Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Galen Rowell (left), who has photographed many rugged areas of the world, talks with 'Bay Area Backroads' host Doug McConnell about his newest book, 'Bay Area Wild.' This segment of the show was filmed at the Garrod ranch.

'Backroads' gets a warm welcome

By Sarah Lombardo

Doug McConnell, the host of KRON-TV's Bay Area Backroads, got more than just a tour of Saratoga during filming for the show last week. He got a friendly kiss from a music-loving horse at the Garrod Ranch while listening to a performance of a local band, the Skillet Family.

"He leaned out of the barn and began licking us ... knocked our hats off," laughed Hal Hodges, a member of the Saratoga Historical Society board of directors, who was singing with the band when the horse decided to express his fondness for music.

McConnell was in Saratoga on Nov. 10, with camera crew in tow, to see the sights and meet some characters from Saratoga for a spot scheduled to air on Backroads Saturday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m., and on BayTV at 9:30 p.m. The spot will be one of the first, McConnell said, to kick off the show's new Saturday series.

"We wanted to pick some of our favorite spots to begin the series with," he said. "We also like to try to feature places that are not necessarily back roads but are fun to look at."

Of course, Hodges said, a hamburger joint and the keen eye of Hodges' wife also helped secure a spot for Saratoga in Backroads film reels. According to Hodges, he and his wife were having hamburgers at a restaurant in Pescadero when his wife spotted McConnell. She struck up a conversation with the television host; Hodges pitched Saratoga for a segment and, Hodges said, the wheels were turning.

In addition to the ranch, the crew filmed historic houses on Big Basin Way, the Saratoga Foothill Club, the Saratoga Historical Museum and Lundbland's Lodge. "It went beautifully," Hodges said. "They were all over the place like ants."

They also interviewed local historian Willys Peck, Vince Garrod, Louise Cooper, Les Landin and his band and Hodges. But Hodges humbly said he doesn't hold much hope of reaching the small screen. "They have pretty much done a kaleidoscope, but of course they will edit out about 80 percent [of what they filmed]," Hodges said. "I told Willys, 'I'm pretty sure you and I will end up on the cutting-room floor.' At any rate, it was a lot of fun."

And educational, Hodges said. Especially for someone who is working on filming his own documentary, as Hodges and Peck are.

"I picked up some tips," he said. Hodges said he and Peck are working with West Valley College's Tessa McGoldrick, access director for KSAR-TV (Channel 6), on a film that would detail Saratoga's history. The plan is to present it at Villa Montalvo when it is completed and have it available at the Historical Museum and in bookstores. "Channel 54 has also expressed an interest in screening it," he said. "Of course, they haven't seen it yet."

Bay Area Backroads is also planning to do separate spots featuring Saratoga's Villa Montalvo and Hakone Gardens.

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