August 30/ Traveling to Arcata

I have been on another road trip Humboldt County, California. I stayed in the wilderness or with friends who are wireless Internet challenged. Michael and I are traveled over roads that we have traveled many times. The first day was south down I-5 territory which could be anywhere in America except that in this particular stretch there are trees, not corn, or high desert or low desert, plus there are the same old turn offs of McDonalds, Chevron and 76. But there is one new addition, and there are now espresso stands. At least in some areas, there is blessed countryside.

Day two is far more interesting. South of Grants Pass there are Hippie Drug communities, and or religious cult communities. Ordinarily traveling this country it is dry and hot, the heat taking your breath away. But global warming was not in the Illinois Valley this summer. The next segment is along the Smith River, which is a very beautiful river. It has a bed of granite and the water is clear, regardless of weather (flooding excluded), and is blue. The highway is still two lane in most places with a severe drop off to the river on one side and a mountain two feet away from the road. This passage is known for rock slides which are worse in the winter, but a big bolder can fall down anytime and crunch your car.

Once I was in the ER room with a daughter getting her arm set, and while chit chatting with the doctor, he mentioned that his wife was somewhat of an invalid. He had been driving with his family and this wife was in the passenger seat. A truck was headed straight at him. He said he had the choice of the river, or the mountain, and he chose the mountain. Choosing the river, death is inevitable.

We stop for lunch at an old inn. It is cool and the food is good.

Later we make a side trip to a restaurant that is off the beaten path in Klamath Glen. We hope it is still there with the minute cabins where you stayed over night. This place had BBQ ribs, and marguerites to recommend it. And like martinis, one was just right, two was too much and three was not enough. While the restaurant exists, the cabins have been scrapped away.

Coming to the Pacific after the drive through the mountains is breathtaking. I live on Puget Sound, so I am not unfamiliar with water. Seeing the Pacific after being gone is a joy: your heart does do a leap.

Comments

[MCV]

I suppose tomorrow is the day you post on Page Mountain Pass . . . IMO even more white knuckle than the aforementioned. Did Dad let you stop for any espresso along the way?

[radish]

His patience was endless at espresso bars. Only because we did not go to espresso bars.