12-09-26 Wednesday 177 days of riding 33 miles today – Great day through the tunnel and over the pass.

: A spring from the rock wall into the Smith River – Helps explain why the water is so clear.

: this is Ruth a young woman( they all are young now days) who shared a campfire – she is living ‘under the radar’ with BA in education and school counselling she has 125K in school loans and no teaching jobs. Very interesting lady – works as a cook for various outfits and travels in a 1984 Subaru car that runs great and looks old. I know it is not PC to question the Education Monolith, I wonder way not many folks question the runaway spending of Higher Education on buildings, Staff, benefits and such. Their requiring huge,Financial crippling Debt to pay the tuition, books and all the other fees, only to have the graduates unable to find a productive and competitive means to support themselves and pay the slavish debt the education industry burdened them with. Looks to me like a couple of college graduates could figure that one out. Of course if he government lent them the money and they owe it to the government then the government owns them until they can pay it off. Why would I want them to pay if off if I have leverage and clout to have them help me make society better, the way I see it. Just thinking while riding along.

: way up there near the top the pine cones hang on like Christmas decorations

: not much of a shoulder along this section of Hwy 199 – Guardian Angel is working overtime here and no worries – the cars and trucks are very courteous