We had to check out by 11:00 am, so it was "bye-bye" to the cabin for us and back to the road. The two nights we got to spend in the cabin spoiled me (Aysha) a bit. A bed, a shower . . . ahh, I could live there forever, but I had to mentally gear myself up for the road life (a showerless life mind you) ahead.
It was yet another rainy day. Rainy days seemed to follow us like a lost puppy as we've been making our way down the coastline. It's not that rain is so bad, but when you want to get out of the car and do things, it's not too fun.
David has always wanted to see this little hippy college town, Arcata. It happened to be right on our way, so we drove through it to check it out. This town definitely had its own unique flavor. Lots of dreads and Birkenstocks. Not surprisingly the health food store we stopped at was bustling full of people. Just for the sake of saying we've "been there, done that," we got ourselves a slice of gingerbread cake and a cookie. There's something about eating in a place that makes you feel like you participated in it, for me anyway.
Right as night was hitting, we scooted into the Loletta Cheese Factory. It just wouldn't be a full cheese factory experience without trying all the samples, and boy, did they have some good ones! Their cheeses were the regulars we all recognize (Cheddar, Monteray, Havarti . . . ), but they flared them up with creative mix-ins such as Chipotle, Habenarro, and Garden Spice. We picked up a few from the discount bin (Salmon Cheddar, Dill Havarti, and Smoked Cheddar).
By the end of the day we were ready for bed. The best place we could find to park for the night was this blustery, windy, rainy gas station out in the middle of nowhere. The windy gusts of rain were so strong that you'd think Katrina was coming. `As we got nestled into bed, we noticed some suspicious activity going on around the buildings of the gas station. Cars were coming and going from a single lighted hallway of the darkened building. Shades were drawn on the windows so no one could see in. People would leave their motors running as another would emerge from the hallway to join them in their car only to sequel off like they were from the Dukes of Hazards. We were sure we had just discovered a prostitution ring. David got out his binoculars so we could get a better look at the people in their dirty business. Before long, nature called and I couldn't hold it any longer. I had to find a bathroom and the only option was somewhere around the building where all the prostitution was happening. This was my only choice, so I steeled my gaze, stepped out of the car into torrential windy rain and scurried over to find my bathroom. I decided to be brave and check out that lighted hallway. What did I find . . . one door read "MEN" and another read "WOMEN"
. . . that's right, we had discovered the gas station bathrooms! It's an odd, unsettling feeling to know that you were spying on people going to use the bathroom.
