the Redwoods to Wine to Mountains

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, the coast, it's time 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 this fuels good politics. Both sides of the owl!
Leaving town, nice laid ed 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 a little now. The town looks spruced up, yes there are freaks hangin’ at the taco shack. My mind is hanging onto a memory, I have changed, and my town as changed.
On to Hwy 1, on the coast, it’s a slalom run, feels like I was standing on the brakes, looking down at the road right below me or gearing up the grades the best I can.
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 shoulder,heading East, goodbye.
On to Hwy 128E listening to “Miss the Mississippi & you”.
Though Anderson Valley, grapes here make deep red wines, makes great 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 for some time you have to remind yourself of what day it is. No one camps on Saturday!
Back on Hwy 101, fast, fast, fast. Gas prices don’t slow these forks down.
Down Hwy 128 again, pass all the great wineries. I Got lost, stopped at Barbie’s at Alexander Rd. & 128, fun local bar, mix of workers, locals, and tourists.
Trying to beat the sunset 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 wineries, there goes Greystone Culinary school, and
Palm trees,too! Check out Oakville Store 126 yrs old. Real coffee, wonderful treats and all your gourmet needs. Little did I know that I would miss these things.
Rt. 128 to Rt. 12e, no way Hwy 80 for a few miles, 4 lanes strong, then back on Rt. 12e.
Sliding under all the people, this road is a great route to Yosemite from the coast.
On the way NPR is playing Click & Clalk, the Tippet Bros. Car Talk, nice to laugh, passing filled churches later listening to Bill Monroe signing ‘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,it seems like a great ride, onward 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! Country!
Rt. 49 to 108, Rt. 120 closed, county rd. 132, more fun then Rt. 1, Skate had to go into 1st gear, I like to running hills, gearing going up, no gas,then no brakes, both hands on the wheel going down.
Skate 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 a short way, great fun, people from all over the world here.
Yosemite, well worth the visit, just not in season, more later.
And don't leave anything smelly in your car, the Rangers check and the bears may follow, Rangers warn you, the bears peel open your car like a grapefruit.
Plus a mileage report.