Call of the Wild.

If you are just joining us let me recap. I always forget I might pick up new readers, and forget to preface what's happened and what I'm writing about on occasion.

Somewhere around 2016 or so, we decided to move towards shedding the picket fence and business and traveling before we couldn't anymore. We made the final decision in 2019, and sold our place in early 2020. In fact we are probably 2 or 3 days from the exact date 2 years ago we sold our house, and our business within 2 days of each other.

We really wanted to see what it would be like traveling around and camp hosting in beautiful places and seeing things we know we'd never see otherwise.

I will also apologize as always for my lack of editing ability. I do know how to spell and use proper grammar. Sometimes I miss it after the 3rd time reading what I wrote. I've found I probably have some form of adult ADHD, and I just can't edit for shit.

We are moving through this difficult time best we can - just like everyone else and I want to point out I am not ungrateful or sorry we did this. I am just a little homesick.

So off we go....Call of the Wild.

Jack London’s Books “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang” Were two of my favorite books of all time. Call of the Wild was the last film we saw in person pre-pandemic with friends.

I didn’t realize the magnitude of the amount of books he wrote until this trip.

Neal Peart was the drummer for the band “Rush” – a band from the 80’s that wrote one of my favorite songs about another book – Tom Sawyer.

Neal wrote several books of his own, and since we’d left Colorado – actually just a little before that – We’d been listening to his book “Ghost Rider”. We love listening to books on the road and Scott loves that he can "read" when he's never been able to before. He CAN read - he just doesn't like to.

Neal wrote his book to document his time riding the American West and Southwest when he lost his wife and daughter, tragically within a year of each other.

This trip was especially cool to listen to his accounts of his travels via motorcycle because we had often been in the same places he did, and followed a similar route.

One of his stops was in Sonoma, California and to the Jack London Historic Park and Ranch. I didn’t know Jack lived in that part of California, but I never really inquired about it, either. So, when we arrived, naturally I looked it up. I hope we have time to visit, I thought.

The night we arrived, Odie lied his little doggy head off and asked to go “potty” on his buttons. So I get up, told Scott to relax, and clipped him into his harness. We walked out and he just kept walking, no peeing. He wanted to get out, and see the park. So, I thought I’d let him just walk where he wanted.

The first place we went was the petting farm. It said no dogs (understandably) but he was able to sniff a few goats through the fence. They were equally intrigued, and he is truly obsessed with goats. Haha.

We went to see the horses, and one trotted over enthusiastically, then snorted, threw his head and ran over to the fence overlooking the small herd of cows gracing in the pretty field next door. I heard mooing, and barking. I walked to the fence, and see a little yorkie-something biting the hocks of a large black cow, all while she’s mooing and kicking up and running in circles.

I’m going to watch this dog die right now, I thought. I heard the owner screaming at the dog to “GET BACK HERE!” from another part of the RV park and was slightly amused. The more the dog barked, the more the cow mooed and the more the owner screamed.

Finally the dog ran back to his owners, tiring of the game, and was pulled up over the fence. I shook my head and chuckled. I looked at Odie and wondered what HE was thinking.

I said “Come on, let’s go” and he skipped happily, biting his leash and pulling me ahead like let’s go mom! Our next stop was the dog park. He knew where it was, as we saw it earlier in the day on our initial walk to get him out and about after we parked.

Just as we walked up, another couple and and older lady (probably mom) walked up with two pit bull/rottweiler mixes. They were short and bully looking with a rottie face and coloring. Weird, but cool dogs. Both played well with Odie and they spent the next 10 or 15 minutes throwing the ball and chasing. One of the girls was so fast – she got to it every time long before Odie did. A first for him – he’s usually so competitive. His foot has been bothering him a lot lately – and just won’t heal. That didn’t help his speed, so I think he needs to be on continued rest.

The next morning, we had to move spots, so we could stay the added two days. We picked up and got moved, and as we pulled in, we noticed we were right next to the 2 dogs Odie played with the night before. We let him out and he went straight to his new friends. I packed up laundry, and since we were right next to the laundry facility, I pulled all the dog bedding and back seat covers to get washed. They had a big commercial machine, which was really nice.

The cool part was it was all done on an app. Add your card and you pay right there. Nice not to have to hunt down quarters!

The dogs next door came out to play and they ran and tumbled for an hour at least, while we talked to our new neighbors. Both were cops, one I don’t know if I ever asked her, but he is a Sherriff's Deputy for Alameda County – which includes Oakland, Ca. He was there with his Wife, Mother in law, and Grandmother. Nice folks, and we loved having the dogs play each evening we were there.

I made sure to tell my other friend we were there and settled, and made plans with another for that night. It was her birthday weekend, so we would drive up to Santa Rosa for a get together at the local little dive bar. First though, we needed to go to San Francisco. I love that City, and Scott and I missed our opportunity to visit Haight-Ashbury area last time.

We did a family trip years ago, and when we showed up it was WAY too early in the day. Like breakfast time. All the shops were closed, except a little breakfast place. We’re both lovers of all things hippie/60’s (Especially the music) so we had to go.

We left Odie behind, and let the cops next door know. I mean who better to watch the trailer, right? We headed in and it took some time to park. A 20 foot long diesel truck is NOT San Francisco friendly. We finally found a spot, and walked a few blocks up. It was chilly out and I should have brought a little bit heavier coat. I always forget how much cooler that City is compared to the rest of the surrounding areas.

First I saw a cool little shop, and went in. I came out with 2 pairs of bell-bottom Tie died tshirt material pants. I wanted more but it was all WAY too small. I said to the little Chinese lady in there “Don’t you have things for fat people!?” LOL.

Scott checked out a couple stores, too and I went over to the Goodwill. IF I’m going to find interesting things It’ll be at a thrift store here. I found a few things, but Scott was bored, and it always gives me anxiety when I’m trying to shop and he’s just following me around. That’s why women like to shop alone – We can’t deal with wandering husbands!

I looked across the road and saw two men, completely naked except a sock on their….ya know. Just a sock. It left NOTHING to the imagination and the one guy was….impressive. I asked them “Aren’t you cold? I’d be FREEZING” One said No, he was used to it….as long as the sun was out, haha.

I posted it to Facebook, and ZERO people commented on it. Well played Facebook. Don’t block me from posting, just don’t show it to anyone. I see. So here they are on my OWN website. Suck it Facebook.

The stores down there are a trip and I walked into several, wanting ½ the shit they were selling and the other ½ was like WTAF is all this shit? HA. So cool. We decided both of us were starving, and had to pee REALLY bad. So lets eat and use their restroom.

Nope. No such thing. All the restaurants said “Bathroom out of order” ALL OF THEM. Well, I guess we don’t eat there, either. We walked quickly to the truck, jumped in and headed out of the city pronto. I knew about the bathroom policies in San Fran, in face the last time we were there we had to pay $2.00 for a toilet parked out on the street.

Understandable – the unsavory parts of the populi use them to shoot drugs, have sex or pass out I’m sure. I get it, but damit I had to GO NOW.

We sped home, rolled up and the cops said the dog was barking for the last 10 or 15 minutes Really? He never does that! Jeezuz.

I ran in and peed for like 4 days it seemed. We had leftovers that night, so I guess it saved us some money. We ran up to Sana Rosa to my friend’s Birthday Celebration after dinner. We met her friends, who were super cool, and we all got along really well. We had some drinks and Odie got LOTS of love and kisses.

One of her friend was wearing a Scorpions Shirt, and saw My scorpions jacket I bought at the show and offered me $150, $500, $1,000, $2,000. Trying to hand me a wad of cash……I said NO to all of them emphatically. I knew better.

He said “I’m just testing you – seeing if you are a TRUE Scorps fan – you passed” LOL. I knew it wasn’t a real thing. You can probably get the same hoodie online for like $50, haha.

We said our goodbyes and we exchanged soap gifts and whatnot. She made all sorts of things for me. I love getting handmade stuff. Makes my heart happy!

That night my other friend texted and said she was not going to be able to make it the next day for us to finally meet, and have lunch. SO I said to Scott “Why don’t we do a wine tasting and tour?” He agreed, so I set to looking for one the next morning.

Turns out, a lot of the stuff in that area isn’t in full swing just yet, but the tours are. Most of them said they don’t do same day tours, and others were totally full already. She did say we could come and just do a tasting. $25 per person. Scott said “I don’t like wine THAT much….I just want to know how to make it” So we didn’t go. It WAS however, on the same road up to Jack London’s Estate so we decided to do that instead.

There aren’t a whole lot of direct routes anywhere out there it seems. You’re always going around a corner (or a hill) so it took a little bit to get there. When we did – we found that the state parks don’t allow dogs or if they do – only on paved trails.

Well, after seeing all the DOG SHIT people won’t pick up, I can see why, but that is no good for us. Odie goes where we go. Thankfully, he was allowed at the ranch and the Wolf house trails – just not the backcountry stuff – which we weren’t up for doing that day.

I went into the museum first and quickly walked through – being moved to tears a few times.

His property, his love, and his experiences were truly admirable. They sailed the world – much like we’re doing - but cooler - and brought back some amazing artifacts and other memorabilia from their travels to far off lands.

The wolf house was an amazing piece of construction. Lost only a week before total completion. It’s 4 stories, 26 rooms – all constructed with stone and unpeeled redwood logs was supposed to be fire and earthquake resistant. He wrote once

I am building my dream-house on my dream-ranch. My house will be standing, act of God permitting, for a thousand years.”

So just as those who taunted fate by speaking words to challenge the universe – it burned his house to the ground only days before the London’s were set to move in. a container of rags soaked with linseed oil was to blame for the blaze.

Jack never saw it rebuilt - he succumbed to kidney disease only a few years later, at the age of 40.

That’s why I try not to put out negative, speak aloud thoughts challenging the universe – gives the demons ideas. 😉

Jack did a lot of good though – and over 100 years later his step-sister’s descendants (The Beauty Ranch Caretaker) are still harvesting wine and making it with the vines he terraced and planted.

He took a large acreage and turned it into viable farm land – something the pioneers continued to get wrong.

"I am rebuilding worn-out hillside lands that were worked out and destroyed by our wasteful California pioneer farmers. I believe the soil is our one indestructible asset, and by green manures, nitrogen-gathering cover crops, animal manure, rotation of crops, proper tillage and draining, I am getting results which the Chinese have demonstrated for forty centuries." - Jack London

Read more here: https://jacklondonpark.com/beauty-ranch/

Enjoying the grass in Jack London's Yard. I think he would have loved Odie

I did a similar feat – only on a VERY small scale – I was after all almost 40 when I started, and he was already 40 when he died. People back then did so many amazing things so early in life. Maybe because they knew they didn’t have long to do it. We abuse the privilege of long life. We always think “There’s time to do (Insert here) “ But sometimes there isn’t.

I looked into his wife’s face, though and I knew I would have loved her. I don’t know why, but sometimes you just can look at someone, and know you’d get along. How weird and primal is that?

They sounded a lot like us. Maybe that's why I was moved to tears several times. They spent their days throwing fun parties, feeding and entertaining their guests and going on travels together in the “Snark”. Their boat.

I wonder why we haven’t named our “boat?” Huh. Never thought of it until now.

Jack also liked to prank friends staying with them. Many people were extra freaked out about the Earthquake and subsequent fires that destroyed San Francisco in 1918. So to fuck with his friends, Jack would tie ropes to the bed posts, drill holes in the floor of the house and go into the crawlspace and pull the ropes, while screaming “EARTHQUAKE!!!!"

What a dick, LOL. (I love him more now)

We spent the better part of a whole day exploring the ranch, wolf house, gravesite and museum, much of it walking through redwood groves, down beautiful paths and fields of green. If you are ever in that part of the country – I HIGHLY recommend it.

Thanks Neil – I’m glad you pointed us in that direction!

We drove to Sonoma and miles and miles of vineyards. Everyone, and I mean everyone had SOME vines - even if they are a few, in their yards, and fields. went through an entire town that was empty. Empty houses, and big buildings, out buildings, garages. ALL abandoned. What the hell? THIS is the kind of stuff that we love seeing. Learning things we didn’t know about and are surprised by!

Later I looked it up and It was a 127 year old State Hospital for Developmentally disabled persons. 3,000 employees, 1400 people buried in it’s cemetery, and was built even before Jack London settled his ranch. “ At roughly 900 acres, the property in the heart of Sonoma Valley encompasses some of the most beautiful and valuable land in the North Bay. Most of it is undeveloped and constitutes a broad de facto wildlife corridor linking Sonoma Mountain on the west to the Mayacamas Mountains on the east. The 100 or so acres that comprise the developed campus contain 140 buildings, some of historic value, many others requiring an extensive retrofit before any reuse.” It’s for sale, apparently – but nobody wants the expense of fixing it. It is it’s own CITY. Crazy. Can I have it for my Haunted house? 😉

We had lunch in Sonoma, picking a small pizzeria in the town square and learning that Sonoma was Historical in it’s own right – something I had no idea of, either.

Turns out Sonoma was the northern and westernmost fort in the frontier back in the 1800’s

From Wikipedia.

The Sonoma Barracks (Spanish: Cuartel de Sonoma) is a two-story, wide-balconied, adobe building facing the central plaza of the City of Sonoma, California.[2] It was built by order of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo to house the Mexican soldiers that had been transferred from the Presidio of San Francisco in 1835. The Presidio Company and their commander, Vallejo, were also responsible for controlling the Native Americans living on the northern border of Mexican California.

On June 14, 1846, the Pueblo of Sonoma was taken over by a group of American immigrants seeking to establish their own California Republic. The barracks became the headquarters this short-lived insurrection later known as the Bear Flag Revolt.

Believing that war with Mexico had been declared, ships of the U.S. Pacific Squadron took over Monterey on July 7 and Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) on July 9, 1846. The U. S. flag was raised at the barracks that same day – ending the California Republic and the Bear Flag Revolt. After that, the barracks was used by U.S. forces until 1852.[2] Throughout the Mexican–American War and the subsequent California Gold Rush these forces continued to confront Native Americans hostile to invaders occupying their lands.[3]

When the military left, the building was used for a number of civilian purposes until being acquired by the State of California in 1957.[4] The Sonoma Barracks is now part of Sonoma State Historic Park.

Sonoma was kind of a funny place, though

Ladies in big white floppy hats, white dresses, wine glasses, and bare feet walking around the park with their little shih-something’s and acting rich. Others were people like us – tourists, just looking around and the rest were families with kids having picnics. Weird mix, lol.

We headed back to the trailer and called it a night. Was a great day and we had fun and were worn out!

We pulled out around 10am the following morning. We wanted to get out earlier, but we were slow to get moving that morning. The drive was uneventful and fairly easy. A few spots got a little tight in the redwoods, and we pulled into our campground at about 4:30pm.

The “town” which is just merely a widening of the road, with a few buildings showed just what we remember Northern California to be. Does anyone hear banjos?

I tell you what, rolling in to those places is no different than getting lost on the wrong side of the tracks. It might not be a big city but the “The fuck you looking at” Vibe up there is the same. There are also a lot of Vagrants. People walking around the trees, down the roads, sitting by street corners. I mean it isn’t BAD, but enough to make you pay attention.

No wonder it’s not a huge tourist area, I mean my god if you’re always concerned about going missing who wants to be THERE?

The park was entirely different though. Clean, well groomed, flowers at the entrance, and a HUGE spot for use to enjoy. This is the FIRST Campspot we’ve been in so far, that was big enough to where we didn’t feel like we were on top of our neighbors.

We got there and immediately walked the cat and the dog to the river and checked it out. It was VERY low – only a wide ribbon of cloudy green - blue water rushing down the middle of a once impressive watercourse. Was really sad, honestly. We got back to our spot, set up our chairs, and staked the cat out to enjoy some yummy grass and sunshine. It was so nice to kick back and listen to the wind whisper through the tall redwoods, and listen to the river rush over rocks.

The next morning I started looking for a spot to hike the redwoods. I’d picked this particular park because it was just outside the Redwood State park we didn’t get to visit our last trip down the coast with T, our son. And State parks I can hike with the dog – unlike the National Parks.

Wrong.

No dogs in State parks unless it’s paved. It didn’t click – I thought the Jack Londed State park was just that way because of the Jack London thing. Nope. ALL state parks.

Well SHIT. Ugh – another roadblock on this shitshow of a trip.

We stopped at the “Immortal Tree” A large redwood that’s survived Fire, Flood and a lumberjacks saw. We meet a couple there, who were visiting as well, had taken nearly the same route we did (Sequoias, Yosemite, Sonoma) And were from a Town one away from where we’re from. LOL Weird.

Immortal tree - Fish is from the flood, Axe is from the lumberjacks, and you can see the burn scar from the fires.

So, instead we drove up to Eureka to hit a store and just drive around. Scott doesn’t get a whole lot of “looky loo” time in these areas because of how much he has to pay attention to the road, so he didn’t mind doing more driving – without the trailer. We found a beach, and a few trails in Eureka – to which several people said their car windows were broken and their cars rifled through. So even though we were already parked and the dog was Borking (yes BORK BORK like a seal) smelling the ocean – and being SO EXCITED to see the “Big water” as we call it again – We started the truck and left.

I thought Odie was going to cry – the way he looked at us. We quickly found another spot – a little less windy and cold in a sheltered cove, and within eyesight of the truck - and let him run. He was SO happy and he ran STRAIGHT into the surf. He came back to us and started doing zoomies – even if his foot hurts.

I looked online to find the best restaurant in Eureka. That was going to be tough – the best one was the Micro-brewery and it was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Of course it was.

SO I settled for 2nd – Said they have THE best fish and chips in the area. Ok, lets go. I plugged in the coordinates and off we went. We drove around, and around and could NOT find a restaurant. Weed shop, foot clinic, thrift store, and liquor mart. Wait – look, I said.

IN the corner of the parking lot was a small red food truck. OMG seriously!? LOL OK. So we ordered our fish and chips and got back in the truck to wait. No drinks, either because we had to buy them in the liquor/drink store. Ahhh, Smart.

Honestly they were REALLY good fish and chips. We have an excellent food truck back home called “Off the Hook” and when they are in town, the line is usually around the block – this was comparable. They also didn’t do a batter but more of a panko crumb coating and it was YUMMY.

We stopped at the only Wal-Mart in Eureka and it was a STRANGE place. First it was on the backside of a large mall – hidden back in the corner with large front pillars like the white house. We got what we needed but I wanted some carrots, and other veggie snacky things to help me with my nighttime snacking addiction – and be keto friendly.

There was NO produce. Things that don’t go bad fast – sure. Yams, potatoes and a few different citrus bins. That was it. The first Wal-Mart I’ve seen with food and retail with NO produce department. They were just in a couple cardboard bins in the middle of the isle.

*sigh* Of course I pick the ONLY Wal-Mart with no produce when that’s WHY I went there. Fuck it. Let’s go I’ll live, we will get it maybe a that little market in the little town we’re in.

Heading out of the parking lot we noticed a LOT of vagrants wandering around. One of them started towards us, as to where Scott started moving the truck just to get away. There was A LOT in Eureka, and gave the town a dirty, unwelcoming feeling. We see a lot of homeless people – more out west because of the loose laws requiring them to stay moving – but I really think allowing them to just hang out and camp on public streets is making things worse. It doesn’t give them a REASON to get better. If they would rather not have bills, rather not work, and rather not do all the things that come with living ½ normally – letting them camp for free indefinitely is not solving the issue. These people looked bedraggled and had been homeless for a LONG long, time.

We both have experience in the matter of drug addiction and homelessness – with more than one person – and it’s not “That easy” of a problem to solve, but the zombie-apocalypse that was Eureka was really sad.

Maybe they need to turn that place in Sonoma into a huge California counseling center for the homeless and some education, and enrichment for people to get off the streets if no one wants it.

We headed back to the Camper, and stopped at “Founder’s Grove” on the “Avenue of the Giants” and I shot some photos around the grove. I was having a hard time getting my camera to cooperate, and I am having an even harder time SEEING what I’m shooting. My eyesight close up is getting horrible. It’s hard to shoot with glasses on! How do people do it!

There was a guy there, that rolled up on his ½ motorcycle and ½ bicycle – obviously cobbled together with various found parts. Another nomad type. He sat smoking a cigarette, and looking on his phone.

I’ve heard of people up here having “territories” in Northern California – and defending them fiercely against other drifters. We had a run-in not far from here with a few of them, and If I wasn’t on high alert, and warning T about them – where he made eye contact I think we might have been robbed that day.

We’d stopped at an overlook, and they pulled in, in a van a few spaces away from us. They were disheveled, and unwashed. Their clothing was very dirty, and their van full of trash and other junk – that fell out when they all got out. There was I think four or five of them, all in their late to early 30’s. Not hippies, not van dwellers in the “free spirit” kind. They were bad news and my skin crawled when they eyed our Rental car and all of our worldly possessions inside. I elbowed T, told him what I saw and he examined them, examining us. I said “Let’s go” and we all got in the car and drove off.

We stopped in a wide part of the road a few miles away, so I could get a couple shots of some flowers I’d seen. I walked back amongst the huge Redwood trees and found huge….bathroom area. A large area, about the size of a corn silo bottom, was covered in human waste and toilet paper. Not buried, not discreet – just all over the top of the ground.

I backed away and told the boys what was there. Disgusting. These people are disgusting up here.

We pulling in at the market and I was again looked at like I was going to hear “You got a purty mouth” out of one of the people there – and looked around. No produce. (even though the faded sign out front said they did) Just a few necessities, a lot of canned food, and some frozen stuff.

Okay well. I guess I don’t get snackey things today. I’ll just eat the rest of the cake I made the other night.

It was good, too. Would you like the recipe?

When we got “home” there was an older Motorhome - an old Winnie – next to us, with 2 dogs. One reminded me of “Buck” on call of the wild – without the coloring. Curly, and fluffy tail, medium length gold hair and big brown eyes.

When Odie got out, he nearly took both his owners out charging him and barking extremely aggressively. Both his owners tried calming him, by saying softly “No, no, come here, no”. These people were probably in their late 60s at least, and could barely control him.

GREAAAT.

Our nice, peaceful spot just got ruined in 30 seconds.

We tried to sit outside, but anytime he saw Odie under the coach, he’d lunge and start barking, while his owners tried hanging on for dear life.

He continued this behavior with ALL of the other dogs people were trying to peaceful walk down the road – making them jump, pull their dog further away, and looking back like “I hope he doesn’t get away from them” We walked in the opposite direction of them when they took him and the other old dog out for a walk. There was a couple times they’d just put him in the camper if he didn’t stop – but the smiles and the shaking of their head told me it was a joke to them, and they encouraged this aggressive behavior.

Until someone gets hurt.

The dog was a brute – topping probably 120 pounds and a lot of fur – the type of dog Buck was, and would have fought well. Odie – even as big as he is wouldn’t stand a chance. He’d never be able to bite through the thick hair the dog had. I thought about getting a tire iron or some other weapon to protect the dog and the cat if he did happen to get loose from his owners.

For the life of me I don’t understand bringing a dog like that to a campground where people are trying to peacefully exist. How selfish, asinine and clueless can you be? And before you start with “It’s for protection” Protection from WHAT exactly? Fluffy the yorkie walking down the road? He was not PEOPLE aggressive – in fact he couldn’t have cared less about the people walking around, it was always the dogs.

The next morning we didn’t linger. Sitting out in the sun the AM was out because of tweedle dee and tweedle dumbass next door, so we searched for places we could take the dog. I found a black sand beach – it was a little bit of a drive, and they said the roads will make you work for it – but it’s WORTH it, and you can walk for 27 miles with your dog. PERFECT!!!!!

We fueled up – hopefully for the LAST time in California. $7.10 a freaking gallon was getting old. Sometimes it dropped to 6.99 or 6.89….but not much less.

The road WAS difficult in our big truck – VERY steep, VERY windy and true to California – a shit road, but it WAS worth it. I haven't seen a beach and area that beautiful since we were in St. John, USVI. The pebbles a dark grey – were black when wet, made up of greywacke (see below)and due to the remoteness of the area – devoid of many people. There is a small community there that was perched right on the Cliffside, and supplied by a small airport. I’d live here. I totally would live here.

Scott said hell no – it’ll be the FIRST place that falls into the ocean when Cali slides off the fault line.

Awe….Ok. haha.

The Geology of the area is SUPER interesting, though.

From Wikipedia:

Much of the land in the area is owned by the federal government, and in 1970, more than 60,000 acres (240 km2) were designated the King Range National Conservation Area.

Because of the rugged and remote location, the small towns of Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Petrolia are popular with those looking for quiet respite. The area is known for its black sand beaches, which get their color from dark colored sandstone called greywacke and an older compressed shale produced by tectonic activity of one continental and two oceanic plates meeting just offshore.

I’d love to do the backcountry hike up the coast there, though. Man what a beautiful place.

We walked the beach for a couple of hours, looking at rocks, shells and the raging ocean in front of us. Swimming and boating, and diving is prohibited in the area and I could see why. The waves were violent torrents crashing against the beach and rocks surrounding it. I had to keep Odie from running into it several times, in fear a rouge wave would sweep him away. It was beautiful, but understandable why it’s so unpopulated. No one can get to it, lol.

I still found dog shit on the beach, though.

We found no place to eat, however – this being still the offseason there isn’t much going on, and the only little place by a small campground was closed.

We stopped at the small town at the bottom of the road that met with the main 101 Highway and had a really good burger. It was so huge, I could only eat ½ of it. It was chilly sitting outside, but we managed, and had a beer, even though I was a little cold. At least the sun was out – something that doesn’t happen a lot up here.

When we got back the beast next door was not there – or not out, and so we set the cat out, and she had fun exploring and peeing in the firepit (why?) Then, HE got home, and I was on high alert. After the other neighbor’s dog from Mesa came after the kitty, I was super concerned. She was watching, too and saw him over there, and was being cautious.

I heard him growl and take off, barking fiercely and I yelled he’s coming! Then I heard a WANG! As he hit the end of his tie-out and then saw a dog and his owner hurriedly rushing past to put enough distance between them and the asshole.

I put the cat down and she looked at me like “Thanks” I few minutes later I heard a low growl. Scott said “He’s right there!” And there he was UNDER my goddamn camper, sneaking up on us. I yelled at him, “HEY!!! GET AWAY YOU!!! GET OUT!” And he scrambled away, when his owner weakly called form the other side “SORRY!”

Yeah you are. Jesus.

I heard the door clack, and it got quiet. They must have put him inside. I relaxed a little. I was pissed and scared though. We went inside after that – I just wanted to relax and I couldn’t do it. Later they let him out, and we got to hear him bark and carry on at all the dogs walking by – as to which the owners would walk over and put him back in the camper.

No discipline, no training no correction.

At this point in our trip I am all out of patience, and was ready to move on from these idiots.

We packed up the next morning and she tried making eye contact with me, but I ignored her. Fuck you AND Your dog lady. Irresponsible. Dangerous – not only for MY dog but for YOU and YOUR dog.

I’m ready to be OUT of California now. It’s beautiful up here. It REALLY REALLY is, but….the people ruin it.