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