Mossy Fingers

Mossy fingers reach for the bridge that arcs the flood of a boiling Mill Creek.

Look Out

Pewetole and Trinidad Head viewed in drizzle from the Elk Head trail.

You Stinka!

Actually, new skunk cabbage at this time of year doesn’t stink. Yet.

Crossroads Pines

This small copse of pines stands at the intersection of the Trinidad Beach-Elk Head trail, where the path loops over to Stagecoach Road. Wet but stolid on a rainy Sunday.

A Chance Encounter

On a soggy walk back from Elk Head, we came upon a woman and two dogs. One of them was CHANCE! an old buddy from the Shelter. His name is Reggie now, and his new dog’s life is grand.

Graffiti Trestle

The well-decorated former train trestle over Eureka Slough.

After the Storm

After what seems like eight years of grey and downpour, at last a pot o’ gold.

Stella Speedboat

Stella loves rainy days when the Mill Creek ditch fills and flows.

Eureka’s Women’s March

Bob Doran

More than 5,000 people of all flavors — women, men, young, old, LGBTQ, straight — turned out on the Eureka, CA, waterfront to join their voices with the other 3.5 million participants in the international Women’s March on Saturday, Jan. 21. It was inspirational and reassuring after the inauguration of The Drumpf the day before.

Trestle

The former RR trestle over the Mad River between McKinleyville and the Arcata Bottoms is part of the Hammond Trail.

Charlotte’s Summer House

Dog Days

 

The cartoon version . . . .

 

 

. . . and her cartoonish sister.

 

Toad 4 Sale

I am selling Toad, my great boat. I will be downsizing to Toad3.0.

She has just been completely refitted — engine redone and totally cleaned up. She's a 2002 21-foot Seaswirl/Striper with a 5.0-liter Volvo inboard/outboard.

The last time I ran with her, we did 32 knots over 8 miles from Patrick's Point to Trinidad Harbor. She can go 50 miles out for tuna, or up to Redding Rock for ling, or sit bobbing off the second splash for bottom fish, or out at 285 feet, waiting for halibut.

Call mechanic Jim Sharp in Brookings, 541-469-1027, about her condition and upkeep.

If interested, give me a call @ 1-707-677-5222. I want $20K, but we'll dicker.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Grampa Zack and little sister Ruth taking flight on Swans Island, Maine, in 1968. He died in 1976.

Flying Arts

A great mural on the back of the Arkley Center for the Arts in Eureka.

Maine

I recently found this drawing I made in — I think — 1969 on Swans Island in Maine. Now it's thumbtacked on my office wall. Even the fold line evokes the place. ©Ted Pease

Paddling On

2017 — and beyond — looks scary. But our Senior News for January 2017 has to do it right. As Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we have to go high.” The January Senior News to start a new year looks at transitions and new beginnings, and how each of us can make them, from kayaking Trinidad Head to ending 30 years of political service.

What happens next? We dunno.

Medical issues for “seniors” are ever-present, as Dr. Jennifer Heidmann discusses. Executive Director Joyce Hayes looks ahead to prospects for elders under the Trump Administration. After 30+ years in public service, former Humboldt Supervisor and former Arcata and Trinidad Mayor and Councilperson Julie Fulkerson plans new ways to make a difference. Humboldt State University President Lisa Rossbacher talks about the value of seniors’ experience. And Alan Grau looks forward to his 31st Ford Hess Trindad-to-Clam Beach Run.

It’s hard not to reflect on past/present/future as we make this transition to a new year, even though — really — Jan. 1 is no different than any other day. But we can hope. As Tiny Tim says in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843), “God bless us, every one.”

Happy New Year, everyone!

Ted  
____
Ted Pease, Editor
Senior News
Humboldt Senior Resource Center
Eureka, California
tpease@humsenior.org
707-443-9747, ext. 1226

A New Year and time for transitions: See the next SENIOR NEWS here:  www.humsenior.org/dmdocuments/SNJanuary17.pdf

Go, Alan

Alan Grau, now 63, crosses the Little River as part of the Ford Hess Trinidad-to-Clam Beach Run in January 2015. He’ll be at it again this year, Jan. 28, for the 30th year.

Christmas Tubas

There is something weirdly inspirational about hearing “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” played by a tuba band. An annual tradition in Eureka, California. Thanks to the oompahs and their dedicated leader, Fred Tempas.

Yikes!

Humboldt Bay Coast Guard "lifeboat" uses last week’s 25-foot waves to “train” in the entrance to Humboldt Bay.

Sailors

Stellaface

Swing Away, Gerry

-->

Now that Gerry’s gone,

there’s a big hole in the road.

Gentle. Gruff. Private. Giving. Gerry went down the road for the last time Saturday.

He knew more about baseball than anyone I’ve known:

records, stats, ERAs, homerun hitters, the Indians’ 1958 numbers.

So it’s no surprise that he beat cancer for four years.

He knew the odds.

Until a couple of weeks ago, when the odds caught up with him.

When I saw him yesterday, he grasped my hand and said, “Thank you, Ted.”

He didn’t know that the Cubs and Indians were tied up.
And he gave me his brand new Red Sox cap.

That’s when I knew he was going.

Gerry died overnight, not knowing how the World Series

or the presidential election would turn out.

And he headed down the road.

Swing away, Gerry.

Wet Stella

Throw my stick again, Dad.

Cool Doggy

This guy was outside the Humboldt Senior Resource Center a couple of weeks ago. He is “Trainwreck,” although his human, a homeless guy in a wheelchair, wouldn’t tell me the back story, or why the dog was wearing shades.

Shorty

Andi “Shorty” Resendez, 81, is part of the Alzheimer’s program at Humboldt Senior Resource Center, and was my contribution to a photo show documenting “The Longest Day” — Summer Solstice 2016.

Foggy Head

I find I have foggy head a lot more often.

Sunset Tree

Above the Trinidad Bluff. Not so bad.

Take a Breath

The Trinity Catholic Church in Trinidad is a lovely thing, whatever your beliefs.

Hitchhiker

Got fish?

Fish Tacos

Steve outfished the hell out of me today. Who knew an Ohio flatlander could do that. Of course, almost anyone can......

Beachscape