Exploring the Samoa Peninsula.2.27.09

I rambled down the peninsula...


... and admired the scenery.



I find the industrial facilities ugly, but extremely interesting.



The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a beautiful building at the south end.



When I reached the end, I thought about swimming across the jetty while holding my bike over my head, but I decided against it.



Sand. Salt water. A steel bicycle. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this combination.

Eureka Waterfront/Indian Island.2.26.09

To see more detail, click on the photos. Then click on "all sizes" to see larger image.

What's On The Turntable

I recently dug up some of my old albums. This is a good one. (video courtesy youtube.)

Kneeland Bike Ride. 2.18.09

I ate a hard-boiled egg, then jumped on my Randonee for some rambling.



My destination was the top of that mountain in the distance, the one with the snow and radio towers.



I admired Indian Island on my way to Eureka.



I stopped at Three Corners Market for hot coffee and an apple fritter. Yum!



It was a tough climb. Part of the landscape is devastated, yet utilitarian.



As I got near the top, I could see Eureka in the distance.



Just uphill from the Kneeland Post Office, I came across plenty of snow and suddenly felt a cold, easterly wind. I was glad I had my mittens, but wished I had worn wool socks.



The snow was soft, and suddenly I had a hankering for some chocolate cake slathered in a marshmallow cream frosting.



It was spectacular.



I leaned my bike against a post to take a photo, but it was so windy that it blew over. Chilly!



I reached my destination, then bundled up for the trip home.

Total miles: 42


And so begins my official Tour of the Unknown Coast training.

Images from an evening stroll on the beach.2.17.09

I put the paper to bed early Monday night. On Tuesday I delivered papers to the post office and to about 40 newspaper racks and retail locations from Eureka to Trinidad. Then it was time for a stroll on the beach.



The sky was dramatic...



... and awe-inspiring.



We had fun with shadows.



The sunset was spectacular.



After the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky took on a magenta hue.



Walking back to Kim's house we came across a red-bellied newt.

Orson Whales

File this under "good stuff."

Love and Lemonade

I took two full days off and celebrated love with The Goddess, aka the Thrilla in Manila.



On Thursday we watched Survivor, then went to Humbrews to listen to The Compost Mountain Boys.



The music was excellent.



There was dancing.




On Friday the 13th we went to the Minor and watched Friday the 13th. Jason isn't very nice.





On Valentine's Day, Hula wore a hat.







We played Canasta. At one point I told Kim that I was craving lemonade. She pointed out that she had lemons.

As they say, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. So that's what we did.



Kim has a vintage Juice-O-Mat.



We squeezed the lemons.


Then we squeezed some more.



Viola! We had lemon juice.



The Goddess lovingly added water and sugar.



Kim owns a Juice-O-Mat, and I own an Ice-O-Mat!! It's yet another dimension of compatibility. Ice was added.



Kim snapped away with the camera as I put the Ice-O-Mat to work.



It was the best lemonade ever!




My sweet Valentine then proceeded to kick my butt in Canasta.

The Crow

Fence 2.11.09

Cool artifact – McK Totem Pole bumper 'sticker'

So I was purchasing a combination picture book/record set titled "Bozo the Clown and his Rocketship" at the Redwood Acres rummage sale Sunday morning when The Goddess said "Hey Jack! Check this out!"



Wow! Now we're talking treasure. I'm told these things were printed up and placed on car bumpers when the McKinleyville Totem Pole was erected in the 1960s.

It came free with my Bozo purchase.

For those not familiar with McKinleyville, here's a recent photo of the totem pole at sunrise.

Who Is Behind This?

Anyone know?

http://www.northcoasttoday.com/

Unicycle Bastards Kick Zombie Ass

The gods are conspiring to force me to fix the flat on my unicycle so I can ride it.

By the way, this video is from the Unicycle Bastards, Portland's premiere unicycling gang.

First Annual (sic) Old Town Eureka Three-Speed Tour

A little birdie told me that efforts are underway to organize the “First Annual Old Town Eureka Three Speed Tour.”

The event is scheduled for sometime in the spring or early summer.

Until I heard about this, I hadn’t realized there was a community of three-speed freaks in Humboldt. How many of you are there?

Until more details emerge, I’ll try to use the mighty power of this blog to influence the event, which should be free of all lycra clothing.

For those interested, here’s what I’ll be riding if I’m free that day:

Self Portrait.2.3.09

The Kingfisher

Many a mornin'

where Samoa Boulevard crosses

the Mad River Slough

a Kingfisher sits on the bridge

warming himself in the sun.

His name is Lloyd. He's an aristocrat.

Bald Eagle

People say there are Bald Eagles in Humboldt County and that they've seen them.

But I've never been that lucky, until this morning. I was in the Valley West area of Arcata when I saw what appeared to be a bald eagle flying eastbound just north of Giuntoli Lane. It was big with a white head and black feathers, kind of like the one in the photo below, which I took in August while visiting Alaska.



And since I'm posting photos from one of my old Flickr sites, let's look at the "sixth" photo in that file.



It's a picture of the Mad River in fog and was the first photo I took on the morning of July 4, when I pedaled up to Kneeland.



The photo right before that one is of an album I purchased at a thrift store. You all remember Swaggart?

Eagles? Preachers? That reminds me of one of my favorite Cake songs.



Now do you believe
In the one big sign
The doublewide shine
On the bootheels of your prime