A photograph is not merely an impression of light, it is a combination of light and time. We don’t usually think about that as we snap our shutters in fractions of a second. Not much that we can notice changes in a fraction of a second. But when that element of time is extended a […]
Outdoors
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Let’s Hear it for the Redwoods
Humboldt County’s natural beauty is once again garnering attention with the travel guide Frommer’s giving the region’s tall trees a shout-out in a slideshow and National Geographic featuring the short film Redwood about — as you might guess — Redwood National and State Parks on its website. National Geographic’s team, which is curating cinematic fare […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Locals Among the Invaders
Finding myself with an uncommitted day and the Himalaya berries in season, I went blackberry picking along some of my favorite logging roads. I did OK but the best part of the day was wandering through patches of Queen Anne’s lace, cat’s ear, pampas grass, Scotch broom and bird’s foot trefoil. One and all thriving […]
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North Coast Night Lights: South Fork Bridge, July 2018
Built in 1910, this old railroad bridge crosses the Main Fork of the Eel River just upstream of the confluence with the South Fork Eel River. I’m not absolutely certain what to call the bridge, having seen it variously called “South Fork Bridge,” “Dyerville Train Trestle” and “Dyerville Bridge.” It is part of the old […]
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North Coast Night Lights: Trinidad Head Under a Full Moon
Last weekend I had the pleasure of showing off Trinidad and Trinidad Head to an old family friend who was visiting from the prairie. Prairie folks don’t often see the edge of the continent, let alone this coastal gem that we have here on the Humboldt shore. Of course, my idea for a tour around […]
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HumBug: Honeybees are Loveable and Love Plums
Honeybees are everyone’s favorite. After all, they pollinate our crops, make wax and honey, their language is a dance and they are the perfect model of a socialist society. They toil tirelessly gathering nectar and pollen, cleaning and building their home, and tending to the needs of the queen, who in turn produces eggs which […]
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Mill Creek Fire at 74 Percent Containment
The Mill Creek Fire, which has burned nearly 3,700 acres as it enters its second week, is now 74 percent contained. State Route 96 between Weitchpec and Hoopa remains closed to traffic except for escorted trips three times a day, when fire activity allows for safe travel. Meanwhile, air quality is expected to improve in […]
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UPDATE: 6 p.m. Pilot Car Available Today, Travelers Asked to ‘Be on Time’
UPDATE: A pilot car will be available at 6 p.m. today. Those looking to travel the Highway 96 stretch between Weitchpec and Hoopa are asked to: “Be on time and ready to go.” PREVIOUSLY: The Mill Creek Fire interagency management team announced today that the noon pilot car will not be running today between Hoopa […]
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HumBug: A Day for Beetles
Yesterday was a day for beetles. Moving some large pepperwood planks to my garage for curing, I noted several small beetles on the freshly sawn surfaces. One was actively chewing its way into the surface. There are quite a few species of small cylindrical wood boring beetles, many choose a single species of host tree. […]
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Photos from the Lantern Floating Ceremony
The Saturday morning lantern-making workshop on the Arcata Plaza was busy with people of all ages making lanterns with personalized remembrances or social commentary for that evening’s 36th annual Lantern Floating Ceremony at Klopp Lake in the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lantern Floating Ceremony is based on the Japanese Obon tradition of honoring […]
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HumBug: A Mixed Bag of Beauties
It’s getting late in the season, the time when all the insects that overwintered as eggs have hatched, grown through their larval stages and are now wearing their adult colors. There were quite a few of one my favorite late season butterflies out today. A fritillary (genus Speyeria) was nectaring on thistle blossoms. I looked […]
