Hales Grove Adventure

The adventure has really started now. After leaving Eureka on monday morning, we drove for a while and we picked up Larry. Larry was walking down the Highway with an empty gas tank. Larry had lost his money at the casinos and then had run out of gas trying to get home. We gave him a ride to the nearest town, which was 3 miles away, and drove him back to his truck. Larry said that we restored his faith in humanity.

We drove for a few hours and we were headed for hwy 101 along the California coast. What we didn't know was that we had to drive over a very steep and windy road. At the begining of the climb we picked up Janet. She was shopping in Leggett and needed a ride over the mountain to her house in Hales Grove. You won't find Hales Grove on the map because the population is only 8 people. We drove up the windy road at 10 km/hr and we had to stop 4 times as the engine was overheating. Climbing the hill took nearly 1 hour. Going down the hill went a lot better and as we were turning into Janet's the driveway the van jolted and a loud crack was heard. The van was not moving anymore and when we got out to look underneath we saw the large hunk of steel that was apparently the driveshaft, hanging unusually low.

Undaunted but somewhat shaken, we asked Janet if we could use her phone. She told us that there "ain't phone lines in Hales Grove", but she said that Jimbo (her neighbor) had a cellphone and if we could get back to the top of the hill, we might get some reception. After Janet put her groceries in her house, we walked over to Jimbo's house. Jimbo was very friendly and agreed to lend me his cellphone and give me a ride back to the top of the moutain (Elevetion was approx. 500 meters). When we arrived at the top of the mountain, Jimbo jumped out of the truck and told me that I should be able to get reception here. That is when I said, "I don't have a cellphone, don't you?". He replied, " I didn't bring my phone either", in a very matter of fact manner, and he quickly continued in nearly the same breath, "I guess we're going to Leggett".

Meanwhile, back at the van Janet had invited Emilie into her house to choose a pair of homemade beaded earings in thanks for the lift over the mountain. Janet took care of 10 cats and 2 dogs. Let it be said that the home had a certain odor. Emilie and the kids were surving Janet's unique brand of hospitality and was keeping a eye for Me

The only payphone in Leggett is in disrepair and the AAA associate asked me to phone back on a land line as my "cellphone coverage was very poor". I knew as soon as I began to explain to him where I was that there would be problems. The conversation went something like this,

"Where are you sir?"

"I am broke down in Hales Grove, California, I have two..."

"Where?"

"It's on mile marker 96.3 on Hwy 1, we were heading southbound."

"Is it close to anything?"

"I am calling from Leggett, its about 9 miles to the north of where we are."

"I see. Can I call you back at this number?"

"No, this is a payphone.."

"Really?!, you are very crackly, I can barely hear you!. What number can I call you back on?"

"You can't call me back. There are no phones in Hales Grove and cellphones don't work."

(I hear crackly laughter on the other end of the phone.)

"I have two children, there are four of us."

"Ok sir, I will send a truck to Hales Grove. It should be there in about 45 minutes. Try to keep an eye out for the tow truck."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Ok....?"

"Have a good day sir."

Well Jimbo and I zoomed back over the hill I quickly told Emilie the news.

To be continued....