Richard's Travels: Eureka, November 2017

November 5, 2017.

I did not walk on Monday with the Ramblers. Instead I attended another class to prepare my Advance Directives or Living Will. I am finished and at the next class have two members of the class witness me sign it and then they sign in the witness section of the document.

Tuesday was Halloween Day at the Senior Center. Some people came in costumes.

Wednesday night it rained and also on Thursday. Friday was not better.

Friday night was Karaoke night. Some of the Monday night dancers were there and we had fun.

Saturday was a clear, but cold day. I wore my heavy coat the first time this year.

In the morning I went to the Adorni Center where they had a Tsunami and Earthquake preparedness show. Vendors and the Gas and Electric Company, Fire Department, Sherriff Department, Red Cross and other agencies gave instructions what to do in case of an emergency.

After the show I did some walking.

In the evening I went down town for Arts Alive and enjoyed the bands on the street and the art studios and museums.

Sunday started out as a clear day. While I was walking, in the afternoon, the sky got dark and I got wet. This has to be expected in Eureka.

I walked about two miles to Costco and checked out the free food samples.
This big ship was being loaded with lumber. This is the first time I have seen a big ship like this in Humboldt Bay.

November 12, 2017.

Monday, we did a wonderful hike in the Headwaters Forest Reserve.

It was a ranger guided hike. To get to the reserve we had to drive through a private forest and there was a locked gate, which the ranger had to open and close.

It was a four mile trail with some elevation.

The old growth forest is the nesting place of the Marbled Murrelet, a shore bird. It feeds on fish. The bird lays its egg, only one, on a branch, three hundred feet above ground, in a redwood tree. There is no nest. Moss keeps the egg from falling of the large branch.

The reserve was started to protect the Marbled Murrelet and old growth redwoods.

The rest of the week it rained and I walked at the waterfront and Old town when there was a break in the rain.

Friday the Mad River Honor Guard were providing a Veterans Honor Ceremony at the Senior Center.

In the evening I saw the play “Pippin” at the North Coast Repertory Theater.

Saturday was the Intertribal Gathering and Elders Dinner at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. The dinner was free for Veterans, and it was a very good turkey dinner.

I was lucky and walked in at the right time. When I left the building, there was a long line outside.

Unfortunately, picture taking was not allowed in the next building where tribal dancers were performing.

I did not do much on Sunday.

November 19, 2017.

Monday, while walking in the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Reserve, we got really wet. I wore the top part of my rain suit but not the pants. The cold wind and rain came from the side and it was no fun walking with wet jeans.

After the walk I went home, changed clothing and had a cup of hot chocolate.

A noon I went to the Brown Bag Lunch at OLLI. The speaker was from an electricity providing company and he told us where our electricity comes from. Nine percent is generated by solar power. That surprised me. It would not surprise me if this was Southern California where the sun shines more than it rains. In Humboldt County it is just the opposite.

In the evening I danced at the lodge.

Wednesday, I attended the “ Advance Directives “ class. The class was from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon, but I left at 11:00 AM because I did not want to miss the early Thanksgiving dinner at the Senior Center. The turkey meal was very good.

Thursday evening, I went to a meeting of the League of Women Voters. The Eureka’s City Manager, The Assistant County Administrative Officer, and the Humboldt County Association of Government Executive Director were in attendance and gave us details how our taxes are spent. It was a very interesting program.

Friday the sun came out and we had a six mile walk at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. We walked the James Irvine Trail. Fifteen people started and ten of us finished the complete walk.

In the evening I went to the Eureka Municipal Auditorium for a screening of the documentary: “Wasted”. This is a film about food waste. A high percentage of food is wasted because it does not look right. Stores can not sell fruit or vegetables which have blemishes or have different shapes.

Some people do not eat leftovers. They throw it in the garbage. I cook a large amount of food so I have leftovers.

Saturday, I went to the library for a travel slide show. I couple talked about their travels in Europe and showed also pictures.

Sunday morning, I went grocery shopping and then to the Mushroom Fair.

There were displays of mushrooms growing in this area, and vendors who sold equipment to identify the different mushrooms.

They also sold kits for growing mushrooms. All one has to do water the container.

In the afternoon I went to the Swiss Club for dancing. They also honored the Veterans. I am standing with the Army Group. The flag in back of us can not be seen. There were flags for all the armed services.

There was also a little parade.

November 26, 2017.

Monday morning five of us walked along the waterfront. It looked like it would rain any minute so we did not drive south for our scheduled walk.

In the evening, we had a turkey meal at the lodge. Usually I do not eat at the lodge before dancing, but I love to eat turkey.

Tuesday, we had summer weather. The temperature went up to 72 degrees F., a record for this time of the year.

Wednesday morning, I went to a restaurant and had breakfast with Jacob and Nicolette. I is not easy to find time to do things with them.

Those two are very busy. Nicolette has a boyfriend now and does a lot with him. Because of Thanksgiving they have school vacation and they made some time for their Opa.

In the afternoon I did some walking in Old Town. People were feeding the pigeons.

Thursday, I celebrated Thanksgiving with Claudia and family. Hanna was there too. Scott’s mother was sick, so she and Peter could not come. Scott’s father was not well either and since he lives down stairs his meal was delivered to him.

Friday morning, I walked six miles with the Ramblers in the Elk River Headwater Preserve. In the afternoon I went Down Town, to the Gazebo, where parents and their small children stood in line to see Santa Claus.

Saturday afternoon I went back to the gazebo where people gathered to catch ping pong balls shot out of an air powered cannon.

About twenty balls came out of the cannon at the same time. The balls were marked with prizes from local stores and restaurants.

The first three shots were for children and the next four for all ages. I caught two balls, and both are from the Café Nooner restaurant and if I eat there I get 25% off on a meal.