A Moment in Time
Moving can be a daunting experience and I must say this one has had its moments, but as I set off to town on one of my many runs to Eureka I realize it is truly worth it. Just driving down the hill toward Arcata is like taking that much needed deep breath after a case of nerves or a bad day at the office. I have driven down it enough to remember when the road curves around that tight pull into the mountain, the few pot holes just after a certain spot, the canopy of fir trees that remind me of an old country road and recalls to mind the familiar look of one of my favorite period movies. Once I am almost down the steepest part of the mountain I look to my right where cars are parked at a favorite hiking spot, taking off into the Redwood forest towering over the road.
Before I reach the end of the road that bears right I make a sharp left onto Little Fickle Hill Road, which seems too narrow to accommodate two cars. On both sides are green plants that seem to go up a steep hill right into the trees before it opens up to reveal houses and a few side roads before it abruptly comes to an end and dumps you off onto a main road into town.
Sometimes I take this one but today I make a left towards the next road into town, because this road takes me over the 101 freeway and to the Samoa Highway; an honest to goodness country back road. On one side you can see the Arcata Bay and on the other is the promise of the ocean just over the hill. It’s only a twenty minute drive to Eureka with very little traffic of any kind. It’s hard to watch the road when the sun catches the water like glitter on a “Wish You Were Here” greeting card. Diving over the bridge is just as distracting; the bay empties out into the ocean where the glitter becomes a brilliant light racing to the horizon.
It hasn’t taken me long to learn my way around Arcata and Eureka. Once you figure out the one way streets you pretty much have it made. By the time I got my new driver’s license, car registration, and found Target and Costco I pretty much knew all the main roads. Since we have a small problem with water where I live, I spend time at the laundromat in downtown Arcata. This allowes me time to walk around the main part of town; finding future places to check out; as well as the local coffee shops. On my first laundry run into town I had coffee on the plaza; great coffee and time to sit outside and people watch.
Arcata is very diverse in its inhabitants, a mixture of college students, old hippies, fishermen, and just regular people who enjoy the solitude and beauty of the Northwest. Having lived in Washington State for five years, I can see the difference in the people here. Washington has the big city element and that of the farming communities, kind of one extreme to the other. Here all you have to do is look at the faces of people to realize they are happy with where they live and with who they are. They still have the same drama and life’s ups and downs but there is a since of caring in their eyes that you don’t see just anywhere.
Now that I am finally set up with all the things we can’t seem to live without, like internet, TV, telephone, Bank, Doctors, and you know the rest, it is time to get back to the important things in life. Writing is at the top of my list and I plan to do a great deal of it. I told myself I was going to make my blogs short, after trying to sift through all the blogs I belong to, but here I am, once again writing more than I had planned. Please forgive me for those of you who made it this far, for once again thinking too much on paper. From now on I will write more and less. I am sure you understand that oxymoron so I will sign off until next time. Thanks for reading.
