No, that’s not a Beyonce’ cover. But Bey doesn’t have the lock on the old platitude, “When life gives you lemons….make lemonade!” Which is just what I have been trying to do while navigating the emotional roller coaster of repairs to my home, my transportation, and my worldly possessions, all rolled into one.
I don’t do well in the face of adversity. Oh sure, I have a lot of courage when things are going well. I lived in Manhattan for 10 years, backpacked around the globe alone (including a stretch through Hezbollah territory,) and now travel solo in my RV. Easy to be courageous when one is having fun exploring! But let something go wrong and I fold like a cheap lawn chair. It’s a known character flaw. 😉 So the last two weeks have been a bit bleak and I have been a bit blue. Still, I am reminded daily by my own admission (as well as that of well meaning friends and family,) “It could always be worse.”
Main Street, Santa Paula, building dates back to 1905.
When looking for a place to park the Winnie for what I thought was going to be a 3 day camping trip to the Channel Islands, I had to come inland from the coast to keep the cost down. Paying to park along with the camping, boat transportation, and the kayaking excursion, I needed something safe but economical, which landed me in lovely downtown Santa Paula, CA. Just 15 miles in from the beaches of Ventura along Highway 101, Santa Paula lies along the fertile Santa Clara River Valley. It’s Mediterranean climate and fertile soil has earned it the title of “The Citrus Capitol of the World.”
Santa Paula is the Citrus Capitol of the World, primarily producing lemons.
On the right, an orchard heater or “smudge pot” used to prevent frost on trees.
Monument to the Farm Workers.
Mural honoring citrus production. Santa Paula has a Murals project, with 10 completed in the downtown area.
The highway leading up from the coast is lined with lemon and orange orchards, heavily laden with fruit. Rows of strawberries stretch out on both sides of the road between Santa Paula and nearby Oxnard, puncuated with workers bent in half as they move methodically through the fields harvesting the delicate berries by hand. Nearby avocado orchards round out the agricultural influence of the area. Of course this lends itself to a heavy Hispanic population. At the risk of stereotyping, I am awakened by roosters every morning at 4:30am. (Anyone who has spent any time in Mexico will understand the rooster omnipresence.)
There is much about Santa Paula that reminds me of Mexico.
I have counted over 10 Mexican Restaurants so far…
The town of Santa Paula is similar in size as the neighboring town where I grew up. Lots of local businesses line the main street which unlike many towns across the west, is still quite vibrant. The best cafes, a couple of small museums, and the only two fitness centers can all be found along Main Street. The locals are quite proud of their new 3 mile bike path.
I’ve managed to keep myself busy over the last two weeks. The blog is now in “real time,” a rare occurrence. 😉 The Winnie and the Tracker are now sporting a gleaming shine, with the help of a little elbow grease and my Quartzsite Big Tent purchase of Wash/Wax All.
Check out that shine!
I managed a couple of hikes in nearby Santa Clara Canyon. I would like to go back, but there is an angry, unleashed pit bull guarding the avocado farm along the entrance to the trail.
The trail head to Santa Clara canyon starts behind the Thomas Aquinas Campus.
Trail leading to the “Punch Bowl.”
There are beautiful, seemingly endless boat docks to walk in Ventura and Oxnard with a plethora of shops and restaurants, all with views overlooking the picturesque harbor.
Ventura Harbor
Walking the docks with the ducks. Well, it is California.
My first meal after 3 days on the island eating dehydrated meals from a pouch. Andria’s Waterfront Restaurant is known for their Fish & Chips.
But by far, the most entertaining venue has been the Oxnard Strawberry Festival. What a great distraction for the day! Oxnard is California’s largest strawberry producer, supplying 85% of the berries to the US, shipping 10 million pint baskets of strawberries daily during peak season. All proceeds from the Annual Oxnard Strawberry Festival go to fund local charities, scholarships, etc.
This “garage band” sets up just outside the front entrance. This little boy on the drums is killin’ it!
Interesting how the “non-organic” strawberries are so uniform.
As opposed to the organic variety.
It was all about food at this festival, where I have never seen longer lines.
The largest booth (and oddly enough, shortest line) was the “Build your own Strawberry Shortcake” where for $5, you could pile it as high as the bowl will hold.
On the left, “Strawberry Nachos” and on the right, “Strawberry Tamale,” neither of which sound good to me.
Strawberry Fields Forever!
Früli Strawberry Beer is the official beer of the Strawberry Festival.
I think my Dad had one of these back in the day.
Even the amusement rides are berry-themed.
Pie throwing contest
But my favorite part of the festival was the “Berry Best Hat” contest. These are the five finalists.
“Miss Regional” tweets out, “And to think, that b#$%h Miss California got the Rose Parade!”
Imma have one last glass of strawberry wine before I take to the stage.
Do you think she knows her pants are not fastened?
The Grand Prize Winner. Hat was a cake, complete with slices of cake that velcroed on. She won a two night stay at the Oxnard Embassy Suites.
All in all, not a bad place to be “broken down” while I wait out the repairs, canceling my down line reservations like cascading dominoes. At least if I have to be “broken down,” the town isn’t the same. Meanwhile, thank goodness for Lemonade….with a shot of tequila and a little salt on the rim! 
I was three blogs behind! Now we are having connectivity issues so I am using the phone…not fun! Glad all is resolved with Winnie:) The Strawberry Festival was a hoot!
Wow, the Berry Best Hat contestants really take it seriously! Too funny.
Awesome photos and excellent writing!
What a total hoot of a place.
Nina
You killed me with the photos of strawberries and then buried me with that one photo for the $5 build your own strawberry shortcake. It would be hard to leave a place like that. Thanks … now I’m off to find some strawberries. 🙂
Thanks for the tour of the strawberry festival, still laughing at the hat contest pics. Good news on the resolution of the fix of the Winnie!
If I read the story correctly you went to a strawberry festival and found enough lemons to make lemonade from your problems.
Hi, Allen, that’s close, but the real story is I went to “The Lemon Capitol of the World” and ate enough strawberry shortcake to make me forget all about my problems. 😉 Happy Memorial Day!
I like your lemonade recipe, both rolling with the punches and a little salt on the rim. Having been to the Strawberry Fest, I remember it even more crowed than your pictures show. Waited a long time for a skewer of chocolate covered berries. They were good, but spent the rest of the day just walking and watching.
I saw those same shorts today in a clothing store in Redmond, OR. It made me laugh to see them after reading this post. We are so very happy that the Winnie is fixed and that you’ve been released back into the environment. Travel happy!
Hi Allison, can’t believe you guys have made it so far so fast! Just to clarify, the Winnie is not fixed yet. I am still waiting on parts. I only have a solution, a plan, and a resolution with Winnebago. But I’m still grounded waiting for the parts to be shipped from Forrest City.
Well bummer to that. As a veteran “waiter’ I can attest to what a pain in the butt it is. It’s like being held prisoner in your own home, but with no ankle bracelet.
Been on a roller coaster lately – for certain. You handled it so well. Happy ending, because you love your View. Rollin’ along again.
Good information and wonderful pictures. Have a nice weekend.
Happy Trails.
Pamelab in Houston
I certainly had a good laugh….While reading the blog, I kept thinking there are lots of better things to do with lemons than lemonade. I shall settle for a Lynchburg Lemonade if I must settle….or there is always Lemon Meringue Pie.. Hope Humpty Dumpty is all put back together again soon!
Hilarious. Love those small town festivals!
A Berry nice post 🙂
I’m left to wonder (it’s my “job”), what does one make when Life hands you Lemonade?
Box Canyon
Lemon Icebox Pie 😉
We understand the rooster comment, having lived in Mexico for a year. Glad that Winnie’s troubles are now behind you. Hope you can just chill and enjoy the weekend.
I’m not out of the woods yet, LuAnn, finally I have a solution
and am hopefully on track now!
We’re in the area if you’d like to have some Margaritas and talk about Mark and pastel watercolors. Otherwise, this too will pass and you will soon be back on the road. Let us know. We love Santa Paula.
Hi, Ed. I have run away from home until my new frame extensions arrive. Santa Paula was nice, but it was closing in on me so I let Enterprise pick me up. 😉 Where are you guys? Full timing yet?
You are right, there are certainly worse places you could be broken down. The strawberry festival looks like a blast!
Well I guess if I were to be stranded with a broken RV this would be a fine place to be considering it could be raining all the time or snowing. Love how you made the best of it. Now onto Part 2 and the repairs. May the parts arrive rapido and the repairs completed pronto. Meanwhile cheers 🙂
I too am bad at handling when things don’t work or are broken. But you’re doing well making strawberry lemonade. Wish I had some of both.
Great timing for the Strawberry Festival, just think, you many never have had that experience! Hope your repairs are coming along nicely.