The Drive » Fifteen minutes
south on the gently curving
turns of Hwy 160, running
parallel to the Sacramento River.
As you approach Isleton, look for
the yellow swing bridge, which
turns on a pivot so that large
ships can pass.4 Isleton
Isleton, ‘Crawdad Town,
USA,’ seems more like
the Mississippi Delta
than California and once
it also boasted a thriving
Chinese community,
which is evident in the
historic storefronts that
line its main drag. The
town is a regular stop for
weekend Harley cruisers
and Delta boaters,
who lend the streets
an amiably scruffy
atmosphere as well as
ensuring that the bars
are always busy. Isleton
Joe’s (212 Second St; mains
$5-17; h8am-9pm) is the
nerve center of town,
a place where yuppie
wine tourers and bikers
suck down the crayfish
on a breezy patio, which
often hosts live bands.
On hot weekends, the
patio at Isleton Joe’s is
misted with water and
this provides a welcome
reprieve from the sun.
Fishermen should drop
in to Bob’s Bait Shop
(302 2nd St, h7am-5pm)
for advice from the
self-described, ahem,
‘Master Baiter.’ As well
as dispensing expert
information on fishing
in the area, he sells livecrayfish that you can take
along for a picnic5 p259
The Drive » Take Jackson
Slough Rd south out of town and
go left on Hwy 12. Just before
the bridge, go right on Brannan
Island Rd and follow it along the
Delta Loop for views of the bird-
filled skies and marshy lowlands.
At the junction of Hwy 12 you’ll
see Rio Vista across the river – a
good stop to grab a bite and cool
the engine (p259).5 Delta Loop
The drive along the
Delta Loop is best taken
at an unhurried pace- proof that sometimes
the journey itself is
as important as the
destination. This is
the heart of the Delta:
marinas line the southern
stretch where you can
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