Misty Mountain Hop

Monday, Dec. 6, 2010
After seeing Hobbiton, USA, I've Led Zeppelin on the brain, hence this post's title. Hobbiton, USA started me thinking about how easily the lens through which we view history is distorted.

Before Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings films, there was a whole culture––esp. in the 1970's––around JRR Tolkien's books about Middle Earth which has been forgotten or at least largely diminished by the recent films. In the late 1960's and 70's, "Frodo Lives!" was a slogan popular with hippies and counterculture types.

Led Zeppelin was one of a number of bands that were part of the pre-Jackson Tolkien culture––they recorded a few songs, including Ramble On and Misty Mountain Hop, which referenced themes from the books.

Left Garberville in a light rain and only four miles later stopped to record this video:


From here the weather improved as I eventually––finally!––left US 101 in Leggett. Leggett is where US 1 begins and where I continued my sweaty ride up and over the "Misty Mountains" (aka the Mendocino Range). US 1 comes down out of the mountains, suddenly, onto the quintessential California coast, and it's quite a dramatic reveal.

Here's a photo of the coast with US 1 visible to the left:

And an interesting cloud over the water:

Tonight checked into the Westport Inn. Greater Westport is about 260 people.