Our Journey began on a hazy Sunday morn, Vindaloo our Volvo packed with all our camping paraphernalia, adorned with our trustful steeds, Liam and June. We headed South to Eugene, stopping briefly at a thrift store where a handful of richly illustrated anatomy texts were purchased. Pushing West towards the coast fickle Spring time weather dished up a variety precipitation ending with sun filled skies as we pulled into the coastal town of Florence. A bay side lunch was enjoyed and we decided that the ever famous Mo's restaurant is not all that scrumptious as people make it out to be. With bellies full Suz and Baf headed South along the coast via the highway 101. They ventured through sleepy coastal towns boasting less tourism and more industry compared to the likes that lay to the North. As we passed into Northern California the sand encrusted coast line gave way to massive stone pyres wrapped in crashing waves and mist. Large smiles spread across our faces to the steady acceleration of the auto.
We rolled into the Jedediah Smith State Campground just before night fall. Pitching the tent, cracking a beer, and firing up the stove among the base of a giant sequoia tree. A cold evening kept us moving around capturing images with a fifteen second exposure.
We awoke the first morning chilled from the night before. Breakfast of oatmeal, left over from Ireland, juice and tea. Packed up and left for Stout Groove. We parked a few miles out and biked in via a pot-holed road of white wet clay. There is nothing more calming than to ride a bicycle among those giant old growth trees. Stout Groove was packed with people and our blissfully calm environment came to an end. Here we hugged redwoods, kissed ferns and frolicked in the shrubbery.
Dusting off and riding back to our car we headed through Crescent City and into the Redwood National Forrest. Our path was the coastal scenic drive combined with the Newton B. Drury scenic byway. Darn fine driving that yielded many delights such as the "Big Tree". In the 1920's it was suggested that this mighty tree was to be cut down and the stump made into a dance floor. An influx of back packers overflowed from the hike-in campground into the Gold Bluff Beach campground leaving us with no place to set up camp. We took the visual delights of the beaten path as our reward and found shelter at another campground located at Elk Prairie Refuge.
Tuesday we rode the Lost Man Creek Road seven miles straight up into the rugged Northern Redwood Forest. Goddamn unk! Our legs got a work out as giant sequoias gave way to pinon pines and snow/mud packed roads. We sang loudly and rang our bike bells to a beat in hopes of scaring way the black bears that claim this land. Five hours we rode with no encounters of humans (or bears). Up,up, and up we rode our trustful steeds as mud gathered between our fenders and the sweat on our backs turned icy. With the road becoming impassable we turned around and swiftly descended back down to a warmer altitude seeking rest among a talus field of granite and shell
A picnic atop of a shell encrusted bolder where... Barley wine, banana chips and a bit of bread powered us on to continue the journey of Lost Man Creek.
Where on earth can one go from dense secluded forest to panoramic beaches? Humboldt County is where! Off Highway One-o-one is the hidden and enchanting county road #211, which by the way is one of the most exciting stretch of road that either of us have ever seen. A winding steep narrow road that is deftly navigated at a twenty mile per hour pace. We parked off the coastal section to catch the low tide giving way to the finest tide pools we have yet encountered.
Clams, mussels, sea anemones, star fish, crabs, sun fish, hermit crabs, sculpins, and a very large gumboot chiton to boot oh my!
Back in the redwoods, bear proof lockers for storing food, we made camp at Burlington campground off the Avenue of the Giants Highway. A cooling mist kept things fresh and alive. The next day the sun burst forth so Susie and Al took to bicycle riding along the sediment-rich Eel river, saturated with the hues of jade and torquoise. Perhaps some of the finest stretch was our ride beneath the canopy of old growth. We will be back during the summer months to stay at the secluded Albee Creek Campground. We found a trail leading from the main road and investigated, arriving upon a huge old fallen sequoia making a natural bridge to a green sun filled meadow. Gathering up snacks, blanket, and our very own water bottle of barley wine, we crossed over and entered a modern day Eden.
Here we go a riding, a riding through the mighty redwoods..the R E D W O O D S woopee!
