Saturday, July 17, 1971

In 1971, my parents and I took a car trip through the Pacific Northwest. My older sisters stayed at home. Following are some letters my mom and dad wrote to them.

[written by Jean]

9:30 pm Saturday July 17, 1971

Dear Muriel and Palma

It’s been a full day and very enjoyable. We left home about 9:15 arriving in Petaluma about an hour later. Conversation came first and we caught up on what’s been happening. Tillie is new AAUW president. Ervand has a quarter to go before getting his BA in Geography at UC-SB. Elva will return to Santa Rosa J.C. Laurel thinks you’d find Ervand interesting — we liked him.

Then on up north until Ukiah, where we stopped in the city park we’ve been to several times. Laurel remembered the rocket cage with the ladder and pole. Our sandwiches tasted good. It was quite warm for us.

On north until Phillipsville where we left the freeway and drove the length of “The Avenue of the Giants.” We made one stop where we took a 15 minute walk on a loop trail through the “forest” above the Eel River. When we went through Weott we saw poles showing where the ’64 flood level was — it was really fantastic. About Scotia we ran into fog and just south of Eureka we made a tourist stop — Fort Humboldt. We were surprised at what we found. It was a display of pictures in the early days of logging in the area about 1850. The Fort is only a name but it is the one U.S. Grant commanded at one time.

There were 2 examples of “donkey engines” used to move the logs when steam replaced mules & oxen. When we reached the second one which is huge we overheard a couple and their daughter talking. This huge “donkey engine” had been operated bu the man during the war (W.W.II) at an operation just south at Elk Creek. It was then moved north to Orrick before being given to the state and brought to Fort Humboldt. He said it had been dismantled to move — it’s bolted to a huge log or sledge.

It was after 6 and we were headed for a motel north of Eureka. We ended up 4 miles north of Trinidad. We’re right above the ocean although when we arrived we couldn’t see it. After supper we walked down a trail with fern growing high overhead to a lookout. It was too dark to continue. We will try to walk down tomorrow morning.

A restaurant was recommended down the road. When we read the prices on the menu we almost dropped our teeth. The highest item was $8 [$47 in 2015 dollars]. But with Laurel on a children’s dinner and Carl and I ordered a la carte and the bill was $10. It was delicious in season salmon.

Our love,

All 3