Field Trip!!!

In preparation for the fast approaching honey harvest, Samuel and I did a run to the bee keeping supply in Chico to pick up Earl's honey extraction equipment.

We started out from Oakland, having had a lovely brunch with some friends.  As we started up the 80 it couldn't have been a more beautiful day.

About the time we hit Fairfield, I learned something very important.  A billboard announcing that Huey Lewis and the News and Hall and Oats are going to be playing at Thunder Valley Casino.   After a little further internet investigation, I can inform you that Lynyrd Skynyrd, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Doobie Brothers, and Peter Frampton will also be making appearances at Thunder Valley for your entertainment.  Ah, the casino/cruise circuit.  A step up from the state fair.  All that's missing are Styx and REO Speedwagon.

Something else happened in Fairfield too.  The clothing came off.  Oh Jeez!!!  It's easy to forget how balmy the temperature is around the water!  Despite playful comments from both Christian AND Earl about the apparent tartiness of my jean cut-offs, I was glad to have chosen them for the trip.   Both of Sam's long sleeved t-shirts came off, as did my wool sweater and long-sleeved button down shirt.  Not long afterwards we read one of those digital bank signs that switch from time to temperature, and it read 101 degrees.  Luckily it was a dry heat.

It was also a beautiful drive through lush farmlands: corn, tomatoes, peach, almond, and olive orchards, huge fields of sunflower and onion in full bloom.  And something that I hadn't really noticed before--beehives around every one.  Not just one or two, but one or two every 20 rows or so.  That's a lot of bees!!!



Chico is 3 hours and some change from Oakland.  For some reason I thought it was right around Sacramento.  I think I had been getting it mixed up in my mind with Davis.  Lucky for me, I LOVE to ride to new places.  I know that Chico isn't exactly a *destination*, but the heat, the fields, hanging my legs out the truck window, seeing the mountains on each side of the valley, and just getting a feel for the landscape that's within a few hours of my home... I wish that our cars got better mileage because I would be out exploring ALL THE TIME.

The bee supply warehouse is tucked away in an industrial park, which was a little hard to find.  It's called Dadant & Sons as you can see from the picture, and it's a chain--there are locations all across the country. 

All those wooden things that you see wrapped in plastic to the right of Samuel are pieces of hive boxes.

I wish that I had gotten a shot of Samuel and the Dadant man getting the honey extractor into the truck.  The box was literally an inch to high to fit under the roll bars so they had to get the forklift and bring it over the top.  Despite it's large size, it was lightweight, so it wasn't as dangerous as it could have been. 

 

Before heading back we stopped in downtown Chico for some lunch at a Mediterranean spot with a sign in the window that claims to have the best gyros and falafel in town.  That may be true, but if it is, I would hate to see the other establisments.  However, they did have a water mister mounted to their awning, which might have been the one saving grace of the place.  Afterwards we washed our mouths out with some Jamba Juice and headed towards home.

On the way back I intermittently read Samuel's copy of Game of Thrones.  He was about half-way through.

Here we are back in Port Costa.  

Earl's back was bothering him, and my shoulder and wrist have been flaring pretty badly for the past week, so we were both a little useless when it came to getting the extractor out of the back of the truck, so we got some local help from the Warehouse.  Turns out he has a bum shoulder too, so lifting the box out over the rails the same way that we got it in was out.  Head scratching ensued.

Duh.  Take the honey extractor OUT of the box first. 

A while ago I was able to help Earl with a small honey extraction from the hive at his house.  The extractor that you see in those photos holds 6 super frames and must be hand cranked.  This new one holds 20 frames and can accommodate deep body frames as well as the shorter supers.

And as we pulled up to my door, having performed our duties, Sam ripped his book in half so that we both could keep reading.  Now that, dear readers, is a true friend.