Tuesday

Mary leaves for work and shortly after that  (and our good-byes :-(( )Joy, Shiloh, and I leave for our morning walk around the neighborhood.  When we return I finish packing up (I did most of it yesterday), hitch up, and we are off about 10am.

The first leg of our journey today is Hwy 101 south, to  Hwy 156.  We see the green rolling hills and pass San Juan Batista on the left with it’s beautiful Mission. (sorry not many pictures, just driving).  In my head I review some fond memories here…Christmas caroling with Laura and Joel, and seeing Christmas plays at the Mission with them.  Also have experienced some great Mexican food here over the years.  Oh, and Margaritas, too.  🙂

Now we pass fields of veggies in various stages of growth, and some just being planted.  The veggie fields go on and on.

Next the golden hills begin to rise up.  Golden already because now we are further from the ocean and the moisture it creates.  Green is already a thing of the past and long golden grasses wave in the wind.

We join Hwy 152 and Casa de Fruta is just ahead.  Long ago it started out as a fruit stand, or so the story goes.  Now there is a line of related touristy businesses.  The fruit stand has become a large fruit market/souvenir shop, and then you have a coffee shop/restaurant, wine store/deli, a train ride, gas station, large RV park, and more.  We don’t stop today, but I have on many occasions, when taking various trips.

On we go and I see an overhead sign flashing:

GUSTY WIND WARNING, PACHECO PASS

Which is of course, exactly where we are going.  As if the pass isn’t challenging enough, without gusty wind!

With Pacheco Pass comes San Luis Reservoir.  Depending on the water level, this reservoir is about 9 miles long, north to south.  Much of the water is used for farm irrigation.  Last year, the water was as low as I’ve ever seen it.  Now it’s a bit higher, but not high enough.

Here is a small bit of the reservoir out of JR’s window.

I take a little cut off to save a few miles on Hwy 33, which takes us through a little town called Santa Nella, and leads to I-5.

On I-5 the rolling golden hills get serious on the left…the west.

On and on they go.  Clouds are pretty too, eh?

We begin to see orchards on the right side of the road:

There are various citrus trees in row upon row upon row, planted on the gently rolling hills.  Also some nut trees begin.  Mostly almond I think, but I’m not sure.  I stop at a ‘scenic view’ area to take the above 2 pictures.  Golden hills to my left, irrigated orchards to my right.

Eventually we drive right through the center of Stockton, CA and on to our destination for today, Flag City RV Resort in Lodi.  This is the third time I’ve used this large, clean and neat RV park for a one-night stop over.  (You get a great discount here if you have Passport America).  It’s the one I’ve mentioned before with the most ginormous dog run area I’ve ever seen.

Here is the dog run. Unfortunately right now it’s loaded with little round burrs and the dogs don’t care to use it.

Laura told me that Lodi is known for it’s Zinfandel wines, so I buy a bottle!

In case you can’t read that, it’s “Old Vine Zinfandel”.  The lady that checked me in at the RV park said Lodi is the Zinfandel capitol of the world!  Wow, no small claim.  I’m no judge of wine, but this one really is tasty!

Cheers!