Captains Log August 5 – It was a totally awesome
day! We headed out after breakfast for a
Tiny Bill - Big Tree
drive thru the giant Redwoods. We had
originally planned to drive south about 2 hours but Bill was told that about 15
miles south of us is a nice drive thru the
I decided I better pack a lunch as we had no idea if there would be a town close by or restaurant as this is a rather sparse residential area. Also it was rather brisk out and we’d be in the woods so we both put on jeans and a jacket.
It was so peaceful and for the first half of our drive there were hardly any other visitors. About midway there is more parking as they have a walk-thru path that we definitely did not want to miss. There were huge redwoods down, up, climbable, crawl in-able. It was such a wonderful and peaceful walk. We chatted some here and there with other visitors. There were small kids who were really
enjoying climbing in and on the trees. It’s so tranquil and peaceful as people show their respect as if it was a human burial ground. There are numerous hikes and walking paths off of the road as well and one that goes right to the edge of the Pacific. With my ankle I have to be very careful on paths and climbing, and I sure do miss climbing up on everything. There was one HUGE downed redwood that a young girl jumped down from and I attempted to go up it but was worried more about how I’d get back down so I sadly, had to pass.
When we left the scenic loop we stopped at the Ranger Station where I got my passport stamp and Bill got a magnet and sticker. The parking was nil, so he waited outside in the truck in on the lane while I went in and then he went in and I waited but was able to snag a
Kelly climbed up into a double tree
parking spot.
There’s a tiny town of 320 on the other side of the parks and we parked in a store parking lot and enjoyed our packed lunch. We watched the field of cattle and sheep across the road while we ate and Bill kept saying the sheep were statues as they rarely moved from one spot!
The lot was next to a wood shop/sales shop of all things Redwood. The tables and décor were beautiful! From tiny little knick-knacks to a dinette for 4, they had something for everyone as long as you wanted to pay the price. They make it all right there and Bill went out and watched one of the guys for a bit. I’ve done really well so far this trip about buying more nick-knacks. My house if full of all the “treasures” from the last 40 years so I’d have to REALLY want it and know where to put it before I’d buy another thing.
On the way back to the campground, just as we hit
the end of the Orick, I spotted a herd of elk and made Bill u-turn. He thought I was crazy until I made him turn
down the road beside the school and there were at least 50 males, females and
baby elk. They were not afraid of us as
we pulled into the parking lot. The
continued to graze and paid us no mind until a group on 
The horseback riders 
The ticked off Elk
horseback rode along
the edge of the highway and stopped.
Those elk all lifted their heads and faced in the direction of the horses
and
very slowly moved in a group towards them and as soon as the riders left
they relaxed and played in the schools playground. A second great site today!
Bill was talking to a lady in the parking lot who is the Superintendent/Principal of the 23 student school. It’s a nice size school and they only have 23 students K-8 so they are a 2 school room school. Who would have thought schools like that still exist? They have 2 teachers who teach K – 4th and 5th – 8th. The high school kids go to another school. She told Bill back in the day of logging it was a huge town with full schools but the redwoods in the area are logged out and there are no other factories or places in town in entice people to live there. Very sad!
Back in Klamath we drove the small side road where the main buildings of the town are like the fire station, and the Native government buildings are. The bridge we drove over, the
 |
| Monument to Captain Courageous |
One is a big stone commemorating Captain Courageous, who was a bull that washed away in the flood and survived. The other memorial is a Bear Statue that I think is related to the bears on the end of the bridge. Bill drove through the "Drive Thru Tree", just barely!
He had to put one mirror in!
When we got back Klamath, which we learned at one
time was a pretty large town and very prosperous, was washed away as it
originally was RIGHT on the Pacific coast.
When it was rebuilt, it really never took hold and is primarily a native
reservation of Yurok Native Americans.
They have a casino and a couple of motels but not much more. There are more RV parks than anything
else. The other main attraction is the
Trees of Mystery place on the north end of town. We are going there tomorrow as we stopped by
today and went through their fabulous
It was time to call it a day and head for home. I made some Bison burgers for dinner with some leftovers and called it a meal!
As I stated in the start of my post, we had a really great day today!
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