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September 15, 2006
ARCATA, CALIFORNIA  A couple days later after the redwood stump scene.  I continued on to Trinidad, the North Coast of California, checking out the sitka spruce trees knocked over by the  New Years Day Storm.   
    I met up with the owner of the property.  We looked at it the downed trees and discussed a plan of action.  I was interested in carving giant totem poles and doing eco art projects.  Also, to mill up some of the wood with an Alaskan mill.  So I suggested we go check out Almquist lumber.  Lots of wood to deal with.
    While scoping the diasaster, a neighbor stopped by, he said "what are you folks up too?  Mark, the partner of the property owner mentioned, he was going to make giant beams and I was going to carve giant totem poles, the neighbor got out of his car.  Mark mentioned I wrote a book, the neighbor bought one, he said he wrote a book too, Revolution and World Peace.  Turns out he really did, check out more about Ralph and his new book  Revolution and World Peace.    

    I went to Almquist Lumber with the property owner to hear what they thought of the Sitka Spruce.  The guy working at the counter said we needed to talk to Eric.   I didn't think Eric would be very encouraging. But Almquist used exposed beams of sitka in their new building.  The sitka was salvaged from that big storm.  I pointed out to Eric in my book,  the carving of my feminine is made of Sitka.  He liked the book, bought ten.  Later in the conversation he asked if I would be interested in carving at his grand opening.  Almquist Lumber seems a lumber company with  "green" building ideas in mind,  I said "Why not."


    I carved two salmon in salvaged maple at the grand opening, donating the carving for a raffle to benefit the North Coast Enviromental Center.  Almquist matched raffled funds.
Photo by Harvey of Trinidad
    North Coast Enviromental Center was started by Tim Mckay, a giant of a man, who unfortunately had a massive heart attacked and passed away. 
    I chose the subject matter of salmon because of the fight Tim put up to save the Klamath river, it seemed the right carving.