This weekend is the Annual Strawberry Festival here in California. It's held in Oxnard which is just a few miles from Camarillo where I lived when I worked for Verizon. I love strawberries. They're my favorite fruit. But I can't decide if I want to make the trek (about 90 miles each way) through the hellish traffic which is usually bumper to bumper the last 20 or so miles unless I get there at the crack of dawn. It was a no-brainer when I lived only 6 miles away, but now? Sigh...Two years ago I drove up from San Diego which is even farther (190+ miles) , but now I wonder if I was on crack when I made that drive!
Even when I do go, I don't generally stay long because the crowds (or the heat) get to me. There are tons of strawberry foods: strawberry shortcake, smoothies, strawberry pizza, shave ice, funnel cakes, you name it, they have it. Yet, my stomach is only so big. And after a lot of sweet stuff, I start feeling sick.
They also have music, arts and crafts, and a ton of activities for kids. One year I joined the kids and made my own neon candle LOL! And the arts and crafts are always dangerous. I inevitably fall in love with something I really can't afford. Like the ginormous Bird of Paradise painting that wouldn't even fit in my car. I think that was the one thing I didn't end up buying.
If I do go, I would get strawberries to bring home with me as the strawberries from that area are some of the best in the world (so good, they are usually exported to countries that will pay more). I got spoiled getting them from road-side stands when I lived up there. Now I can't stand to buy the second-rate strawberries they sell in grocery stores.
What to do? Maybe I'll go an take my new camera. I haven't taken the big one along since I would worry about it too much and it is a bit bulky to lug around. Hmmmm...
***ETA: According to the weather, it might rain on Sunday (the only day I can go as I work Saturday). That may make my decision for me, but the rain may make it less crowded. Hmmm...Still undecided LOL.
3 comments:
I used to love to go to our annual strawberry festival in NY - complete with strawberry shortcake and loads of fresh whipped cream!
I went to a strawberry festival in Garden Grove last year. It was really fun. I dont think I would go all the way out to Oxnard. But I dont drive the freeways either!
I got used to going because I lived so close for 5 years. Now when I don't go, I feel I've missed out. I even went the day after I got back from a week-long trip to Switzerland and had jet lag.
I wasn't able to go last year since I was in Boston for my sister's graduation from Graduate school. Missing two years would seem like forever! I'm glad I ended up going this year:)
And Kelley, I'm used to the freeways though they can be crazy. Though on the way back, I ended up not on the freeway for a while because I took the back way to avoid the traffic. Boy am I glad I knew the area well enough to do that!
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