So, Saturday we decided to get out from under the smoke from all the fires going on here in California. Gassed the Orange Car and set out on a three hour trip from here to the coast, and specifically Arcata and Eureka.
It's a winding, lonely mountain road all the way, and especially the last half passes near multiple Indian reservations and towns with reassuring names like Burnt Ranch, population 280.
We didn't hear banjos, but we didn't stop very long either.
Arcata is a college town, very hippie and organic, and they were having a farmer's market in the main square. Walked all around and spread some sweet cash among the organic farmers selling good stuff.
I bought a bottle of this guy's hottest hot sauce. We shall soon see if it lives up to the billing.
The produce was invariably well presented.
Next, it was dinner at a place we had never tried, Salt Fish House.
The seating was patio only, due to the virus hysteria, but it was a really nice day, so that worked out fine.
Mrs. CW and I rarely go out to eat, so it was a real treat. The service was superb.
It's my custom whenever I hit the coast to first find and devour some fresh, raw oysters.
I haven't had a chance to have a leisure day on the coast in a long, long time, so the two of us feasted. It was great.
Three hours back on a windy mountain road, after a nice day, and we got home a half hour after dark.
Just north of Arcata is Trinidad, a "cute as a bugs ear" town we've visited many times for the Trinidad to Clam Beach Run.
ReplyDeleteWe've driven highway 96 which joins the route you drove at Willow Creek. And yes, there are seriously creepy spots along the way. The dueling banjos were heard in Happy Camp. If you stop along the way, you don't want to let your car get out of sight.
I remember going to Trinidad, along those roads were trading posts that sold burlwood and burlwood furniture and garnet jewelry.
DeleteBeautiful country.
Graduated from HSU in 87' and loved Trinidad, Patrick's Point State Park and Agate Beach. Much has changed and stayed the same over the years. Used to hang on the Trinity River along Hwy 299 and fish the Mad. Wish I could go back and visit the Somoa Cookhouse one more time, or the Alibi, Everett's, Sideline's and Marino's which has since burned to the ground.
DeleteA winding mountain road in a sufficiently horse powered vehicle can be a lot of fun... if your passenger doesn't object. :-)
ReplyDelete$17 for a burger? $10 for mac & cheese? California really must be the Golden State--if you don't own a gold mine, you can't go out to eat.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
When ordering at these restaurants, one must choose wisely.
Delete$3 for one raw oyster. In Morro Bay, we would pick 'em by the bushel. Eat one, put 5 in the sack. Eat one, another five. Take accouterments with you. Made a great day on the back bay.
DeleteIn 2007, I slung a leg over a Honda VTX 1800C in Kentucky and rode west until I hit salt water at Arcata. Stuck my boot in the Pacific, took a picture of it swirling around my leather, and rode home. 7,700 mile round trip. Good times.
ReplyDeleteI met a rider in Atascadero on his way to the ocean. He was from Wash D.C.. Got robbed in FLA, spent a night in jail in Nawlins. When I met him he had stripped off his leathers sitting in the full summer sun trying to warm up from the ride from Phoenix. Poor guy was shivering. But he was smiling.
Delete17 more miles he would be in the Pacific.
Re The chili sauce, what species of pepper was it? Anything from the
ReplyDeleteGhost pepper to the Carolia Reaper is insanely hot!
There are a great many twisting, exciting, fun roads to get to the coast. Although, the grand daddy is Hwy 1 between Monterey and Morro Bay. And there are several places where the road is straight and true for miles. Wind her up, let er go! Oh boy, the tales I could tell!
ReplyDeleteThose close-up pics of the Farmer's Market are delightful. I have come to find out that growing multicolored veggies is a thing now. I have read there are 600 types of tomatoes of varying color. There is even a black tomato.
ReplyDeleteI once had a few too many Anchor Steams and Guinness Stouts around that town square in Arcata. A fun place though with lots of watering holes for the Humboldt College coeds.
DeleteThat looks like a great trip, CW
ReplyDeleteIs Tomaso's Tomato Pies (pizza joint) still in downtown Arcata? I'll never forget staying with my friend about a week back in 197? (5,6). I love the beaches and forests. I think one of the beaches was called "Moonstone".
ReplyDeleteAnd it was close to Eureka where you could get fresh fish and chips at Laszlos at the docks. (Last time I was there back in 2001?, it had moved downtown with table cloths, we didn't go in, not the same as eating while watching the ladies pack fish for market).