It’s Right There In Your Backyard

By Bertie Brouhard

Yes. Your backyard; figuratively and maybe literally. Some reading this may not have a backyard. Most with a family unit I suspect do. But like mine it’s California and rather small and fenced in. It might have a pool; likely not. But certainly it has possibilities for some summer fun; perhaps badminton, ping pong,  croquet, your hacky sack, horse shoe or cornhole area or an archery (yikes) range. In my youth I tried it all including a makeshift baseball batting cage that did not even slightly improve my hitting.

As for your family I envision two parent figures and two youngsters and while I encourage everyone to read on, this column has these four in mind.

One of my granddaughters once asked me “Were you ever four?” She was curious. I must have looked ancient to her. I smiled and told her it’s a wonderful age. About that time 1950 C.E. or so mine and other parents of my buds let us sleep outside in someone’s backyard on warm, humid, star studded Nebraska summer nights. I don’t recall tents but remember the many mosquitoes, the sound of UP freight trains and back porch lights and our flashlights. Feigning sleep around ten I suppose we were off on our bikes roaming the many streets, parks, construction sites and gardens in our small town. We knew where the best melons, apples, rhubarb and strawberries could be picked and where others; especially girls our age, might join us for our jaunts. It all went well until our neighbor, the ever vigilant spinster, Mrs. Pierceson, ratted us out. She caused a month’s pause in our adventures, having told my dad, “I saw your son and a couple of his “ruffian” friends downtown last night. (Just what is a “ruffian?”)

Some parents must have thought Scouting would strengthen, advance, and provide a successful transition into adulthood. The thought spread like the measles from parent to parent. I tried unsuccessfully. Advancing as far as a a Webelos badge. It seemed forever before my dad let me forget the money he wasted on a Boy Scout uniform. Mrs. Augustine, our Cub Den Mother, wasn’t at all disappointed in my dropping out nor was the Boy Scout Pack Master, Mr. Ellington, whom I biked to twice. The regiment, structure, hierarchy, activities weren’t for me. “Badges? We don’t need no stickin’ badges.” However, I currently have friends who are proud to have achieved Eagle Scout status. I revere their effort and determination.

As I do campers which I’ve never envied. Yes I own a couple of sleeping bags, an ice cooler or two and may have somewhere a small tent I erected years ago in Iowa during my week long bike ride on RAGBRAI. But camp stoves, lanterns, chairs, tables, etc., aren’t needed.

Boys I knew ions ago growing up in Nebraska did not go to camp. It must have been an eastern thing as I later learned from hearing tales of camp life from my wife and our eastern leaning friends.  The names alone fascinated me: Hayo-Went-Ha, Camp Walden, Blue Lake, Miniwanca, Nissolone, Westminster, Interlochen in Michigan; Camp Chi, Camp Interlaken, Camp Horseshoe, Swift Nature Camp, Camp Pepin, Camp Agawak, Red Arrow Camp in Wisconsin; Camp Wekeela, Camp Laurel, Camp North Star, Camp Vega, Hidden Valley Camp in Maine to name a few of the endless list.

My neighborhood gang; Denny, Bobby, Marty, Chip, Augie, Rod, Steve, Susie, Penny, Nancy, Barbara, Betty and Judy were plenty busy in the summer. There was baseball and softball to be played, public pools to be swum, corn to be detasseled, lawns to be mowed, kids to be babysat, newspapers to be delivered and mischief to be carried out; sandpit swimming, carp to be hayforked in the Platte, UP tracks to be greased, creeks to be dammed up, blue gill and crappie to be caught, pool balls to be racked, forts and treehouses to be built, all sorts of electro-mechanical devices – from lawn mowers to radios to toasters and washing machines to be taken apart and re-purposed.I can’t recall a dull, boring day. Off early untethered on my bike was exciting. Later at about age 16 there were summer jobs – mobile home factory shifts, cement contracting, farm and ranch hay baling hay, repairing fences and windmills, trying chewing tobacco, careening in old pickup trucks during the day and chasing dark, beautiful Rosebud Ogalla Sioux Indian girls at night (until their large older brothers found us.)

Not having gone to camp may have fostered a self-reliance, an outlook of independence, an ability to entertain oneself that I and my cronies from way back savor, rely on today. Or perhaps not having gone to camp delayed, stole from me an education, a maturation that’s needed..

After high school, college, job and raising kids time flew by. Should your family unit remain intact;  you; parental figures with young kids I offer some vacation suggestions. Certainly if you have endless time and money my list of backyard adventures may be less than interesting. They really can’t compare with surfing in Maui, skiing in Chile, hiking in Nepal, cruising the Rhine, or taking photos of the gentoo penguins in Antarctica. I smiled reading about all the rules and regs for the Oracle Park Slumber Party on 7/31 for $275 a ticket per person. Who does that?

The time window is small and too brief. By that I mean the number of summers when your kids are out of school and of an age (say between ages 5 and 16) when they somewhat think you know what you’re doing and enjoy your company. Each one of these day trips is one of surprise and adventure. They’re affordable, easily reachable and doable. It’s best if you can ride your bicycles, take mass transit or the family vehicle if you must. Only two lane, back, county and country roads are allowed. You’ll need walkable shoes, shade hats, sunscreen, water bottles and backpacks if picnics are your style. Wear loose fitting clothing. It’s HOT out there. Your group should have but one mobile phone to be used only in case of an emergency. A group leader needs to be appointed for each day; hopefully having chosen the route, means of travel and the day’s suggested stops, addresses, events.

Easily within an hour from Davis here’s my suggested list of “In Your Backyard Adventures.” We live in a terrific vacationland. (And each night -hallejuhah- you return to your bed, bath and cell phone. There’s no motel, hotel checking in & out, flights to catch or miss, toll roads, vehicle traffic, disappointing meals, pricey tickets or CROWDS. No camping bugs, out of propane distress, dirt, hot, smelly tent, noisy critters or bumped, bruised, bitten, hungry, thirsty, dirty, whiney kids.)

May I suggest this list of ten (10) “Backyard Day Trips”:

1.  Capay Valley: Wind your way north on county roads to Esparto and take Route 16; stopping at Capay, Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey before continuing to where it ends at Route 20. Return to maybe a Cache Creek River raft or walking the cavernous Cache Creek Casino. Each stop will surprise you. And traveling the road is different in each direction.
2. The Delta: Get Lost! Visit Isleton, admire Foster’s wall hangings in Rio Vista, Ride the Ryer Island Ferry, Explore Ox-Bow, B&W Marinas and Sandy Beach County Park.Maybe try wind surfing.
3. Sacramento River: From Discovery Park in Sacramento travel north on Garden Highway to Swabbies under the I-5 Bridge and cross over the river to River Road in Yolo County. Life along the river is exciting and non-stop.
4. Doing Dixon: Dawson’s has a wonderful breakfast. Bud’s is very tasty. Walk its downtown – Hall Park, Dixon City Hall, Aquatics Center, Rosemary’s Farm to Fork. Performing Arts Center, Rina’s Trail.
5. Marysville-Yuba City: Knights Landing to YC – Kneadful Things Cookies, Pete’s Music Center, Furniture 4U. Sikh Community Center, Scrap Monkey and in Marysville – Riverfront MX Park, Five 30 Event Center, Gallery One, The Antique Mall, Gary Rose Studio & Design, Elvy’s Thrift Shop.
6. Lake Berryessa: Boating, fishing, skiing, hiking, birding, photographing and so much more. Gaze down onto Monticello Dam and its Glory Hole, check out Marklee Cove and all its activities, get to Spanish Flat for picnicking, arrive at Steel Canyon Resort, and find North End Trail. Maybe hike a fav; Stebbins Canyon.
7. Alive Vacaville; Find the corner of Route 128 and Pleasants Valley Rd. west of Winters and take Pleasants Valley south to Vacaville to see Andrews Park along Ulatis Creek, walk west on Main to see the splendid Victorian houses, gawk at Bart Bridge Hat Shop, shop Berryessa Blends Elderberry Syrup, walk Buck Ave. and the downtown streets to feel the vibe!
8. Wandering Woodland: It’s changed since you were last there. Have you walked the Yolo County Courthouse, seen what all the Woodland Library has to loan, visited with the owner of Earthbound Ceramic or stopped by The Blue note for a brew? Walk downtown Court Street. Get your kids to Velocity Island Park and you to The Hive Tasting Room.
9. Winters Rising: Not just  a new bridge over Putah Creek and delicious meals at the Buckhorn and Putah Creek Cafe but so much more – music, theater, shops, Winters Hotel, Carboni’s, Steady Eddy’s, Rotary Park, The Winters Opera House!
10. Davis Discoveries: Get to Natalie’s Corner Water Park, the Bicycle Hall of Fame and music at Central Park. Have you swum in all our city and UCD public pools, traveled all our greenbelts, visited in all our city parks, touched all the Eggheads on campus, visited lately The Shrem, Artery, Pence, Art Center, Senior Center, played pickleball, softball or tennis, had a taco or two at Westlake Market or Davis Tacquieria, explored Bee Haven, circled our Arboretum or strolled Davis Cemetery? Please do.

Surely there are more treasures in our backyard. Hopefully this list is starter yeast for your new adventures. Get out there! Summer’s already fading. Happy Trails! Giddyup!

— Long a Davis resident and retired from a successful HVAC sales career, I enjoy travel, reading and now finding my writing voice. I value your input so please email me (bertieb1970@gmail.com). Thank you. Bertie.