7:30 AM PST I am driving to the Subaru dealership in Redding California. Looks like I have to get four new tires. I’m going to see what I can figure out here, but tonight’s the night I’m sleeping in the Redwoods.  I also will hopefully get to see you, my dear friend Maisy in Eureka California today!

They say it never rains in California, however it’s raining today…

Also, found out last night that something sad happened in Saxapahaw.. that’ll rock my little Community for a while… 😦

12:55 PM Pacific standard time, plans have changed, yet I am now leaving Snagville. I’ve been at the Subaru dealership since 7 AM this morning. These people are wonderful even though I don’t want to be here. Turns out I need four new tires and they provided that service. The service guy named Jason was awesome, he agreed with me that Greensboro should have done a better job. He also said that once I get back I should take this up with them.  I said next to this lady named Debbie who was very sweet and inquisitive and looked you in the eye when she was speaking to you. She and I talked about dreams; I told her that one day I want to go visit the Great Rift Valley. She said that she was born in Argentina and now that her youngest son is graduating she’s thinking in three years she’d like to return.  Once I left the dealership, the new tires sounded so loud, I turned around and got one of their mechanics to ride with me to make sure everything was good.  Upon returning, Debbie said, if you need a place to stay tonight, you can stay with me.  That was such a kind gesture.  I am going to call her upon my safe return to NC to get her address to send her a gift of thanks.  My car was fine though, new tires were a harder version, more long-lasting and they are just louder than my old ones.  Safe and sound! (Loud sound.)

I am now driving on the 299 and I will be in Crescent City right outside of Jedediah Smith state park in about five or six hours. I was going to go visit my friend Maisy, but since I left the Subaru dealership so late, I would not be able to make it to see her and get to the Redwoods by nightfall. Huge bummer that I’m going to miss her.  She and her man tried their damndest to get me to come anyway and stay with them.  I wanted to, but the Redwoods were calling.

So the 299 goes all the way to Arcata and I am on a national scenic byway. Looks like I’m going through another set of mountains. Shasta Trinity National Forest. Looks like it’ll be a good ride, it’s foggy outside and rainy. Looks like I’m gonna get wet. Glad about my raincoat, but Rob Brezsny says that I should just get naked.

It’s 55° out here, I hope I’m warm enough tonight in my tent. I hope there’s a tent space. Oh my God! What is that body of water over there? It’s beautiful! Right outside at Whiskeytown California, I thought it was Shasta Lake, but it isn’t.

I’ll tell you what I want to figure out what lake this is. Also, Right now I want to tell you about how much Californians seem to put into adopting highways. There are tons of signs that say this person or that organization or this business adopted this highway. I’m crossing whiskey Creek Bridge right now.  Saw a sign that said no jumping from the bridge, but I bet people do that all the time. The water’s really choppy right now and I think Whiskey Creek is what that body of water is.

What I wouldn’t give for some pimento cheese right now…

My surroundings are green, lush and rocky.  Dang it’s pretty out here; I just passed a road called Grizzly Gulch.

Passing by Tower House historical District. I’m 130 miles to Eureka. I’m not going down into Eureka I’m going north from the cut off there.
I’m getting really hungry. I had a bowl of cereal while I was waiting at the Subaru place. While Jason was doing a walk around my car, I was eating cereal.  He said “You know I thought I had seen it all, but I have never done a walk around with someone eating a bowl of cereal.” This was a first for him. I thought that was pretty awesome. We all were very entertained today. He kept asking me to keep talking because he loved my accent.

1:20 PM I don’t know what Redwoods look like, but these are some big ass Pine trees I’m driving through right now. Also this road is definitely satisfy my need for speed, these new tires are bad ass and hugging the road like nobodies business. These curves are awesome. Ha ha that’s what she/he/they said.

I’m going 75 mph and the motorcycle in front of me is going even faster than me. We both just passed a cop is hopefully neither one of us is going to get pulled over.

Sky just opened up and I can see a little bit of blue and all of the beautiful green trees to my right down in the valley.

Just was riding by really beautiful Creek called Indian Creek. It looks like a river to me but then again everything so much bigger out here they probably call that a creek. The Colorado is a river. Indian Creek goes into the Trinity River. I’m going to stop up here this rest stop and eat some snacks.

3:10 PM Pacific standard time I just had to stop in a tiny little town called Weaverville, California. It was that his hippiest town I’ve ever been in. I stopped to get some socks and a hat. I ended up talking to this lady about the Redwoods and the Grandmothers (Sequoias) and then I went to the store across the street (Mamma Llama’s) to get a sandwich, gluten-free crazy sandwich, delicious. Then I went to the grocery store and got some tomatoes because I want another tomato sandwich because I don’t have any more. I also got a new bumper sticker. It says “nonviolence: weapon of mass compassion”  I love it! They’re doing road work construction but I just saw sign that said I’m 64 miles to the 101. Driving on the 101 has been a life goal. Driving The entire 101 is a goal that I will have to commence accomplishing later, but even a little stretch of it is going to be good.

La La La I am totally digging this drive right now. Even with the roadwork in between times is really awesome. There’s Trinity River to my left, it looks beautiful I can’t believe there aren’t any people kayaking on it, but I don’t know the details of the river either. These hills are super tall going over this bridge right now.

Sitting still waiting on the traffic to go by with all the roadwork, the car in front of me is listening to Robert Johnson. I’ve turned my car off.  The breeze, the Robert Johnson, the warm sun on my left arm, the blue sky, the amber essence oil I have on… all mished up together smells and feels really magical. Wonder if anybody’s ever thought that before while waiting in traffic. Looks like we’re moving again.

Listening to Paul Simon “Born at the right time” album Rhythm of the Saints.  Just entering Six Rivers Forest.

Just saw a building that was nondescript but it said “The Whole Enchilada”  Giggle.

I am now entering Humboldt County
Just crossed over the North Fork of the Mad River, and I believe I have entered beginning of the Redwoods.

4:26 PM Pacific standard time I have just entered Highway 101 north towards Crescent city. I literally just giggled like a little girl and stomped my feet in the car.

4:36 PM I’m driving on the 101. I have 68 miles until I get to Crescent City and I’m beside myself. I’m actually beside the ocean, but beside myself as well.  Going to pull off here in a little bit see if I can get to the ocean.  Don’t know what will happen if I do that, I’m going to try.

5:35  You will have to stop, that’s a rule. I think I just saw some water buffalo I just drove through. So I stopped at clam Beach toes in, sand artwork, picked up some rocks. My right pocket is full. Only one of them is heart-shaped though.
Driving on the Redwood Highway. *melt*

Just saw the highway sign that said Elk Highway. I bet you those animals I saw a little while ago in the lagoon we’re actually elk.

Just stopped again to play in the ocean. I don’t know what this place is called but it has black tiny tiny tiny pebbles for me!!  I also got my Pennsylvania State tag here in the family of 4, 3 of which were wearing black sweatshirt and Brown pants.  I told them they were matching, they knew that already.

7:35pm, Thursday: Drove through Crescent City, sat on the edge of the North American continent here in California and watched seals swim in the undulating mother ocean. Had a talk on the phone with a friend back home, then Peter, and then shared that magical moment with my grandmother (even though it was almost 11pm her time).  There was nothing that could’ve interrupted the peace and gratitude that I felt at that moment. Then I went off to find my campsite, got lost in the dark (thanks GPS), and then finally found the Jedediah Park campground.