11-23-2017, 10:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread
I've edited this post a few times since originally posted to keep it current
Greetings!
I'm not sure how much traction a thread dedicated to Humboldt and area is going to have, but I'm going to give it a good shot. Hell, I'm gonna keep it alive even if no one else contributes... just because!
I'd like to have a place where we can meet other locals, post up about routes and places to go, post pics, arrange trips, camping, wrench days, etc. Basically if it involves being outdoors in Humboldt, and especially being outdoors with your truck, it can go here!
So pop in, say 'hi', introduce yourself, describe your truck, post up some pics, and post up your favorite local route! Passing through Humboldt? Got questions, or need assistance? Holler!
About me: I'm 43. Married. No kids. Two years ago, my wife and I came through Humboldt on a random cross country camping trip. We really liked it out here and started talking about maybe moving here as we were driving back home from that trip. Six months after that trip we were selling off our house and all our stuff in Ohio, and moving to Humboldt. Crazy. I got a job with the city and Meredith got a job with the hospital.
In my free time I'm usually out on my motorcycle or in the 4R, exploring the back roads. I also enjoy camping, hiking, shooting, tinkering on my truck and bikes, and photography.
I kind of get restless with vehicles. When we moved out here I had a well modded silver 2014 TE. Since we've been out here, that's been sold; a few Tacomas have come and gone, and my wife has bought and sold a white SR5. We currently (as of June 2020) have a MGM 2017 SR5 with a lift, 33s, winch, and some other mods; and a MGM 2019 ORP set up exactly the same.
The 2017 as it currently sits:
The 2019 as it currently sits (the Yak basket only gets put on for trips):
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"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
Last edited by MeefZah; 06-30-2020 at 12:37 PM.
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11-23-2017, 10:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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So I maintain a gallery of images I've taken since 2013; the main link is in my signature, below. The folders are itemized by trips and dates.
One folder is just a dumping ground for random California stuff. It's kind of the default folder where photos of all my day trips on the bikes or the truck wind up.
Cali-graphy - MeefZah
Looking through the last 18 months of photos from the area I came across some worth posting...
My 2014 on McCann Road, soHum
Overlooking the Eel River on Fort Seward Road, soHum
NOAA weather radar at 3,000 feet above Ferndale
Bear River Ridge Road, between Rio Dell and Ferndale
Temporary bridge over the Eel River off Avenue of the Giants near Shively
The same bridge a year later in my 2017
Devil's Backbone Trail near Mad River
Rockfall on Larabee Butte Road
Fortuna mural
Saw this guy on French Camp Road near Hoopa
My 2017 on NF-23 near Mad River
Mad River crossing near Ruth
On the Eel River bar near Fernbridge
Not Humboldt but still cool:
Mount Shasta
Mono Lake, near Yosemite
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"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
Last edited by MeefZah; 08-13-2019 at 05:20 AM.
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11-23-2017, 11:21 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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So one of my favorite fast local rides is:
Leave Ferndale and go south on 'The Wildcat' / Mattole Rd.
After about six miles going up the mountain, hang a left (east) on Bear River Ridge Road.
Bear River Ridge runs along the mountain ridge for 15 miles or so with awesome views of the ocean, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Scotia. Paved the first and last few miles but single lane dirt for about 12-ish miles in between. It becomes Monument Road and drops into Rio Dell.
Run north into Fortuna, grab breakfast at Hot Brew - I like the biscuits and gravy!
Run south again, and then east on 36 over to Redwood House Rd (ten miles from 101). Hang a left and go northeast on RH.
Redwood House climbs up the mountain and runs 12 miles east to Kneeland Road. It's all single lane dirt, with some muddy spots. Watch out for logging trucks!
At the end, at Kneeland Road, hang a left and go north toward Eureka. Nice 1 1/2 lane gravel for several miles.
At the junction of Showers Pass Road, hang a right and go east / southeast. Follow Showers Pass as it loops around and back to Kneeland Road south of the intersection with Kneeland and RH that you already came through. SP is all one lane dirt with some muddy sections, switchbacks, and sweet views. It's also way longer than you think it is!
SP intersects with Kneeland and you can either run Kneeland south to 36 (all gravel) or you can run it north a bit and then take RH west back to 36, the way you came. RH is like a whole different road going the other direction.
This is about 75 miles of dirt with some pavement in between (36 and 101, mainly). Takes about 4 hours if you stop for pictures and to check stuff out (not counting breakfast).
I ran this route on 11-22-17 and it was about perfect. Just the right amount of goopiness from the recent rains.
Some pics from that outing:
RH is all open range. This is a cattle chute with fall leaves in the background.
There's only one house on RH. The west part of the road is basically a logging road and the middle / east part is basically a ranch road for the cattle ranch.
Creek along RH
Lots of mossy trees on RH
East end of RH, at Kneeland Rd
Showers Pass Rd
Showers Pass Rd
Creek running under SP
Abandoned house on SP
Old car submerged in the creek
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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11-24-2017, 12:12 AM
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#4
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Northern California
Age: 32
Posts: 73
Real Name: Justin
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Northern California
Age: 32
Posts: 73
Real Name: Justin
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I'm Justin, married, no kids and Live in Loleta across the river from Meefzah. We met here on T4R.ORG before he moved out my way. I no longer have a 4Runner due to finances but am working towards getting one again soon. This has been my ride for a year and this picture was taken on a ranch out Upper Bear River Rd during my hunting trip this year. It's an 08 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 all stock except for oversized tires I got from Meefzah. There is a lot of roads left to travel up here in Humboldt and the adventure is part of the fun of living here.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
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4X4-Less.....For Now.
Last edited by 08t4rsr5; 11-24-2017 at 12:15 AM.
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11-24-2017, 12:15 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Heck yeah Justin! Welcome!
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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11-27-2017, 02:02 AM
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#6
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Member
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 95
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 95
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Humboldt and Lost Coast friends, my name is Josh. I'd love to meet people from the area so feel free to reach out!
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2004 SR5 V6
Last edited by xwake4lifex; 11-04-2018 at 10:46 PM.
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11-27-2017, 09:59 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Greetings Josh!
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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12-04-2017, 09:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Took a run both ways across Bear River Ridge earlier. It was really clear. Great views!
Rio Dell, Scotia, and the Eel River in the distance
Pacific Ocean on the left
Background left side is the mouth of the Eel River, background center is Humboldt Bay ( you can see the Manila pulp mill if you look closely)
Rolled over 20k...
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
Last edited by MeefZah; 12-05-2017 at 09:45 AM.
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12-12-2017, 11:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Finally installed my lift and upsized (33") tires... Bilstein 5100s all around, Eibach / Wheeler's coils at 2.5" front, 1.5" rear. Ready to tear up some more Lost Coast dirt roads!
Heading out Wednesday 12-13-17 for a full day of it if anyone wants to join...
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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12-13-2017, 07:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Ran down Avenue of the Giants today, had breakfast at The Avenue Cafe in Miranda, then across Alderpoint Road, Dyerville Loop, Fort Seward Road, Alderpoint Road again, over 36, up Kneeland, across Redwood House, and home. Dragged my wife along, we had fun tearing it up.
Breakfast. Good huevos rancheros!
Above the blanket of clouds on Alderpoint Road
Cool old barn on Alderpoint Road
Outside Ferndale
__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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01-01-2018, 02:00 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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One of my other favorite things to do is explore this area on my motorcycle. Because of the staggering number of dirt and gravel forest service roads, and because most of the paved secondary roads are pretty chunked up, an enduro style / dual sport bike is the way to go. It's the 2-wheeled equivalent of the 4Runner.
Much as with trucks, I get kind of restless with bikes. I'm always doing horse trading. Meredith also rides, although not as much as I do, and she's got a bike also.
These are my current bikes (June 2020), a 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and a 2008 Yamaha WR250R:
This is Meredith's bike, a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650 (the yellow one):
Some motorcycle trip pics, some of these are non-current bikes...
Old Hwy 101, a section called "the slab", between Leggett and Piercy. New Hwy 101 is visible in the background:
Low water bridge off Dyerville Loop Road:
Random landslides with the roads eroded away - on Alderpoint Rd and Mattole Rd:
The north end of the "G-O Road" from Gasquet to Orleans that never got totally built (making it a NO GO):
Trinity Mountain Road:
Old lighthouse base off of Mattole Road at Cape Mendocino (you couldn't get a 4WD out here, the shelf to get out to this spot is too narrow):
Drive through tree at Myer's Flat:
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"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
Last edited by MeefZah; 06-30-2020 at 12:49 PM.
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02-20-2018, 12:47 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Snow above 2,000 feet
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"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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02-22-2018, 08:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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__________________
"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
Photos, mods & trip reports
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02-23-2018, 05:25 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: California
Posts: 21
Real Name: Rusty Shackleford
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: California
Posts: 21
Real Name: Rusty Shackleford
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Sup guys! my name is Ryan and I am brand new to the 4runner world. I recently bought a 95 4runner to use as a hunting rig. it has 273,000 miles on it and I hope it stays strong for a few years.
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02-23-2018, 06:18 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 1,867
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Lexington, Ohio
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Hehe.... what's up Ryan?
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"How rare that we can point ourselves inevitably west and go, go, go. Run out the highway and the hills. Slide our fingertips over the creases and the valleys of the impossibility that is America. You can’t grasp its vastness from a plane. It’s diversity from a map. You have to put your feet on the ground. Your hands in the dirt." - Zach Bowman
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