Since Oct. 2nd I’ve driven over 1300 miles from Big Sur up into Oregon and back down into Northern California. (Pictures here -> http://picasaweb.google.com/zigelastic) My trip back north from Big Sur was supposed to land me in Vancouver, Canada, but instead left me broken down in Drain, Oregon, luckily at my friend Zach’s place. Bessie had been stalling out every day for about 5 days – from Lassen Volcanic National Park, through Redding, CA, into Redwoods National Park, up into Oregon. She gave out completely right as I rolled into Drain, Oregon as I missed the road to Zach’s house and tried to turn around. To make a month long story (and stay) short, it will suffice to say that I entered Drain on Oct. 8th and left town on November 11th!
Portland, Seattle, Vancouver… all just a pipe dream. $3500 worth of repairs and a few weeks on a friends couch in a town aptly named Drain was all I needed to rethink my trip plans. I’ve since decided to bag on Costa Rica, and WWOOF in the US. I’ll spare you the glorious details of waiting for 3 weeks for Bessie to be repaired, while Zach waited for his girlfriend Christina to drive across the states to meet him in their new home, in Drain. It was riveting. But seriously…
My stay with Zach was probably just as fortunate for him as it was for me since he was out in Oregon alone, working a new job, waiting for Christina, and I was, well, up the creek without my vehicle. We spent a couple weekends doing winery tours around the southern wine valley in Oregon, many a night playing billiards at the local pub / Mexican restaurant, days working (work, Bessie, and Zach’s place), Halloween in Cottage Grove, OR, and election night in the same spot. I’m very happy with the results of the election, excepting of course the Gov. in VT. More of Douglas – ugh. The $3500 of repairs consisted of: a new fuel injection pump, pump mounted driver, starter (on warranty thankfully), flywheel, injectors, and lift pump. I also discovered that the hydrogen generator cells were totally rusted out due to a lesser grade of stainless steel used in their construction, so I returned them and received a replacement. Vehicle troubles aside, I remain positive and upbeat.
Despite the break down, costly repairs, the “Gravitron” ride in Drain, and missing all points north that I originally planned, my trip has been sprinkled with a lively cast of friendly characters, good times, amazingly beautiful places, great food, and the desire to keep on trucking. I thought about throwing in the towel, but it’s the only towel I have! Upward and onward to organic farming and permaculture in the states…
My first WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities in Organic Farming) experience was with a wonderful family in Hoopa, CA – a Native American Indian reservation in Humboldt County. Josh, Tina, their 6-month old boy named Rio, Josh’s mother Jean and younger sister Orwi, two dogs – Duke and Lucky, chickens, turkeys, fruit trees, gardens, all nestled into a small 4 acre homestead along the beautiful Trinity River was a welcome spot for me to hang at for 10 days. I helped build a greenhouse, weeded out an 8 row strawberry patch, chop wood, spread natural fertilizers, etc… in exchange for delicious, all organic and mostly local food, good company, laughs, honest work, and a meditative atmosphere. I felt right at home and their hospitality kept that feeling going. Pomegranates, apples, figs, persimmons, peaches, plums, and walnut trees dotted their homestead. It’s a little slice of heaven in northern CA, and though I would’ve liked to stay longer, the nights are getting colder and my desire to move further south calls me.
So now I’m 4 hours south of Hoopa in a town called Willits, CA (still about 3 hours north of San Fran) and plan to be here for another week. I spent the week before Thanksgiving with an extended family on their homestead here in Willits, milking goats and building a green house out of recycled materials. The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful, as was the company of all 20 people at the feast. The family consists of a husband and wife and their two daughters, the husband’s two older daughters and their husbands and children – 3 generations of family on 5 acres living out their experiment in permaculture, community, and sustainable practice. Again, I feel right at home and cherish the experience.
Goat milking seemed to come like second nature, though it’s an early morning chore and I’m anything but an early riser. I took more to building a green house out of old plumbing pipes, but as I finished off the 5th rib of the skeletal structure, a friend of the family offered them a 30’ by 72’ greenhouse kit! What a Thanksgiving gift! So I think I’ll be spending the next week putting that greenhouse together…
Yesterday I went hiking in two of the three coastal State parks on the Mendocino Coast – Jug Handle State Park and Russian Gulch State Park. Situated in a region of geological upheaval, the area is home to several microclimates and the beautiful Mendocino Coast – a picturesque oceanscape of jagged beaches and tidal rock islands. I hung out in the town of Mendocino last night and today I plan on hiking at Van Damme State Park before I head back to the Green Uprising at BlackBerry Bend farm in Willits.
After this week, I’m off to LeVin Winery (http://www.levinwinery.com) in Cloverdale, CA – a California Certified Organic vineyard in Northern Cali. Incidentally, the wife of the vineyard owner happens to be the daughter of the creators of Gumby! That’s right kids, I’ll be picking grapes alongside of Gumby and Pokey! Sweet. I’ve never studied Viticulture, but my wine tour experiences in Oregon prepared me for these coming two weeks and I’m psyched to be hosted by another great family while I do some honest work in exchange for good times, food, and fun. By Dec. 21st, I’ll be in Mecca CA, down south about 50 miles from the Mexican border, working on a fruit tree farm overlooking the Salton Sea. 80 degree weather, hot springs, hiking, and fresh fruit await me… until next time… Peace and love, Sean.
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