Roll on the Mattole - 2018 version

With a name like Roll on the Mattole, the imagination can do a bit of fireworks. Go ahead. Ok, here's what it really means. The Roll is referencing firefighters rolling out their hoses in one of the demonstrations they do during the day. Competing volunteer fire fighting departments from around the area engage in firefighter examples of some of their training. And yes, I wrote about this before. Life repeats but is never the same.

On the way out to the Grange.
That's smoke from fires many, many miles away

Unfortunately, that training is currently being put into reality north of here, where the Carr (along with others) fire rages over approximately 90,000 acres and is barely contained. Deaths have occurred, both civilian and fire fighters themselves. So this year, the Roll (as it's called by locals, the Mattole is the river beside the place it's held) had even more significance. Fires seem to be getting worse each year here and it's more than a little frightening.

But the Roll was for fun and fundraising and it delivered on both. There were a lot of food booths, from pizza to cornish hen, to burritos and yes, there were bbq'd oysters too! There was a beer tent with cider and and wine (hooray!), so no one went hungry or thirsty.

There were two choices of toppings, bacon and garlic
or parsley and butter. Really? BOTH. that's easy.

They call them bbq'd but really (at least really as I what I think bbq means), they are just grilled. On this giant grill. And yes, I forgot to take a photo of the actual oysters, they didn't last that long and my brain was otherwise occupied.

My daughter Sarah usually works at the Lost Frenchman booth f(or her friends who own the restaurant) during different summer events. People seem to really love their pizza; I think the last one sold right before the gates were closing at 1:30 a.m.

Every customer has a story

The central part of the day is given to the Muster, when the various departments (I think it was Whale Gulch, Honeydew and Petrolia but I can't promise that's entirely true on the Petrolia part) compete. When you look at these photos, keep in mind it was hot. Hang out in the shade pretty much only hot. And then, of course, you think about the firefighters out there fighting the out of control fires...

Our friend Dave chatting with his Whale Gulch buds before the Muster

Almost ready to start

All suited up, let the competition begin!

This guy is the retiring fire chief. He was funny and touching and
informative all at once. 

Apparently there was a school bus fire back in the 80's, where two children died, because there wasn't an adequate response. Within months, 16 people had volunteered for the Honeydew Fire Department and that's how it began. These small fire departments are a big deal here and each has its own fundraiser, always with great turnouts. With mountain roads and long stretches between homes and small towns, the imperative need for this can't be overstated. While I don't go to every one of them every year, I've been to a fair number and each time I'm impressed at the closeness of the communities and the support they give each other. 

There was face painting

And mask painting

Making new friends
And no, she would NOT wear it any other way.

There was music. Live music. Good live music. It was wonderful!

There were crafts being sold, everything from hand forged knives to clothing to...well, crafty things. 

There was dancing, all day and all night long

One of the night bands was a group called The Real Sarahs. They were very, very good and I wish I could remember the name of the song I liked so much. It was one of those simple songs about true things that you can sing along with pretty quickly. Everyone was singing, men, women and kids; it was pretty magical. Thanks, Real Sarahs, good name!

Real Sarahs!

This is the Mattole river, behind all of those picnic tables. On the other side is a campground where a lot of people camped rather than drive the long drive back to where ever home was. One man I talked to told me he and his girlfriend (he looked to be in his late 70's), drove 7 hours to come to the Roll. And they do it every year. 

I was too hot and lazy to go all the way down to the river.
Well, going down would have been fine.  I
t's the coming back up part I shirked my pictoral duties to avoid.

And that is the last California fandango. Tomorrow morning I'll get in the Beasty and head east to Kansas to see my oldest daughter. It supposedly is a day + drive, but I have no intention of being in a hurry. So I'll check in with you from the road!

Have a see the scenery Sunday! Do something searchingly.

p.s. One of the most awesome things to happen was when our friend Woody proposed to his girlfriend Taylor, as their gorgeous baby daughter Chloe looked on. It was a big surprise and beautiful to be there for that. Congratulations, Woody and Taylor and Chloe!!!