VALLEJO

VALLEJO.
Today is Wednesday, March 4, 2009, and we are heading for Vallejo. I am looking forward to seeing the old burg. I haven’t been back there for any extended time since we moved to Fairfield almost 11 months ago.
We leave at 10:45 A.M. from Quail Creek. There are only five residents going plus Tony our mini-bus driver and Fabi, who is replacing Kelli while she is on maternity leave. Vallejo is only about 15 miles west of Fairfield split by I-80.
We are experiencing a light rain. But, it is offset by the pretty white and pink blossoms on the trees lining the roadway. Gas, at the Shell station, is posted at $2.27 per gallon. As we approach Rolling Hills and cross over I-80 before heading westbound on the freeway, I can see light traffic down below..
Our regular bus is sidelined for repairs, and Tony is driving an older replacement. But, it is giving us a smoother ride over this bumpy section. Still a light rain falling. An interesting pattern of the “rooster tails” flying off the rear wheels of the cars heading eastbound. As we pass the truck scales in Cordelia, the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds. We usually see a lot of construction crews working on this section of the freeway, but today they are rained out. We are slicing through green hills, with grazing cattle, on both sides. A small landslide oozing out on the left side-hill. I can see a jet contrail - high in the sky - perhaps 50,000 feet.
We are on the crest of Hunter’s Hill - what a great view of Vallejo! I see the Six Flags amusement park off to the right - down below. Every time I see the park it sadly reminds me of the 18 hole golf course, where I used to play, and is now “Six Flags“. This is progress? I don’t think so.
I-80 used to be Highway 40 before WWII. At that time it framed Vallejo on the East side. Today I-80 splits the city, as the population has increased, since then, about three times, to around 116,000.
We are passing the Solano County Fairgrounds on the right. They have a par 3 nine hole course on the infield of the race track. I have played gold there many times, and have a nostalgic feeling as we pass by. I miss playing there. The Vallejo City Fathers have been discussing closing the fairgrounds for more years than I can remember. The property is too valuable to be used for only 10 days a year when the Fair comes to town. There is only one catch. Solano County deeded the property to the city of Vallejo as a fairgrounds. If Vallejo decides to do away with the fair, ownership of the fairgrounds reverts back to the County!
We decided to have lunch before we visit the museum. Knowing that I had lived in Vallejo for 46 years, Fabi asked me if I had any suggestions for a restaurant. I suggested the Wharf. It was close by - down on the waterfront - a very picturesque spot. We arrived at the restaurant at 11:15. After a nice lunch, and watching the ferry activity, we left The Wharf at 11:35, and arrived at the museum in downtown Vallejo five minutes later.
The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum opened to the public in 1979 - 30 years ago this year. It is called “Naval and Historical” because of the City of Vallejo has had a long association with the Navy. Mare Island (across the channel from Vallejo) was established in 1850 (one year after California’s big gold rush.), “ Mare Island became the nation’s first naval base in the Western United States.” The base built over 500 ships for the Navy.
The museum building is the former City Hall which was built in 1927, and is on the National Register of Historical Places. We didn’t stay long at the museum even though there were plenty of interesting things to see. While living in Vallejo, I had been to the Museum a few times. I always saw something that I hadn’t seen before. The minimum Staff (mostly Volunteer); with minimum funding, has done a great job with the facility, and are to be commended. The exhibit rooms and restrooms were spotless. It is a shame that the Museum is almost totally privately funded. The museum has to do a lot of fund raising to stay in business. It is strange that Government entities have money to fund everything, and everyone else, in the world, but have nothing left to help the local art culture! It doesn’t speak too highly of a democracy.
We left from the Museum at 1:20P.M. Tony traveled East on Tennessee Street, and I recognized all the old landmarks - Myrna’s Donuts; my former barber shop; the old theatre; Vallejo Stationers; The beauty shop where Marie spent many hours getting her hair curled; the Twin Chapels funeral home (I have attended many services there); Liled’s Candies; and Baskin Robins.
As we leave Vallejo I am reflecting on living here for 46 years - our longest stay in any one city. The weather was tremendous - I think it was the best overall weather around here. The summers were cooled by the San Francisco Bay breezes, and the winters were milder for the same reason.
Vallejo’s average rainfall was around 20 inches - just about right. I had a five mile commute when I worked at the California and Hawaiian (C&H) Sugar Company in Crockett, and about an hour to and from San Francisco when I worked at the C&H corporate office.
When we moved to Fairfield about 11 months ago, I thought it might be traumatic. But, I didn’t have much feeling one way or another. I really haven’t missed my old stomping grounds. But, after my visit today, I feel different about Vallejo. After the spectacular view of hilly Vallejo, and the waterfront, from Hunter’s Hill, and being on the waterfront, I now feel that Vallejo is a pretty nice place, and I do miss living there.
We made brief stops at the library and at the Raley’s pharmacy, on our return to Fairfield, and were back at 2:20PM.




RCL - 3/11/09.