Monday, April 29, 2013

Klamath, California


Klamath is a very small town tucked into a valley leading straight to the ocean through one big river mouth. When I say small I mean one gas station, one bar, one cafe... but a number of RV parks.


On all four corners of the State Highway 101 bridge that spans the Klamath River are graced with these beautiful golden bears. This bridge replace the one that went down in the flood of 1964. I have never seen, in all my travels, a bridge with statues dedicated on each corner.







The Yurok Indian tribe here on the Klamath had a casino and RV park nearly a half mile from coast 101. It has since closed.


The large tent is pretty much standard for early Indian casinos that I have seen in So.Cal but apparently this one was too far from highway 101 to be successful. While we were there, a new group broke ground on a casino and hotel right along side the highway.



Here was the Gold Bear Casino’s 50 site RV park that was a great idea in the wrong place. As they say in the real estate business...it's location, location, location!


The Klamath River mouth is ever changing. Some years the mouth could be open to the ocean on the far side or as in last year, it was right next to the hill below me. This year, for photographic excellence, it was nearly dead center. After the Columbia and the Sacramento Rivers, the Klamath River was the third largest salmon producer until the dams were built.


There are two rather large rocks on either side of the Klamath River mouth that protect the entrance from the ocean and have deep meaning in Yurok folklore. 






I believe it is this big rock on the south side that is described in the plaque as an indian woman with her legs underneath...the other side is a wild guess for me.


Read the legend of the two sisters of the Klamath River mouth.



Natives and non natives are fishing for eels...I did not ask what food they made with the eels as I could not stomach whatever it was.


Only the natives are allowed to use nets on the river.


On the south side of the Klamath river there is a coast road and near it are these “sweat lodges” that are still being used by the Yurok tribe.


This hotel with a lot of history is on the road up the hill to where Donna and I watch whales and get internet service.


I went into the the B&B to look around and it is very reminiscent of the lodges built in the early part of the century.







3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your excellent photos of the Klamath River mouth. Please note that, first, the tribe who own the defunct casino and the tribe who are building the new one on 101 are two completely different political bodies, although they share a general Yurok language, culture and history. No problem, many people misunderstand the relationship. More seriously, though, is the fact that many, many Native women resent being called squaws these days. They are women. "Squaw" has meanings and historical uses that are considered derogatory. Again, thanks.

Unknown said...

The you (whom every you are) for the above information. I'm sorry that I was ignorant about the word squaw, my only excuse is 1950's westerns...won't happen again.

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