TOUCHING THE EAGLES

Meet Miss A.T. & T.
In the morning I found a campsite, shaved, showered and cleaned up and went to the truckers restaurant in Ukiah for breakfast.

While having breaklfast Intalked to several truckers and the waitress on duty. I then left and got back into my car.

"Go back and ask the waitress if she knows the meaning of the name Ukiah." I was told.

I went back in and asked the waitress. Sher did not know and suggested I see Ann, another waitress who was off duty. Ann was having coffee so I sat down with her and a trucker and had coffee and conversation. Ann did not know.

The guides informed me that Ann was my main contact in Ukiah. I talked with her for ninety minutes before she went on duty.

Ann jokingly referred to herself as Miss A.T.& T. because she spent a lot of time on the telephone, either receiving calls from friends or calling them.

Ann, age thirty-nine, was separated and had two sons and one daughter. She had worked at the restaurant for four years after coming out west from Chicago five years ago. Ann's sister lived here and she came for a visit and has stayed ever since.

Ann mentioned that she was the third waitress to go on duty that day. She told me, "I like it here in Ukiah. It is very friendly here. I have too much gypsy in my blood and I have to keep moving."

While in the restaurant I also talked to Brian, a thirty-five year old truck driver who hauled lumber in Northern California. From New York originally, he had been out here for nine years.

Three at Lake Mendocino
Brian gave ne instructions to get to Lake Mendocino so I took a drive out there and arrived at 12:25 P.M.

"Be ready again for another contact at 12:33", the guides informed me.

Glancing at the kilometers again I was surprised to read the number 36966 which to me was confirmation that I was in the right place for another exciting contact.

At precisely 12:33 a young fellow with one leg in a cast came by and initiated the conversation.

"You shouldn't be sitting in that hot car. You should get out and walk around," he said to me with a smile.

Agreeing with him, I asked, "What happened to your leg?"

He replied, "I was hydro-gliding on the water with a pretty girl and I was rather showing off and her board hit mine."

He identified himself as Luther and as we were talking two of his friends came along and joined in the conversation. Luther and his friend Rick were both eighteen and his other friend Stacey was nineteen. They were with a family gathering of twelve people who come here to Lake Mendocino from Petaluma for two weeks every years. They were three very pleasant and polite young fellows and I thoroughly enjoyed their enthusiasm for enjoyment and fun in life.

I drove back into Ukiah and down the main street. I was guided to go into the Bible House to purchase a small pocket size New Testament. While talking to the saleslady I asked if she knew what the name Ukiah meant.

She replied. "Why, of course, it's and old Indian name and it means Deep Valley."

"A perfect pocket area", I heard the guides say.

Call of the Ocean
I went back to the restaurant for a light lunch and informed Ann that Ukiah meant Deep Valley. Then I sat in my car awaiting further instructions.

"Go to the ocean," I was told.

Thinking that I had finished my contacts in Ukiah I thought that I would enjoy being by the ocean again. I longed to see one of those beautiful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. I checked the map and decided to take the Orr Springs Road for the fifty mile trip to the ocean. I was aware that this road would take me through Richard's valley and I was eager to visit there.

It was 1:33 P.M. when I left Ukiah.

A Soaring Eagle is Seen
Setting my odometer I started out toward the Pacific Ocean. I travelled a distamce of thirty-six kilometers before I stopped on a hill overlooking a beautiful and peaceful valley. I noticed a farmyard and a house below eye level in the valley. Looking around I saw the shadow of a large bird moving along the ground. I looked up to see an eagle soaring above me over the valley. He flew in a cicle and perched on the limb on a large spruce tree which was higher on another hill. As I glanced up at the eagle he appeared to be looking right at me. He then flew the same route three times in a circle flying right over me and landing on the same branch of the tree.

Upon arriving at the very top of the mountain I was on a ridge with pockets of valleys to th east and west. The reading on my car was now at 36996 kilometers.

Travelling on a little further I came to the beginning of the tall redwood trees and up another mountain. At 2:33 P.M. I arrived at the top of the last mountain.

Another nine kilometers brought me to a tree house which was built into the bottom of the stump of hugh cedar tree. I assumed this was Richard's home but there was no one around to confirm this.

Osprey and Golden Eagles Over the Pacific
At 3:33 .M. I had driven a distance of 99.3 kilometers and according to a roadside sign I was 3.6 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

I finally arrived at the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino and went right to the ocean and walked for awhile on the sandy beach. Then I sat down on the sand, relaxed for awhile and asked the guides for instructions.

The voices continued. "Go north and pick up a female hitchhiking at 4:33", I was told.

Driving north I was delayed twice by taking off roads which I was guided to take. It was almost as though someone else had control of the car. These delays allowed me to arrive at the right spot on the highway to meet the hitchhiker at exactly 4:33. The only problem was that I was travelling north and she was going in the opposite direction.

"Turn around and pick her up." I was told.

Carol had not hitchhiked for five years. Her car had broken down and she was returning home to the nearby town of Elk.

After comparing interests I learned that Carol also had an affinity to the number three.

"I am a three and a nine person." she told me. "I was born on the ninth day of the third month. I am a gardener and I always take cuttings three at a time."

Carol was wearing a small crystal on a necklace. I felt that the crystal was another confirmation that I was to speak to her.

Carol told me that she also goes by inner guidance to direct her.

"My intuition guides me," she said.

Carol was a member of the National Audubon Society which is involved with the safety and protection of birds.

She had a twenty year olf daughter Lisa Marie who was born within a few hours of my son Doug. It seemed we had a lot in common.

We stopped along the way to watch the osprey gliding past us on the cliff above the ocean. Carol gave me a briefing on the nature of the osprey. They have up to a six foot wingspread and they dive into the water two or three feet for fish. A good size salmon or steelhead can pull them down.

Carol pointed out to me the location where the golden eagles are located on the cliffs above the town of Elk.

Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean
I left Carol at 8:00 P.M. and drove just outside town to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. At 8:06 the bottom tip of the sun was touching the edge of the water line on the horizon. It was a beautiful sight as the red sun slowly sank over the horizon and into the blue water. In three minutes the sun disappeared over the horizon leaving a reddidh orange glow in the sky. I stood on the cliff and watched the sunset for some time as a cool breeze came up from the ocean.

Unfinished Business at Ukiah
As I stood alone on the cliff watching the sunset I experienced a feeling of peaceful serenity followed by a feeling of aloneness as night approached.

"What next", I thought.

"Go back to Ukiah." I was told "You have unfinished business there."

From the town of Elk I began the trip back to Ukiah via a different route. I took the Greenwood Ridge Road inland from Elk.

As I travelled up the mountain I was told by the guides to look for a special surprise at 8:33. As I continued along the full moon was directly in front of me. At precisely 8:33 I passed by three small deer by the side of the road.

I arrived back at Ukiah at 9:33 and went directly to the restaurant. Ann was at the restaurant and off duty and we talked for an hour. At 10:33 her son Kenny came by to pick her up.

Leaving the restaurant I found a place to stay for the night.

Touching the Eagles - Day Nineteen!

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