On the Flip Side–The Beauty of the Save the Richardsons Grove Protestors.

This photo touched my heart when I saw it.  It presented both sides of a very complex issue.  Here are those of us who care deeply about the trees and fear that we might harm them in our zeal to march forward into the future and yet here is also represented those of us who are trying to make life safer and more sensible now. Notice the big truck is indeed going over the yellow line. This photo may have been intended as propaganda (in the best sense) but it is truly art because it speaks to all sides of an issue. It was created by Jack Gescheidt as part of his exquisite Tree Spirit Project (Please take a moment to go to the site.  These photos grasp my soul.)

Currently, about 120 people are protesting inside and out at the CalTrans lobby on Wabash in Eureka.

They are chanting “On Demand, Stop the plan” according to one observer.  I may agree with CalTrans on this issue but my Humboldt heart is a little enchanted by the beauty of folk standing up for what they believe.

Photo from an anonymous source inside CalTrans.

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Marleeo
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Marleeo
13 years ago

I love this photo! And the rest of the pics on his Tree Spirit Project.
Part of the reason it is still beautiful where you live is because of the difficulty of access. Every beautiful place I’ve ever lived has been visually, spiritually, and socially devalued by “access projects”. Northern NM has been littered with new vacation homes and “developments”. Over 53% of the homes in Taos County are now only lived in 2 weeks a year or less. Western Montana, same case. I have to stand firm with those who oppose the project. The magic of winding through those trees transports you into another dimension – The Humboldt Scene. There is a price to be paid for beauty. To have to slow down seems a very small price to pay for the lifestyle you get to lead up there.

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Dave
Guest
Dave
13 years ago

I admire how equal-handed you are Kym.

You appear to be caught between two different worlds. Your ability to always see the other side speaks very well of you. I wish more people were so open to listening and respecting those with different opinions.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Dave

I try not to shy away from naming problems but I never want to call names or demonize those who have another point of view. That is why I think that the tank image is wrong and, after second thoughts, wish that I hadn’t gone with the hyperbole of Humboldt Hate in the title of the post I wrote before this one.

Dave
Guest
Dave
13 years ago

I admire how equal-handed you are Kym.

You appear to be caught between two different worlds. Your ability to always see the other side speaks very well of you. I wish more people were so open to listening and respecting those with different opinions.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Dave

I try not to shy away from naming problems but I never want to call names or demonize those who have another point of view. That is why I think that the tank image is wrong and, after second thoughts, wish that I hadn’t gone with the hyperbole of Humboldt Hate in the title of the post I wrote before this one.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

MarleeO,

If slowing down were the only problem, we could probably all do that. But the problem is that the long trailers on STAA trucks cross over the yellow line because of the sharpish curves in the Grove. No matter how slow they go, as a matter of physics, they go right over the lines and into oncoming traffic. Notice the photo above. That truck, which isn’t to the best of my knowledge, STAA but merely a normal truck, has trouble negotiating the curves.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Note. CalTrans isn’t talking about building an interstate freeway here but merely making it safer for longer more modern, more environmentally sound trucks to come from the South Currently, there is already this access from the Northern half of Humboldt.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

MarleeO,

If slowing down were the only problem, we could probably all do that. But the problem is that the long trailers on STAA trucks cross over the yellow line because of the sharpish curves in the Grove. No matter how slow they go, as a matter of physics, they go right over the lines and into oncoming traffic. Notice the photo above. That truck, which isn’t to the best of my knowledge, STAA but merely a normal truck, has trouble negotiating the curves.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Note. CalTrans isn’t talking about building an interstate freeway here but merely making it safer for longer more modern, more environmentally sound trucks to come from the South Currently, there is already this access from the Northern half of Humboldt.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Yours truly was there– and filed his inital observations at:

The Humboldt Herald here

and part II of the report being here .

Thanks, Kym.
peace… skips

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

I highly recommend Skippy’s links. They are clear, unbiased and detailed.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Yours truly was there– and filed his inital observations at:

The Humboldt Herald here

and part II of the report being here .

Thanks, Kym.
peace… skips

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

I highly recommend Skippy’s links. They are clear, unbiased and detailed.

Jack Durham
Guest
13 years ago

As a bicyclist, I support the widening. It will make it safer. As an environmentalist, I have no reason to oppose this. No old growth will be harmed.

Jack Durham
Guest
13 years ago

As a bicyclist, I support the widening. It will make it safer. As an environmentalist, I have no reason to oppose this. No old growth will be harmed.