May 21, 2014 Trinidad and Crescent City, California

It was a very short drive to Trinidad, another stop on our way north as we wait for the weather to continue to warm up.  Trinidad is a quaint seaside city with a population of 367, making it one of California’s smallest incorporated cities.  No Walmart or McDonald’s here!!  Trinidad is known for its spectacular coastline which is part of the California Coastal National Monument.  The main economy here as you would guess is fishing.

Our campground was called “Sounds of the Seas” and it was appropriately named since we could hear seals barking most of the time and could see them swimming around in the cove three hundred feet below us.  We awoke each morning to the sound of their barking, yet the noise was not annoying or offensive but added to the ambience of the area.

Our first day there we decided to take a drive to the Redwood National Park and along the way we came across a herd of elk lounging in a meadow. IMG_0497 IMG_0500 We were able to get close and get some good pictures.  We laughed to think we hiked four miles to catch a glimpse of elk at Point Reyes National Seashore and yet we just stumbled across them out of the blue.  When we drove back home they were had moved about two miles down the road to another meadow.  We could see why them had “Elk Crossing” warning signs everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we drove further north to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  The dirt road down to the beach and canyon was a lovely drive but narrow with many potholes. IMG_0502 IMG_0501 We occasionally had to stop and pull over to the side of the road to let a car pass going in the other direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we reached the parking area at the end of the road we noticed some people looking up into a wooded area.  We joined them and enjoyed watching a male elk having his lunch. IMG_0506

 

 

 

 

 

Fern Canyon was a lush canyon filled with ferns.  We had to cross several streams where the park service had put boards over the creek so we could walk across. IMG_0510 IMG_0508 We were thankful for the boards and enjoyed the serenity and beauty of the canyon.

 

 

 

 

On the way back down the road we came across a herd of male elkIMG_0514 IMG_0513 and then later a herd of females.  Notice that in one picture the elk has two birds riding on his back.  We were told by the ranger that at this time of year the male and females separate from each other since the females are preparing to have their calves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our time in Trinidad went by quickly and before we knew it the time had come to head to Crescent City, our last destination in California.  It was a short drive to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, a beautiful park where we were able to camp in the middle of the redwoods.IMG_0533  We dry camped here and we were so deep in the forest that we were not able to use our solar panels or get satellite tv reception.  Jedediah Smith was a trailblazer and one of the first white men to reach California by land from the east.

 

 

A sign warning of bears greeted us at the registration boothIMG_20140526_145910 and Bill had to sign a paper saying he read the rules regarding proper food storage and would follow their rules.  They were not kidding when they said bears roam the campgrounds looking for food since each campsite was provided a metal food storage locker and a picnic table with a paper taped to it warning about leaving food out.

We spent our time in the Crescent City area hiking and geocaching in the beautiful park. IMG_20140525_160040 We both agreed that the redwood trees are a little more fabulous in Redcrest along the Avenue of the Giants since they seem to be larger in height and especially diameter.  But it is always amazing to be among the redwoods. IMG_0519

 

 

 

 

 

We were about 130 miles north of Redcrest and we noticed the forest seemed to be more damp with lots of moss covering the trails and trees. IMG_0525 The forests were certainly dense and it would not have surprised me to see a bear of mountain lion, but we saw neither.  We were told this area of California receives about one hundred inches of rain a year.  IMG_0521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our geocaches led us to a beautiful covered bridge built in the 1960’s and made of curved and laminated wood.  The process used is more often done in boat building. The roof, walls and floor were constructed as if it was a wooden boat. IMG_20140525_163922

 

 

 

 

 

After five months, it is hard to believe our time in California has come to an end, for now.  We are excited about reaching Oregon, but we love California and will return in the fall.

 

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