Oregon and Northern California Hybrid Road Trip-Day 10

Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park

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Phase II of the trip continued; Exploration of the Northern California Coast via a good old automobile-Day 5; Eureka, California to Vallejo, California

Today was really interesting.  It is the last day of Phase II of the trip but it was spectacular and scary as hell!  Phase III of the trip starts tomorrow when we pick up friends at the Oakland California airport, then rendezvous with two other couples for a week in a vacation rental home in the Russian River Valley.  The week should be great as these three guys are lifelong friends.  We get together, with our significant others, every year.  Each year our time together gets better and better.  I expect no less this year.

Now, on to today's very interesting journey.

We left Eureka about 8 a.m. after a not so great breakfast at the hotel.  Nothing to write home about, as most of them are.  We immediately proceeded south on Highway 101 until we reached the turnoff for the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. 

We had decided to drive this 31 mile scenic drive instead of just staying on 101 and are we glad we did.  This were the most spectacular stands of giant redwoods yet.  If you have ever been through a redwood forest, it is so calming, peaceful, meditative and absolutely beautiful.  I find it hard to believe that anyone, after seeing these trees, would want to cut them down.  We sat in the car, with the engine off, for a while and it was dead silent.  No sounds at all.  No wind, no cars, no human made sounds, no natural sound, nothing.  That is quiet a remarkable experience.  When was the last time you heard absolute silence?  Never, maybe?

After making the drive and making many images, we drove west on California Highway 1. This road is one of the most scenic and scary roads on which I have driven.  The first 22 miles went up and down mountains which were solid forest.  About halfway through, we came across an old camp.  More correctly, a failed tourist attraction.  On the right was an old red, abandoned housel with an old red GMC flatbed truck pulled up beside. it.  Just off to one side, was a '39 International pickup truck which was missing its bed.  Everything we saw was probably in its prime 50 years ago.  All had probably not been touched in 50 years. As I made images, the owner of the property pulled in and tried to sell me the trucks!  He went on to say he bought the property many, many years ago with the intent of making it a first class vacation destination with cabins, hiking, backwoods activities, etc.  He also said he just couldn't make it work.  He was older now and could hardly get around and was going to put the "whole kit and caboodle" on the market.  He wanted to find a warmer place and just live a quiet life.  I thanked him for letting me make some images and we were on our way. (Notice the moss growing on the roof.  He said it had rained recently and it all came to life!  Cool!)

We next headed south on California 1 which paralleled the coast.  This road was narrow, harrowing, up and down, left and right, with no guard rails and lots of potential for going over the cliffs!  Imagine the curviest road on which you have driven, put it on the edge of the ocean with 500 ft. cliffs and no guard rails, then add in a roller coaster up and down movement.  Today, I drove about 315 miles.  About 200 of it were on California 1 and I was exhausted when I finished.

Point Arena Lighthouse

All that being said, I would do it again as it is one of the most scenic, spectacular, interesting drives on which I have ever traveled.  We were driving north to south so the sun was in our faces all day.  Also, driving north to south, puts you on the ocean side with the cliffs.  I think it would be even more enjoyable driving north from the town of Tomales to where the road goes inland, through the woods and over to Rt. 101.

Along the way, we saw Pt. Arena Lighthouse so we made the detour over to it and made some splendid images.  We didn't go in the lighthouse as it was 3:15 p.m. and it closes at 3:30.  Also, there is a charge to tour it and we didn't want to spend the money for 15 minutes of tour.

The Point Arena Lighthouse has one of the most spectacular surroundings with shear cliffs, a rocky shore and crashing ways.  It is one of the most photogenic lighthouse I have photographed.

It really was a great travel day.  I was pretty exhausted at the end of the day.  My shoulders were sore from gripping the steering wheel so tightly for so many hours.  We didn't reach our hotel until almost 7 p.m.  But after a hot shower, I was ready to share my experience with you.

Tomorrow, off to the airport in the morning, then friends the rest of the week.  Later.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook



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