The Redwoods

Since we can't travel right now, here is more about our trip in August, 2008.  We left Brookings and traveled south to Crescent City.  From there we took US 199.  This is also called the Redwood Highway.  The Redwood Highway has two segments.  It begins north of the Golden Gate Bridge and follows Route 101.  It then veers inland near Crescent City, Ca. and continues through the redwoods on US Route 199.  This is a twisty, turny road and there are often construction delays, but it is certainly scenic.

Our first stop was Stout Grove, part of California's Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park.

This is a very easy, level trail winding through some giant redwoods.  There is an ample parking facility and restrooms are available.  The road into the park is partly paved and the rest is well maintained dirt.  It's narrow though so you don't want to go speeding around corners!

Dirt road into Stout Grove

We weren't even to the grove yet when we saw this giant stump.  I don't know who this person is in the photo, but it shows how large the stump is.

That had to take a really big chainsaw haha.

The path takes off right from the parking lot.  Very easy for those of us who don't get around as good as we once did.  The entire loop trail is .6 mile.

Even on a hot day it was comfortable because of all the shade.

Stout Grove does not contain the biggest redwoods but they are still impressive and they go WAAAAY up.

And they are BIG around.

Makes Russ look positively tiny and he
hasn't been tiny since he was a 5lb. preemie!

Two trees for the price of one

Russ tried to save this tree but he just couldn't do it....

...It came crashing down - okay so it's not the same tree, we had fun pretending!

This one doesn't look so big.....

...until you add a little perspective.  Yes it IS the same stump!!!

After enjoying our walk through the woods, we stopped at the picnic area of the park for a nice lunch.  We had purchased Subway sandwiches in Crescent City so all I had to do was lay them out.  It was the perfect spot for enjoying our lunch.


There is a laminated notice on every table: DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE

 In 1974 Russ and I stayed in the campground here for our 1st anniversary trip.  We borrowed a 1963 pick-up and a 17' camp trailer from his parents and we thought we were living high on the hog.  His parents had even put a porta-potty in the closet of the trailer and we thought that was really uptown.  I did most of the cooking over an open campfire, just like my parents did on all the family vacations that I remember from my childhood.  The concept of full hook-ups, cable t.v., and a shower in the RV never entered our minds.  We didn't need hook-ups as the stove ran on propane and the frig was not a frig but an ice-box.  My how things have changed. 

A visit to the ladies room showed that this area was not without its problems.  The high water mark on the restroom door shows just how bad the area was flooded in 1964.

As were were getting ready to leave, we noticed just how dusty the car had become from our drive into Stout Grove.  I couldn't resist adding an editorial comment.

We left the park and continued our journey to Grants Pass, Or.  We made a couple of roadside stops for pictures.

The Smith River is WAAAAY down there!



Some may call this a weed but I thought it was pretty.
It tried so hard to live, growing right out of the gravel
and dodging the cars that pulled into the turnout.



We didn't see any access but it must have been there cuz there were people down there.

Smith River beach access (somewhere!!)

From there is was a pleasant journey on the ever winding Hwy 199 to Grants Pass.  From Grants Pass, just the boring I-5 freeway to home.  Tomorrow I will share a fun attraction just off the freeway - Seven Feather's Casino.  Here's a sneak preview:

Some old folks just can't grow up!  This is my older
sister at the Seven Feathers RV Park playground.