San Francisco

Saturday, 22nd August

We come down from the high country into the lush valley here that is mostly market gardens of huge scale with busloads of workers weeding, picking and working the fields . Each bus has a trailer with 3 or 4 portaloos in tow and I guess this is where most of the illegal immigrants are working. It seems that some stage in the growing of vegetables there is a need for hand weeding – a long line of workers moving through the crop pulling the weeds.

As we reflect on this trip the thing that stands out is the hospitality. Not only of our friends and relatives that we have enjoyed but generally the genuine warmth of folks,

You only have to greet someone with “Goodday, where are you from?’ and take it from there.

I generally say ‘you have a funny accent and that really sends them off as they think it is us who have the accent!

Coming out of the hills, the other day a truck had lost most of its load of square bale hay on a bend and some farmers were reloading it. I stopped for a yarn and talked about farming and drought and surviving hard times. This is rolling rangeland country and because of the drought it is pretty much destocked . It is till worth around $1000 per acre and is well held. One of the strings to their bow is hunting parties during the winter. Blokes pay for the privilege to hunt deer and pigs here .

( Friday) Another example, looking for a hairdresser in Visalia the other day .Alison asked a lady in the supermarket car park and she offered to drive in front of us to show us her personal hairdressing establishment, about 3 miles away, The shops in the country towns are really spread out but that was no problem to this lady. Alison expressed our thanks by giving her a small kangaroo pin.

Saturday, Surprise! `Would you like to go to San Francisco?` was the question from my chauffeur. `I would love to was my reply’. The day before Ian said that it would be too much to go to Yosemite Nat. Park and San Francisco. so I was delighted we were off to the Bridge. As we approached the Golden Gate Bridge, we were anticipating the event with excitement. I was sitting with the camera and video camera on my lap. We crossed the Bridge, the traffic was heavy but moving – cameras were rolling. Going off on the first exit we were able to enjoy the view from the marina under the Bridge. As I looked at the Bridge, I thought `something is missing’. It is an ordinary colour – `reddish brown’ – what was I expecting – gold leaf? yellow paint? where was the `golden colour’?? We loved the scene and the experience.

The evening found us at `Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’!! – fabulous fish and chips. Again, friendly greetings from the girl who served us. There are so many delightful people in the world. Only the second time, I was rugged up in my parka, It was quite cold. We enjoyed strolling through the shops and along the wharves. The atmosphere was alive and cosmopolitian.