Blue Lake

West End Road, from Arcata to Blue Lake, is where you want to be when the North wind whips in from the Pacific. I headed due east.

Nothing remarkable happened on the way. These guys seemed to like it that way.

Blue Lake doesn't have a lake, just a river, The Mad. It got its name when a lost party of explorers ended up on the wrong side of the river for the 411th time. Then they got into a screaming argument about all the gold they didn't find. Note the foothills of the Trinity Alps in the background. Bring your gold pan.

Thanks to the anonymous (by request) friend who took these luminous photos.