the Redwoods to Wine to Mountains

Arcata, Saturday Farmers market, old hippies, young hippies, and dreads by the dozen, casual, band plays jam music. The N. Cal coast is removed from civilization, due to isolation of the area, the college, woods, time it that to get out, not to mention that cells phones only roam. Did I talk about the low wages and lack of good jobs for grown-ups. So you have it or you don’t, all fuels good politics. Both sides of the owl!
Leaving town, nice laided back town, like Eugene 30 years ago for me.
Down Hwy. 101, pass Eureka, seems friendly cleaned-up downtown, passing a cool brewery. More later on about eats and drinks.
Ave. of the Giants, 32 miles of 35 mph, getting 63 mpg, sunlight shining thru the massive redwoods, weaving between them, they touch the road, not to close.
A motorcycle ride would be heavenly.
Garberville, having passed there years ago, my memory is of a cool town, it’s seems to be normalized know. The town looked spruced up, yes there are freaks hangin’ at the taco shack. My mind was hanging onto a memory, I have changed, and my town as changed.
On to Hwy 1, on the coast, it’s a slalom run, feel like I was standing on the brake, looking down at the road right below me or gearing up the grades the best I could.
Great ride Hwy 1, beautiful coastline, nice older towns, some have been here over a century and more.
Good bye Pacific Ocean, a look over my should, goodbye.
On to Hwy 128E listening to “Miss the Mississippi & you”.
Though Anderson Valley, grapes here make deep red wines, good zins.
There goes Boonville, the Redwood Café goes by, too.
The back side of this route is like the first part of Hwy 1, a slalom ride, quite fun!
Need to stop, campground in Napa, Saturday night, no problem, when traveling you have to remind yourself of what day it is.
Back on Hwy 101, fast, fast, fast. Gas price don’t slow these forks down.
Down Hwy 128 again, all the great winery. Got lost, stopped at Barbie’s at Alexander Rd. & 128, fun local bar, mix of workers, locals, and tourist.
Trying to beat the sun to the campsite.
Saturday night in Napa, 1 campsite left…$20, the cheapest room in town
61.3 mpg, 277 miles

Sunday May 7th On to Yosemite
Down Rt. 128, pass more great winery, there goes Greystone Culinary school, and
Palm trees! Check out Oakville Store 126 yrs old. Real coffee, treats and all your gourmet needs.
Rt. 128 to Rt. 12e, no way Hwy 80 for a few miles, 4 lanes strong, then back on Rt. 12
Sliding under all the people, this road is a great route to Yosemite from the coast.
On the way NPR the Tippet Bros on, nice to laugh, passing filled churches later listening to Bill Monroe signing ‘Where where you when they crucified Jesus?’
Gentle rolling hills 65mpg, heading to the mountains.
Delta Bluegrass, no festival, just grass. On to Lodi ,Rt. 88 to Rt 49, if one had time drive all of Rt. 49, pass Angels Camp, Mark Twain was here, his picture and name I see, does he have copyright protection?
Pass Jackass Rd. there is the Red Barn Bar, there is trout fishing, and there is the Sportsman Bar, beer, guns, ammo and fishing supplies!
Rt. 49 bto 108, Rt. 120 closed, county rd. 132, more fun then Rt. 1, had to go into 1st gear, I like to run hills gearing going up, no gas,then no brakes, both hands on the wheel going down.
Was getting 65mpg on the valley, losing that now.
Into Yosemite, Sunday afternoon, all campgrounds full,California has a reservation system, be forewarned, but there's Camp 4, only $5. it’s where all the climbers hang out, carry in your gear, short ways, great fun, people from all over the world here.
Yosemite, well worth the visit,just not in season, more later.
Plus a mileage report.