Redwoods - Fern Canyon

Our next adventure was to Fern Canyon.  From of our Mystic Forest campsites, it is located in the Prairie Redwoods, about an hour south. 

We eagerly chose to drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy to check out the views and a stop at the ‘Big Tree’ Wayside.

Lori at the Big Tree

Big Tree is estimated at over 1500 yrs old 286’ tall and 23’ in diameter.  It is a Big Tree among many other big trees.

Once back on 101 we turned onto Davidson Road, which is paved, but quickly turns to a narrow unpaved track to Gold Beach, a bit over 10 miles. From the Day Use parking lot we began on an easy level trail.

The trail guide pamphlet mentioned that foot bridges would be installed, but we should be prepared to get our feet wet. … We all brought a second pair of shoes to change into.

Michael just walks in the creek, while the rest of us try to keep our feet dry.

Jm likes to demonstrate his balance by bouncing on the foot bridges.

and climbing on the logs

This bridge was a bit short and I managed to get a foot wet.  But notice the 150’ high steep walls just laden with ferns.  I was admiring the walls and not what my feet were doing!

Michael, Lori and Jm

Cousins Jm and Audrey

We had to pause as another couple was returning down stream.  The trail really is that narrow.

No way around this one.  We all got our feet wet!

Where the water trickles down the sides of the, canyon the ferns cannot get a purchase and there the walls are covered with moss.

there are no benches on this trail, so Marty and Juanita take a break on a log.

There was no way around this dead fall, but to go straight through!

This is not a redwood, there are very few of them in the canyon, but the ferns will grow wherever they can find purchase.

I didn’t get a good picture of our picnic lunch at the day use area.  But Marty and Juanita were exiled for bringing nuts!  Claira has a nut allergy.

Jm and Lori did the hike to Gold Beach.

On the way back to camp I noticed this sign

offering dancing lessons with elk?

And we did see elk!

This gal is giving me the eye … must be time for my dance lesson!

Back at camp Claira and Nikki did a walk up to the ‘Chimney Tree’.  Long ago this tree was hit by lightening and left hallow.

From inside the Chimney Tree

Next up the Del Norte Redwoods, at Jedediah Smith Redwoods

Redwoods - Trees of Mystery

In my last post I covered our typical evenings of gathering together for happy hour, dinner, bon fire, cribbage and a movie.  This is the first post of how our days were spent exploring, with our first stop at the nearby Trees of Mystery.

Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox ‘Babe’ guard the entrance.

Fran walking past Paul Bunyan and Babe
This guys are BIG!

Before going on, let me introduce you to the group:

Back; Me, Michael, Jm Lucas, Nikki, Lori
Front: Fran, Juanita, Marty, Claira and Audrey

Michael (son) and Lori (DIL) belong to Jm
Marty (brother) is Nikki's dad, so our niece
Nikki and Lucas are proud to claim Claira and Audrey
Marty and Juanita, like Fran and I, are just dang thrilled we can gather together

There are many carvings at the entrance and throughout the park.

The fox is my favorite

.

.

.

Sasquatch chatting with Jm

The Trees of Mystery is a tourist attraction, pretty much a one-and-done destination, but it is so worth a stop.  The age of the redwoods within the park would indicate the park was built around them, they were not created by the park founders.

Claira, Audrey and Lucas at:
Nature's Underpass

The well marked trail winds through the park past its many attractions.  In this interesting grove some of the trees rise from a common trunk.

The Redwood Canopy Trail was certainly an attraction for all of us.  The trail consists of several suspended foot bridges between platforms high (up to 100’) in the trees.  Yes the bridges wiggle!

Nikki with daughters Claira and Audrey

Lucas leads the way as the bridges begin to work their way back down.

The sisters crossing a downhill span.  Lori, Michael and Jm are waiting on the platform behind.

Even after starting down we’re still pretty high

The tallest tree in the world is a redwood, the Hyperion Tree, at 380’

By comparison the Brotherhood Tree is the tallest in the Trees of Mystery at just under 300 feet.

From below this is what the little 300’ Brotherhood Tree looks like.

Looks pretty darn big to me!

We also took a ride on the gondolas that comprise the Sky Trail.

Lucas, Claira, Nikki, Audrey exit their gondola

From the viewpoint at the top we did not see the ocean, but just a nice cloud layer where the beach should have been.

An option at the top was to either hike one mile down on a straight down trail with climbing ropes ’For Expert Hikers Only’ or ride the Gondola back.  Fran joined the small group to hike down (and found out too late she wasn't an 'expert' hiker).  I took the gondola!  And enjoyed some more wood sculptures while waiting for them.

.

.

The story of Paul Bunyan is depicted on wooden panels on the trail leading out via the gift shop and exit.  Although I did not take any pictures of the panels.  Lucas and Paul could be twins, so I had to have this picture!

We took a break, while Fran chatted with Sasquatch for a bit.

As our days at the Trees of Mystery came to a close.

Back at Camp …

We’re not roasting marshmallows, so Michael made the evening campfire a bit more colorful.

Claira and Fran playing a round on the mini-golf course.

Next up a wonderful day in Fern Canyon.

NOTE: Some photos in this blog were taken by Nikki and Lori ... They just take better photos then I do!  Thx

Redwoods - family camping

As a family we try to gather once a year for a camping trip.  This year we met at the Mystic Forest RV Park, just north of Klamath, California.

But we first have to get there.  The drive from San Diego took us through the Central Valley.  It was hot!  We typically choose to drive on 99 vs. 5.  It is a bit slower, but offers more reasons to take it easy.

Bravo Farms, in Traver, is a nice place to stretch our legs.  Here we can admire their large choice of cheeses.

and olives

We enjoy a stop in Vina for Vino at New Clairvaux Vineyard.  This Trapist Abbey was established in 1956 when the order purchased 400 acres of the Vina Ranch.

New Clairvaux was named California's Winery of the Year, and the prices now reflect that honor.

New (to us) is a nice new redwood slab in the tasting room.

It was not planned, but son Michael arrived about the same time.  We each purchased a couple wines to share at the family gathering.

Pumpkinland Chocolate Company is several more miles up the road near Red Bluff.  They offer excellent turtles.

It was 113F when we arrived at the Red Bluff KOA.  Michael arranged for us to be set up next to each other.  Our air conditioner was no match for the heat.

Jm and I went over to the clubhouse and warmed up for the cribbage challenge

He won ... again!

while Fran enjoyed hanging out by the pool.

We both left in the morning to make the easy drive up 5 to Redding, and the long drive over the Klamath Mountains to the coast.

Mystic Forest is a family/group/dog friendly park with Patrick and Mya as awesome hosts.  They placed us in 3 30 amp FHU sites and a tent site on the grass.

The arrangement was great for our group.  Each evening we took turns hosting dinner, shared a lot of wine, had a fire and watched a movie. 

Fran and I hosted the first night with a Mexican theme … tacos! and wines from my favorite Mexican winery, Monte Xanic.

My last 2020 Cab easily the best

Jm’s puppy Ember was tuckered out from the ride, the commotion.

Michael used his propane gun to start a fire.  No paper or matches needed.

By the time Audrey roasted some marshmallows

It was time for a movie

Back to the Future

This would be our evening routine after exploring during the day.

We had different wine selections each night.  Michael entered his Abbot’s Reserve.

Past Abbot Thomas Davis (left) vs current Abbot Paul Mark Schwan (right).  Both excellent choices, my Temptation was not.

Our final wine day was to finish up the leftovers and rank them.

I saved an Aimee, which was the easy best-of-the-best,  But 14 Hands certainly the best value.

That is how we spent the evenings together … cribbage, eating, fire, movie and hanging out. 

Next Trees of Mystery.  An example of how we spent our days ... and no more bott;es of wine!