When we were at the Kings River Campground we made friends with several people, one couple in particular were great fun and asked us to dtop by thier place if we were passing. Although Sequoia is more or les the next valley down from Yosemite it is actually quicker to come back down to the Central Valley, go north and then back up into Yosemite, so this meant that we would be able to visit with Peter and Jan in Winton, near Merced. Driving down from Sequoia we left the great mountains and travelled through the yellow grassy foothills, then onto the heavily cultivated flat land of the Cnetral Valley. We joined I5, which travels the length of the Central Valley linking the many towns an cities there. After passing Merced we turned off and drove thorugh the fruit and nut orchards to Peter and Jan's house. They have a lovely house and garden on a crossroads in the middle of the orchards. After about an hour of manouvering we managed to get the trailer past the big eucalytus stress and onto their front lawn.
We had a lovely relaxing weekend with Peter and Jan, they have a great sense of humour and welcomed us without reservation. They have a lovely little 'summer house motel room' for visitors which was very well appointed. We got to jam some with them and eat together, on Saturday night we really pushed the boat out and went to Sizzlers in Merced. All too soon we had to move on, so that we could drive up to Yosemite on Sunday. We really had a great time with some lovely people.
Trip 9 - California Dreamin'
On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
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