Crazy Stories From My Life in a Small American Town

A tour of the small town of Willits in Mendocino county, northern California, where I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Music during the video:
"Tennessee Railroad Blues" by Bo the Drifter
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Video created by Gabriel Morris, who is the owner of all video or photo content. Filmed with a DJI Osmo Action: amzn.to/3gSi8rA
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Gabriel is a world traveler and travel writer who has been adventuring around the world since his first trip to Europe in the summer of 1990 when he was 18 years old. He is author of "Gabe's Guide to Budget Travel", "Following My Thumb" and several other books available on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
Thanks a lot for watching and safe journeys!

[@Charlie1776_]

Bored and Gabriel uploads a new video. Excellent.

[@junefirst500]

The best part of life is not to forget our past but to enjoy it despite what ever! Gabriel nice & quite!

[@michellesteinbeiss-bryan7366]

I’ve followed your travels and adventures around the world for a few years now, enjoying all your videos. However, the most recent videos of you traveling to the area where you grew up and lived have been awesome and very special. Listening to your stories about your family, childhood, schooling, friendships along with visiting those places has been delightful. A true slice of nostalgia and going down memory lane. I appreciated very much your openness and willingness to share more about yourself, as us subscribers get to know more about the unique and amazing man who runs this INCREDIBLE travel channel. Thank you very much Gabe. ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏

[@user-mn6sq3is4t]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@edwardsbarbara25]

What a beautiful place to grow up in!

[@SomeDutchGuy]

Spent the best years of my life in Willits and Ukiah (and the coast). Brings up so many memories of the 70s and 80s. Hunter's Inn, John's Place, Al's Redwood Room and many others! Thanks Gabriel!

[@katleenmstut4622]

Great to see your childhood growing up area. Very similar to mine in SA Australia. Our power was supplied by a windlight to a battery bank. Wood stove for cooking, but we had great adventures roaming the hills around our property, raiding beehives etc. I feel privaleged to have had the experience as you do. Enjoying your videos of childhood memories.

[@mpoliva9559]

I'm really enjoying this series back in your hometown... after watching you exploring the world for all these years, we get to explore a bit of young Gabe's life and stories 😃 Sounds like you are making the most of your time there too and recharging the batteries for your next big trip!

[@dominiclavu193]

Awesome the archway from Reno was gifted to Willits. My wife and I were at Hot August Nights in '94 and saw that "little city in the world " (or whatever it was). We remember boogy-ing to some live "oldies" song!

[@deadairconversion]

Yeah, America’s big cities are what the country is known for- but the small towns are the heart of America. And there are LOTS of them.

[@user-mn6sq3is4t]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@elturko1128]

I appreciate these videos about ur life and growing up. Any videos do I appreciate it actually but these are nice to get to know u better 🤙🏼🖖🏼

[@TenaciousTO]

Very cool insights in your nostalgia. Thanks for sharing. Hope you're enjoying your time off!

[@user-ef4ue7ip5b]

I always look forward to these videos of the USA, especially California (my home state). Gabriel reminds me that our local areas are just as entertaining and wonderful as foreign destinations.

[@jessicaholguin6188]

Great video! Thank you for giving us an inside look into your beginnings.

[@wayneleader2364]

Great insight into your childhood Gabriel . Sounds like a very cool mountain homestead

[@JennyGunner-ge3lz]

Love coming along for the drive and hearing all about your memories. I could listen to you all day. Cool road names, Middle Earth Road, Hobbiton Hill, sounds magical. ✨✌️❤️

[@thrivingnow7843]

I love going down memory lane of your home surroundings filled with natural beauty. 🌲🏡🌳

[@StuartHurry]

It's interesting to see your hometown having seen you travel all over the world, thank you

[@susancarol4735]

So cool to see all this as I was raised in Santa Rosa….and so this area is very familiar! Fun to vicariously experience your semi wild upbringing, as I also experienced! LOL

[@ganapatihegde1024]

I loved the narration of your childhood memories whilst going through the scenic drive. Looks like you had a cool childhood.

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Thank you for sharing your past. It seems so interesting you lived without electricity and plumbing in the 70’s/80’s. What a lovely place to grow up! Thanks Gabriel. ~Cara

[@artvandelay7236]

Nice to see that area again, I spent a lot of time up there in the 90's, mostly in Laytonville.

[@peterbedford2610]

I love these memory lane episodes. I grew up in norCal and you cruising around talking about growing up there really takes me back to great memories. Thanks

[@dragonfly9209]

What a strange story about Jason Strong...as you said--the timing! A couple of seconds, either way.... Reminds me of what happened to Governor Abbott here in Texas. Decades ago he was studying for the bar exam, and decided to take a break. He went out for a jog---and a large tree suddenly cracked and fell across his back, leaving him a paraplegic. Unlike Jason he lived, but his life was forever changed by a freak thing like being in the path of an unsuspecting sudden falling of a tree. Makes you wonder about a lot of things.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

I hadn't realized he was a paraplegic until today when I saw a photo of him in a wheelchair with Trump at the border.

[@dragonfly9209]

@@GabrielTravelerVideos Yeah, I like the point that you made---referring to Jason. The same with Governor Abbott...if he had kept on studying just a few minutes longer...

[@ValentinaMitchell1]

My kind of small town! It has everything! The pine trees and farms beautiful!

[@user-mn6sq3is4t]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MattWhitingsEurope]

Heard you talking about your roots many times so good to finally see it on video.

[@ganapatihegde1024]

Nice vlog! Great presentation! You have pleasant memories of the town. Thanks! For showing your schools.

[@Rafa_Llamazares]

Thanks for the vid, Gabe

[@dadisphat6426]

I like your story videos. You’re a great storyteller

[@gmcenroe]

After living in Hawaii until the end of 3rd grade, my parents moved to Lake County where my dad thought that he was going to become a real estate mogul with an old friend. His mistake was not allowing my mom to see the house he bought and when we moved there she said no thank you and we moved to Santa Rosa. I grew up there, loved the town and school and friends there, went to SRJC, the transferred to UC Berkeley to continue studying chemistry, graduating in 1978. Now I am retired living on the San Francisco peninsula between SF and Palo Alto, raised 3 kids and still married after all these years to the same woman of my dreams. I haven't spent a lot of time north of Santa Rosa except a couple of drives up to Oregon, but really like Northern Cal. Thanks for sharing your history in Willits! I've been following your travel videos for the past 2 months.

[@ganapatihegde1024]

Gabriel you are an awesome human being. It looks like your parents instilled very good values in you. All your vlogs are simply superb. Please explore California for us.

[@filimontamas]

As a frequent viewer of Mr. Morris videos by now I can easily recall his life events woken up in the middle of the night. Dunno yet what to do with this knowledge.

[@rserna271]

What a beautiful town and great childhood memories!!!

[@dianegarcia6562]

Things were much different then weren't they Gabe? Never imagined our world would be as crazy as it is now

[@user-mn6sq3is4t]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Wally58ind]

This was cool! Thanks for the share

[@jaymeez]

So cool, Thanks for Sharing! I remember passing Willits High School everytime I passed thru going to Eureka or Crescent City. I miss that drive

[@Nature_with_Peter_Kane]

1st or 2nd...lol...Cheers Gabe. Glad you're getting some rest in Cali!!

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Boom, got it.

[@user-mn6sq3is4t]

@@GabrielTravelerVideos Big fan from India Gabriel hope to meet u once

[@teritran_theTurtleTraveler]

@Grabiel, it's precious that you'd share your childhood/growing up memories ✌❤.

[@johnknox4293]

cool...thanks Gabriel...enjoy your travel time off...reset and refresh

[@bruce4130]

These type of life experience videos are gold! 😊❤

[@bruce4130]

Enjoying your school life stories and your locale! ❤😊 ✌️Greetings from Australia, 🇦🇺 👍 I can relate to the school stories and characters from these times very similar life experiences happen to all of us! I suppose that’s why enjoy this video! Thanks! 😊

[@JustDaveIsFine561]

Hi Gabe. Reviewing your videos from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan for my upcoming trip. Thanks for all of your great content. Big fan.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Excellent, have a great trip. Super interesting part of the world.

[@glennplumlee9155]

northern california a great place to chill and play guitar/work on music!!

[@user-zn1ww6sl9r]

Funny that I am same age and around the same time I used to spend my summer vacations at grand parents house in rural India and they were also then in the process there of changing from gas lights to electric!

[@live.love.travel5720]

This place has a huge land development ❤

[@ruralangwin]

Thank you for your back story!

[@faganquin6483]

Get thee to harbin hot springs in calistoga the best!

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Been there a few times, nice place. But I wouldn't film a video there.

[@faganquin6483]

@@GabrielTravelerVideos rotfl no no you wouldn't. lol i just meant for an unwind. all the best.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Also there's Orr hot springs which is just outside of Ukiah.

[@robinhavens695]

Super interesting, thank you for sharing!!!

[@ladyblabla3611]

Such an beautifull area. I love that redwood area. erything in the USA is bigger isnt it. Such huge trees.

[@mylahbarreto5265]

Hilarious! Two days ago, my sis & I had to drive to the small town we grew up in, a couple of hours away from where we reside now. We had to use the ladies’ room so she decided to stop at the nearest restroom, which was at our old high school 😮The ladies room locked, but funnily enough the current Athletic Director was walking by, who happened to be an old classmate! Graduated same year, that was about 30 years ago 😂 Don’t think he recognized us, haha

[@markbear9488]

Beautiful country! Greetings from Cyprus! 😀

[@azdbuk]

Cool little town. Opposite of my background.

[@danielheathcote4794]

Great video mate very interesting. In 2012 flew out from uk to san francisco, went out on a boat to farralon islands to view great whites sharks and whales. Saw point reyes too . Fantastic

[@wilfredotorres6628]

Hi Gabriel, that is rural living and now it looks like they have upgraded the surrounding township bringing in the grid many towns and communities that you can find all around the country. Most people live in these types of small communities or rural living conditions, some better than others, and it has its advantages and disadvantages living in a big city. Cost is a major advantage over living in a city. Crime is another advantage you're not subjected to violent crime like in a big city. Of course, living in small communities is the stress of dealing with crowded cities and the problems you're subjected to less stress cleaner living not subjected to the noise of a big city. Anyway, I wanted if you know about an area called East Bay Mystery Walls located a few hours nearby there are said to be walls that were built by the Chinese before Columbus' voyage and are reminiscent of the Great Wall of China there have been programs of this on the History channel remarkably interesting not much is known about it.

[@terrenceshannon6229]

Gabriel, what a nice town to grow up in. I just adore California. Been here 15 years. Lov the tour. Thanks , Gretchen

[@andympro1]

I like the way You tell the story.

[@gerryz1839]

Thanks Brother Gabriel! Of course I love your travel videos, but your prequels filmed in your natural habitat are fascinating. I hope your get some rest and TLC before you head out for your next adventure.

[@tuneuptony3679]

what was population of Willits when you grew up there? We drive thru there on the way to Avenue of the Giants every year for a marathon. You are right, it a bit away from the redwoods,

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

It was about the same, seems like it's always been around 5,000.

[@ruralangwin]

Killer Hill! Yep when we are kids everything is so much bigger!

[@susancarol4735]

lol…wow…you guys sure lived off the grid! Bet your parents were ‘flower children’ ? …hippie generation? Cool! Thank you!

[@SalmanKhan-rt9wf]

Your family very beautiful I like your family

[@CharlieChaplinVideos]

One Flew over cuckoo's nest my altime fav movie just behind Shawshank Redemption

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Cool. Shawshank is a good one as well.

[@CharlieChaplinVideos]

@@GabrielTravelerVideos 🙌

[@hetty43]

Interesting as always. Your school journey reminds me of the number 63 Tandragee bus from Portadown. Always had to turn right and go through Laurelvale. Thanks.

[@DeanWatsonMusic]

Where did your travel tips videos go?

[@ninov6512]

I only visited California (San Francisco) twice, and both times I didn't want to go back to my home state. It has that effect. It feels like home. Next time I would love to go see Point Reyes and drive up the coast from there.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

That's an amazing drive all the way up into Oregon.

[@ruralangwin]

Oh have you done a Covelo video? Such a weird vibe! But beautiful location.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

No, never made a video in Covelo, just at the Eel River on the way there: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmTKq4OXnLRjfqM

[@kazzicup]

Your parents escaped from LA twice. 🎈🎈

[@georgemckinnon7134]

Nice place to grow up!

[@beachgirl4]

Thank you❤

[@treethegreat52890]

A cool place that's fun to visit is the town of Leggett and driving through the big ass red wood.

[@alex182618]

I totally understand why people would move here from LA

[@Seanney25582]

Wow you grew up in the woods, it must have been really peaceful, how far is the nearest shop?

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

The Sherwood Market that I showed was the nearest store, a few miles away.

[@Seanney25582]

The second oldest person in the world Edith Ceccarelli who died just last week at 116 years old was born in Willits, I just looked up Wikipedia now 😊

[@SubSailor688]

Thanks for sharing your childhood memories and such! I really enjoyed watching 😃

[@dhananjaymalhotra7854]

Your story telling is amazing Sir. Keep them coming 👍 You made one video where you informed your subscribers about your friend Abram going missing. Have you got any update about him?

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Yes, see here: kzbin.infoUgkxC4TMKL4oFU3QQTog0F84jrDFty4-wzB0

[@jasenrobinson8136]

Gabe, ever thought of doing the rail bikes on the Skunk Train rail road tracks?

[@jonathanmoss5328]

Interesting to see and see you obviously remember fondly. How things have changed since the 80s though. I’m sure it was normal at the time, but for a 11/12 year old kid to catch a bus home and then walk a mile home would be absolutely unheard of today?

[@DeputyDog-mh1yo]

It was unheard of then

[@skchoraiya3472]

Please show us Virgin River. Go to Jack’s Bar and Grill.

[@davidvilchez2209]

Missed 1st because my service sucks in bfe today : (

[@rahula1029]

Love you from India.. 🇮🇳

[@ASQBVlog]

I'm not a big city person, this feels like a perfect small town

[@Deadfoot-Dan]

Interesting hearing Ft. Bragg again, the Army base changed their name I think Ft. Liberty or something

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Yes, that one is in North Carolina.

[@Slykkpkins]

Good , amaxing rd. How else.

[@sunnybeachwalks4k2022]

Love it !

[@rserna271]

Abram seems like he was a bad influence for you :)!

[@turtletalk4905]

Like this home series, surprised by the look and feel of northen California. 🎉

[@cccpgeorgia]

14:45 your mom?... really?... wow!... very good movie!

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Yes, but she was in a local play, not the movie.

[@susiejakes3019]

You did not show your former house because you said that you respected the new owners in that house. However, you had no qualms about showing Abrams' former house even though there are also new owners in that house. What makes it worst is that Abrams' house is on the road and fully visible while your old home seems to be located way off the road with trees blocking our view of it. Wow!

[@gilberttello08]

✋✋ Philippines

[@Abraracourix]

Mendocino county, CA… Isn’t that in the Emerald triangle of California?😀 Also known as the weed capital of the US lol

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Yep.

[@pasqualeabarno]

Hi. Gabriel.. Nice place.. I like it very much.. Take care of yourself 👍👍👍🍀👋

[@mirzagoralija4492]

👍👍👍

[@lashachokhonelidze2498]

👍👍👍

[@GleeSmee]

You're not going to settle down up there are you?

[@Did447]

I your parents had to go out of Los Angeles?

[@CreativeStreamD]

Nice video 💯❤

[@mirzagoralija4492]

😊😊😊❤🇧🇦🇧🇦🇧🇦

[@blackblurr-be8hi]

👍

[@jcdog1000]

People were more free then, you wouldn’t get kids hitchhiking and playing in the forest alone nowadays

[@goostrey4210]

It's great to see the places that you have mentioned over the years of watching you. It looks like a lovely place to grow up, between small-town and hippie America, lots of the traits we see in you (your adventurousness, taste for travel, etc.) can be seen to have started here. Thanks for sharing!

[@Tulku84000]

It sounds like you had an idyllic childhood. Did your parents know about your hitchhiking?

[@nvsilverlady]

enjoy your videos. consider getting a camera holder for your car. Would be disappointed if you ever got pulled over for distracted driving. CHP's are notorious for distracted drivers. esp. in California.

[@travel_and_explore_with_BIP]

🍺🍺