California Delta Part 2: Mossdale Crossing Regional Park
Last week we visited Paradise Cut, a section of the California Delta outside my hometown of Tracy. This week we’ll move a few miles east to Mossdale Crossing Regional Park, which sits next to I5 on the way from Tracy to Stockton. Only a few pictures this time, because a) it was cold and windy, and b) the park is small. The boat ramp is the big attraction, but a) I don’t own a boat, and b) the river was running high and fast, which should make sensible people think twice about boating. For me, the attractions were the river and the old bridges.
But before we get to those: welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, pull up a seat, and let’s get to it.
January recap
This will be my last post in January, so let’s do a quick recap of my month. Please try to stay awake, and if you fail, please try not to snore. A girl has feelings, you know.
- Early January: Fly to Northern California, seated next to a maskless man who’s coughing and sniffly. Wear mask and hope I don’t get COVID. Take pictures of rivers and bridges. Hang out with friends. Catch COVID. Curse maskless, coughing, sniffly man to the fiery pits of hell.
- The rest of early January: Lounge around the house stoned on cold meds, waiting for COVID to go away.
- Mid-January: Test negative. Go back to work. Attempt to function while still tired and brain foggy and congested.
- Late January: Recovered! Hang out with friends. Try to think of something interesting that happened in January besides my trip and getting COVID. Fail.
Still awake? Good! Let’s get back to the travel pics.
Mossdale Crossing Regional Park, Lathrop, CA
The Mossdale Bridge (shown in the header image) is a railroad bridge built in 1942. This is the third Mossdale Bridge; the first one was the actual final link in the transcontinental railroad–no matter how much fake news those Utah people spout about Promontory Point. The source of this revolutionary claim: my hometown newspaper. Also the Manteca/Ripon Bulletin, which says,
For several months in 1869, a passenger would board a train in New York City and travel west until they reached Mossdale. At that point, they would unload their luggage, cross the river by ferry, and board another train on the other side of the river before the trestle was completed.
Wyatt, Dennis. “Mossdale: The real final transcontinental rail link.” Manteca/Ripon Bulletin, August 25, 2022.
If you are into bridges and want to read the specs for this one, see its entry at historicbridges.org.
OK, enough history lesson. The Mossdale Bridge is a landmark for those of us from this part of California. In my case, it marked the spot where I needed to change freeways–important stuff, that. In fact, that’s almost always how I viewed it–from the freeway when I was driving between Tracy and Stockton.
Here are a few more pictures from the area:
Longtime readers of this blog might know I have a thing for houseboats (see here and here). There’s one in my novel in progress, Delta Dawn, and when I was a kid, I’d watch enviously as they cruised the Delta backwaters. I’ve always wanted to rent one for a long weekend, but things rental companies call “houseboats” are actually enormous river-going yachts that cost a fortune to rent (seriously–I could take a cruise to Mexico for the cost of a 4-day houseboat rental).
In my world, a houseboat is a floating cabin–like this one:
This tunnel looks like a winter home for Pennywise:
I was both surprised and disappointed to not find a body in there. Or an evil clown.
The Memery
Let’s start off with some all-too-accurate navel gazing:
Pretty accurate except for the not speaking to anyone part. I’m a talker. Send sympathy cards to Long-Suffering Husband.
Also me:
This too:
I literally used a moving box as a nightstand for almost a year after we moved to Tucson.
This one’s pretty spot on:
Who says time travel doesn’t exist?
See previous reference to the cost of renting a houseboat. Guess I’ll have to stay in my landlocked house instead.
Yep. Every damn time. Perhaps I should use one of these:
On that note, I’m outta here. Come back next week for another dose of blather and ridiculousness.
27 Comments
Writing Sparkle
I haven’t flown in a while, but I thought wearing a mask on the plane was a rule that was here to stay. I’m sorry that happened, but it is good to hear you are feeling better. See you for virtual coffee in February!
Janet Alcorn
Sadly, masks haven’t been required on planes for quite some time in the US (maybe since early last year? can’t remember for sure). In my not-so-humble opinion, people with symptoms of illness should mask as a courtesy to others, but here we are.
Hal
This was a great read. I’ve been there and have driven by it hundreds of times.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks!
Joanne
I think that’s a riot that you used a moving box as your night stand (not that I have much room to talk my husband has never had a real nightstand; his is a small little plant stand!— shh! don’t tell him though).
Janet Alcorn
Nothing wrong with a plant stand as nightstand–I kind of wish I’d thought of that! I’ve also used a dining chair as a nightstand but never for more than a few nights.
Amila
Beautiful photos of the park, Oak tree and the bridge. I am sorry to hear that you caught with Covid. Sad that person next to you was maskless even when he was not well. Here in Singapore, we still wear masks in public spaces, during public transport and flights etc.
#Weekendcoffeeshare
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Sadly, most folks aren’t masking here in the US. I don’t always, but if I have any symptoms of illness, the mask goes on.
leannelc
That oak tree was just beautiful Janet – and as usual, I enjoyed your memes – the first one had me ticking a few boxes!
Janet Alcorn
I love old, gnarly oak trees! I took them for granted as a kid (or climbed them), but now I really appreciate them.
Karen
We are campers, so I would also like to spend a few days/several months out on the lake in one of those kinds of cabins. I enjoyed walking around the park through your pictures. My overall favorite meme is the nightstand, been there done it & about to do it again. #Weekendcoffeeshare
Janet Alcorn
Wouldn’t it be lovely to just cruise quiet backwaters in a floating cabin? Take a dip in the water if you feel like it? Sit on the deck with snacks and drinks? Ah….
ArleneS
As somebody who has been thinking about replacing her quilting iron, the yacht might be cheaper.
Janet Alcorn
Yikes! And now I’m thinking about sitting on the deck of a houseboat, quilting by hand. Probably not a very practical fantasy, but it has its attractions.
Gary A Wilson
oh man! Sorry to hear about that jerk on the jet. I’d have a bit of sympathy for him if he got sick on his travels and was only trying to get home – but even then, dude, a hotel for the night might let you sleep some of it off and give you time to get a scarf to wrap your face in so you don’t share your misery with everyone who can’t get away from you. . .
Nope – on second thought, he was just a jerk.
When we were newly weds, we were both starving students and I made a home for us in a section 8 apartment literally with stuff I found on various construction sites throw-away lumber piles. They also had some great strong boxes that . . . oh okay. I’ll stop right there – but the smirk stays put.
Blessings.
Janet Alcorn
I have sympathy for someone whose trying to get home, but he could have put on a dang mask (and no, I’m not normally the mask police, but if you’re spewing germs… put on a mask).
I’ve made furniture from cast-offs and scavenged furniture from curbside piles. Sometimes you can find great stuff!
Natalie
Glad to hear you’ve recovered from covid. The bridge and the oak tree are beautiful. Thank you for your weekend coffee share and funny memes.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Have a great week!
Maria
Sorry to hear you were sick, and happy to hear you are much better now. I have been to Mossdale Crossing Regional Park a couple times, taking the scenic road home after visiting a friend in San Jose. I love beautiful bridges. Thank you for sharing your visit, and the excellent coffee of course!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I love bridges too, especially old ones. They have so much character.
Maria
Indeed!
Antoinette Truglio Martin
Lovely tou, glad you are getting better, have a great week.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Hope you have a great week too!
Elizabeth Seckman
Beautiful pictures. I love to travel and see new places.
The worst thing that ever happened to my house is when I figured out that no one will die if a job isn’t done quickly. I have empty frames hanging awaiting the photos that I will get to eventually.
Janet Alcorn
I have so much framed art waiting to be hung up! We just… never seem to get around to hanging it.
Kirstin Troyer
I love old bridges, or just cool bridges. There’s an awesome one here in the Portland (oregon) area that I keep wanting to go take time to photograph…many photographers do and I haven’t figured out where they go to get the best shots.
Janet Alcorn
Which old Portland bridge is your favorite? Mine is the St. John’s Bridge. So cool and in such a beautiful setting