Today we meandered on back roads heading north. We had to stay away from the coast because the recent torrential rains caused devastating mudslides. Many of the roads remain closed while crews make repairs. Even inland we saw evidence of both mudslides and forest fires.
But the day was beautiful and the wildflowers profuse. There were lupins, Indian paint brush, poppies, fuchsias, sage, salvia and more. There were whole swaths of orange poppies covering hillsides. The trees, grasses and ground coverings were that distinctive shade of spring green. It’s a color I associate with rebirth and the promise of growth and coming beauty.
Along the route were miles (literally) of fruit trees. Endless vineyards with new vines to mature plants filled valleys and hillsides. We saw cows and long horns, sheep, and goats. The richness of California’s agricultural bounty was on full display.
At the other end of the spectrum, there were hundreds (maybe thousands) of acres devoted to producing power. Some hillsides were dotted with wind turbines. A massive valley was filled with solar panels. And we drove through a miles of oil wells, rigs pumping.
As we neared Santa Margarita and the campground where we are spending the night we came upon a small roadside fruit seller. We bought jicama, golden mangos, and a huge box filled with the largest, sweetest strawberries I’ve ever eaten.