My time at Sierra Cascade has come to a close. I would have posted some more entries, but unfortunately my computer conveiently broke, just when I was about to write my final paper and wrap other things up (hopefully I won’t get marked down for being a day late). So, I will briefly wrap up my time on the farm and if you are interested in our trip to Napa/San Francisco, check out Rae’s facebook for pictures.
This first picture is of Will on his last day (not mine). He decided not to shave for the last week and then sculpt his facial hair to look like the Tapatio guy (hot sauce that Mexicans put on everything). The workers got a kick out of it and it even inspired Will to find a yellow coat to dress up as him for halloween.
The week after the harvest ended, John and Armen wanted to get me off the farm and experience some things other than blueberries. Here I am in the water after trying to water ski (I got up!).
This is a picture of Will and Kasey in the dollar store (every thing’s a dollar!) waiting for the local tire shop to replace a faulty tire on Kasey’s roommate’s car (long story). We were driving into town to go tubing on Butte Creek when the tread came off the tire. Luckily, at that exact time, a tow truck drove by and Kasey flagged him down and he ended up giving us a ride into Chico (for free!) so we could get a new car and buy some tubes. It was our third flat tire in three days. On the way to water skiing, we got a flat and so as Will was crouched behind a car, a young guy pulled up and asked us for help. Armen said she has had countless flat tires over the years and never has anyone stopped to ask if she needed help and she was convinced it helped to have a young girl around although I am convinced it didn’t hurt that I was in my bathing suit. Anyways, we finally made it on the creek around five and soon learned it was a 4 hour trip down Butte Creek. Needless to say, we paddled very fast and didn’t enjoy it quite as much as if we were basking in the sun instead of shivering in the dark.
On Friday we held a fiesta for the workers in appreciation for all their hard work this summer. It was funny to see everyone wearing normal clothes and I think they got a kick out of me wearing jeans and with my hair down. At the end, John held a raffle and got Marcos to translate for him, thanking everyone for all they did and explaining the raffle. John said in english, “The first person called will get twenty dollars, then..” and instead of saying forty dollars, he said cuarenta, and Marcos translated into English. He got so used to translating back and forth all summer and Will kindy thanked Marcos (jokingly) for translating because he didn’t understand. After the fiesta, we decided to go put-putting and Kasey came up with the idea that the losers had to cook the winner’s breakfast. Ironically, Will and I tied so Kasey made us breakfast burritos in the morning.
Another task I had to accomplish on the farm was to shoot something. They set up a little shooting range with pop cans and handed me a twenty-two and on my first shot I blew that pop can away (or soda can as I was told). I also tried to hit some clay disks but the gun was a little too big for me to hold properly and I came away with a bruised arm.
Needless to say I DID experience much, much more than blueberries this summer and I had a fantastic time. The Carlons became my family this summer and I know I gained lifelong friends. So thanks to everyone who read my blog. I truly enjoyed writing it and keeping ya’ll up to date on my adventures in Forest Ranch, California. But mostly, thank you to the Carlons who gave me an amazing, interesting, educational, and fantastic experience on their farm. They took a huge risk taking me in and I am forever grateful for that. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
