Trinidad

It's been a beautiful week down here. The fog has been kept at bay by winds so the visibility has been outstanding.
I'm amazed at how many people seem to be commuting by bicycle down here. Most of the bike traffic is between Arcata and Eureka on Hwy. 101. I've seen what look to be nice bikes but, for the most part, the bikes have been pretty junky. I'd wager most of the cyclists are students at Humboldt.
There are heaps of old houses built around 1880. Most of the houses that still remain resemble the painted lady variety with ornate decorations on the exteriors. Most of them were built when lumber and fishing reigned supreme.
Hitchhiking is also real big down here. Most of the on-ramps to 101 feature someone with their thumb up. The other night just after sundown I saw a male hitchhiker with one arm across his chest under his t-shirt and his sweater tied to his waste so it looked like a skirt. His attempt to look like a lady hitchhiker probably netted him a ride pretty quick..then again, maybe not.
Well, that's the news from the north coast. Hope all is well.

Paddling

Beneath the blazing sun, a roof. And beneath that a swimming pool. In and around the swimming pool, a host of 60+ pound dogs and countless tennis balls. The dogs were as kids…running beside the pool, slipping, cutting corners, running into each other…being unsafe. Jack did all this and jumped into the water. He fetched his ball and stole the ball of others as they did his. It was mayhem. They were being scolded, laughed at, extolled for following orders and showing initiative. They laid lumber in and around the pool, sniffed butts, looked jealous and disagreed on a few things. It was a fun day. Once a year at Hough Pool, a day for the dogs. A day for them to swim beneath a roof, beneath the blazing sun.