California

Return to the North California Coast, 2021

We started to narrow down the list of possibilities for an extended anniversary weekend. We’ve been to the top of Hager Mountain and out to the Lost Forest. What would it be this year? Choices are somewhat limited, and although we’d really like to check out a yurt in the mountains of Idaho that will have to wait for another year. How about the wildflower bloom in the California deserts? Well, you need some rain for that. A hike on the Olympic Peninsula? Sort of hard if the trailheads are closed. After lots of thinking and staring at the map we settled on the northern California Coast. We headed out on Friday and made it to the Smith River for our first night. Then it was off through the narrow band of the redwoods on the way to the coast.

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Continue ReadingReturn to the North California Coast, 2021

Onward to Oregon, 2019

After two windy but sunny days and a quick glance at the weather forecast, we knew our rain free days were coming to a close. We sat at the junction of Usal and Bryceland road as sprinkle turned to downpour. The road to Needle Rock to our left with several warning signs was sending us a message. You may get down, but no guarantees on getting back up.

We hung a right and headed inland. As beautiful as Needle Rock could be, it wasn’t the place to head to with the coming storm. Heading over the King Range, wet snow began to fall and as we dropped toward the Eel River drainage the downpour started in earnest. After a quick stop at a hardware store we just happened to need to stop at last trip we had a new drip pan for the grill and we headed toward the Avenue of the Giants. By the time we reached the Avenue it was mid afternoon, but due to the 300+ foot trees, and the pouring rain it felt like nighttime. We made a stop at the visitor center and among other attractions and information we found the travel log.

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Northern California, 2019, Part 2

We were up and headed north from Navarro early. We had a train to catch. It had turned windy and cold overnight, was it the forecasted storm blowing in early? We rolled into Ft. Bragg before most of the town was open. We acquired our tickets and took a chilly walk around town and then checked out the model railroad.

Several people have put a ton of time into the Mendicino Model Railroad to give us a glimpse into the past. I wonder how they decide who gets the remote controls for the day. We then jumped the train and took a short ride up Pudding Creek on the Skunk Train.

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Continue ReadingNorthern California, 2019, Part 2