LIVING IN LODI

Our houseboat is located between Lodi and Stockton on the Sacramento Delta. Stockton is a port city. Ocean going ships from China and other exotic ports come all the way up the San Joaquin River to pickup cement and other cargo. When we are out with the powerboat we must watch for them. As a port city, Stockton has problems with crime and we try to avoid it when we can.

Lodi on the other hand is a sweet little town that is very welcoming. The downtown stores are all locally owned and there are no chain stores. A Farmers’ Market that stretches several blocks with all kinds of produce and other goodies is held on Thursday evenings. Different bands play and restaurants have tables out on the sidewalk. It is a very laidback time.

The Lodi area has always been a grape growing area but now has developed a wine industry that is challenging Napa/Sonoma. There are almost 80 local wineries that together gross over six billion dollars a year. Over a million visitors tour the wineries and vineyards each year as well. An olive oil industry is developing as well with six companies currently producing gourmet quality olive oil. Some are using a new method of growing olives in hedges instead of trees so that machines can harvest them rather than by hand thus bringing the cost of the oil down.

We will be gone during the grape harvesting stomping celebration so we can’t report on that but will have lots to share about our repositioning cruise and visits to friends/relatives on the East Coast when we return. We fly to England the first part of September and the ship will stop at Scotland, Ireland, France, Iceland, New Brunswick and Newfoundland on the way to our final stop in New Jersey. More in October.