I did like the up river area. And there was a pretty good Thai restaurant about five blocks from the former military reservation that served good Raad Nah. Just down the street was a big tank farm where ethanol from Minnesota was being unloaded. Maybe this territory was too rough an area for the gang-bangers ?
That you can say anything nice about Stockton makes you a better man than I. Strike that: Houseboating on the delta — now that was fun.
But as for Modesto, Madera, Turlock... eek!