Travelling Over the Hills and Through the Woods

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Yesterday, “BR” gave me a great tip about old time California. Over lunch, he suggested I try Hwy. 99 north. I did. Sort of. I saw nothing right on 99 except the mega vegetable farms and vineyards associated with the agriculture of northern California. This condition lasted all the way to Fresno, where I collapsed in a heap last evening.

At 0600 PST this morning, I took a chance. I knew I wanted to go to Fortuna, CA as the minimum northern destination for my safari. I could struggle with the map. I could calculate the distances. On the other hand, I could push a couple of buttons on the GPS, sit back, and enjoy the ride. That is what I did.

GPS computers do not think like the rest of us. I merely told the machine where I wanted to go and to take the shortest route, please. I expected something like the route I had scanned on my physical map. What I got was much better.

The total distance from Fresno to Fortuna came up as 440 miles, +/-. I can do that in a day on a motorcycle. In the car, it would be a piece of cake.

I set off along 99 and eventually merged onto I-5 north. I smugly rolled along with traffic, knowing I would reach my goal at a reasonable hour. I was already planning my return leg south and toward home.

The GPS directed me to get off the comfortable, swift I-5 and head west on CA-16. That is when BR’s advice kicked it. It was beautiful. A continuous supply of quaint villages and settlements streamed by my windshield. Huge trees shaded the tiny road and stood guard in the morning fog and the morning rain. I choked the throttle down to something like a legal speed and turned on the windshield wipers. Then, I watched helplessly as photo opportunity after opportunity slid by in the wet, cold and gloom.

My depression was relieved somewhat when CA-16 merged with CA-20 and then US-101. Photos aside, I had as much fun as a child riding the rollercoaster at the State Fair of Texas. On a few occasions, fellow road-racing celebrants slipped up beside me for a particularly tight curve. I have still not wiped the smile from my face. The adrenalin rush was almost continuous, especially when we discovered CHP cars on the side of the road, lights flashing. Fortunately, they already had a “customer” and seemed not to notice the 100 mph passers-by. I attribute this to the fact my mother prays to all the Saints in Heaven on my behalf. You go, Mom!

The 200-mile drive through the mountains carried my thoughts far away from photos and toward navigating the pavement through jaw-dropping scenery, including many 300’ redwoods. I gained a little empathy for the tree-huggers as I contemplated their average age of 1000 years. What majestic creatures they are!

Eventually, I found Fortuna. (Really) It became my Shangri-la. I am as far north as I need to be. I am ready to creep south – camera in hand taking the photos that present themselves. Frankly, I hope a strong storm at sea…

Storm or no storm, I am heading south on 101/1 tomorrow morning. I am excited about what I might see – especially in the early morning fog. Wet cold and gloom shall not save them tomorrow! Heh, heh.

I can hardly wait!

More soon.



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