Red Bluff, California: The gardeners get up early. Not because they want to, but because the roosters and donkeys begin telling them it is time to get out of bed. Plus, it is best to water before it gets over 90 degrees. People living on ranches and farms in the Sierra foothills are slaves to the weather, but they are so rewarded with amazing bounties of their labors (as are passing-by relatives).
Gina and Steve were up early watering and moving soil. Seedlings needed to be potted in the garden for the summer harvest. Beets and new potatoes needed to be harvested. Asparagus must to be harvested daily. Artichokes as well.
Vegetables are planted in cycles. Month-by-month. Whatever grows best in whichever weather/season. As soon as something is over/bolts, something else is planted in the raised bed. They eat out of this garden year-round (especially since Gina and Steve dry/freeze/jam/barter so much of their harvest. Today we received garlic, new potatoes and beets (just dug) to take along on our trip north. Also dried figs.
We had thought to stop at Rolling Hills RV Park in Corning, because they have a great 18-hole golf course, but they were hosting a tournament today, so we continued a little more north to the KOA in Red Bluff. This campground is 5-star and has a discount grocery chain next door (a plus for those without tow vehicles - us - or those who do not want to unhook their tow vehicle to drive one block).
Due to the generosity of our sister-in-laws. we only needed tomatoes, so I did trek across the street. Ginger and Bill's neighbor provided lovely apricots. Gina and Steve provided beets and potatoes. I made a quick sauce of the apricots, which was served over sauteed boneless/skinless chicken thighs. The new potatoes were baked and topped with salted butter and sour cream. The beets were roasted and plated along with the beet tops and butter lettuce, sliced, with crumbled feta. Life is tough on the road.
(and baked potato)
We will continue north tomorrow and hopefully make it to Canyonville, Oregon.
Until my next update, I remain, your heading north correspondent.
Campground Information: Red Bluff KOA. My information may not be 100% accurate as they could not find us in their system, yet knew we had been members since 2004 (?), but had our new La Quinta address (2004). Questionable at best. Anyway... we had to pay $36-ish to renew for the year. We were happy to do this as we are going to be on the road for several months. Our site was just over $80 for one night. RVing ain't for weenies. This RV resort has everything (except a hot tub - currently under repair), pool, club room, fitness center, laundry, pet wash, small shop with ice, beautiful sites along the Sacramento River (and the I-5 freeway). Discount grocer (and Round Table Pizza) across the street. We paid $81 for a long pull-through site.