In Defense of the Inversion Layer
Ahhh…..Summer in Del Norte County. Fun, sun, and hmmmm…….. Yes, summer has arrived and we don’t have to worry about getting a sunburn or prematurally developing melanoma….again. But, just go 5 miles inland and start worrying. That is why I love living here, I can escape from the summertime heat and run from the fog. Yes, if I could control the weather I would have just a touch more sun, but then comes the wind and I really don’t like the wind. But wait, the wind, that is what makes the cold water upwell bringing nutrients, and food, and bait, and salmon, and makes the oceanic food kitchen work. Wow, what a dilemma, maybe I don’t want to control the weather. Maybe I’ll just go up to the river when I want to escape the fog and maybe when I really want to suffer I’ll go to Medford and take my chances with melanoma. But, you must admit, there aren’t too many more beautiful sights then driving south along Hwy. 101 on the spine of the Coastal Range and watch the fog slipping through the redwoods while it tries to reach its wispy tentacles and water more of the trees. All the while the sun is waging its winning battle and evaporates each billowing wet charge. Each day I drive this road I get to see the ongoing battle and the line that these adversaries draw. Yes, I have a choice. I can escape, or I can stay. And when I do escape and when I return I smell that heavy, thick, rich, salty, sweet, smell of the clean ocean air and I know that it’s summer, and ahh…I know I’m home.