Driving the rig

If I’m on a big highway I get behind a big hauling truck and stay there, through thick and thin. There’s always his buddy truck behind me. It feels really safe and I can look around while I drive.
Sacramento was great. James Bowland was a kid the last time I saw him, now he’s a man with a family and a good education/job. I really enjoyed talking with both him and Gin. The kids were totally sweet. The whole house is decorated with the kids’ art and wonderful drawings of Gin’s. I forgot to take their photos and I’m so sorry – they looked great.
James gave me a good book to read: Nature Noir by Jordan Fisher Smith. He was a park ranger in the American River canyons. It’s a great read – how park rangers became law enforcement and the beauty of the land. I just finished driving that area and south into the Sacramento Valley.
I stayed at the San Luis Reservoir. I was the only RV in a campground designed to handle thousands of people through the summer. I saw several barn owls – one juvenile flew close to my face – lots of Montana birds hanging out with us: w. meadowlark, finches, white-crowned sparrows, kestrels all the way, same as ravens, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks. Outside of Ione a ruby crowned kinglet chatted me up while I watched the fishermen in the boats trolling for cutbows and bass. Everywhere there wasn’t a boat a big fish would jump. Saw a cooper’s hanging over the off ramp driving to Bowland’s. I was too early for the sandhill cranes at Columnes. The ever present coot numbers in the thousands. A man once said, coots were the veritable chicken of the sea. Many sparrows flitting by. I don’t have my special sparrow book, but so far it’s mainly been song sparrows and white crowns that stand out, maybe a sage sparrow. I’ve seen buffle heads, ruddy ducks, pintails, mallards, a dark headed fly catcher – briefly – all the birds were easily shocked. I could tell people have been chasing them. Hummingbirds occasionally hum by, two northern shrikes, the white wing bar flash of mockingbird, and the very pretty scrub jay. I’ve seen one red-shouldered hawk, a plain titmouse – reading my bird book I learned that white-fronted geese fly in dynamic and artistic V formations like the ones I saw nf the Sacramento River. So I’m going to fantasize and say that’s what I saw. Great blue herons all the way, great white egrets and one of the smaller ones. Lots of west. Grebes all the way.
I’m camped back in the redwoods of Santa Cruz – the walks are wonderful. We walked into Fulton today and got groceries – Lucy did the whole thing on leash and seemed to almost appreciate it. I pick her up in traffic. Anna gives everyone crotch hugs. What can I say.
Tomorrow I face the quintessential American turkey laden table. At Chez Adams I will feast, plus meet her family.

It furthers one to cross the great waters

I stood on a bluff over-looking the entire ocean, without anything to break the view, ran the dogs, leaped back into the bag – the step is tall – and drove through a rainy day toward Sacramento – hopefully the rain washed the salt off the bago. All of Mendocino is dedicated to wine – every junk yard tourist stop is a front for a winery. It’s pretty. I could have driven this whole coast drunk. Instead I filled my water tank with Mendocino water and am hoping it tastes like wine.
The coastline on the very northern beach of California – Lost Coast – looks like a great place to return to. I couldn’t drive a rig down the narrow road –The curvy road to fort Bragg is impressive. I’m going to have to train Anna to carry a food pack – Ha. I think it would be totally wild for several miles – beautiful.
Jane Bailey and I both remember the time we hiked the Olympic Peninsula – in the 70s, out of Seattle to the coast—something like 20 miles. It was wild –great hiking on the sand and over rocks. I remember the enormous size of the driftwood logs on the beaches – I saw some of that in Alaska. Jane wrote a poem about the red deer we saw swimming in the surf.
Between Williams and Yuba City are some huge water reservoirs and one large wetlands preserve. I’m starting to see thousands of ducks and geese. Twice, once in OR and then in Mendocino I’ve seen small flocks of red knots. They aren’t common anymore. Two big vultures, ravens, and hundreds of gulls in a flock worried some kind of gut pile, probably a seal. A Peregrine floated over my head. I found a plastic like substance in the shape of a skull – a costume face for a Harry Potter movie -- found a newly washed up abalone shell; the abalone had turned to pink plastic.
Out onto the big agricultural vegetable capital of the united states. This is the first time I’ve seen it after harvest: the fields are newly tilled -- no Mexican pickers covered in towels and shirts against the poisons, no spray planes, no plastic gassing shields, definitely not hot, but very windy. Wherever there are grapes – the yellowed leaves hang on the vines – all in straight rows – huge fields. I stand in awe of the work that goes on here –the sheer amount of food that is raised here -- for miles down the state.
I’m plugged in along the Sacramento River. Thousands of ducks flew into the area during sunset – wave after wave of mewling ducks. Tomorrow is a myth – no plan bears fruit; it’s more like shaking the tree and watching for what falls out.

How big can a tree be

I'm wandering around in the large forests of northern CA. Yesterday I found a hike into a natural botanical garden full of redwoods and ferns. I wanted a spotted owl to fly by, but alas.... Back at the bago at dusk, the frogs came out. Lucy growled and prowled around for a long time looking for them.

I'm so glad Justin Beiber -- or as Tina Fey says -- Beee eee ber -- does not have to go through a paternity suit. Whew. Close. Sorry Gabi -- I still think he looks like Duane Newton. (sp?)

I saw a field full of elk. One big bull and a couple of young ones -- 20 cows. Hope you guys are getting snow for hunting in Montana -- elk steaks are sooooo yummy. Speaking of snow, I slept without heat in the bago last night. Ahhh, love getting warmer again.

bagobabe

As of midnight my credit card should be working again. I ran into 2 men who told me everything I could ever want to know about taking care of a diesel engine. Sigh. And I thought men were supposed to ask me out to dinner.

Lucy is better on leash -- Anna considers the leash totally unnecessary and acts as dignified as possible while on said leash. Lucy has accomplished the great feat of leaping from the passenger seat into my lap as we drive down the highway -- she doesn't fall in between the seats anymore.

We walked through an old growth myrtle tree forest -- enormous trees -- huge wet leaves everywhere. Redwoods are next.

Inner Peace

I finally found inner peace. I love the Pacific Ocean -- I love the ocean. I have had moments of pure joy walking down the beach.

Anna doesn't go in the ocean because she can't drink it -- as she stood paw deep in salt water licking her lips, it was like watching someone drink their first marguerita.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the married men who have helped me do all the guy things. May the Goddess grant you all your wishes and may your dreams come true.

There are thrift stores and trading stations everywhere. Living in a small space cuts down on impulse shopping -- but I did treat myself to a silver ring.

Southern Oregon is more logging, sand dune buggies and not as close to the ocean -- beautiful rivers full of fish right now.

California next.

Lindabago

I've been at Netarts for 2 days -- it's a sanctuary and estuary -- long beach at low tide -- outside is warmish, even sunny at times. Lucy sleeps in, will not get her feet cold until late afternoon. Anna loves being outside as much as I do. Had a great time watching surf scooters -- the males have bright orange and white bills.

Hopped on my bicycle and discovered the front brake is too tight. Mechanical genius that I am I powered my way up and down one road then made the grand decision to take it to a bicycle shop.

My neighbor is a fabric artist. She and her husband are staying here. She's opening a shop in Tillamook -- 8 miles from here -- we were enjoying our visit when a couple pulled in, parked between us and out jumped two terriers on leashes: snapping, pulling, charging; all teeth and attitude. Anna and Lucy and I just stared in dumb amazement.

Forging ahead tomorrow.

Lindabago