Location: Wible Road/Panama Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93307

When I first moved to Bakersfield, I discovered the wonderful little woooden strawberry stand on Panama Lane near Wible. I'm sure you know the place I mean. For four years now, I've watched this little place. I've moved away from the Southwest, but still traveled out of my way to get the fine strawberries these growers offered. "Fresh Strawberry For Sale," the sign said, and I always laughed as I pulled in. Did they only have one strawberry?

Last year (or was it the year before?) they had a fire. The little wooden shack was damaged, but not for long. I held my breath as year after year, the roads were widened and the housing developments and strip malls began to close in on the little piece of land. But somehow they survived.

Until recently.

This evening, I went out of my way on a tedious errand so that I could pass by the stand. It was demolished; just a pile of plywood now. Someone will burn it all up soon, so I hope to get over there with my camera tomorrow and get a few shots of what is left.

Caved in. Gone.  Soon to have never existed at all in the minds of so many!

Often I passed the stand, still open (hoorah!), with a hope and a wish (and, okay, maybe even a prayer) that the farmers would hold on to their acre or two of land in this prime location, and not "sell out."

Well, so much for good vibes.

I did stop to talk a few times with the owners....an Oriental family, I believe. One of the older men told me they had four strawberry farms -- one behind the stand, the others in outlying towns to the east and north. They would take their big old flatbed, during the season, and load up strawberries from all four plots to bring back to their little stand. Their prices went up this last year to $5 (from $4) for a  big box of the most wonderful, delicious, beautiful strawberries I have ever eaten in my life.

One day last year, I stopped by late in the day. The kid at the stand (looking frighteningly like a Sumo wrestler --I'm sure you know who I mean) said that if I waited 15 minutes, the truck would be back from the other farms with the final load of the day. I waited.

Strawberry fields forever!  I wish the family well. It's our loss.

I'm probably dating myself here, but does anyone remember this astoundingly bizarre Norman Lear creation of the mid to late '70s? I was a great fan at the time, when I was also a Dark Shadows and All My Children addict. I did not know until recently that the first season of "MHMH" has been released on DVD. Watching it now (as a "grown-up"), it's a whole different experience.

The writing, though tacky, is meant to be that way. It's a giant soap opera spoof, with all the right elements. But the wonderful actors -- Louise Lasser, for one (a Woody Allen regular) and Mary Kay Place, for another (she went on to win awards for this show) -- bring a certain professional feeling to each episode.

I find myself anxious for the next  DVD to arrive (via Netflix) as I have not looked forward to any such thing in quite some time.  I don't remember how many seasons it ran maybe 2 or 3? ...but I do remember that Louise Lasser had to quit for "emotional reasons" and that the spinoff, "Fernwood Tonight" with Martin Mull, was almost as funny. I hope they keep releasing them.....

Check it out!

Again, I circled some local blocks this evening. This time, for some reason, I was a little nervous. I am uneasy getting used to the gears and brakes and whatever, and paid more attention to that than on my first ride. Plus, some jerk in a big pickup came speeding down Holtby, disregarding cross streets, probably ignoring stop signs, and so forth. I had my helmet on and was being careful, but still, I see the dangerous animals that lurk here.  I am thankful for the nice, wide streets....and I know I am a big chicken, and will get used to this new jungle eventually.

Going camping this weekend; am tempted to bring my bike, but my fellow camp mates will not be hauling theirs.  I have my little trailer, which would make it easy, but my friends  I am meeting are tent-camping so it would be harder for them to find the space to lug a bike. I would rather spend time with them than to go off on my own!

I think I have blogmania....my benchmark is Jennifer B's posts about her fasting and her road to better health....such good reporting. Well, I guess I am sort of on the road to better health...literally.

I cruised around my 'hood for about 20 minutes tonight on Blue Beauty. Should have waited a bit longer so the sun wasnt directly in my eyes as I headed westward. Still, as I knew I would, I saw things I've never seen from behind the wheel of a car.

Local history has it that the Oleander district (where I live) was once home to many railroad workers, besides wealthy people of all sorts, as you can see by a simple drive down Oleander Avenue. But off the main roads, there are a lot of small houses  on narrow, deep lots and some "courtyard style" apartment complexes that look like something out of a movie set.  Some people (like Jennifer) are restoring their old homes. Other lots have been converted into newer one- or two-story apartments, some good, some bad. I was pleased (although sad)  to see that some people have done a nice job with razing old buildings and putting up new structures,  and that there is lots of restoration going on with the old stuff. I was also a little bit nervous seeing some of the areas that aren't so "safe."  It's a big mix here, but I like it.

My bike is straight,  comfortable, seems safe, and the gears and brakes work. Thanks, BikeBakersfield!

I think, however, that I am going to need some kind of handlebar extenders. I'd like to be able to sit up just a little bit straighter.

Hi Ho, Blue Beauty, and away! Gotta go put her in the barn.

Well, I finally did it. After four years in Bakersfield, I bought a bicycle. Not a brand new one...just a simple one with handlebars I can reach without putting my chin down to them.

My bike has ten speeds, which I'm sure I'll never use, and fenders front and back. It was made probably in the 80's.  It's got a nice wide seat and space on the back to attach a basket or saddlebags. I bought a helmet at WalMart this morning. So giddy-up! I'm ready, and when it cools off today, out I'll go around my 'hood, which I've always wanted to see in slow-motion.

I had no idea where to go to buy a bike. I tried yard sales....everything I found was too beat up or too expensive. I priced new bikes. Sure, I'd love a Beach Cruiser, but just can't afford one right now. The other day I wandered over to BikeBakersfield, which is on Chester near 17th. Wow! What an eye-opener. In their back room downstairs, they have lots of bikes in several stages of repair/disrepair, and for $45.00 they helped me pick out a bike in pretty decent shape, with a good-sized frame for me, a seat, and a lock. They greased and oiled and polished and cleaned this little blue beauty, and the next day she was ready.  Most of their bikes go for between $40-50 and all the profits go back into fixing up more bikes. The people there are pleasant, understand what you need, and go the extra mile from a customer service standpoint. Does this sound like a plug? Uh-oh.  Too bad....it's a plug. They have events and clinics and good advice and maps and lots of other stuff. They are very "local" and I was pleased to find them. Check them out! They have a website too.....bikebakersfield.com, I believe.

So, now, Blue Beauty stands in her corral (my back yard), patiently awaiting our first ride. I'll keep you posted.

Well, they say first blog posts are usually awkward and horrible. So this is mine. I'll get it over with quickly...just trying to get set up here.
It's Friday! So long for now! Have a great weekend!