Don’t think The Idiot stays inside when there’s blustery, squally, tempestuous and torrential weather on the Pacific Ocean near Trinidad, California. But he does modify his approach to walking when challenged by Humboldt County’s inclement and wild weather.
To kick things off he admires and appreciates the changing vistas, varying conditions and lower temperatures caused by a cloudy, windy, stormy day just before the Ides of March.
The Idiot’s obscured view of orca-shaped Trinidad Head from his Pacific Ocean basecamp above Luffenholtz Beach south of Trinidad, CA.
The changing vista of the Pacific Ocean and Trinidad Head as The Idiot and partner Liz Chapin descend to Luffenholtz Beach.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
Luffentholtz Beach at dawn on a gusty, wavy March 13 Sunday.
On a day like this The Idiot finds somewhat legitimate excuses to avoid getting too wet on an oceanside trail outing.
First The Idiot spends a lot of time reading and interpreting educational signage about this part of Humboldt County.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
Then he takes pictures of people taking pictures of the Pacific Ocean and lets people taking pictures of the Pacific Ocean take pictures of him taking pictures of the Pacific Ocean.
The Idiot takes a photo of partner Liz Chapin taking a photo of Trinidad Head.
The Idiot gets another angle on Trinidad Head as he approaches the slippy, treacherous path down the hill to Luffenholtz Beach.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
And, of course, challenging weather creates a great day for selfies and a much-needed coffee break in Trinidad, the Idiot’s fourth favorite city in California that is two miles north of The Idiot’s basecamp.
A breezy selfie at the start of another day on the Pacific Ocean trail.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
Getting out of the incessant rain with a chai and wi-fi at The Beachcomber Cafe in Trinidad, CA.
Posing for an auto selfie after giving up their wet oceanside walk and taking a drive south along the Pacific Ocean to hot tubs in Arcata.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
All weather conditions are, of course, impermanent and The Idiot finds a rainbow, and the end of a rainbow, after driving three hours across the Trinity Alps and arriving at Whiskeytown Lake west of Redding, CA, late on Sunday afternoon.
A rainbow appears through a rain-spotted windshield near the end of a three-hour drive across the Trinity Alps from Trinidad to Redding, CA.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
The idiot’s last stroll of the day takes him to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at Whiskeytown Lake west of Redding, CA.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)
About Joel
Joel Stratte-McClure has been a global trekker since the 1970s. He lived in France for over 30 years, working as a journalist, before he turned his attention to a unique life-time-project of walking the shores of the Mediterranean. The first 4,401 kilometers are explored in his inspirational and entertaining first book "The Idiot and the Odyssey: Walking the Mediterranean." The next 4,401 kilometers are covered in the gods-filled sequel, "The Idiot and the Odyssey II: Myth, Madness and Magic on the Mediterranean,” published on Valentine's Day 2013. The last 4,401 kilometers will be discussed in the last book of the trilogy currently entitled "The Idiot and the Odyssey III: Alexander the Great Walks the Mediterranean."