Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Oakdale Roadtrip


Life is full of firsts. No need to list them. We all have them - the usual and the uniquely our own. Yesterday I had one of those "uniquely my own" firsts. I went riding, top DOWN, in an SL 500 Mercedes Benz. By the end of the day, I was feeling like Thelma and Louise before it all went bad for them.


The road to Oakdale is strictly agrarian. There are barns, cows, horses, fields of wheat, hay, alfalfa, chicken farms, eggs production facilities, tomato trucks, and roadside crosses marking losses of lives. The Toulumne River winds around back and forth under Geer Rd. which becomes Albers Rd., which becomes Yosemite Rd. depending on what rural part of changing zipcodes you are passing through.




The reason for the roadtrip was a simple one - my Tuesday night crocheting buddy, Elaine and I were on the great yarn hunt. Anyone who knits or crochets understands the necessity of looking beyond Michael's and Walmart for yarn. These, alas, are the two options available to us in Turlock. HOWEVER, Oakdale, just 25 minutes up the backroad from us has a hobby store AND a yarn shop. The yarn shop was closed on Labor Day but we lucked out at the hobby store. And, OH, what a selection. I felt like Alice falling down into the rabbit hole and arriving in wonderland. We found


THIS



And THIS



and THIS



AND THIS


We ended our day at Starbucks, OF COURSE. Star$s is such a fun people watching place. Only in California are you going to find old surfers in the middle of the Central Valley farming community.




Surf's UP!!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful day with the wind in your hair!!

Nothing like a road trip, especially winding through this lovely country with the lure of beautiful yarn to 'pull' you along!

Anonymous said...

Did you have sunglasses and a scarf wrapped around your head? Please tell me you had red lipstick too!
What fun!

Janet said...

Nice ride!! Not a bad way to go yarn shopping! And all those luscious yarns you found....yummy colors.

Did you remember to bring your surf board?!

Mary Timme said...

And moo-cows! Got to love the moo-cows.

Anonymous said...

Annie, you are so cool!!.. I love this. Thanks, Elaine

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

I'm sorry what did you say?....I sort of got stuck back at "riding in a convertible Mercedes".
XXOXO
p.s. Oakdale has always been known as"ticket town".....speeding tickets.

Lila Rostenberg said...

How fun!!! a friend, a quest, and a wonderful sporty car for a road trip!
I'm reading "The Yarn Harlot" now, funny knitting-related essays! I'm sure she would approve of your adventure!

Lea said...

What a wonderful roadtrip and those colors... yarn and surf... XO

trailbee said...

Lisa is correct, & without the smile! I have traveled this road for the last six years and love it, begin again tomorrow.Love the top-down thing,used to own a convertible.Luscious! You got the better deal as far as the yarn finds. The yarn shop is new and still building, whereas the hobby shop is well established and just revamped their stock! Lucky you. See you TR. Biene

Wanda said...

What fun, a day trip to Oakdale, I've done, but never got pictures like yours. Fun Day!

Miss Robyn said...

I tell you Annie*E if I ever get to the states again, we will hire a Merc.. soft top of course, and we will tear off down the highway, hair blowing, laughing our heads off! you can drive of course.. we drive on the opposite side of the road to you, not good if I drive :)

vicci said...

Hey Annie...we have a great little yarn shop up here...plus Apple Hill is now OPEN....:-) XO

Annie Jeffries said...

We will be up there for Apple Hill eithers late Sept or early Oct. I will see you then AND the terrific yarnshop. Love that place.

Alice Regan said...

Great photo's, what a wonderful way to spend the day! Did you buy any of the beautiful yarn in your pic's. I love yarn, the colors, the textures, their softness. Thanks for sharing your little trip with us!

Annie Jeffries said...

No yarn yet, Inspired. It's wonderful having a fairly nearby source now to go to that gives us a wider variety of choices. No doubt will indulge very soon as I'm getting very tired of working with the cheap stuff I have. It keeps on separating on me.

Pear tree cottage! said...

Annie, what a great "must do" yes I love the ride!!

O! and did I tell you we have two woollen mills around here, one just spitting distance away from home (did I say that! pink cheeks now!!) and the other about a mile away.........I am always happy to look for you!! lol lol.

smiles from Lee-ann

Beth said...

Now that looks like a blast, riding in that nice car with the top down! The yarn is amazing too. Can't wait to see what all you make with it.
xoxoxooxox