Finally made it to Modesto

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

I've been meaning to go to Modesto, 80 miles south of Sacramento,  and today Zing! and I did. The city is not exactly a magnet. Trip Advisor said, kind of, “Why are you coming here?” It’s not for tourists, but it is important to the state — a business center for the Central Valley, the nation’s big farm. Mary Kaye, my almond family friend, asked me to check out the California Almond Growers there. Blue Diamond has a big operation off US 99 just north of town. The city center, however, is almost bleak. I only drove through — Trip Advisor comments said it might be dangerous to stroll those streets. They didn’t look dangerous, just empty, but I took the advice. 

This is what I expected — a city serving surrounding big farms. The road down was lined with crops — grapes, nut trees, and squash or pumpkins lying in the fields. It reminded me of Ohio, except for the bright sun and a few palm trees. Although it was a clear day, the air was heavy with gold pollution, from all the cars and farm operations too. “What’s that stuff in the sky?” I asked the woman at the almond shop. “What stuff?” she asked. “It’s always like this.”

We spent about 3 1/2 hours on the road, going and coming. We went off the main route and zig-zagged over back roads between Lodi and Stockton. I like getting to know the state. 

Love,

k