I was out of there by around 12:15. Not too bad. Hopped on the highway and drove over and picked up some merchandise from a supplier and I was then on my way. Back-tracked my way on 80 over to the exit which would lead me through a lengthy zig-zag route through RIchmond and on over to the bridge. My drive up to Ukiah was pretty much uneventful, thank gosh. As I passed through the town of Hopland, I can still picture this lady letting her dog lick her ice cream cone which I observed back in the 70's. I hadn't passed through this way (above Santa Rosa) in a good number of years. Actually, I drove my motor home back home in July three or four years ago from Oregon after the county fairs. Long winding drive getting down to Crescent City and is something I probably won't do again.  Scenic drive up the 101 nonetheless.

When I arrived in Ukiah, I drove around and found where I was to be located, since I would be arriving there in the dark I wanted to make things as easy as possible.

Got something to eat and headed over to the motel.  I had wireless in the room so I got on line.  I quickly discovered that my left-click on my touchpad was out of whack.  Terrible traumatic experience trying to use the computer with it.  I got the address of a place with mouses and dropped by on Saturday after the show and hooked it up.  All kinds of crazy things happen in my life.  It's all these little things that drive you bonkers.  And now, let's move on to the Ukiah Country Pumpkin Fest.

Saturday, Oct 17

Headed over to my space at 6:20am and began setting up.  Not too many vendors there yet and I had easy access because I was right at the end of the street - a corner spot.  Unloaded the van and then parked.  Took 3 hours to set up.

THE WEATHER was cloudy during the AM.  People driving up The 101 encountered a ot of dense, patchy for.  Nice to have avoided this by coming up a day earlier.  A week earlier we were looking at forecasts and there was rain forecast.  We lucked out on it.  I'd say it was a beautiful weekend weatherwise.

THE PARADE started around 10:00.  There were some people drifting around the booths during it, but when the parade was done, they came and it didn't stop until after 5:00.  I had some spurts of sales throughout the day and I didn't do all that bad.  Some vendors did okay while others didn't.  Maybe those selling cheaper items did decently. 

BOYZ WILL BE BOYZ. Constant stream of teeny wackers stopping by my booth. Put hat on. Grab a sword open it up and close it. Grab another hat, try it on and put it back. All day long group after group.

WHERE DID YOU GET THESE FROM is what this 14 year old boy asks me. I look over at him and with a straight face, I tell him 'Jack in the Box.' He gives me a surprised look and laughs.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE. People in general tended to be one's escaping the harsh realities of life and living in a world of their own. I noticed quite an assortment of character's who seem to have exhiled themselves from the Bay Area. Perhaps many of them found their way over there from the Mendocino Marijuana Fields.  They seem to be 'the people that time forgot.'

I saw a good number of people walking around in attire that was wild-looking and I would believe that they were following their regular everyday dress code.  Even though there were a number of people wearing their Hollow Weanie outfits, I have to say that a lot of these people dress like that every day.  Long hairs, no hairs, spikey hair, rings on noses, chins, toes, ETC.  Every thing imagineable and unimagineable. They were there.