Shelter Cove, Ca.

September 14,
After coming to the end of Avenue of the Giants, we drove 23 miles to Shelter Cove. This road takes the prize for being the most curvy and hilly road we've ever been on. I don't think the road was straight for more than 300 feet at a time, with a passing zone it's entire lenght. As we were climbing a hill, they ran out of room so the road became a single lane. The locals all seemed to drive pick ups with dents at a very rapid rate.

As we got to Shelter Cove, the fog rolled in and the temperature dropped from the eighties to the low sixties. We went to the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse in Mal Coombs Park. The 43 foot tower originally stood on a 400 foot cliff that was often the center of violent storms and earthquakes. The badly deteriorated light was moved from Cape Mendocino to Shelter Cove in 1999, where it was restored.

We drove to Black Sands Beach, where the views were accented by the rolling fog. The soft gray stones on the inner beach provided the contrast for the design in the last picture.

Avenue of the Giants, Pepperwood, Ca

September 14,
Avenue of the Giants is the old US 101 that runs through many groves of redwoods, many of them uncut forests. The Eternal Tree, top picture, is a large room created by a fire years ago but refined by a woodsplitter in the early 1900's. It served as a gift shop for many years but now is a free attraction, complete with sky lights.

We stopped in one of the groves, the car shows just how big these trees are. We continued on to the drive thru tree where these"log homes" were and finished our drive at Korbly's Wood Products.

Crescent City Museum

September 11,

We went to the local museum to see their displays on the tsunami of 1964 and the fresnel lens from the Point St. George lighthouse. Many of the displays were centered around local families and local history. The quilt is similar to the one my mother made for me. It's the grandmother's flower garden but this one has a tumbling block as the center of the flower.

The last two pictures are Battery Point Light from the north and Point St. George Light from the shore. The Point St. George Light is one of the most expensive lights ever built, costing over $700,000. It is over six miles off shore and was one of the most dangerous and lonely duties of the lighthouse service. Tours are available from November to April by helicopter.

Fern Canyon-Orick, Ca.

September 10,
We drove over eight miles on a dirt road and through three creeks to get to the trail head for Fern Canyon. The top picture is a small pond in the dunes just before the trailhead. Looking south we saw a large herd of elk near the state campground, too far away for pictures.

We walked to Fern Canyon and followed the path up the creek, looking at the fern covered walls, lush and beautiful.

After we returned to US 101, we saw another large elk herd near the side of the road. The large male seemed to be the master of the harem.

We headed home but had to stop at the Tour Through Tree---you just have to be the classic tourist once in awhile......

Coastal Drive-Klamath, Ca.

September 10,
As we left Crescent City on US 101, the fog got very thick. When we looked out the window it seemed like we were in a plane looking out over the clouds. The fog stayed til midafternoon, blocking most of our coastal views. But as we headed inland to the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the fog thinned and we saw the trees in all their glory. We stopped at Big Tree. It's been growing for over 1500 years and it's over 350 feet tall. The stellar blue jay sat on a log near Big Tree until I finished taking his photo.

Redwood Forest Loop Drive

September 9,
We followed a dirt road, just to the west of Crescent City, through the Redwoods. The road had many trails off it going through the old growth. Many of the trees are between 500 and 1000 years old Lush ferns and oxalis covered the ground, leaving few bare spots. Many of the old stumps provided fertile areas for new growth. Again all this unpopulated land and no animals, only a few birds.

Crescent City Seals

September 8,
We stopped at the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center and saw that adorable critter in the top picture. He is a baby harbor seal and he's being cared for until he reaches 50 pounds. Most of the animals there were baby seals or sea lions who could not survive on their own.

After the lighthouse visit, we went to the other side of the harbor, where many harbor seals and sea lions were lounging on the rocks or floating docks.

Battery Point Light

September 8,
When we first got to the harbor it was quite foggy but by the time I got to the lighthouse, the sun had come out. Tours are only given when there is a low tide and you can walk to light. Today was the only tour day for the next week and a half due to high tides.
The lighthouse was built in the 1850's of granite block with tower of brick in the center. West Coast stone lighthouses were built by Swedish masons. Originally it was four rooms with no kitchen. Eventually a kitchen and later a radio room was added.
The pink flowers are ice plants. They were planted by an early keeper, who sent them to himself from his previou post.
Two tree stumps have been carved, one into a blue whale and the other, an old salt.
The bottom picture is a view toward the harbor from the light.

Bandon Beach Loop

September 6,
On Labor Day, we decided to stay close and drove the Bandon Beach Loop that ended at Old Town. It was a short drive but filled with gorgeous views on a gorgeous day. The dunes were beautiful at every beach. The second picture is Face Rock, tied to an Indian legend, reminding children to listen to their elders. Because it was so nice, by Oregon standards, many people were exploring the beach and even climbing the big rocks that were near enough. I just couldn't resist one more shot of the Coquille River Light on a sunny day.

Bandon is the cranberry capital of Oregon and we saw many bogs in the area. The plants were brought west from Massachusetts and thrive in this enviornment. We just missed the cranberry festival complete with crowned princesses.

Port Orford Harbor

September 5,
The beautiful mosiac wall is located at a viewpoint overlooking Port Orford Harbor. While we were sitting there enjoying the view, the seagull landed on the hood. He stayed quite awhile and seemed annoyed because we weren't eating and/or feeding him. It was so windy and cool that day that you didn't stay out for long.

The picture of the two rocks in the ocean is how "whale rock" looks close up. Much cooler from a distance.

The last picture is a boat in the harbor at Gold Beach. I found it strangely beautiful and there are postcards around printed with--For Sale , details on other side......