Franklin Street Neon

I know this neon thing might be getting to be a bit much but I’m almost done. There really isn’t all that much neon in Fort Bragg compared with most cites and strip-malls. This is what I found walking north on Franklin Street at 6:00 in the morning. The above neon is at:

Canclini (appliances)

American Home Store

Coast Cinema

Mendo Litho

Purity Stores

Tip Top Lounge

Tomorrow, the Neon of Noyo

More Neon

I got to thinking I had one of the neon signs wrong so this morning I revisited Main Street. Sure enough the Kirin n Sushi sign hangs in "Taka’s Japanese Grill" window, not “Kirin n Sushi”.

While on Main Street I decided to photograph all the ones I missed starting at the north end….

North Coast Brewing Co.

Another, Triangle Tattoo, sign

Nueva Loncheria Tapatia

Coast Copying & Shipping

Redwood Liquors Ocean Breeze Lodge

Ebb Tide Lodge

Quality Inn & Suites Tradewinds

And at the south end, just before the Noyo Bridge

Harbor Lite Lodge.

Tomorrow I will photograph the neon on Franklin!

Main Street Neon

Jen of Walking Berkeley recently had a blog about Why People Walk.

Among the various reasons mentioned she listed something called a “psychographic walk” where the walker does not generally have a planned route, the walker might follow something that interests them: a sight, a smell, a sound.”

Well kids, what grabbed me this morning was Neon!

My starting point was the Laurel Restaurant Bakery and Espresso (above photo). Then South on Main Street.

Triangle Tattoo and Museum.

Mendocino Cookie Company

Living Light Center

Mendo Bistro

Cowlicks Handmade Ice Cream

Kerin n Sushi

Fort Bragg Cyclery

Cats and Dogs

I hit the road at 6:30 this morning. What a difference half an hour makes. At 7:00 there is a hint of sunrise but at 6:30 forget it. But the up side was, there is hardly any traffic, just the Tuesday garbage collection trucks scurrying around and the news paper deliver guys.
I was figuring on just a walk for the exercise but a couple of items caught my attention. First this anti-cat bumpersticker. I wonder if cats or cat lovers are trying to peel this bumper sticker off.
And then I spotted this anti-dog-poop sign. Or maybe they don’t like three legged dogs. Anyway, for some reason today seems to be an animal theme day. Even Suzanne who writes the CatronCountyWalk blog was on a cat and eagle roll today!

North McPherson Street

I got a question. What were these two “steps” for? They are set into the curb between the street and the sidewalk. I have not seen any other steps like these around town. Just these two and both on the same block (East side of McPherson, half way between Redwood Ave. and Alder St.). Whatever they were for, those building are long gone and have been replace by a couple of houses. Any ideas?

On the same block (at the north end) there are TWO horse and buggy tie down rings. Not one as I had originally thought. Both located in the handicap zone so both are painted blue!
I walked out the popular Ten Mile Haul Road walking trail this morning to the Virgin Creek bridge and back. 4.25 mile round trip from our house. I see they are re-doing or adding some pipes beside the Virgin Creek bridge.

I spotted these folks enjoying the ocean and the spectacular weather we have had lately even though it is in the 30s when I start walking at 7:00 AM.

Mixed Bag

Voila! The map is back! I stopped by the new "Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery" in the southeast corner of the Company Store and asked about the possibility of putting it back up and, bingo! There she be! At least for now. The new Guild and Gallery may have the right to use that wall as part of their display area but, for now, the map is back. Stop by the new gallery and check out their excellent photos, then thank them for leaving the map up.
While attending to the Map business I happened upon these ladies in front of Town Hall (southwest corner of West Laurel and Main). I like a town where people are willing to stand up and protest about things they don’t like.
Returning home I saw that Understuff, (between Redwood and Laurel, east side of Franklin), is having a 25% off sale. Looked more like 100% to me but what do I know!
During this morning walk, (out Oak Street almost to Jewett St, north side), I saw my first cluster of blooming Narcissus. Yippee!!Heading south on Dana I discovered a group of trucks and men working. I had seen them various places around town but this was the first time I stopped and asked what they were doing. Turns out they are re-lining the storm drains. When I got home I Googled them.

http://www.insituform.com/content/342/about_insituform_cipp.aspx

And finally…..
An old timer told me the reason there are so many Robins around is because the Italian women are no longer offering twenty-five cents apiece for them. According to him they used to make Robin Breast Polenta! Could this be true?

Catching Up

I had a nice walk this morning. Truth be told I have walked every morning since our return from Seattle the 12th of January and I’m feeling pretty dang good about getting back into my routine.
This old map (1915) used to hang inside the Company Store and I liked to check it now and then when trying to figure things out. Suddenly it went missing (last December, maybe November). Today I checked to see if it had returned to its place of honor but no, it was tucked off in a corner leaning against a wall. I’m going to see if I can get it hung back up.
The Stewart House, circa 1876, is located at the beginning of Stewart Street (Stewart and Pine) just north of the Skunk Train Depot yard. Stewart street runs north past Rossi’s Hardware, through the Glass Beach Development, turns west and ends at Glass Beach Drive. I wonder who the Stewarts were.
And I talked to one of the guys working on the Pudding Creek Trestle. He was very frustrated with all the problems and setbacks. The pilings at the north end were removed because they were thought to be 80 percent rotten; according to him, they weren’t. And now they can’t put in new pilings. Inspectors from Sacramento are hard to get. Sunny weather is now and they should be pouring concrete but no. When they finally get the go ahead the rainy season will be upon us. I have no idea how much of this conversation is accurate but I could sure tell the frustration level is high. This bridge, which will be part of the coastal trail, was supposed to be done last July. Now they are estimating next September!