July 17, 2010 - McKinleyville, CA - I've seen my first totem pole, announcing that I have arrived in the Northwest!
In the six years I've had my RV, yesterday was only the second time I was unable to do something I wanted to do because my RV was too big. When I bought this RV, I looked for the shortest motor home I could find that had a bed on the floor. I wanted a short one, so it wouldn't hamper where I could go and what I could do, and I've been very happy with that choice because it's allowed me to go most places cars can go. However, a few years ago Nancy and I missed going to see a double falls in Glacier National Park because my RV was just a little too long for the road. And yesterday I couldn't go to Fern Canyon because Carri is too wide for the road. I looked into riding a bike, but a 24-mile round trip trail is more than I'm willing to take on. And I looked into going with a tour, but that was too expensive. So I decided to rent a car for today, because I didn't want to miss Fern Canyon. And that worked out real well.
I stopped by beautiful Stone Lagoon on my way to Fern Canyon, as the road to that park is prohibited to RVs also.
I've been remembering my walk through Fern Canyon, in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, as one of the high points of my trip ten years ago, and I wasn't disappointed. At times I was sharing the canyon with several others, at times I had it to myself. Imagine 75-foot high walls on both sides of you, covered with ferns. There was a breeze gently blowing the ferns, and I felt like I'd entered a fairy land. (Spielberg used it for some scenes for Jurassic Park 2.)
I had the trail to myself on the way back, except for a chipmunk who walked with me for a long way on the trail. I heard the burbling of the brook below, and the calls of the birds echoing each other, but, other than that, I heard just silence in this old-growth forest. Many of the trees are covered in moss, some to the point that they look like they are covered in green hair.
There is a herd of Roosevelt elk that lives near Prairie Redwoods State Park. I've seen them several times now, first wandering around the meadow near the campground, yesterday hanging around the highway and on a business' lawn near a statue of an elk (!), and today in a nearby field. There is one old male with a huge rack, and a few spotted young ones in the herd. I also saw two does with their two spotted fawns in the same area yesterday.
Since I was driving right past it anyway (!), I had lunch at my favorite restaurant in Trinidad (the shrimp salad sandwich was very good). And since the sun was shining and there was no fog this afternoon, I walked the trail that winds around and up Trinidad Head to the top (at 362 feet high). My memory of this hike ten years ago was another of the highlights of my trip. And, again, I wasn't disappointed. Trinidad is in one of the most beautiful locations I've ever seen. The trail is a delight, from beginning to end. The views from the Head, of Trinidad Bay and down the coast, are incredible. There are two islands to the west of the Head that have colonies of sea lions on them right now, and the water carried the sounds of their constant barking to me when I was on that side of the Head.
There is a cross near the top of the Head that was erected by a Spanish explorer in 1775, claiming the land for King Charles II of Spain.Another perfect day. I am feeling satisfied this evening, glad I was able to get to Fern Canyon today.
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