This morning we drove into the main part of Coalinga-CA, to check out the local stores - we located two & shopped one, and we came home with KFC for Supper.
But, first, I checked out the wildfires status' …
… and engaged in some self-care exercises: it's really too hot here to do any strenuous exercises, but I want to keep to my goal. These exercises are low-key, but they pay out real nice benefits over time 😊👌
A duration of 10 seconds can be approximated by counting "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand … ending ten-one thousand": this sequence is repeated for the allotted exercise count time.
The March Step exercise challenges your single-leg stability, which helps improve your overall balance; it also targets the hip flexors, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and core muscles for the lower body, while also engaging the shoulders and back for balance and stability. Despite its simple appearance, marching can act as a full-body workout by engaging numerous muscle groups, helps improve balance, and increases lower body strength; making it a fundamental movement for many fitness levels.
Hip Flexor muscles: these muscles are responsible for lifting the leg, as seen in the "marching" motion.
Glutes Muscles: The glutes provide stability to the pelvis and help extend the leg.
Quads Muscles: The large muscles at the front of the thigh are engaged to extend the leg and absorb impact.
Hamstrings Muscles: Located at the back of the thigh, the hamstrings work to flex the knee and stabilize the hip.
Calves: The muscles in the lower leg also play a role in stabilizing the foot and ankle.
Core Muscles (lower body): The abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis) and other core muscles work to stabilize the torso and prevent swaying, particularly in standing marches.
Shoulders and Back Muscles: The shoulders and upper back muscles used in marching include the deltoids, trapezius, and latissimus dorsi (lats), which help stabilize the upper body, maintain good posture, and provide stability assist with arm movements.
The Slow Butt Kicks exercise primarily targets and strengthens your hamstrings and glutes (buttocks), while also engaging your quadriceps and hip flexors to build strength and endurance in your legs & glutes. Performing butt kicks improves your balance and coordination due to the single-leg stability required.
Man - pungent heat wave!
As soon as we walked out the front door, our noses were assaulted by pungent wildfire smoke drift: the air today is thick with wildfire smoke - it smells like we are standing next to a bonfire.
I was glad to jump into Betsy's cab and shut the door tight. I didn't get fancy - freshly washed hair pulled back with a hair clip & lipstick was all the frou-frou that was indulged. My hair would be limp and lack-luster before the hour was played out … and my lipstick was softening in it's tube.
The cooler days predicted ahead are greatly anticipated, for several reasons 🙏
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I was not glad Holland kept hopping out of Betsy's cab every 5 minutes 😒🙄: dump garbage, top fuel tank off, run into the mini mart for a red Bull. None of that was pressing needs; it's basically just habit. By the time he was finished dinking around … Betsy's cab was filled with smoke odor and I was hitting the inhaler. I zipped my lip so we weren't catapulted into fight mode 😬; the environment was already smokey hot enough.
Leaving the area, I snapped this picture of the Park we're currently hunkered down in; it's actually a very nice place. It's clean. The people are friendly. The atmosphere is peaceful & quiet … and those small trees in the background are almond tree orchards = which is what the Park is named after. The murky haze hanging over the tree tops, is the wildfire smoke drift.
Coalinga-CA is about ten miles west of I-5 in Pleasant Valley, along the edge of California's Coast Range Mountains.
It is about sixty miles from Fresno.
Leaving Coalinga and heading back home, Holland took a different road spur out of curiosity.
I like curiosity driven drives 😁
When we got back home, I delved into a history search on Coalinga - there really wasn't much:
Coalinga is one of the mining boom towns, but unlike many of these flash-in-the-pan places, Coalinga survived. The community is 119 years old, this year; & it is the only incorporated city in Fresno County. Though oil helped the community to prosper, it was really coal that helped to name the city back in 1891.
It is said that there were three coaling stations called A,B, and C. The city name was made from combining coaling with Station A. Even the Native Americans of the region used natural tar from seeps for various purposes, including basket lining - making the industry a long established one. It also became a large trade item among the early settlers. By 1867, drilling began in the area. A post office was established here in 1889. In 1891, the Southern Pacific Railroad purchased a homestead of 160 acres from M.I. Curtis and the town site of Coalinga was laid out. Coalinga became the third largest California shipping point in the state by 1910. The citizenry pushed for incorporation successfully in April 1906 helping the city to move from oil boom town status to an established growing and successful community.
Though oil was abundant, potable water was not. Drinking water had to be brought in to Coalinga under 1972 when water from the San Luis Canal began to arrive. In fact, most homes had three kitchen faucets, one cold, one hot and one drinking water.
On 2 May 1983, a large 6.7 earthquake shook Coalinga, leveling a major portion of the downtown area - and by the looks of it, it has not fully recovered even if the locals cleaned up and started to rebuild after the disaster.
I found this article online: and I added some internet pictures - it appears to me, that Coalinga-CA was once a happening place with some pretty cool buildings. We did not see anything like those buildings when we explored the town twice already. Those buildings were destroyed during the earthquake, and most of what is left looks kinda neglected and worn down.
There are some modern businesses dotting Coalinga's landscape here and there, but the areas we have driven through look pretty shabby.
{{History Of Coalinga: The ‘Boom Town’ That Lived
~A Brief History of Coalinga by Bill Howell: https://www.coalingachamber.com/history-of-coalinga
Located in Fresno County, Coalinga is one of the few cities that began as a mining town, and survived. Oil provided the community with over 100 years of relative prosperity, but it was the discovery of coal that inspired the name, Coalinga, when laid out by Southern Pacific Railroad engineers in 1891. Legend has it during those days; there were three coaling stations: “A”, “B” and “C”. The name Coalinga is derived from mixing “Coaling” with Station “A”, with the “A” meaning to arrive.
In 1889 the Coalinga Post Office was established and in 1891, the Southern Pacific Railroad purchased 160 acres of homestead owned by M.L. Curtis establishing the present site of Coalinga. By 1910, Coalinga was the third largest shipping point for the railroad in California, with nearly all the tonnage connected to oil production.
A handful of local citizens began the process of incorporation, which was completed in April of 1906 and in 1909, the Coalinga Chamber of Commerce was organized. April 16, 1910, there was plenty to “crow” about as the Coalinga oil field was reported as the largest in California because earlier in September 1909, the Silver Tip well, just one-half mile from the city limits. It blew as the greatest gusher known in California at that time.
This caused enough excitement that the Los Angeles Stock Exchange closed, so that its members could come to Coalinga on a special excursion.
Coalinga’s oil field produced men and companies who were to become some of the giants of the industry, one being R.C. Baker, the founder of Baker Oil Tools. His original buildings are now the home of the R.C. Baker Memorial Museum located at 297 W. Elm. It is one of the outstanding small museums in the state, focusing on oil, the geology of the area and all phases of pioneer life.
Grammar schools came with the earliest settlers in the area and the first high school was built in 1910. The first graduation class, was held in 1912 with three members. In 1913, the women of Coalinga promoted a library district receiving a Carnegie grant valued at $14,000. The building was erected in 1916. In 1918, Coalinga veterans of the “World War” began organizing a local veteran’s organization. This idea spread until it reached statewide interest. When veterans met in 1919 to establish the American Legion, Coalinga was designated Post number 2 in California. Post-number 1 in San Francisco gave their support to later designate Coalinga as “Mother Post” of California. This patriotic spirit has never faded. From World War I through the latest military involvements, Coalinga men and women have served their country honorably.
Coalinga College was established in 1932. Later renamed West Hills Community College District serving students from Coalinga, Mendota, Firebaugh, Lemoore, Avenal and Huron.
In 1933, the Junior Chamber of Commerce hosted an impromptu racing of various wild reptiles later known as the “annual running of the “Horned Toads”. It later became known as the Annual Horned Toad Derby. The only years missed since 1933 of the racing of the toads: were the war years, 1942-1945 and 1983, due to the Coalinga earthquake.
The Horned Toad was adopted by the High School as its mascot in 1938.
The biggest test for the existence of the city came on May 2, 1983, when Coalinga experienced the 6.7 earthquake that leveled a significant portion of the business district. Residents realized that the oil was not going to last forever and the earthquake was the catalyst that inspired the City to look for new economic opportunities.
It was successful having the State Department of Corrections locate a major prison facility in the Pleasant Valley in 1991, Coalinga State Hospital in 2006, a 40-acre industrial park adjacent to the city.
In addition, there is an $8 million airport facility and in 1998, the residents approved a bond issue for a new $14 million hospital, the Coalinga Regional Medical Center, with the latest in medical technology.
Since 1983, the Coalinga Huron Parks and Recreation District has expanded its facilities, constructing a community center, fitness center and a senior citizen’s center. Also in cooperation with the City of Coalinga a new skate park has been built, and several parks promoting soccer, basketball, walking trails and even an outdoor amphitheater have emerged. City Streets and sidewalks, and new businesses continue to add to the independent spirit of this, mid-state city along the I-5 corridor.}}
I also ran down some information on that Historical Marker I spotted along Hwy #33:
And out of the peripheral vision of my right eye … I caught sight of an [Alert] popping up on my taskbar -
Lookin great Val! I love all the health and senior women exercise information you have today. I'm sure I would be quite amusing trying to do the kick butt one. I recently got an under desk "bike" from Amazon, it was reasonably priced and I can put it on my table top to work my arms. I live in a small apartment so I didn't want to invest in a full size exercise bike because I know me and past experience tells me it would end up as a close rack.
ReplyDeleteThanks bunches for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friend's this month.
Thank you & "hello, friend" 😊
DeleteI have a little peddle exerciser, too - and when the weather cools I'll start using it, as well as my little compact stepper, too. I hear you about the clothes rack 😂🤣; my full-size gym (when I lived in a sticks & bricks home, and had the space) would double as a clothes rack on laundry day 😉