includes a choice of 8 oz, Prime Rib, Penne Pasta with Shrimp or Chicken Madeira including sides and salad.

Stay at the Hounds Tooth Inn in Oakhurst for one night and receive 1/2 off the second night Sunday through Thursday for the months of February and March.  

The Madera Valley Inn is offering a $59 manager's special rate on King rooms, normally $79 through March. Pay only $69 on Double Queen rooms, normally $89.

Stay at The Pines Resort at Bass Lake, which is just below the snowline to assure you can get here safely and very close to the snow play areas. To top that offer they have a Winter Package Special. Stay in a Chalet for only $99 (including a $20 meal voucher) or a Suite for $149 (including $30 meal voucher).

Ravensbrook Bed and Breakfast in Coarsegold has a Valentine's Special for a romantic overnight with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, chocolate-dipped strawberries, champagne and a Sweetheart-themed breakfast - spa included! The price is $140-150 plus tax, the night of the 14th only.

Escape to The Redwoods for a romantic mini-vacation during the month of February. Stay 3 nights and receive sparkling wine and gourmet chocolates upon your arrival. You'll also receive discounts for Badger Pass Ski Resort, Ice Skating, Spa Packages and Dining. Call 877-636-7951 today to reserve your get away package.   

Sierra Meadows Country Club has reduced their greens fees to $60 Friday-Sunday and $55 Monday-Thursday. Anyone living in a 60-mile radius of Sierra Meadows gets a local discount  worth $15 off listed prices. They are also running a February special on green fees,. $40 seven days a week for 18 holes with cart.  

Sierra Mountain Lodge is offering 30% off their standard rates in April.  

Stay at Yosemite Sierra View Bed and Breakfast for only $129 and receive champagne and chocolate Valentine's Day weekend.