When I started thinking about Indigo's dream, it reminded me of
something I had long forgotten. Indigo and Elena grew up there off of
Highway 96 in Seiad Valley. Their house was on Seaid Creek Road. (If you
click on the photo below, you'll see the road.)
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The red marker is where The Wildwood is located |
Roger and their mom moved there from the coast in
1980-81. Indigo was three years old, and Elena was born there. They went
to a small elementary school that combined many grades in one
classroom. Later, they took a school bus 18 miles one way to Happy Camp
High School everyday. This wild land was their backyard. It helps me to
understand their love, affinity for, and attachment to such a remote
place.
Indigo has been leasing a building here that was
built in 1929. I didn't take a photo of it while we there, but I found
this on Google Maps earth view.
The Wildwood has been a restaurant and bar, but not for quite some time. It's on 4 1/2 acres just outside of town.
Part of her dream is to restore the place into a working restaurant. She is an incredible cook; her dishes are
inventive and delicious.
She grows her own veggies and raises and
butchers her own meat. (She also paints her own signs!) The restaurant dream may
take the longest time to come to fruition. Lots to be done to make the place into a working business again.
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One arrow points to the trail, one to the Wildwood. A few hundred feet apart. |
Part of her dream is to have the long-distance hikers who hike the
Pacific Crest Trail
camp on the land at Wildwood. The PCT quite fortuitously goes right
past the old place. She would like to provide hot-water showers,
bathroom and laundry facilities, places to cook their own food, or
provide food for them. We think any hiker who crosses paths with Indigo
here will be a lucky hiker indeed. This dream is close to being
realized.
Part
of her dream is to have the local Farmer's Market held there at the
Wildwood. That happened for the first time on Saturday, June 3rd.
Part
of her dream is to raise her beautiful daughter in these wild
mountains, with her partner whose
tribal lands are here. They will be handing down a tradition of love and hard work to the next
generation.
This is why we drive the long and winding road to get here.