The Caribou Wilderness and Lake Almanor

 We hiked from Caribou Lake to Cowboy Lake and set up camp there with old friends Ann Polivka and Linda Eminger from Health Dept days.

 The next day we hiked north to Jewel Lake, Turnaround Lake and Triangle Lake.. about a nine mile round trip with lots of swimming breaks.

 Then we went up to Gem and Emerald Lake... this, obviously, was Emerald Lake. Michael hiked on to Rim Lake and beyond.

 On Sunday we didn't want to come back in to the valley too early but the clouds were a little threatening so we went through Chester and down to Almanor to wander the beach then we came home via Humbug Road... and had dinner in Butte Meadows.

 A thoroughly lovely 4 day weekend.

Saving the world balanced by cruising the river

 Well these will be random photos.. I was happy to get a little back into sharing food with Food Not Bombs. They are defying a city order not to serve food in the plaza and are willing to go to jail over it. I'm proud to know them and be a supporter.

 When the moon was full I took this arty photo of the moon through my lettuce which is going to seed.. I need to collect that seed!

 We have had a series of vigils for GAZA and for peace. I was able to interview a wonderful young woman with Jewish Voice for Peace on KZFR. Everyday my heart aches for people suffering there and I wrack my brain for things that might help end the violence.

 In between we  have gotten out to the river a couple of times, once with the electric trolling motor and once just with our paddles and that's been relaxing and life affirming to both of us.

 Meanwhile Frack-Free Butte County has been taking on the Oil and Gas Industry attorneys who are trying to get our Fracking Ban disqualified from the November ballot. It has been wonderful working with this group and tonight I am quite nervous as tomorrow the judge will decide the case. Either way we won't be stopped.

 We had Sheldon's birthday, Keith came for a visit and Orien was a great help to Frack Free Butte County. We are all very grinny here... just glad to be alive I guess.

Trinidad Tree Sitters Thank you!

 Angela and I drove up to Trinidad today to visit the Trinidad Tree Sitters. I've been following them on Facebook and wanted to see their noble tree sit.

 They've been there over two and half years protecting an area Green Diamond wants to clear cut and another area where selective logging would remove all the mature redwoods, violating ("mitigating") a small pristine stream and spotted owl habitat.

 Green Diamond is like Sierra Pacific Industries that rape the forests in the Sierra. Green Diamond primarily owns redwoods, over 425,000 acres of them, the lungs of the coast and the anchor of life throughout the region. Their stated plan is to log all the land in 45 year rotation.

 So in our small way we gave offering to the young tough (also very sweet) defenders.. a bag of food, a book (the Veggie Voyagers!,) a little cash.

 Barefoot Chives rappelled down "Misty" to give us a tour of the forest and we talked about the issues of clear-cutting and the peril of this 84 acres of forest, creek as well as the extended Timber Harvest Plans beyond Strawberry Rock which would denude another huge area of redwood-- other tree sitters defend that area.

 I was personally grateful and humbled to be with folks who cared. Who will not let the earth down.

 This last view was once an epic rock called Sister Rock. It is now a quarry. Through the fog would be Strawberry Rock... many Yurok people have stood to say this area is special to them. All of us are called upon to stop the destruction here and throughout the remaining forests of the coastal range and the Sierra/Cascade. Reach Trinidad Tree Sitters on Facebook or on www.redwoodforestdefense.org

Fourth of July weekend

 The nights and mornings are ok where we live. The Fourth of July Michael was working on his mast in the barn so I rode my bike to a place I could see the fireworks at the Fairgrounds. We thought we'd be able to get out of town the next day, Saturday....

 but when Saturday came there were 40 gallons of veggie oil to process

 and more sail preparations and modifications...

 So we left at noon on Sunday without air conditioning and it was very miserable until about 20 miles from the coast... but at last we were at the South Jetty of Humboldt Bay with coats on and fog surrounding us.

 We camped the night under this wind ravished pine with a view of the beach out the back of the V.V.

 And today, we finally made it out onto the Bay on the high tide to try out the sail (and the oars!) Despite all the travail of leaving our over-heated valley we have made it and are so grateful. I wish we didn't have to go back.