Around the San Joaquin Valley

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Driving down California’s central valley is always an interesting experience for us. According to the California Department of Agriculture, 360 different agricultural products are produced in the central valley and it’s done very efficiently. The valley is 40-60 miles wide and 450 miles long, lying between the Cascades and Serra Nevada mountains on the east and the Coast Range on the west. The Sacramento and the San Joaquin Rivers, the two main watersheds of the valley, provide for irrigation, recreation and wildlife habitat. We had a pleasant noonday picnic, under a shady Sycamore, at the city park, in Williams. It was a very agreeable day but we were glad to arrive to a campsite in Sacramento.

We took an RV site, at the Cal Exposition Center, on the American River, California’s State Fairgrounds and Convention Center. Last night, we took a drive-around tour, to the Sacramento Old-Town, the State Capital, Sutter’s Fort, and around town. Sacramento, situated at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, is a beautiful city with a vivacious personality. We have found the people to be warm and friendly, like a small-town atmosphere. After a full day, we were glad to return to our RV for a quiet, restful night.

After a full-day of exploring Sacramento, we took a walk on the American River, along the River Trail Network, a favorite outdoor venue for the Sacramento people. This extensive trail system, with rest areas, picnic areas, and shady, paved paths, provides access to the rivers, for bicycles and hikers. Everyone that we passed extended their greetings like we were someone they knew. We didn’t meet a single stranger in Sacramento! We could live here!

10-16

On Friday afternoon, we headed down to Stockton and took a campsite on the Sacramento River, in the river delta, just west of Lodi. The campground is situated on Potato Slough, a tributary of the Sacramento River. A large marina is located just adjacent to the campground and there are abundant and various boats moored here, both pleasure and commercial. The river delta has numerous drawbridges to facilitate the movement of these watercraft along the wide, flat delta.

The highlight of our visit to Lodi and Stockton was a nice visit with cousins Deannie and Gerry, in their lovely home. Deannie spoiled us with scrumptious dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings. (Thanks again, cousins)!

We also got to watch the televised football games that we were interested in (LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss).

Another highlight was a trip through the fruit and nut orchards to Linden, Gerry’s childhood home. Driving through the geometrically-planted orchards, with the trees overhanging the roads, was so extraordinary. The predominately family-owned orchards represent several generations of family collaboration and cooperation, and the homesteads are situated in the interior of the orchards. It was also interesting to see the specialized machinery, irrigation, and equipment, utilized in the various orchards. We had fun identifying the crops, and how the particular paraphernalia and equipment was used!

 Who said: "whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.”

South of Stockton, we saw the old (1832) Hudson Bay Company’s, French Camp, on the San Joaquin River, the southern terminus of the Oregon-California Trail from Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River.

10-18 Sunday Afternoon

We continued south on CA 99 to Chowchilla, and then east to Hensley Lake, a US Army Corps of Engineers lake and campground. We plan to stay five nights in this remote campsite, in the western-slope, foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range. The foothills have granite and basalt outcroppings that just protrude from the dry, brown-grass slopes, like the backbone of an ancient creature. The campground is surrounded predominately by Live Oaks, some Pines, and a few Eucalyptus trees. The trees host lots of birds and mammals. A large covey of California Quail roost in the brush along the creek every night. We have seen Coyotes, Prairie Dogs, Rabbits, Acorn Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, White-crowned Sparrows, Coopers Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, and fortunately, no Rattlesnakes. Quietly observing, we witnessed two Acorn Woodpeckers cooperatively enjoying a cool drink from a dripping water spigot, without their usual bickering and chatter. We also observed them storing acorns in the metal-roof moldings of the picnic sheds too. (Industrious and expedient little creatures)! The flood-control/water management lake is very low and the steep boat ramp slopes down into the dry lake bed, ending far from and above the paltry water level. One could only launch an “air boat” on this lake and there’s plenty of dry air to cruise around on!

Late yesterday afternoon, observing the distant Sierra Nevada’s to the west, we identified Mt. Henry (12,196ft) 50 degrees, East, northeast, in the Kettle Ridge Range, (just south of the San Joaquin headwaters), and Mt. Goddard 90 degrees due east (13,568), in the Ragged Spur Range, and about 60 miles distance is Mt. Darwin (13,830) 71 degrees East northeast, in the Black Divide Range. We wondered if there were any Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail hikers on the trail, up by Mt. Henry and Florence Lake, along the headwaters of San Joaquin River.     

Auspiciously, we have the campground exclusively, with only the occasional USACE Park Ranger driving by. We be chill ‘in!

Just minutes ago, a lone bicyclist came riding in and joined us for a campsite. In talking to this neighbor, I discovered that he is a long-distance touring rider with a lot of experience. He is an interesting fellow and a worthy story to add to our memories. Check him out: Beat Helm BETZGI.CH

Friday, October 23, 2015

Today, we continue south to Bakersfield and a visit with Aunt Bobbie and Terry’s sister Michelle (in Maricopa). Arriving in Bakersfield at mid-afternoon, we enjoyed a visit and delightful dinner with Bobbie. Bobbie’s Crump 3-C Ranch is right in the middle of the huge Ag fields but her home is an “oasis” with large trees and an exquisitely landscaped lawn surrounding the house and farm-buildings. Sam and Daisy seem to relish the freedom to roam and explore the enclosed property. Bobbie’s new dog “Chipper” is getting all the attention and he terrorizes Daisy.

We relaxed and talked on the front porch until dark-thirty and then we retired from a long day of travel in the San Joaquin Valley, on a warm afternoon. Great day!

Sat. 1-24

This morning, we awoke to the crowing roosters, at the Crump 3-C Ranch, reminiscing back to the days when Mr. Thomas Baker settled on the banks of the Kern River (1863) and decided this would be a superb valley for a ranch. So, Baker’s field later became the subject of Buck Owens 1973 hit, “Streets of Bakersfield” song with that famous “Bakersfield sound”.

Buck said, “it goes something like this”:

I came I here looking for something

I couldn't find anywhere else

Hey, I'm not trying to be nobody

Just want a chance to be myself

I've done a thousand miles of thumbin'

I've worn holes in both my heels

Trying to find me something better

On the streets of Bakersfield

You don't know me, but you don't like me

You say you care less how I feel

But how many of you that sit and judge me

Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

Spent some time in San Francisco

Spent a night there in the can

They threw this drunk man in my jail cell

Took fifteen dollars from that man

Left him my watch and my old house key

Don't want folks thinkin' that I'd steal

Then I thanked him as I was leaving, and

I headed for the streets of Bakersfield

You don't know me, but you don't like me

You say you care less how I feel

But how many of you that sit and judge me

Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

You don't know me, but you don't like me

You say you care less how I feel

But how many of you that sit and judge me

Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

How many of you that sit and judge me

Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

Later this morning, I went back to the olive trees and tasted a ripe black olive, right off the tree. It was terrible bitter and I was informed that the olives have to be processed before they become the tasty black olives in the super market.

We also got to watch the televised football games that we were interested in (LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss).