Giant Redwoods

July 21 ~ 24

We had planned to drive only a bit to Crescent City, CA where the Redwood Forest begins.  But when we got there, it was evident that we should keep going as Route 101 is the Redwood Highway. We thought we should be able to stop along the way and do small trails from just off the road. Well, the road wasn't easy at all for Tor and it was impossible to pull over anywhere. Decided to continue on to Benbow, CA which is the southernmost end of the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile stretch of road with the largest stands of redwoods.  I had heard there was a nice place to stay there...we pushed on and planned to do the forests in the car.

Didn't like the place we stayed at all, Benbow Hotel and RV Resort, (benbowinn.com), was teeming with the most curious people, but we are here for the next few days.  The biggest surprise, though, is the temperature change.  Just a short while ago on the coast, it was 56 degrees and cloudy.  We arrive here, inland, and it is bright, sunny and 98!

The Humboldt Redwoods State Park (humboldtredwoods.org) is the heart of redwood country.  The first half of the long drive was less then exhilarating.  Nearing the visitors' center, things started to pick up.

At the information center we finally got a map and while there, planted two cups of redwood seeds....trying to get them to germinate so Ian can nuture them from there.

The best, most interesting trail is where the Founder's Tree is located. This easy- to- walk, mile loop is filled with huge and mysterious things. 

We found this uprooted tree absolutely astonishing.  It is hard to grasp how big these trees are until you  can stand near it.  That's me in the far right-hand corner!

Stopped at a couple more places along the way, but frankly, if I were doing it again, I'd take the highway to the visitors'  center exit and take it to the northern terminus and skip the southern half. 

While we are not at all happy with our RV park, the hotel which owns it is quite nice....built in 1926, it is somewhat faded, but a welcome retreat from where we are.  Dinner on the very pretty terrace is surprisingly good.  Rick's Truffled Shrimp and Grits on Wilted Greens is fantastic.  My Griddle Game Hen with Sage Glaze is very nice.

They don't call this the Lost Coast for nothing.  There really is nothing more to do here and direct access to the shoreline is impossible because the closest roads are miles from it.  So, having one more day with time on our hands, we plan a trip to Ferndale, a little hamlet about an hour north.  We frankly didn't expect much, but it was charming. The entire town is designated a California Historical Landmark and its gingerbread mansions have been called "Butterfat Palaces" because they were  built from the wealth of the dairy industry.

There's several nice boutiques along Main Street, but the very best is a combo shop/museum whose name unfortunately illudes me, but you can't miss it.....the largest shop carrying about everything you can imagine.  I found some of the local packaged food stuffs very interesting and am anxious to taste them.

We are so glad to leave this place and very excited about arriving at the altar of Bacchus (Napa) tomorrow.