That first trip was wonderful. It was so exciting to be in California. The skyline of Los Angeles didn't seem anymore impressive than that of Memphis. However, the ocean, the palm trees, the sun, and everything else looked different than anything I had ever seen.
I have been to Los Angeles many times since then. But, it wasn't until four years ago that I traveled to northern California and I must say that northern California is an entirely different world than southern California. Really, it is another country. The weather is very cool, in fact, chilly - and this is in May, July, or August. Imagine what it is like to have 53 degree sunny weather in July, no humidity, and no mosquitoes. The sky is beautiful and the redwoods north of San Francisco, hundreds of years old and some 300 feet tall, are stunning.
San Francisco is a typical busy city. Full of life, full of business people in a hurry to get somewhere. You don't get this feeling in Los Angeles. Compared to San Francisco, LA is dirty, poverty is a standout, graffiti is everywhere. Not so in San Francisco - it is a clean, corporate feeling city.
Driving in San Francisco is relatively easy. The restaurants are great and the sightseeing is even better. One aspect of that stands out more than anything to me are the people of northern California. Nice, polite, engaging, eager to hear about you and especially Mississippi. Their education system is one of the best in the country all of the way from kindergarten to Ph.D.'s.
Despite what you hear, the people I have met there are what I would call moderate conservatives. They always vote and the groups that I have visited are all still dedicated to Ronald Reagan and his way of thinking. Reagan also spent a lot of time in this area. He did a lot for California when he was governor and they haven't forgotten it in northern California. Many of the men I have met out there, knew Reagan well. The personal stories they tell about Reagan are fascinating.
The area around San Francisco is extremely wealthy. The economy in northern California is among the best in the U.S. according to Forbes magazine, San Jose is the most expensive place to live in the U.S., followed by San Francisco, Oakland, Salinas, and Santa Cruz.
Another aspect of life north of San Francisco: it is surprisingly very rural. There are many small towns, and a great variety of agriculture not just the wine vineyards in the Sonoma area. Other crops are also grown here.
On my way back to Mississippi tomorrow, I'll take a road out to the area where I am staying and follow the Russian River almost right where it enters the Pacific Ocean. The coast line of northern California looks similar to the coast line of Ireland. It's very windy, the waves are crashing on the shore line, and rock boulders as large as a five story building line the shore. Highway Number 1 will take me back down to San Francisco. It is a very winding road that won't allow me to travel more than 45 mph. The view is amazing and the area is full of small towns along the way.
I can't help but wonder if my great-grandfather from Virginia had come out here to California instead of Mississippi where my family would be today. Would we be any happier? Better off? Would we be one of the prosperous families out here?
To me, despite all of these wonderful things about northern California, the people are the number 1 attraction out here. And, that is the number 1 attraction to me about the Delta. It's great to travel and see things.
However, it sure is good to come back home. DBJ