Whats life in California like?

[stasis]

Remarkable field of stars on the first night of the best mini-season in NorCal 0n the Coast. Offshore winds - smooth ocean surface, waves to the horizon. Beyond Gorgeous. The Few Weeks each Year that Surfers (and all other residents) live for.

Beauty and NO Fast pace here where I reside. It's Rough and Rugged sometimes as it IS the WIld West, but mellow in terms of Speed-of-life compared to even quieter suburbs in the Bay Area, and a lot better up here than it was a few years ago. Although the "Locals Only" Vibe is still firmly entrenched, and always will be, things are more interesting nowadays..
I have spent my time up here (8+ years and 20+ in CA in total), and this part of Norcal is starting to feel like a real nice home. Couple years in the Midwest will do that to ya.. haha. Can you say Gratitude..? I sure can. But it all comes at a cost in many ways...
In this - one of the outposts of the Emerald, there is still only rare desirable nightlife other than what one can make happen, and the aforementioned Breathtaking Starfield, screeching Owls and Meteors..

Just returned from a Day Trip to SF and it was Clusterfuck as usual. But I love it. Was there "On Work," driving up and down the extreme hills in the Nob Hill area with a Clutch .... That'll get yr' heart beating at those stopsigns or lights when you are stopped looking straight uphill, and the light turns green..! A Cabbie behind you is right on your back bumper, no room for error.

The Drive back this AM (beating any traffic) was Glorious.. All the wineries on 101.. The Few miles between Hopland and Ukiah WOW... Between Ukiah and Willits, same.. That rockwall with the River below it is my favorite view on an amazing stretch of pavement.
The Dry Hills - treed and lovely in the early morning light.

I look forward to a week or three centered on a few Music Events in SF, as well as a trip to Yosemite after the Harvest. I drive a car that gets 45 mpg, with tons of Music and a good stereo. So its' all pleasure. Maybe Tahoe for Boarding, and a couple Surf Safaris as well. In how many States can One Surf in the AM and Board in the afternoon/evening.. ??? I think the Waves are going to be great this Fall..

Gonna Veto the Netherlands plan and save some Dinero. Enjoy SF and NorCal instead...Smoke my Organic Buds and Jelly Hash instead of imported - mine's purer but I miss that Rifman Maroc at Dampkring..The Asian Hashes from Nepal and surrounding areas.. The Stately Dutch Women. Blah Blah.

Since I know my way around the SF Metro, it is mostly fun. But Jeesh, I always forget how hard parking can be. I basically drive to 3 or 4 of my favorite eateries (burrito craving) and wherever I can find a spot, that is where I purchase my Vegetarian Gutbomb......

 

[supermanlives]

well its gonna be smoky and raining melting rubber when that asshole comes back. gonna burn them tires down . then i got aaa and a towtruck if needed to get my new tires that wont leak an go flat.that how we roll in ca. got to pay if ya wannna play here. aint yosemite having a hantavirus outbreak>?

 

[BM-504]

A typical Nor Cal town...lol

Stay safe
Bm

 

[stasis]

Yeah Supes, the Cabins at Curry Village are where it keeps happening.

Haha Funny Cartoon, B... bERZERKELY..........?

 

[SeaMaiden]

The nice cabins at Curry is where all the people who've been infected were staying. Three deaths so far.

I'm not sure which Yosemite vacation I'd like better--the one where someone's idiot brother is swept off Vernal Falls, or the one where another dies of hantavirus.

That cartoon is nothing like where I live now, not a thing like it.

 

[stasis]

Agreed. The Cartoon COULD describe Berkeley, and Maybe Santa Cruz, but certainly not like that in my neck o' da Woods.

Alright about Yosemite..! haha...

It's one of the most amazing places in the USA..! Outside of Summer Tourist Season.

 

[SeaMaiden]

And....! Just saw a black, unmarked chopper heading directly upcountry. Gee, wonder what that could be!

Glacier Point, Tuolomne Meadows, almost everywhere. But, Muir was right, and it has been spoiled, which is why I actually avoid visiting these places as much as I can, because I think I contribute to the problem, not a solution.

 

[catalyte]

that cartoon is funny!!

 

[stasis]

I haven;t been to Yosemite in 20 years. Perhaps I am not aware of the changes. I never stayed in the park because even then it was too busy for me. Stayed outside the actual boundary.....

It is always nice as a Coastal Resident to see the high mountains, I bet some of you Sierra Residents could suggest better areas..?

 

[RetroGrow]

And....! Just saw a black, unmarked chopper heading directly upcountry. Gee, wonder what that could be!

Glacier Point, Tuolomne Meadows, almost everywhere. But, Muir was right, and it has been spoiled, which is why I actually avoid visiting these places as much as I can, because I think I contribute to the problem, not a solution.

And you didn't get your anti-aircraft gun out?

 

[whiteberrieS]

hola yo soy de california

 

[megayields]

Life in the 831 is pretty chill, just waiting for my 60 ladies to finish outdoors ..got another full room running in the basement.....making concentrates and watching football...LOVE Yosemite (grew up in Madera so it's like 30 minutes for the south entrance)....all we do in Cali is just smoke weed all day, ride around in our cool hoopties, listen to music and fuck all day..money just falls into our laps and we NEVER have to work..........(wink)

 

[Hemphrey Bogart]

Hi was just wondering what life was like in California for someone who likes to smoke a bit of weed. It looks like the most beautifu chilled out place in the world. Is is it true most people in California like to smoke pot ? And how do you like to hang out And have fun and stuff and do for jobs and so forth. Cheers.

It's expensive....and crowded (in the urban areas). The flip side is weed is really no big deal out here. It's just crowded as hell. I still have places that I know where I can go where I won't see a soul for days, if not weeks, on end.

Backpacking out here is the best. There is always somewhere to go to get away from the masses, but you either gotta live near there or drive for hours to get there. It's well worth it though.

I surf and snowboard, so there is very little chance I'm going to be leaving anytime soon. I love it so much here, despite all the changes I've seen over the last 30 years or so. I've visited other states and countries, but California is still my favorite place. It's my home and my birthplace, so I'm a bit biased, heh.

I still want to move a bit further south, but I can wait. I'd love to live right north of Santa Cruz or maybe Big Sur, but I still have to get the finances together to buy another house....(sigh). Maybe one of these days I'll hit the lotto or something and I can rent out my current house and buy my dream house down south of here. It doesn't hurt to have dreams, right?

HB.

 

[SeaMaiden]

I haven;t been to Yosemite in 20 years. Perhaps I am not aware of the changes. I never stayed in the park because even then it was too busy for me. Stayed outside the actual boundary.....

It is always nice as a Coastal Resident to see the high mountains, I bet some of you Sierra Residents could suggest better areas..?

Actually, one of the most fun things to do, since we live less than a mile from the California Scenic Byway of Highway 88 (also part of the old Pony Express Trail), what's really fun to do is wait for the national parks to have a free entrance day. THEN, do a ride or a drive over as many Sierra passes as you can squeeze into one day. Our route goes 88 (Carson Spurr and Carson Pass) --> 89 (Monitor Pass, heading east, can cause vertigo if the atmosphere is clear enough) --> 395 --> 120 (I hope that's Tioga Pass, I'm not using the map) OR 108 (Sonora Pass) --> 49 back up to 88 and home. Another FANTASTIC route will take you through Hwy 4 in Calaveras County, where you would go over Ebbetts Pass. Hwy 4 is a beautiful ride and the road is in fantastic condition, nothing like 88.

There are just so many places to explore, and while there are many other places of beauty, Yosemite got the most spectacular, based on what I can see. I mean, one trip you could just follow Mark Twain's route. Another could be an homage to John Muir. Yet another could be the Pony Express Trail, or finding the Donner Party up around Truckee (they found the site several years ago, pretty remarkable).

A lot of folks come up here to pan for gold, too. They'll plan their whole vacation around it.

And you didn't get your anti-aircraft gun out?

No, I have no Auntie Aircraft Gun!

It's all the feds. What I don't get is why they can fly unmarked craft, I thought that was an FAA rule that applied to all except military. Lookit me, goin' an' thinkin'.

 

[toughmudderdave]

Another FANTASTIC route will take you through Hwy 4 in Calaveras County, where you would go over Ebbetts Pass. Hwy 4 is a beautiful ride and the road is in fantastic condition, nothing like 88.

We should take the Goldwing out and do Ebbetts before they close it this year baby. That was a nice ride and the Aspens in the fall should be spectacular.

 

[SeaMaiden]

If you think we can swing it, you're on. I mean I'm on!

 

[stasis]

Cool tips, thanks..!

 

[Dr. Purpur]

Carson Pass 88

Carson Pass 88

Take your backpack next time. Park at the information station at the top of carson Pass. The trail head there will take you all the way to the ocean if you so choose. We pack way up above kirkwood to Fourth of July lake. The fishing is like no other and there are very few people that venture there due to the rough terrain. We usually catch well over 100 beautiful red sided pink meat Brook Trout on a weekend. Your allowed to stay 3 days. You are also allowed to carry a gun, but it must not be concealed. There are bear and mountain lion there, and they do come around. Ive fired warning shots a few times. The water is ice cold. Tastes delicious, and is fun to float on in the middle of summer. Purple black rooster tails are the luhrs you use there.

 

[catalyte]

damn all this California talk in here makes me want to visit to see what its all about out there!!

 

[huligun]

I am going back down in December again. It's the best weed tourist destination on the planet and weed is cheap around Christmas.