"Hooked on Humboldt"

[Jamaal510]

[Cha]

1. Kick!

[Jamaal510]

2. Thx Cha. nt

[madamesilverspurs]

3. Hah!

While I was living in Humboldt my very Manhattanite aunt and uncle came for a visit. They were very committed to the conviction that the world revolves around New York City. We took them for a drive through the redwoods and noted that they were looking pretty bored with the scenery, not a reaction we were hoping for. They were equally bewildered that we were so impressed with the place. My uncle, shrugging his shoulders, said "It's okay, if you like trees." I loved my aunt and uncle, but never shared their cosmopolitan proclivities.

[Jamaal510]

8. An interesting response there would've been:

"well the city is OK if you like concrete jungles and crowded areas".

[zeemike]

4. Warning; to call a place paridise is to kiss it goodby..

"The Last Resort"


She came from Providence,
the one in Rhode Island
Where the old world shadows hang
heavy in the air
She packed her hopes and dreams
like a refugee
Just as her father came across the sea

She heard about a place people were smilin'
They spoke about the red man's way,
and how they loved the land
And they came from everywhere
to the Great Divide
Seeking a place to stand
or a place to hide

Down in the crowded bars,
out for a good time,
Can't wait to tell you all,
what it's like up there
And they called it paradise
I don't know why
Somebody laid the mountains low
while the town got high

Then the chilly winds blew down
Across the desert
through the canyons of the coast, to
the Malibu
Where the pretty people play,
hungry for power
to light their neon way
and give them things to do

Some rich men came and raped the land,
Nobody caught 'em
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus,
people bought 'em
And they called it paradise
The place to be
They watched the hazy sun, sinking in the sea

You can leave it all behind
and sail to Lahaina
just like the missionaries did, so many years ago
They even brought a neon sign: "Jesus is coming"
Brought the white man's burden down
Brought the white man's reign

Who will provide the grand design?
What is yours and what is mine?
'Cause there is no more new frontier
We have got to make it here

We satisfy our endless needs and
justify our bloody deeds,
in the name of destiny and the name
of God

And you can see them there,
On Sunday morning
They stand up and sing about
what it's like up there
They call it paradise
I don't know why
You call someplace paradise,
kiss it goodbye

[Ned Flanders]

5. Too late, the end has begun (Walmart strikes again!)

Humboldt County is said to be "behind the redwood curtain," due to its geographical and economic isolation. It is a unique area, which could be self sufficient, what with fisheries, timber, even gas fields. As recently as 10 years ago you could purchase a 1/4 acre lot on the bluffs above the ocean in McKinleyville for $80k. Arcata, the main town in northern humboldt, boasts only one traffic light and city codes which prohibit chain fast food joints and nuclear weapons. The community turns out en masse to celebrate holidays, despite their political differences. When I lived there we had only 3 tv stations, and Kmart was the biggest retailer in town. Quality of life is good. When they finally built a mall in the County, the local kids were stoked, but most of us didn't care.

But Walmart wants in to that market, so kiss the local merchants goodbye. Problem is, the access roads are twisting, narrow affairs, prone to washouts and deadly accidents. Supersized 53' trucks can't make it because of 15mph curves and inconveniently-placed redwoods. So Walmart has lobbied heavily, with appropriate payments to various local politicians as well as state-level Cal Trans, to widen the roads. Highway 299, once my favorite road, is being ripped through the coast range, widened and curves straightened, on a capital improvements scale I've never personally witnessed. They're moving mountains. The other main route, Hwy 101, is hampered by redwoods. Richardson Grove state park is an amazing park, which will now be harvested, in the name of growth.

http://www.saverichardsongrove.org/ Check out the pictures; that's the main access route into Humboldt County.

[zeemike]

6. That was an interesting story.

Sad but interisting...I hope thy can slow it down.

[FairWinds]

7. Humboldt is indeed magical . .

partly because it is the site of the rebirth of the sailing ketch
Golden Rule - the first peace boat. As a peacenik sailor,
I'm heavily involved.

And unfortunately, Walmart is already in Humboldt.

[greiner3]

9. Looking back through my own 'Way Back Machine';

In the early 80s I was about to go out on my own and buy a Domino's Pizza franchise.

The choices at the time came down to Walla Walla (WA), Reno (which we eventually bought an existing franchise. Mustang Ranch was in our general delivery area and they ordered a lot of multi pie orders and there were times where the drivers would sort of, kinda fight over the one who delivered because the ones who did came back with interesting stories of tips such as $100 tips and/or 'coupons') or one in Eureka.

The Reno location sounded good as I was also awarded the rights to build 3-4 more but while we did great I didn't know until we got there that both my ex and I had gambling problems, but that's for another day.

If I knew about Humboldt county then... it would have been a hands down choice.

[Piedras]

10. Miss camping in Humboldt's redwoods

The timing of this video kinda hurts because I planned to camp in Humboldt County this 4th of July holiday. Had to cancel my plans because the teardrop trailer I'm building is not ready to travel. There are 100, or more, teardrop trailers camping under the redwoods as I write this from many US states and Canada. Tonight's the big potluck. Miss you all. Hope to see you next time.