It’s been 15-20 years since I’ve been there, but Stockton’s the only place in the Central Valley that I blundered into stereotypical Rust Belt slum poverty.

The ex wife and I were getting off of work on the coast, the car was packed, and we were headed to Kirkwood. Tule fog was insane throughout the Valley. We consequently turn off too early, and I find myself driving through the back streets of Stockton at 1 AM ish, trying to find where 88 connects. We end up at a stoplight. In the field/abandoned building next to us, are about 25 guys, standing around two fires built in two 55 gallon drums, passing bottles around, and looking at us like we were the Griswolds, lost in E. St. Louis. It looked like a movie set, it was so stereotypical, along with our blowing through the red, once we realized what was happening.

No harm done, got to Kirkwood, slept in the parking lot for a few hours, had a great day skiing the wall and eating their nachos.

But yeah, I’m not a fan of California’s “Inland Seaport.”