hitching to kellogg beach

i had decided to hitch hike the day following my langlois stay, so that i could get down to arcata easily by the 18th for a show some seattle friends were playing. hitching rides is something i find a lot of enjoyment and magic in. it is a radical act that connects people and can open up the hearts of all parties involved. people often open up to share stories and details about their lives. this day of hitching allowed me to learn something of the people and places i passed through, even though i was travelling much faster.

the first ride, not exactly hitching, was with my host donna, who had to go into the larger town of Port Orford to get some pickling supplies. on the way we talked about meditation mostly. we parted with a hug and well-wishing in the parking lot of a park/viewpoint with beach access at the south end of town. a good spot to hitch from.

i spotted the second ride of the day when they pulled in for a pit stop. this young man and woman looked like good folks, and my intuition told me i'd have luck with them. before i inquired about a ride the guy, coming back from the restroom, said to me, "seen any whales out there?". he had seen grey whales at this spot a while back. none today though. they were fine with giving me a ride and shifted things around in the back of their canopied pickup. they'd just gotten two 'king salmon' fishing poles that were on sale for $40 each. they were going to learn to fish for salmon! i told them i was glad. salmon have always been an abundant food source for humans on the west coast. i shared a little of my 'Loki Fish' salmon jerky with them.
these folks said they are into permaculture and are interested in getting goats next year! they live near to the guy's mother, who is the one really into permaculture, back up in one of the coastal velleys north of Gold Beach.

the next guy i got a ride from had a nicer, larger pickup truck. and he looked pretty straight. but when we got talking i found out he is really into foragging wild mushrooms! there were some similarities to our vision of humanity's future. at first i wasn't sure we would connect so deeply. he lives in Brookings, but took me just beyond to Harbor, where i decided to try my luck one last time to see how far i could get before the evening.

next pickup was a man who lived with his wife in a trailer home that was left to them by her mother, who he had 'gotten sucked in to' caring for until she passed. he is from santa cruz and really wants to go back there. i could see his good heart shining between the negativity about his current situation. one of the last things he said was something about, 'we gotta get more localized.' and he gave an example of folks who are making clothes or printing on clothes... anyway, another connection to what this hoop tour is all about.
he took me to the town of Smith River, where he had to return a movie. at that point it was just another 17 miles to crescent city. feeling satisfied with my series of rides, i continued by bike. the coast bicycle route leaves 101 several miles after Smith River. i almost continued on 101, thinking it is a more direct route, but then felt compelled to go find a place to sleep on the beach, because i realized it might be my last chance before 101 goes more inland. i stooped at the house by that turnoff to fill my water, as i was not sure what would be available at the beach.

the folks at this house were really nice. they had chickens and several raised beds. turns out the husband has just retired from teaching agriculture to middle schoolers! when i told them what i was going to learn, about growing food and stewarding the soil, we thought it a fine coincidence. it was nice to connect over that. he said they had raised pigs in the past and were going to again. they make all their own compost and seemed really interested in responsible food production.
they also said there is this idea with their son, who just bought a home near theirs, to develop a little bicycle stop at this junction. it would be a place people could stop for water, a shower, and camping. there could even be a small garden with fresh produce to offer! if it were me i would keep a very nice composting toilet facility to harvest all that wealth from travelers.




















it was a very nice evening at kellogg beach. i took a dip, walked along the beach, took another dip, and sat by the fire of a family who were having smores. i enjoyed a simple dinner of seaweed, hazelnuts, sprouted sun seeds, coconut chips, and salmon jerky. the place i picked to sleep was a deep nook between the grassy dunes, out of the wind, which was pretty mild that night anyway.

by hitch hiking this day i was able to travel about 90 miles in half a day. and i still got to interact with people and get an idea for how they are relating with the food sources in the areas i passed through.