THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

I am traveling in the Pacific Northwest catching up with all my pals living in Washington, Oregon and Northern California. First stop EUREKA!

Eureka, CA is where my union pal Harriet lives. She left Alaska a few years after I did and signed on with AFSCME in California, and like most of my friends Harriet is happily retired and enjoying her union pension.

My family visited Northern California in the summer of 1964 after the Alaska earthquake that happened on Good Friday. I remember going to a restaurant where the first floor had been washed out in Crescent City, CA. According to Wikipedia:

The Great Alaska Earthquake:”Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history, and the second most powerful earthquake recorded in world history… As a result of the earthquake, 131 people are believed to have died:^[4] Nine died as a result of the earthquake itself and another 122 died from the subsequent tsunami all over the world.^[11] Five died from the tsunami in Oregon,^[12] and 12 died from the tsunami in Crescent City, California.^[13][14]“

Ironic that we would move to Anchorage, Alaska in 1968.

I was very surprised how much I like Eureka, it has really lovely victorian style homes, most famous the Carson house:

“The magnificent Carson Mansion on 2nd and M Streets, is perhaps the most spectacular Victorian in the nation. The home was built between 1884 and 1886 by renowned 19th-century architects Newsom and Newsom for lumber baron William M. Carson. This project was designed to keep mill workers and expert craftsman busy during a slow period in the industry.” according to Wikipedia.

Eureka has a very cute downtown with two excellent used book stores, and lots of coffee shops, restaurants, etc. I stayed at very funky Johnny’s RV and Marina south of Eureka in on King Salmon Beach, great for walking Maggie. You just gotta love ocean communities.

I had forgotten how truly beautiful Northern California is, breathtaking doesn’t cover it. Especially the coast. My drive to Harris Beach was spectacular. I wanted to stop every 10 miles and take pictures.

For those of you suffering in the heat, I haven’t experienced weather over 70 degrees, even when to sun is shining. I am ready for summer.

Spent a week in Eugene, OR where I graduated from University of Oregon in 1981, nine years after my high school graduation, which by the way my 50th reunion from West Anchorage High School just happened.

My excursion to Oregon and Washington is to visit friends, three of whom I met at UofO O, and is so great to catch-up. After all my visiting I will head to Grizzly Creek State Park in the Humbolt Recreation Area in the Redwood forest, for my last hosting gig. I have cancelled my plan to host at Deschutes River, OR in exchange for my favorite park at Virgina Beach in September. It’s time for me to head east. So please come and visit in September at First Landing!

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Stay tuned.