Tuesday, September 24, 2013, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Requa Road Sunset, Klamath, CA

While staying in Klamath, CA, we planned to explore the Redwood National and State Parks. We had not yet stopped into a Visitor's Info Center for maps and recommendations, so we headed out with no plan for the day other than random driving around. We took the first exit off of US-101 that mentioned Redwoods. It was the Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

All of the signage seemed to combine the National and State parks together. A Park Ranger finally clarified that the State parks were already established when the National Park was created in 1968. Apparently, there was an understanding that the State Park land would be ceded to the Federal Government for the National Park, but then California changed its mind. In 1994 the NPS and California State Parks agreed to co-manage the four parks: Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks and Redwood National Park.

The important thing is that the trees will be around to awe and inspire future generations. We still don't know who Newton B. Drury was, but his road is a beautiful drive. It is difficult to convey just how big the redwood trees are without something for scale. Many of the pictures we posted here have someone in them for that reason.

As we drove through this forest of giants, we saw a sign for a "Big Tree." You have to stop for that - right? Big Tree was estimated to be 1,500 years old, 21.6 feet in diameter and 304 feet tall. It was difficult to see that it was really that much larger than the trees all around it, but it did present a nice photo opportunity.

Brochures we picked up at the ranger station showed a short drive along Requa Road to the Klamath River Overlook. It is known for whale watching in the right season, but we thought it would be nice for sunset viewing. Our drive was rewarded with some really nice sunset cloud drama. We spent some time waiting out a few small showers as the skies increased the drama.

Monday, September 23, 2013, Moving Day Via Hwy 101 to Chinook RV Resort, Klamath, CA

Moving day - Chinook RV Resort, Klamath, CA, - we are now finally in California (my rough plan in January had us at Yosemite in mid-September). It was a grueling 64.8 miles (5,578.1 trip/64,059.2 total). This time it really was a bit nerve-racking, but fun at the same time. On Hwy. 199 we inched past an overturned semi; saw magnificent roaring river views; passed enormous redwoods inches from the road; drove through a tight tunnel over a 1/3 mile long; passed awe-inspiring ocean views; and the road narrowed due to a rock slide. I will never complain about a nice boring Interstate highway again. Of course, the Interstate will never rival the views we had on this little backwoods highway.

 At 1,886.2 ft. long (I just caught the end of it), and 15 ft. tall, it made us very aware of our height and girth!

 I HATE following trucks hauling logs. Now I will avoid following trucks hauling lumber of any kind!

 Pictures taken while driving can't focus well, but I wanted to capture how close these huge trees were to the road.

 Did workers notch this tree to allow for big rigs, or did a big rig do it for us all?

 Hwy. 101 is such a pretty drive.  You see a little of everything.

A slide took out part of the road, so there was a long term rebuilding project with a single lane squeeze. It was tight, but at 5 mph I had no problem getting through.

These were the biggest waves we have seen in a while. There were even some insane people in wet suits trying to surf.

We drove past Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox - the redwoods still dwarf the 49 foot tall Paul!

Saturday, September 21, 2013, Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction, CA

It was raining, but we didn't think it would matter since we were going to Oregon Caves National Monument. It was less than 30 miles from the RV park, but the road was so curvy that I doubt we averaged more than 20 mph. The road was narrow but smooth, and remarkably, we nearly had it to ourselves.

The park had a very nice lodge and a great 50s themed diner where we had a large and excellent breakfast. Best sourdough toast we have ever had!

Another warm and inviting lodge with great food.

The cave was quite a challenge. The 90-minute trek included more than 500 steps (most of them up) and a lot of places where you were required to stoop through long passages with no more than 42 inches of headroom. In a few places, I had to turn sideways to fit between some of the cave formations. This cave had a lot of water and, therefore, a lot of cave decorations - stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, flowstones, bacon, and cave popcorn.  

We had a small group since the cave was so tight. Jillian, our ranger, thought we should all be friends so she spent some time learning everyone's name. I think I still remember everyone - there was Jillian, Joani, John, Al and Deb with their daughters Erica and Rudy, Christina and Bill, another Bill and Debbie, Michael and Bailey (our designated rear guard or, bear bait), Benjamin, one late arrival, Wendy and myself.

Early visitors signed their names on the rocks. By the time the NPS decided to clean up the cave, a layer of calcite had formed over the writing making the graffiti permanent.

Prof. Thomas Condon and his students, put their signatures in

pencil, in 1883, on the cave wall. They are still visible beneath a protective coating of calcite.

Back outside the cave, we had the choice of a 0.3-mile paved path back to the visitor center or a 0.7-mile nature trail over the mountain to the visitor center. We started down the short path, but changed our minds and went through the woods. The fog gave the forest a nice ethereal look. Then the rain started and we got soaked, but it didn't dampen our spirits. The northwest woods are just beautiful.

The Pacific Madrone trees were magical. The color of the peeling bark stood out in the forest.

Almost home, near Cave Junction, we stopped several times to record some "Cloud Drama."

Back at the coach, we were getting ready for some dinner when we noticed this rainbow out our window. It was, without a doubt, the most colorful rainbow we have ever seen. It was a nice finish to a really nice day.