Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 6

Redwood National Park

We awoke this morning with great anticipation. No, it was not the smell of breakfast in the air, although it was wonderful; today’s the day we visit another of our scenic National Parks. More than just tall trees, Redwood National Park the park protects vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and nearly 40 miles of pristine coastline, all supporting a rich mosaic of wildlife diversity and cultural traditions. So, following another good night’s rest, the call to board the motor coach was heard and shortly after 8:00 AM we were on our way. Saying our farewells to the Oregon coast for the final time we made our way across the northern California border, stopping briefly at the National Redwood Forest Visitor Center at Jedediah Smith State Park. We watched a short film presenting some history on the giant Redwoods which are known as California Coastal redwoods. The coastal redwood region is a narrow strip of land extending 450 miles from southern Oregon to about 150 miles south of San Francisco, with by far the greatest concentrations of redwoods occurring in Humboldt County in Northern California. These redwoods have an average lifespan of 500-700 years and the coast redwoods can live to more than 2,000 years and grow to over 360 feet in height. Their great longevity is not why redwoods are called sequoia sempervirens, or sequoia ever-living. Rather, the scientific name refers to their ability to sprout from root stock as well as from seed. An interesting factoid about the Redwoods is that they do not have a deep root system so they bind together with other redwood roots to form a stronger root base. 

Crescent City - for lunch

Back on the road again we had a short drive to our lunch stop for today. We got back on the road for a short drive to our lunch stop in Cressant City, named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city.

Crescent City's offshore geography makes it unusually susceptible to tsunamis. For example, much of the city was destroyed by one generated by the Good Friday Earthquake off Anchorage, Alaska in 1964. More recently, the city's harbor suffered extensive damage and destruction due to tsunamis generated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake off Sendai, Japan. Several dozen vessels and many of the docks they were moored to were destroyed as wave cycles related to the tsunamis exceeded 8 feet.

Lunch today was delayed. The restaurant we planned on dining was closed! Imagine that. With a little searching of the immediate area we found a couple of possibilities quite close by; the Grotto Restaurant and the Harbor Deli fit our hunger just fine. We scattered off the coach and had a very rich lunch, satisfaction all around. Next stop was Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, home to the "Big Tree".

I took a path toward the “Big Tree” and saw ferns everywhere. A few steps more into the woods on the foothill trail and we came upon several fallen trees. Photo ops abound.

Bob(to the 4th power) in front of the “Big Tree” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

  

On the drive an elk refuge area appeared and we were treated to the sight of a female and then a sizable herd all standing together like they were posing for our cameras (or maybe it was us being photographed by the elk. You decide.)

We entered Eureka, California and shortly before arriving at our hotel for the night, the Red Lion, we passed by Carson Mansion, better known as The Ingomar Club. The Ingomar Club is a private club based in the Carson Mansion, one of the most notable examples of Victorian architecture in the United States. According to research, the Club was founded "to own and maintain a club headquarters for the meetings and enjoyment of its members; to create, establish and maintain an association of gentlemen for the preservation and protection of historic 'Carson Mansion'; to promote interest among its members in athletics, yachting, golf, swimming and related activities; to promote good fellowship, and to associate together those interested in the field of fine arts, music and culture". While for many years, the Club operated with minimal scrutiny, it has not escaped controversy, both due to a long-standing policy of male-only membership and sexual harassment claims by former employees.  The flowers outside were beautiful and a few photos later we continued on our way.

Dinner, Lumber Camp style

Dinner this evening was promptly at 6:30 PM at the Samoa Cookhouse,  the last surviving cookhouse in the West, continuing the tradition of serving lots of good food - lumber camp style! It was featured in Coastal Living magazine in May 2003. The tables are set in long lines and the food is served family-style, or guess lumber camp style is more appropriate. Salad, soup, huge loaves of bread, boneless fried chicken, ham, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, tea water and coffee and of course spice cake for dessert to top it off.  Next to the cookhouse is a logging museum with artifacts reminiscent of the bygone days of logging in northern California.

After getting our fill we were back at our hotel for the night to rest up for tomorrow’s adventure and arrival into the City By the Bay, San Francisco.