Giants = Trees and Big Foot

 One more intense redwoods experience before we ventured back info civilization included exploring the Avenue of the Giants between Eureka and Garberville in the Humboldt Redwoods State park. This 30 mile road accesses all kinds of hikes, short and long, as well as plenty of roadside attractions that make it even more fun. 

We found several picturesque short hikes where the trees and lighting were stunning.

Being in charge of hikes, we did have a long one that meandered near a river through old growth trees. The Turk was nervous when we saw no humans for several hours. He almost hugged the poor guy we saw toward the end of the hike!

lunch atop a fallen tree!

   

Peeking out of the ferns

much needed soothing of feet after long hike

For some reason, Big Foot is quite popular here and appears everywhere. Also many references to Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Several drive through trees, rooms inside of hollowed out trees, quirky signs and sculptures. 

Turk meets a buddy

enter the 'house' at base of tree. Was used as a souvenir shop at one time

just in case you were wondering....

All bears were safely masked for Covid

interesting story. Kellogg was known for his whistling

camper was carved from 1 log. 

Sign of the Times!

Eureka!

The California Gold Rush brought settlers to the Humboldt Bay in the 1850s, and the city was given the name “Eureka” from the Greek word meaning “I have found it.”  This influx of immigrants was disasterous however to the resident Wiyot tribe who was essentially eliminated by 1860.

Today, Eureka is the largest city of Humbolt County though is past its heyday of the lumber capital of northern California. The intricate Victorian architecture shows off how Eureka looked in those days.  Today, Eureka is the cannibas capital with legal and illegal growers scattered throughout the remote forests.

Looks like a candy house

What a joyous entryway

detail work even with basement windows

Carson Mansion-Queen Anne style

Across street from Carson, wedding gift for Carson's son

one of Old Town stores

We found the Blue Ox Millworks, a true labor of love for the Victorian times. They've brought in original logging camp buildings, a blacksmith shop, letterpress print shop, glass, pottery studios. But the most exciting for us was the woodworking shop where skilled woodworkers, some trained in high school programs, build and renovate Victorian woodwork for buildings around the world. They use original equipment and tools from the 1800-early 1900s. While we were there, we watched work being done on corbals for the renovation of a train station.

another logging camp building and tools

saw to cut intricate pieces

Huge lathe for tall posts. Notice the ones hanging

working on corbels

Detailed work, and over 20 to be made

original kitchen for logging camp

We found two very different exceptional restaurants in the area. Brick & Fire was a few blocks from our AirBnB (itself the carriage house of a Victorian) and the Turk loved that all dishes were cooked in wood fired oven. Delish and fun.  We also ventured across the bridge to Samoa (island was named as US claimed the island nation of Samoa) to the Samoa Cookhouse. This original cookhouse was built for the loggers who sat at long tables for meals. They were, as we were, served bowls of food - no real choice of menu. The Turk liked the homemade bread, unlimited servings, and apparently the forks. He ended up with 6 around his plate that night!

start counting forks....

Of course we traveled through redwood forests to get from Crescent City to Eureka. Road work, crossing the Klamath River guarded by golden bears who show their butts if you go north, Elk Meadow where we saw....ELK,  Fern Canyon where you hike in a canyon of ferns famous because it was filmed in the movie Jurassic Park.

driving adventure! Road was only open 4x during the day

coming

and going!

...and the point is..?

Elk were EVERYWHERE

still trying to figure this one out

a wet hike - because that's what ferns need

Ferns all the way up the canyon walls !!

coastal drive to Eureka - see the seals sunning on the beach?

happy travelers

Crescent City Capades

 

redwood tree perspective

We left the extreme heat of Sacramento and drove 7 hours to Crescent City. This drive took us into Oregon briefly, because that is where the road went. Turk liked this path since he could get gas cheaper in Oregon than California AND have someone pump it for him.  The temperature dropped over 50 degrees during this trip that took us past Mt. Shasta and  the drought impacted Shasta Lake reservoir, formed in 1944 when the Sacramento River was dammed. Little did we know that a month later this drive would be surrounded by fires and smoke from the climate change influenced fire season.

Mt. Shasta in June - actually a volcano!

Turk makes sure I can see the top

The drive became magical as we entered the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park.  We pulled over just to run around these coastal redwoods, the tallest in the world.

Our first redwoods on this trip!

That's a BIG trunk

redwood tree skin tells stories

the bark slowly curls around as tree grows

After settling into our cute AirBnB bungalow, we explored town. Discovered Kin Khao Thai Eatery - really perfect warming and delicious food. We could hear the chef as she gave orders in Thai to the staff! 

Next day we headed to Del Norte RWDSP where 45% of the earth's remaining old-growth redwood forests stand. Our big hike that day was along the Coastal Trail where we saw other hikers only at the start. Lots of wild flowers, coastline scenes (mostly at the beginning). We hiked 4 hours and decided it was time to relax the rest of the day.

Lots to see. We think we got 4 miles in.

Purple heart clover

We found a resting spot on the trail

looks bigger than it was

so many tiny flowers

and so colorful

We hiked the spur trail down to Enders Beach which was a real find. Beautiful rock formations, pools from the nearby creek, and downed redwoods made interesting landscape to scamper around.

Picture perfect view at Enders Beach

Perspective of the stone bridge

A shorter redwood hike still called to us. We found that many of the Redwood groves are named for the individuals who purchased, or already owned the land and gave it to the state park system in order to help preserve some of the trees. With the gold rush in the 1850's and the resulting need for buildings, loggers were cutting down redwoods. By the end of the 1800's, large groves of redwoods were decimated. In the 1910's the Save the Redwoods League helped bring attention to the plight of the trees and get patches of redwoods donated - paving the way for the areas now known at Del Norte, Jedediah, and Prairie Creek Redwood State Parks. Groves that were donated are acknowledged with plaques that you can see on the main hike of each. But by the 1960's, over 90% of the old growth redwoods were gone. in 1968 Redwood National Park was created and provided federal funds to protect these areas and expand them. This is now a World Heritage Site. 

succulents in the coastal rocks

More rock wildflowers

dainty pink flowers near beach

donators were often lumber industry owners of the land

Turk is hugged by a redwood

Looks prehistoric....cause it IS