A New Hawk Joins the Nest!

North Coast Roadtrip travelog #3
Leggett, CA - Sat, 27 Mar 2021. 10am.

When we stopped at a roadside convenience store outside tiny Leggett, CA, for snacks this morning we found something unexpected: a new hawk!



Yes, in this historic old house in the middle of nowhere, tucked between the touristy bigfoot paraphernalia, fresh baked cookies and brownies, and racks cheap fake jewelry, was a stuffed hawk of a model we haven't seen before.

It turns out this hawk is an updated pattern of a toy we already have. Both are made by Wild Republic. ...At least, we're presuming the new pattern has replaced the old, as it seems unlikely the manufacturer would make two different kinds of red-tailed hawk. Curiously this model doesn't come with the informative and slightly amusing back-story of the older one.




We still own the older pattern of Wild Republic's hawk. We bought several of them years ago. 😂 Here's the new hawk, which we named "Peg" (we bought her at the Peg House) socializing with "Winter" in the car as we get back on the road.

Wildlife Sighting: Ignoramus Americanus

North Coast Roadtrip travelog #4
Crescent City, CA - Sat, 27 Mar 2021. 9:30pm.

As we've headed further north in California today, intelligence and responsibility have headed south.

Friday evening we left the SF Bay Area, where mask compliance is nearly 100%. When we stopped overnight in Ukiah, 110 miles north of San Francisco, mask compliance was down to 50%. Mind you, this is not a local-laws thing. The mask mandate is state law, and county law, and store/hotel policy. It's literally posted everywhere on signs— and has been for literally a year plus— so the argument "Oh, I forgot" holds zero credibility.

When we went hiking today in two state parks compliance was around 10%. Again, "I didn't know" is not an excuse. Neither is "But we're outdoors, it's not required." Signs posted at the parks, and clear printing on the permits required, reminded people that masks are required when within 6' of others. On even somewhat-busy trails you've got to have a mask for when 6' distancing is not possible.

At one of the parks there was a "wildlife sightings" kiosk for visitors to record their experiences on the trail. Today we saw plenty of Ignoramus Americanus, I quipped to Hawk.

Tonight in Crescent City mask wearing is like a joke. Immediately inside the hotel lobby where 6 or 7 guests, none of them wearing masks. One eyed us, wearing our masks, suspiciously— as if we represented a threat to him. Over at the front desk, beneath a sign in large print "Staff must wear masks at all times", the manager came out of the office and hurriedly put on his mask to check us in. Elsewhere in the hotel— which I believe is full for the night— barely any guests wore masks in common areas.

Altogether this is sadly reminding me of what I concluded after our driving vacation in September: no matter how many steps you take to lower risk yourself (we took several this trip), traveling anywhere is inherently risky based on stupid, irresponsible people being there.