Garberville to Gold Beach, July 31

We get a good game of travel bingo going as we drive. We mark off mailboxes and churches (easy) and smoke stacks and water towers (hard) and birds on a wire (really hard). Sean wins the regular game, Anna wins blackout. The miles whiz by and the cab of the truck is full of fun and companionship.

Our lunch stop is at a popular elk viewing site. A large herd of Roosevelt elk (named after the president who created a preserve for them) live in an area just off the highway. We walk the trail adjacent to the large meadow, but the elk are lying down, tucked into the shady spots and are hard to see. The leg stretch is good, the sun is shining, and we're content with the glimpses we get.

As we enter The Trees of Mystery a winding path through an old growth forest leads us past trees with names like "the family tree", "the cathedral tree", ??? to the Sky Trail, a gondola which will whisk us up into the canopy above and thrill us with an 10 minute ascent to a viewing platform where we disembark to study the views of Bigfoot country in one direction and the shining sea in the other. We are atwitter to discover a bright blue Stellar Jay strutting on the wooden boards and a couple of friendly chipmunks. Chipmunk sightings in Paris are rare!

From the Bottom Up

Another Big Foot Sighting

Free Spirit on the Sky Trail

In the Canopy

The Guys

After the Sky Trail adventure we venture onto the Trail of Tall Tales. Around every bend and curve is a wooden carving of an imaginative creature or structure. These are more than life-sized and are intricately carved. At the end of the trail and just prior to the entrance to the gift shop is a prodigious slice of tree who's rings have been marked with historic events and show graphically the passage of time and the silent duration and continuity contained within the trunk of a tree.

Our parking spot is at Turtle Rock. Our first official stop on the Oregon Coast. Nana and the kids follow the path to the beach and get an up close look at the rock turtle. The beach is scruffy with small pieces of driftwood and we each collect a pocket-sized sample. We take time to hurl a few dozen stones into the estuary on the return trip raising the water level a fraction or so. 

The Rock Lives Up to Its Name

Anna's Favorite: The Sky Trail

Sean's Favorite: The Sky Trail

Avenue of the Giants, July 30

We have all day to tour the Avenue of the Giants. We leave the trailer at the RV park, driving just the truck. At the first grove we stop to walk into the forest on a shady, woodsy trail. The trees are huge. We stand at the base and gaze up, up, and up some 300 feet into branches and bark. There are trees that have fallen that allow us to feel the scope of just how tall they were.

Big Trees

The "Immortal Tree" has survived flood, fire, lightening, and the axe and continues to flourish.

Further along is a tiny house complete with windows built inside the trunk of a redwood tree stump.

Anna wishes someone will put 20 bucks under her pillow

And then the Shrine Drive-through Tree. This time even though the sign says no pick-up trucks, Brokaw is determined to make it through. We get out the measuring tape. We tuck in the outside mirrors. It appears possible. I get out to take pictures and watch as the truck enters the tree...it really looks like the opening is too small. I hear some squeaking and I think it's too tight a fit, they should back out before they get stuck. Brokaw presses on. We draw a crowd. People are skeptical. Me too. And then, they are through. There is definitely a redwood stain on one door handle. One young man says he recorded the whole thing and will post the video on YouTube. If so, I'll post the link. And here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj4T3zGUGuQ

Tight Squeeze

And Out The Other Side

We are in Bigfoot territory and the kids are fascinated. Sean buys a map of recorded Bigfoot sightings. Not any near where we are camping. Drat! We are hoping to see him. We discuss whether Bigfoot could be real....I tell them I believe in keeping my options open. So do they.

Bigfeet

Draw Your Own Conclusions

Anna's Favorite:  "Bigfoot is cool."
Message to Mom and Dad: "Do you know Bigfoot exists in reality?"

Sean's Favorite:  "Bigfoot exists and I will find him one day."
Message to Mom and Dad: "I still miss you."

San Francisco to Garberville, July 29

We say good-bye to the Ramaswamys, who seem to be eager to assist us in packing up and getting ready to go. Uncle Vivek carries three suitcases at once from upstairs to the curb. Can't blame them, we are a bit like a tornado in a teapot.

Once in the truck, with the trailer obediently following behind, Sean and Anna start the trip by opening a fortune cookie apiece. What will their fortunes be? Sean's says, "An artist has his own vision of the world." Anna's says, "Be a winner". Good omens, both.

The Brokaw challenge today is spotting mobile homes and trucks towing trailers. Each is worth 10 cents.  Nana hands out dimes and changes them in for dollar bills. Soon Brokaw is busted and the kids are rich. $16 in dimes split two ways plus a $20 bill for each from Auntie Jenny has them prepared for the gift shops to come.

The first hours pass easily as we clear the Bay Area and head for the Redwoods. Anna uses her trip-tych to check off the towns. Soon we arrive at the Chandelier Drive-through Tree. Of course, we can't drive through because we're towing the Airstream, but we can walk through and watch others do the driving.

And then there's Confusion Hill. We're a bit skeptical, but it lives up to its hype. Gravity is defied and illusions abound. It's one of those naturally occurring spots on the earth where the forces of gravity are well, confused. Even if the floor was totally flat Anna could still appear to be taller than Sean. If Sean or Anna hung from a bar their bodies hung at an angle.

A swim and the steal your money games at the Benbow RV Park "clubhouse" wind up the afternoon.

Journal Time

One of the end of day quiz questions was "what color is in the name of the trees we saw today?" Anna hesitated, Brokaw gave her a clue (it's the color of your lips). She leapt up to look in the mirror and came back saying "grape".



Anna's favorite: Going to Confusion Hill and Gravity House.
Message to Mom and Dad: "Mommy you don't know what vacation means!!!!" (because Nana says you want us to have quiet reading time every day.)

Sean's favorite: Going to Confusion Hill and Gravity House.
Message to Mom and Dad: "Daddy and Mommy I miss you and can't wait to see you."

San Francisco July 20-28

Mommy arrives from Mexico City.

Lots of fun things to do.

Riding the cable cars, walking along Fisherman's Wharf, (and checking out the candy store), dinner at In-and-Out Burger, shopping at the Nordstrom sale, driving to Napa for Luca Boldrini's baptism and after-party (catered by his father and grandfather, both marvelous Italian chefs), visiting with the Ramaswamys and enjoying the view from their deck, exploring the California Academy of Science, a BBQ at Kevin and Rachelle's house, strolling Union Street with lunch outside at Rose's Cafe, and a quick tour of China Town.  Whew!!

Touching Pool

Two Entrees...Just Like ???

Candy Shopping

World's Largest Gummy Worm

Nordstrom Cool

Waiting

Cable Car Ride

China Town

Buddies

Sean and his buddy Julian attend the Bud Bresnahan Basketball Camp Monday through Thursday and are cited as outstanding campers and awarded with souvenir basketballs. One coach tells us "Sean has a nose for the basket." We watch him put it in from 3 point land.

Three Point Man