Crescent City, CA and the Redwoods. Part 1

6-13-13

From Eureka we drove to Crescent City, CA where we will base out of for two days visiting the Redwood National Park, the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and the Jedediah Smith State Park.

While driving to Crescent City we entered the south end of Redwood National Park and as we drove by Big Lagoon we got our first look at the Roosevelt Elk. This subspecies is the largest in size of the elk family. They have made a substantial rebound since 1925, when there were only 25 elk left in the state of California.







Just before Crescent City, CA we took this picture of the city and bay from a scenic overlook.





Many wildflowers were in bloom including these lilies and rhododendrons.





After we checked into the motel we drove back down to the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. If you ever get there be sure to walk the Revelation Trail behind the visitor’s center. You get the feeling of how small you are when you walk through the forests.



That is not a tree growing behind the stump. The small tree on top sprouted out of the old stump. It is very common for different trees and vegetation to flourish on fallen redwood logs and stumps because of the moist conditions.



When I first saw this I thought it was a dirt bank along the path, but looking at it closer I found that it was a downed log with vegetation growing on the top side.



Now your mission is to find the 4 leaf clover in this picture.





Azaleas.



Wild Rose.



The elk must be a problem here as there was a man and his dog trying to chase the three elk from his yard in the bottom picture.







This tree had some cut marks that were made by a vandal years ago. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful in cutting down the tree. Can you see our trike at the base of this same tree.





Am I looking in a mirror?







When I first saw this I took offense someone would steal our north woods icon. Then after I thought about it, I realized they were honoring “OUR” icon because they needed Paul and Babe to help in downing of these giant trees. Not that that was necessarily a good thing.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

Eureka, CA and the Humboldt Redwood State Park

6-12-13

We left this morning for Eureka, CA on the coast to see the Redwoods. Our route took us on Hwy 299 of which the first 40 miles were under heavy construction to smooth out the corners and grades. They have finished the last 100 miles and it is a much easier drive.



Once we got to Willow Creek we had to be on the lookout for “Big Foot”.





After getting into Eureka around noon, we checked into the motel and headed south about 35 miles to the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. They have a 25 mile drive through the forest called “Avenue of the Giants”. The visitor station was closed when we got there but what we saw was nice but we know, from being there before, that we will see bigger and better trees as we travel north.









This section of redwood had an interesting history.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

REDDING, CA

6-11-13

The reason we came out here was to have a seat built for the motorcycle by Russell Day-Long seats. They are well known in the Iron Butt realm of motorcycling as they sponsor events such as 1000 miles in 24 hours and 11,000 miles in 11 days. Of the 200 or so bikes at the event, 80% will have Russell seats.

We had to come back at noon for the first fitting; once that was done they wanted us back about 4:00 for the final check.

Here is Chris our saddle builder.



All was good so now it is break-in time of which I need to put about a thousand miles in the saddle to see how it fits. I do have a trip planned (about 5,500 miles) with my brother, Joe, and two friends, Dale and Jeff, to come back out to the west coast in early August, so that should tell me if I spent my money wisely.



While waiting for the noon fitting we drove to the Sun Dial Bridge Park area where we came across this flowering tree we saw all around the area. It’s called a Mimosa Albizia.





The bridge floor has glass panels that you can see through as you walk. There were notices all over saying bridge is slippery when wet and hot from the sun so dog owners were to be cautious.. Why would anyone design a park bridge that is for foot and bike traffic with that type of surface?



This shows the gnomon (arm) of the sundial which has no function other than to be artistic as there is no base to show the time anywhere.



While walking in the park we were greeted by wildlife and flowers.





This fly fisherman on the Sacramento River reminded us of our friend Ron who is probably fly fishing by now on the Gros Ventre (Grow Vaunt) River behind the Gros Ventre Campground in the Grand Teton National Park.

By the way, the boat is being rowed by hand upstream.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy

Redding, CA and Lassen Volcanic National Park

6-9-13 & 6-10-13

As pulled into Redding, CA (where we will be staying the couple days) we were greeted with a sight that gave us caution. You see, tomorrow we are going to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park which blew its stake in 1915 and the first thing we see is Mount Shasta spouting smoke out it’s top. Or is that just clouds?



On June 10th we drove to Lassen Volcanic National Park.





This burned area in the park was started by a lightning strike on July 23, 2012.The fire was initially managed for resource benefit. Once the fire moved beyond pre-determined boundaries, fire crews began suppression activities. The fire was contained on August 22, 2012 and affected 28,079 acres of the 106,362 acre park.  Although fire can be disastrous, fire is necessary to maintain a healthy forest.



Lassen Peak’s May 1914 eruption launched three years of sporadic volcanic outbursts. In the largest eruption on May 22 1915, the peak blew a huge, mushroom-shaped cloud of ash over 30,000 feet onto the air. Congress made this area a national park in 1916 because of the eruption and active volcanic landscape. We walked on the trail where several large boulders were once on the mountain but were moved 3-5 miles by mud slides that were created by melting snow from the heat of the blast.







Lassen Peak as seen from the side that blew away during the eruption.  As you can see, it has taken 100 years for the forest to come back.



There were several small lakes along the road as we drove through the park.  The mist would appear and disappear within minutes.



We stopped at Bumpass Hell outlook to take the trail to view some of the thermal activity in the park. Unfortunately for us, the snow was still blocking the trail so it was closed.



The road had just recently been opened so there was still quite a lot of snow near Lassen Peak.



Fog and clouds were part of the scenery as we rose in elevation but cleared off later in the day.





We finally got to some thermal activity at the Ridge Lakes Sulphur Works where there was one mud pot and some steam vents.





Other than the thermal activity Lassen has another rare feature. That is it is one of a few areas in the world that has all four types of volcanoes.









Below is a Snow Plant which is actually a fungus.







Just before we left the park we stopped at Manzanita Lake where Sandy wanted to take a couple pictures of the light fog on the lake.  



She noticed the kayakers and boaters were making a mad dash for the shore.



This picture was taken 6 minutes after the first picture.  I guess those boaters know the signs of when to get off the water.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy