This is a highly evocative snapshot, taken somewhere on 101 in 1973. That’s just one year after my epic two-month long hitchhiking trip up the California coast on Hwys 1 and 101. The big log and lumber trucks made a big impression on me, hauling giant single redwood logs, almost invariably a Kenworth or Peterbilt, the West Coast’s own trucks, which were then just beginning to be seen in the East.
This is a typically foggy day, which occurs most often in the mid-May to mid-August period, as the spring north winds blow the warmer surface water away, causing the cold deep Pacific water to well up to the surface. When the moist milder ocean air hits that cold water, it condenses, causing the fog. Unfortunately, way too many tourists don’t know that the mildest weather along the West Coast is in the spring, fall and even winter.
Speaking of, we’re sitting at our place in Port Orford on Sunday morning, and the temperature is in the high 70s, which is extremely unusual, due to the massive heat bubble all over the West Coast. It’s supposed to top 80 here today. Whew! But the fog is supposed to roll in tonight and the forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 59. That’s more like it!
Great way to start the day with this post. Although trucks 🚚 are not
Particular favorites, I’ve been California Dreaming 🎵 for many years. Two Great trips to LA and numerous visits to San Francisco from 77 through early 2000s provided many good times with great people AND lots of sight seeing. First sight of San Francisco, driving in from airport took my breath away. Little did I know that I would song 🎵 Leave🎶 my heart ❤in 🎵San 🎶Francisco 🎵in more ways than one. Unfortunately much has changed 😕. Many treasured people are gone and health issues and age😟 mean likely will never again cross the San Francisco Golden Gate before I hopefully go through the Pearly Gates.
Sorry to say, but you are most likely better off with the memories. Much has changed in San Francisco, and a visit today might just be a disappointment.
Echoing what JM Solberg mentioned below, SF is very much alive outside of the downtown core and after spending the last 6 years here after living abroad for the previous 10, we can both say this is our favorite city so far and we’ve lived in Europe and Asia. The Bay Area is just beautiful and so important economically and you do get a sense that people care.
San Francisco is still great, but the greatness largely is in the neighborhoods. Folks work from home at a much higher rate than anywhere else after the pandemic. Downtown, Union Square, the Ferry Building, those places are all deserted during the week. The waterfront and Golden Gate Park are alive with folks on the weekends, and the neighborhood restauraunts, parks, and cafes are alive during the week, for people taking a respite from work. But downtown has a long way to go, as folks are well aware of.
It’s interesting how the appeal of the classic conventional still keeps it’s hold on people – its somewhat similar to the hold the classic Harley-Davidson has – both forms which made sense at one time, far in the past, but which are living relics now, like Coelacanths.
There is this great book that delves into the psychology of truck drivers and truck driving, by someone who made his living at it, it goes in depth into the reasons why owner-operators and various other firms might pay a premium for a Peterbilt or similar.
“Pedal to the Metal: The Work Lives of Truckers”
https://tupress.temple.edu/books/pedal-to-the-metal
That rig represents what was once a very common lumber truck configuration, but seldom seen now. A needle-nose Kenworth or Peterbilt is the perfect tractor for that combination. Maybe an Autocar as well.
I remember watching this episode of Movin’ On from 1974, starring Claude Akins and Frank Converse. And guest starring Frank Gorshin. Shot in Hood River, Oregon. Click link, to watch at YouTube.
Guessing those are 5 ton packs of timber so its a good load that old KW is pulling, I used to get loads like that on my outward bound leg in my post truck days 28 tonne of sawn timber on a 5 axle Btrain you sure know its there up and down the ranges, parcel post on the return leg rarely exceeded 12 ton its bulky not heavy the Iveco 500 would be like a rocket ship.
Why is this rig pink or crimson? I can’t imagine the typical truck driver of 1973 would be asking the same thing.
Looks like the same truck Victor Newman got dropped off in Genoa City on Young & the Restless
I know exactly what yer saying I’m from Langlois Or. just to the north .I miss those mornings .in Death valley now.