Arcata and Environs: Some Social Commentary

Coastal drive near Klamath

When I was planning this trip, I needed to pick a town to stay in while I visited the Redwoods. I chose Arcata because it was only about a half hour to 45 minute drive to the state and national parks and also because it is a college town, home to Humboldt State University. When I was in college in southern California way back in the 80's, Humboldt was considered the boonies. And you know what? It still is.

They are gorgeous boondocks, though. But aside from the abundant natural beauty in Humboldt County, there is something strange and kind of Steven Kingish about the place. Lots of beards, neck
tattoos, piercings, and motorcycle gang garb. Some people look like they live here and are just passing through at the same time. Given the appearance of the towns in the area--aging mom and pop establishments with few cars or people around--it is an economically depressed area. The homes and businesses look run down and tired and so do many of the people. They resemble lumberjacks with problems. At breakfast this morning, an employee was telling the manager about someone who was found dead at home, with a complete description of the scene. Yuck. 

But while I''m being mean, I should acknowledge that if Jesus was here, these are the people he would be hanging out with.

I'm visiting during the off season, but it doesn't seem as if there is enough tourism business during the summer months for people to have prosperous lives. 

And even though it's December, I can't get over how deserted this beautiful country is. Today when I was driving on Avenue of the Giants, 

Avenue of the Giants

I was often the only car, seemingly for miles. I saw very few people in the parks and trails. I have found it strange that the parks, trails, and roads are not better marked. They need more signs everywhere. Being so reliant on their cars, I would think Californians would insist on good, frequent road signage. And also more gas stations. In Illinois, especially on the highways, gas stations are everywhere. Up in this part of California, there are often signs warning you that there isn't another gas station for 30 miles. This part of the state needs some good marketing. The trees and the rugged shore and other landscapes are amazing.

In Arcata, I thought maybe I was staying in a tougher part of town, so I decided to check out Humboldt State University. Here is is, made from the stucco and tile roofs so common in other parts of California.


It looked a bit like a nice minimum security prison. 


I parked and went into one of the buildings to use the restroom. The students looked depressed to me, but maybe all students look like that now, the result of staring at a small screen for too long. A positive thing about the area is that people didn't seem like they were on their cell phones as much as elsewhere. 

The campus had its own pretty trees, too. 



Today I left Arcata and drove to the coastal town of Gualala. More on that in the next post. Gualala is in Mendicino County, and like Humboldt County, there seems to be some economic depression, again in a beautiful spot. The views of the Pacific are fantastic. I'm staying at a cute little hotel called the Surf Inn. Well, it's cute except for the bed.


When I first saw it, I thought there was something or someone under the covers! But it turns out, it's just really lumpy. We'll see how tonight's sleep goes.

This has kind of been a snarky post, so I'll give you a little fun at my own expense. Watch the short video below, entitled Hubris in Fern Canyon.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hidden Sidewalks: Walk # 37, Hollywood Bowl & Hightower Loop

Image
The second of Charles Fleming's Secret Stairs walks that I took led me through "the back side of the Hollywood Bowl, into one of the city's few walk-street communities, with no access to cars." The contextual information I share below comes from his book. Above is High Tower, which contains an elevator. Look familiar? More on this below. First I passed by Highland Towers where William Faulkner lived and possibly wrote the screenplay adaptations for "To Have and Have Not," and "The Big Sleep." Heading up into the hills. The first 103 steps. An accidental action photo. It really does seem sometimes like you are walking through people's property. I saw very few folks, whether residents or fellow tourists, on my walks. Above and below is the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Samuel Freeman House , constructed in 1924. I actually did get a little bit lost here beca...
Read more

Greatest Photo Hits

Image
In December 2017, I took a two-week trip to California. I started up north at the redwoods, and traveled down to San Francisco, onto Big Sur, and ended up in Los Angeles, where I went to college in the early 80's. You can read all about it in this blog. But if you'd like a fly by, here are some photos that summarize the trip.  In Tiburon after riding a bike over the Golden Gate Bridge. The mighty redwoods. The other San Francisco bridge. Along Highway 1 California, not Ireland. More redwoods. WPA mural inside Coit Tower. View from Coit Tower. Coit Tower Getting ready to ride over the Golden Gate.  San Francisco skyline at night. Coit Tower on the left and below. Santa Con in San Francisco! Kirby Cove . Thanks to Duncan Smith and friends. Big Sur Was fortunate to go on a silent retreat at New Camaldoli Hermitage. The Star in the Family, Uncle Wrig...
Read more

Hidden Sidewalks: Walk #34, Beachwood Canyon

Image
When I was researching fun activities in southern California, I came across the book Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles by Charles Fleming. Believe it or not, at one time LA was not the freeway-strewn, drivers' paradise (!) that it is today. People who lived up in the hills needed a way to get down to schools, grocery stores, and the transit lines--trolleys, streetcars, buses, etc.--that then existed in Los Angeles. These staircases served that purpose, and though they are little used or known about today (my friends who live in SoCal hadn't heard of them), they are public property and are there for our walking pleasure. My hat is off to Charles Fleming for all of his research and impeccable descriptions. He has put together 42 walks comprising more than 275 staircases. On this trip, I did two of the walks. I liked them immensely, and hope to do others on return trips. Mr. Fleming is so precise in his directions that this frequently l...
Read more