Escalon Sightems - 2

Azores Band Escalon - San Joaquin County  2026

Building, Clouds (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

"In the early 1980s, many Portuguese migrants came to California in search of opportunity while maintaining their culture and identity. Among them was John da Silveira, who, along with local Portuguese immigrants, sought to continue the musical traditions of their homeland. Their dream became reality when they formed a small band in the Nunes dairy of Escalon, today known as the Azores Band of Escalon."

1980s? That's pretty recent.

Escalon Sightems - 1

Museum Window (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

Mural (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

I used to drive straight through Escalon on my way to the mountains, but recently I've stopped and walked around a little.

That mural has been shown before on the blog, but this photo is better.

Rainwater Ponds

Rainwater Pond - San Joaquin County  2026

Rainwater Pond - San Joaquin County  2026

Across the street from yesterday's almond trees. Haven't been able to figure out what this industrial-looking site was for. (Almond processing?)

Almonds

Almonds - San Joaquin County  2026

Almond Trees - San Joaquin County  2026

I was driving east on highway 120 when I decided to turn down a side road at random and go off the main highway for a bit. I found this grove of almond trees, with a nice crop on the branches and a lot of almonds lying on the ground. (Maybe knocked off by the previous day's heavy rains?)

Driving to Bishop

McDonalds - Pleasanton  2025

I spent a few days in October visiting Bishop in the Owens Valley for some Fall photos and a possible day hike. I had wanted to car camp there in late September but the Camp Fire produced so much smoke I had to cancel that plan. 

First stop: breakfast at the McDonalds in Pleasanton, then onwards through the small town of Escalon towards Oakdale.

Valley Inn - Escalon 2025

Escalon - 2

White Truck - Escalon  2020

Mural - Escalon  2020

Escalon is a Spanish word meaning "stepping stones." The name comes from founder James Wheeler Jones who came upon the name in a book in the Stockton Free Library and liked the name so much he gave the name to the town.

OK, so I didn't spend that much time there. A short loop walking around with a Canon G5XII.

Escalon - 1

Masonic Temple - Escalon  2020

Historical Museum - Escalon  2020

 First time I've ever stopped to look around Escalon. Taken last February, on the way to Mariposa for a Yosemite visit.