I'm back at the Townhouse. I drove in from Alderpoint today. The road over the mountains is bordered by incredible floral displays.



But, I'm here for business. I was in court for not less than 15 seconds today and that completed my appearances. I picked up some evidence photos for tomorrow, got some boxes to store old files in, and some ink to print out photos to surprize the DA with tomorrow but mostly I drove a long time for a short, but important, time in court.

Walked Eureka with my camera on the way to the Ritz for dinner. Eureka is notable for its murals, but this one on the back of the Arkley Center is really extraordinary.



I wore my good suede coat from Buenos Aires to dinner. I was hesitant to wear it since its so nice, but my sweetie says it was a waste to buy it if I'm not going to wear it. So here it is (and me inside it, at the Ritz)



And here is the main course for dinner. Chicken, onions and eggs on rice, with a nice Syrah to wash it all down. Yum.

I'm hear briefly now. My scheduled trial settled with a mutually pleasing misdemeanor replacing those harsh felonies, and so I do a preliminary hearing in the morning and its home sweet home again for me.



Meanwhile I'm at the Townhouse, which faithful readers will know, is my favorite stopping place in Eureka. Not only is it inexpensive, and very close to the courthouse -especially now that only the 4th street entrance is open - but its got all the pleasures of home. Fridge, microwave, wired and wireless internet, big TV. I often stay in the suites upstairs rear, which have back bedrooms with nice big windows and views of old town and far away, the water. They've still got a ground level open garage space which once invited wanderers to stop for a philosphic talk, often at the top of their lungs. Now they've got 24 hour video surveillance of the public areas and things are more peaceful. Nice people running the place too.

Needed: Better fax reception for the business traveller.

Ate at the Ritz, which is therefore open Monday nights. Katzu Udon, as usual, with a prosecco and a syrah to go with it. Met someone I knew there, which occurs about half the time, and is always a pleasure. My assistant, who is home with GTA IV (35 hours logged in as of this morning) likes the sushi, but I'm a fan of dishes.

Now, alas, to work. See you later.

Got some at home or nearby pix today. Mary Alice has been working on our backyard area. Our house sits against a hillside, and the original builders made a large stone wall to hold it up. Mary Alice put in a fountain and some flowers.



And the beauties along the roadside continue. The poppy is our state flower. It comes in two shades



I prefer the darker orange



At Arts Alive in Garberville last weekend I saw a painting (or photograph) taken on the Alderpoint Road which I really liked. It was a view that I know, but never looked at in isolation. The road goes from Garberville to Alderpoint over a 2500 foot saddle, and the scenery can be quite spectacular. I took this shot from the top of the switchbacks about 2 miles from Garberville.



That rock just right of center at the bottom is "Dynamite rock". There's quite a story about that rock. Remind me to tell you sometime.

Remember last February when I went to Crescent City and saw the Elk herd on the way back? If not, you can go back a few pages in the blog and read all about it. I went back there yesterday for the same case. Stayed at the Anchor again, and liked it again. The courthouse was like old home week. There was Bill Cater, who is a regular there now, and Jeff Schwartz from Arcata. We could have had a North Coast Bar Association meeting. The DA dismissed the charges against my client and to celebrate we went to Dennys. Got a BLT, and hit the road. Back to Eureka for a 2pm hearing.

One of the highlights of a trip to Crescent City is the coastline. There are several viewpoints set up by US 101 with great sights. Here's a photo from one of them on an earlier trip.



I thought this would wrap up my Crescent City visits for awhile. But this morning lo and behold a new Crescent City client called and retained me, so look for some good ocean shots as the year goes on.

As you motor down life's road, pull over from time to time to photograph the flowers. That's my advice. The Alderpoint road goes up about 2000' so the flowers tend to move up the mountain over time as each microclimate adjusts to the light and temperature. I found these:



by the roadside, growing on a kind of cliff face of soil. There were a lot of them.