The Pie Run 2008

By

Your Social Director (Geoff Girvin)

November
8th was a beautiful day for a run to Oak Glen to visit the apple
orchards. The caravan to Oak Glen consisted of 7 cars from Coco’s,
and one addition as we went by Diamond Bar. The seven cars that launched in the
morning were: Geoff and Ginger, Cliff and Michelle, Ron and Karen, Jennifer and
Barbara, Chuck and Sue, Greg and Art and Marge. The Diamond Bar participant was
Jill as we blasted by.  Later on, Mike
and Kathy joined us. Since Dave and his family live in Moreno Valley, it made
more sense for them to drive straight there and join us instead of driving 50
miles to our starting point and then turn around and go all the way back.

We left Coco’s
at Imperial and the 57 freeway at 7:15 and 75 minutes later we were in the Los
Rios Rancho parking lot breathing in the fresh mountain air. Los Rios was first
begun in 1906 when Howard L. Rivers, a grower, packer, and shipper from the Pasadena area, purchased
property from the Wilshires, over 300 acres, to expand his operation to include
apples. He planted the largest apple orchards in all of Southern
California, many of which are still in production today. Los Rios
Ranch soon became known as the place to get truckloads of quality mile-high
grown apples. Fruit from the ranch has been shipped locally and globally over
the years. The operation expanded as the shift from wholesale packing/shipping
to retailing took hold in the 1950s. Soon a sales barn and bakery were built,
picnic areas developed and cider operations enhanced to make the most of the
growing numbers of visitors, eager for mountain fresh apples and the things
made from them. They grow 22 varieties of apples, from heirlooms like Winesaps
and Arkansas Blacks to newer types like Fujis and Galas. Many are available for
U-pick, and all are carried in their store.

We
got to the farm early because November is the season when most people come to
Oak Glen in search of apples and parking later in the morning is in a dirt lot.
So we arrived early, set up our picnic gear and began looking around.  Not only does the farm have a country
store with all 22 of their apple varieties already bagged, but they also have
every other imaginable apple treat and apple related item available for sale. They
even told me that even though the dill pickles looked like dill pickles, they
were really dill granny smith apples. I believed them; Ginger did not. In
addition to apples, the farm raises Pumpkins, Raspberries, Bartlett Pears and
Bing Cherries.  Most every one
sampled the apples and the pies and the cookies.

As
the day warmed up, many of the group took a short hike through the apple
orchards. The trail wound through a grove of California evergreen trees like
the Giant Redwood, and the Giant Sequoia. Then it wound its way around through
the hillsides of the farm and down into a marshy area before winding its way
back to the starting point by the orchards. At 11:30 we all jumped onto a
hayride for a tour of the lower orchards and a history lesson about the farm
and the surrounding area. During the hayride, yours truly serenaded the
travelers with his harmonica renditions of Home on the Range, She’ll Be
Coming Round the Mountain and Camp Town Races. Later, after the hayride, some
went to the petting zoo, and others watched kids
turning the apple grinders to make pulp that was pressed down to remove the
juice.  It looked like it took about
50 apples to make a gallon of pure apple cider. Do you know the difference
between apple cider and apple juice? Apple Cider is raw apple juice. Apple
juice has been pasteurized and processed to remove the pulp. Finally, after
everyone had shopped until they dropped, enjoyed nature’s beauty, and
basked in the warm sunshine, we headed down off the mountain. Those that waited
until the end, met in Calimesa at the Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant for
hamburgers and ice cream.  We all
agreed that this was yet another great event. The following 7 pictures start
with our line up and end with Bob’s Big Boy.