Down US-101 Through the Redwoods |
Arcata to Willits -- 143 miles |
We hit the road at about a quarter to 9:00 from the Best Western Arcata Inn in Arcata |
We passed through
Eureka without stopping but did get a few
photos Left: The old Rialto Theater has been refurbished and is now a performing arts center Right: Mike's Drive-Up does not open to 10:00 so we will have to catch it another trip Left: Weekend evenings we boys used to gather at the Harbor Lanes and shoot pool Right: The building used to be a truck terminal owned by my father and two cousins Since they sold it in the late 50's there has never been a successful business in it This building was a bar where Eureka hosted the first real, live stripper I got past the ID check, but one of my buddies dropped his wallet and the security guard then re-IDed the whole group and we got ousted Later, after we were done with pool and were having a late snack in Denny's and the stripper walked in. We were thrilled and giggly to see her in person even though fully clothed. |
First stop is in
Loleta at the
Loleta Cheese Factory It was still just a little after 9:15 and the new milk from the morning milkings was being processed They have many samples of their various cheeses and tasting is fun I guess Guy Fieri must have visited sometime in the past |
The highway no longer goes through
Rio Dell so we took a side trip Scotia was a company owned town with a huge saw mill. You could not live there unless you were an employee in good standing. The company did not approve of liquor or prostitutes. So Rio Dell was founded just across the river. Workers used to cross in a row boat for entertainment. The mill is now just half the size, but there is still a lumber storage yard about half mile long |
We left the highway to ride through
Weott and then the redwood groves The little camera had a hard time focusing with the trees so close and moving past so quickly. This used to be the only highway and big-rigs would fly past each other weaving through the trees. Many large trees still have scars from too-close encounters. |
At about Leggett, it started to get more and more smokey.
There must be a huge forest fire to the west At times the smoke got so thick that it was causing our eyes to water. I don't know how the fire fighters are able to work for so long in it. The smoke continued all the way to Laytonville |
Just north of Richardson's Grove has always been a tourist trap
tchotchke shop Just below Richardson's Grove is a private tourism Mecca that used to be referred to as French's Today there was a Regae Festival of some sort going on. Huge crowds, lotsa traffic control |
Last year in
Willits we had a good lunch in
Ardella's Kitchen 77 S Main St At that time, a woman and daughter had bought the restaurant and were trying to make it work This year, it was packed and the food was even. Good to see them do well. After lunch we walked the town and ran into a fabulous used book shop The owner attends estate sales in the bay area and brings stuff back too sell One of his specialties is chairs. Particularly old upholstered chairs. Tired and hot, we checked into the Best Western Inn Willits at 1777 S Main St |
Our Route Today |
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