WEST FEST PART ONE

(Photos are by KapnKen, Jim McCaffrey, Eric Albronda, and Jill Stensland)

Here I am, sharp as a blunt on a Friday morning, all sharped up in my new prankster jacket, made for me by son Eli, to show off to the West Fest crowd, now into the car and head for . . .

Ray's food market in Pleasant Hill to hit the ATM for some on the road cash, a hundred bucks ought to get me there and back, incidental moneys, do everything else on the credit card, get reimbursed later . . .

This is much later, five hours later, after taking the Happy Camp cutoff to avoid Crescent City, California, and drop straight down into Eureka, a short break alongside a gurgling . . .

Bigfoot, himself, showing the way to the only gas station in town, a card lock, there's no attendant, took me a few tries but I figured it out, but pooh, no receipt so I took a picture, that will be my proof, once again a big appreciation for Oregon gas stations where someone does it all for you . . .

Long slow trip over the mountains, innumerable stops for construction, finally dip down to Eureka, California, search for a spot close to the water, Loleta is the little town with access, and lo, a fire on the beach and a monster in the water, take time to fix a sandwich, drink some wine, relax, before hitting the road after dark down Hwy 101 to Laytonville . . .

And stop at the Cottage Motel, great place, rustic cabins, very clean, very neat, full of surprises, just like the owner, looks at my skypilotclub ballcap and wants to know if I'm a pilot, he's one, too, I've got my electric tea kettle and coffee making gear with me so at six thirty with my belly warm I'm on the road again, next stop San Francisco, open up your Golden Gate . . .

Spectacular is too lame a word to describe the approach to the bridge, cloud formations imposing as hell, top of the bridge sticking unobstructed into the sky, what does it portend . . .

How sweet it is, old friend and prankster and skypilot Freddy Hahne, AKA AreWeReally, and his assistants Magerydoo Purpliehead and Mindshaft Mailbox rushing out of their underground laboratory to welcome me with open arms, open mailbox and open minds . . .

 

Here's Helvetica, Freddy's wife, in the midst of cleaning the fish pond, had to take the Kool Koi out so the bad chemicals didn't hurt the pore thang, and meanwhile Freddy has to lend his ear to his guru, American Tongue, to find out what exactly is the plan for today . . .

To find out, or at least get an idea what's going on,
check out the two vidies Really shot:

WELCOME

CHANGE THE VIBE


GO TO PART TWO

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE