Brian & Patty's Awesome Adventure!: Al the Wops

Today we did a loop we found on the internet called the Rio Vista Loop. We drive across the Rio Vista bridge and headed to the Ryer Island Ferry. First I want to show you a picture of the Rio Vista Bridge. As many of the bridges around here are, this is a drawbridge.

Rio Vista

Do you remember Humphrey the Humpback whale? Back in 1985 this wayward whale got lost in the Delta here in Rio Vista. There is a plaque here remembering Humphrey.

We continued on to the "Real McCoy" ferry across the Cache Slough to Ryer Island. This is a FREE ferry that uses twin diesel engines to go back and forth across the slough. CalTrans also reports this to be the oldest working equipment they have in California.

Real McCoy Ferry

We continued down the road and saw many types of agriculture. Before the levees were created this was all underwater. Along Steamboat Slough is Snug Harbor Marina and RV park where we stayed the first time we came here with the Jet Ski's. We stopped by to see it. They have added a lot of cabins and removed camping spots on the waterfront.

We came to the also FREE J-Mac ferry that crosses Steamboat Slough. This is a cable ferry. A pully system pulls the ferry back and forth. When the red lights flash it is not wise for boats to cross because the cable is pulled tight at the water line and can ruin props!

J-Mac ferry

We passed by the 58 room Grand Island Mansion which you can rent out for special events. They also serve Sunday Brunch. I suppose it is spendy!

Grand Island Mansion

We traveled through Courtland which is advertised as the pear capital of the universe. I can say that there are pear trees as far as the eye can see! We also had to cross three bascule type drawbridges. These bridges have huge counterweights that lift the bridge up.

As we were driving on the levee we came across a self pay fruit-stand. For $2.00 you would pick out a tray of tomato's or pears or asian pears, or bell peppers or apples. There was a safe bolted down with a slot in the top to drop the money. A sign asked you not to mix the fruit to keep the price low.

We picked up a tray of maybe 2 lbs. of grape tomatoes and a tray of maybe 6 asian (apple) pears for $2.00 each tray. At the store each pear would have been $1.00! What a deal!

We then got to the old Chinese work town of Locke. Despite what Patty may tell you I did not ride Dragon Puff Jr. in!

Dragon Puff Jr.

This is the whole town. The whole town looks like it is falling down. The walls are all leaning and the floors inside the buildings are crooked.

One horse town

Patty is trying to hold this building up.

Don't let it fall!

This is the street sign. English and Chinese.

Bi-lingual sign

If you go to Locke you need to eat at Al the Wops. In 2007 we ate here with Scott, Terri, Krista and our Matt!

Al the Wops

The tour had us go through Isleton. We found the laundrymat that we used with the Blankenbillers last time we were here. Speaking of Scott and Terri, We stayed at Vierra's RV and Marina last time we were here. Not far past Isleton there was Vierra's on the right. We turned in and found our campsites. I'm not so sure I would fit in with my new rig. There was a 5th wheel that was taking up two sites in at an angle right next to our sites from 2007.

Speaking of campsites. Our campground is now filled up. When we got back there were people on both sides of us. The sites are pretty wide so they are not on top of us.

And with tonight being the last blue moon until July 2015 I wanted to say good night and God Bless!