On Friday we took the short drive from Santa Rosa to San Leandro, where we are staying with our bluegrass and gospel friends Debra and Rich. They have very kindly offered to put us on their front drive for a while so that we can explore The Bay Area.
San Leandro is on the East Side of the Bay and includes Oakland and Berkley as well, while San Francisco is on a peninsular on the West side, the two areas are linked by several bridges and ferries. The San Andreas Fault lies in between, along the bay.
On Friday evening Rich had organised a bluegrass jam at his house for us, that was great fun, but a little intimidating as Rich , Debra and Ron (his friend) are so much better than us
On Saturday they took us to a 'Harvest Craft Fair'. It was a huge affair on a fairground in Silicon Valley (though you wouldn't know it), on the West side of the Bay. We drove across the San Mateus Bridge to get there.
Sally and Debra had a wonderful time, moving from stall to stall looking at all the lovely different craft items for sale. Rich and I had a good wander and watched the entertainment on the stage.
I am quite disappointed that we have not felt an earthquake yet, but not too disappointed.
When we got back we all tucked into a big beef stew that Debra had crockpotted for us.
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.
Monday, November 14, 2011
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My husband,Ben, was in San Francisco November 10 to the 13th. He enjoyed playing tourist. He went to law school there, and was in the military there. He says it is becoming shabbier than he remembers it. A small earthquake might be fun, but nothing very big.
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