Sunday, August 17, 2014

[californiadisasters] Kim in LA LA :oP



Nope, I don't need dope to help me be stupid, I do just fine on my own.  I don't drink alcohol either, mostly the same reasoning.

Though it couldn't hurt the Dodgers (not that I watch pro anything sports anymore) because we all know they rarely get smokin' :o)

I altered the subject title because it was based on what you saw at the game (musta been SUPER exciting compared to the game) just to differentiate it from the actual fire traffic (400 acres, 5%) and I wandered off topic.

I'll pass by the base and helibase again tomorrow, if there is anything to report (other than the tourons stopping in a posted DON'T STOP area) I will.  Since I can't stop either, I won't get pics, but it was bitchin' to see...  Smoke got pretty bad, about a mile visibility so I closed the vent intakes and it was blowing AWAY from the highway (SW).  It still smells like overtime though.

Rick, WA6NHC

iPad = small keypad = typos = sorry ;-)

On Aug 17, 2014, at 11:24 PM, "Kim Noyes kimnoyes@gmail.com [californiadisasters]" <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

As for the Emerald Triangle and Humboldt Gold, methinks ye protest too much, but what happens in Garberville stays in Garberville and California Disasters is a safe place for all its members. :-p

Bad Kim

P.S. Despite the subject line of your post I could not find a single reference to the Dodgers.... could that be due to the effects of the smoke from nearby burning forests! :-p


On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 10:36 PM, 'Rick Bates, WA6NHC' HappyMoosePhoto@gmail.com [californiadisasters] <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

Nope, it has nothing to do with the Emerald Triangle or the CA highest income cash crop (no not wine, it's an odd looking green leaf and related bud).  I don't do that stuff.  But now, because I know what I know, I also watch where I hike and my situational radar is on.  This isn't the same place I came to visit as a kid decades ago.  Either a loss of innocence or a cost of education, it just isn't the same anymore.  [Like the places I visited or stayed blithely in SF as a pre-teen, alone or with others my age; I won't go there now without a specific reason, heavy artillery and backup.]

No logging here anymore (almost none) which killed the economy but saved some old growth forests.  Can't we have both?  But there are still tall trees here, moderately fresh air (winds blowing the Leggett fire smoke southwest, away from us) and it's gorgeous.   The base camp and helibase are right next to the highway on the way here, REALLY cool to see with 6 National Guard Blackhawks (that'll upset some growers), 2 Sky Cranes and some crew copters on deck, but seeing the still smoldering forest offset that joy.  I saw 8 Type III engine strike teams, one Crew strike team, 2 dozer strike teams and numerous overhead and support vehicles heading home, yet the base camp still has a LOT of equipment.  It won't be over until it rains, assuming it does.

Actually we're here for the Redwood Summer Games, a North Coast sort of mini special Olympics for folks with special needs and limited physical ability.  Deborah's sister was participating and we came up to cheer her on.  The gathering of a few hundred, plus caregivers, started Friday and ended this morning.  It included folks from Lake County through Del Norte county (the sponsors) and is an annual event.  Nearly everyone tent camped (challenging enough for lots of folks) on the site or used an RV (we stayed nearby, not knowing what was available on site).  Some of the families stayed elsewhere, some were on site.  That's a LOT of folks.

There were physical competitive events, but also social (live music, dancing, DJ music the next night playing some GREAT tunes) and carnival style games.

One very talented local attendee played the bagpipes (favorite traditional marches and tunes) then switched to fiddle and was outstanding at both (MORE MORE!!!).  My tapping toes got tuckered out (I *LIKE* the pipes and a good fiddle player can make the dead keep time).  At the request of one special participant (named Grace), he played Amazing Grace on the pipes and half the camp was in tears from the power of the song and the direct meaning for her, (she IS amazing) while she was totally overcome with emotion and bawled in appreciation.  He didn't get the same reaction when he played the Star Wars theme song later.  ;o)

Most participants require personalized 24/7 care, handfulls of meds several times a day and other assistance.  Each gets a personalized level of care.  Say what you will but these folks and their caregivers have more optimism, patience, cheerfulness and full time happiness than any group I've even seen.  There are no limitations, only new challenges to be met and new ways to face them which they do (like there is a choice?) cheerfully.  It was pretty amazing to see and everyone had a lot of fun, even this grumpy old pessimist.

They also got to meet old friends and make some new ones too, quietly remembering the ones that aren't here anymore.  While most of the contests were physical competition and zero chance of any sort of level playing field (each has a different physical or mental situation), the focus was on participation and having fun.  That, they did in spades; it is their nature.

I realized along the way that of the thousands of folks I've come across in my life, I can't think of a single person that doesn't have some form of disability.  Some are obvious, physical or mental (cranial rectumitus being common) but many are hidden but no one is flawless.  That was my "Oh DUH" moment this weekend.  I'm sure there are other life lessons here too, once I figure them out.

I also had an interesting conversation with someone that on appearances was 'old school hippy' (a participant family member) but as we chatted it quickly became clear that he was at least as strongly conservative as me and irritated by the same political, environmental and social problems as me.  So much for any appearances and prejudices, we grokked.  ;o)  Winners all around at many levels, me too.

Since the event ended this morning, we did take the afternoon to do some photo shooting and a bit of shopping, duh.  

Garberville/Redway was 92, but when we came back here (Redcrest is about 20 miles north on the Avenue of the Giants) it was a comfy 75 or so (evenings around 60, perfect sleeping temp).  A bit higher humidity than I like (15% or lower), the Eel is almost empty of water and fish :o( (looks like mid-Nov levels and seriously needs a good flush plus a LOT of salmon and steelhead to return) and the trees show signs of stress (as well as the impending fall season) but it's been a while since I stayed here (passed through coming home from Alaska in 2012).  

It's still pretty nice and it's the right time of year to be here (good weather, school in session, smaller slower paced crowds).  This RV park closes in Nov. so if I come back soon, I'll have to find another place to park (tight fit in the state parks); but I'm hoping for a soggy season (then I'll go back to Tucson and warm/dry; I'm getting a handle on this retirement thing).

Heading home tomorrow, back to the place that is 'cooler' when the temps fall under 100 (but is less humid, I can take 85 or higher with lower RH).  Maybe I should take the long way home, say via Washington?  ;o)

Rick, WA6NHC

iPad = small keypad = typos = sorry ;-)

On Aug 17, 2014, at 7:27 PM, "Kim Noyes kimnoyes@gmail.com [californiadisasters]" <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

We know why you're really there - not that there's anything wrong with it. ;-p

Sent from my iPhone_,_._,___




--



__._,_.___
Posted by: "Rick Bates, WA6NHC" <happymoosephoto@gmail.com>


Be sure to check out our Links Section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/links
Please join our Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters_discussion/ for topical but extended discussions started here or for less topical but nonetheless relevant messages.




__,_._,___
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)