Redwoods - Northern CA Coast - San Francisco (22)

Breakfast at a local eatery helped delay our departure from Crescent City. We were hoping the ever present fog would lift in time for our drive through The Newton B. Drury Scenic Drive.

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Luckily, the fog had lifted somewhat giving us a good view of the magnificent giant redwoods.

If you have never had the opportunity to stand beside a giant redwood and gaze up at it's height, you are in for a treat.

Large groves of these giant trees line the road on both sides like soldiers, centuries old. For me, there was a very distinct cathedral like feeling in their presence.

This is "The Big Tree". It is only when you see something of a known size that you begin to fathom the true girth and height of these enormous trees. It is quickly apparent these trees are some of the oldest living things on the planet.

We stopped at the "Hanzel and Gretel" like Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center on the way out of the park.

Soon we drove through Eureka, CA on our southward trek. While in Eureka, we found the very private Ingomar Club. As the sign says, it's the former home of a lumber baron and now a private men's club. If it is nothing else, it is very unique and almost spooky.

The Avenue of the Giants

Following CA Hwy 101 south, we found many small redwood forests in addition to The Avenue of the Giants.

It is almost impossible to stand beside a giant redwood and see it's top. Some of these trees approach 300 ft. I never fully appreciated the size and majesty of these giants until we stopped and walked a trail beneath these giant trees. Many have stood in place for nearly a thousand years.

Some of the most impressive sights are the fallen trunks. You really do get a feel for the trees former size when you stand near one.

This sign is beside one of the larger (or once was) trees outside of the parks. Many of the trees inside the parks are of equal size.

Along with Carhinge in Nebraska and The Wall Drug Dinasaur in South Dakota, let me submit The One Log House in Northern California.

Eventually, we crossed the coastal mountains and dropped down to Hwy 1 and the beach. As you can see, the low lying fog had the beaches socked in.

Many years ago, Carolyn and I had the opportunity to watch whales swim by the seaside point at Mendocino. That was not to be this trip. ( A note to Dwight, I could not agree more, Mendocino is a beautiful place, not to be missed!)

After stopping in several beach towns, including Fort Brag and Mendocino, we again turned east on the very curvy Navarro River Highway (Hwy 128), passing through The Navarro River Redwood State Park and crossing the mountains to Hwy 101 at Cloverdale.

We found a room in Petaluma and then drove into San Francisco to see the city at night. This is the Palace of Fine Arts.

We toured Fisherman's Wharf and the surrounding docks as it began to get dark.

Pier 39 - Fishermans Wharf - San Francisco, CA.

The Trans America Building in downtown San Francisco at night.

From the docks we explored the downtown skyscraper area, and the very unique ethnic neighborhoods. Even with the light fog, the city was bustling and full of life.

If this trip has taught me anything it is that I need a better camera. My trusty old Sony still takes great snapshots, but I have found a real need for a good SLR. The hunt will be on when we return home.

A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation. ~Mark Twain~